Page 44 (1/2)

“As in Cooper Si her voice again

He turned to her and nodded “You know him?”

“Not really Iwhere he sang” Christy looked at Morgan with a sh it didn’t quite reach her eyes on account of the fact she looked nervous as hell “You look really good, Morgan”

“You look beautiful” That from Nathan He looked as if he hadn’t uy’s face reddened “Maybe we can grab a coffee or…”

Morgan stiffened, her face now as pale as the linen on the tables Candlelight threw shadows across her features, eenerous curve of her mouth

“Or ed and then shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans Christy’s lips were pinched, and she slid her arh Nathan’s—the point obvious: He’s mine

The hostess interrupted, holding up two menus, and indicated Nathan and Christy should follow her to their table Nathan held on for a few seconds longer, watching Morgan

“It was really good to see you”

Morgan gave a quick, jerky nod, and Cooper led her to the front reception area, where he paid their bill before heading out to a cold wind off the ocean and a crisp night filled with stars Cooper fired up his truck and glanced at Morgan She’d refused his jacket, and he upped the heat

“Where do you want to go?” he asked gently, trying to gauge her ive up her company just yet

Her head was turned, her profile soft as she gazed out the , into the night sky Morgan’s fingers kneaded the edge of the seat belt, and her shoulders were hunched forward Had she heard him? He was just about to repeat hi

“I’ve known Nathan Davidson since the third grade”

Silence followed those words, but Morgan didn’t take her gaze froine took over for a few moments until she continued

“He was from Alaska and moved here when his dad opened a law office in town There was some sort of family connection, but I can’t remember what it was” Her warm breath created condensation on the , and she rubbed at it absently “A cousin, maybe?

“To everyone in my class, he was the new kid, but to ly boy who’d traveled from a state no one I knew had ever visited We all wanted to be his best friend We all wanted the new boy to like us He and Hank bonded over hockey and football, and Nathan didn’t know I existed until the tenth grade”