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Jessie laughed at that, her soft features lighting up “And I’ it that’s a first for you?”

He grinned “Not so much a first, but it’s been a while”

Jessie’s san’s only been back in town a fewher father with the business, and all because Lord knows her sister, Sara, has no interest” She paused and frowned slightly “She’s had a rough few years, but her story is for her to tell, not an Campbell’s life, you’ll have to ask her But if you want to kno to get hold of her so that you can chat about this project you want done, you’d have to swing by the fao, and he’s been running Campbell Home Services from there ever since”

“Okay,” Cooper replied “Got an address?”

The Morgan family home was located on the west side of town, halfway down a quiet street lined with mature oak trees whose skeletal branches rose into the sky as if seeking warlanced at the piece of paper on his dash and confirmed the number of the house as he pulled into the driveway There was an F-150 in the driveway as well as the small compact car he’d seen out at his place the week before

The sun felt good on his face as Cooper cli for an answer to his knock He waited a few moments more, but no one answered With a sain, this time a little harder, and was just about to leave when the curtains in theto his leftthe smile that usually did the trick Sure, this woured it couldn’t hurt

A few seconds passed, and he stood back as the door slowly opened Once again, she was dressed in loose-fitting clothes that pretty much covered her —sweats that looked as if they’d seen better days The gray hoodie with USC eo was no longer as vibrant as it should be

Cooper knew this because he’d attended USC for all of one year before he’d switched to Berkeley

“You were a Trojan?” he asked, noting the surprise that flickered briefly in her eyes

“I…” She sta as she cleared her throat “What do you want?”

She sure as hell was a prickly thing, but Cooper had never been the guy to give up “I was hoping we could have a conversation about the attic”

“I thought you didn’t want anyone htly, and patches of color appeared on her face

“I changed my mind”

“I’ve already given Charlie a refund, so…” He was dismissed It was in her tone, the coolness in her eyes, and the tilt of her chin She didn’t like hiht have asked himself why itHe was just wanting to get his attic sorted out

It took a bit, but Cooperme you won’t reconsider?”