Page 17 of Rebels and Roses

“You just described a good chunk of the human population,” Zack laughed. “I could tell you some stories from my former workplace. And these were guys that were in charge of hundreds of millions of dollars. They were great at their jobs, but they didn’t have a drop of common sense. Not a bit.”

“What’s the story on Tom?” Tate asked, joining them at the table. “I don’t know what your relationship with him is like, but it’s a bit strange that he came to you for help. Doesn’t he have family or friends? Not that you’re not a great guy. You are. But…I’m not sure what he thinks you can do for him. Be his bodyguard?”

“No offense taken,” Cooper declared. “I agree with you, actually. I’m not sure what drove him to seek me out. Maybe I was more of a big brother figure to him when Fiona and I were married than I realized. He always seemed interested in my friends and the places I visited. Maybe I seem worldly or wise to him. Or maybe his friends have grown tired of him talking about being followed.”

“Wise?” Zack mocked, his smile wide. “Cooper Winslow…wise man. Um, it doesn’t have much of a ring to it.”

“The first step to being wise is knowing that you don’t know it all,” Cooper shot back with a grin. “And I do know that. Tom was really just a kid when Fiona and I were married. I guess he looked up to me, heaven help him.”

“What are you going to do about him?”

“I already did it. I took him for a chat with Finn.”

“And now what?” Lucy asked.

“He goes home,” Cooper replied. “He agrees that he can’t stay here, although he’s dragging his feet on booking a ticket home. There’s nothing more I can do for him unless it’s to step between him and a bullet. I like him and all, but that’s asking for a bit much since he and I aren’t even related anymore.”

“I hope no one tries to shoot him,” Jane said. “Do you believe that someone is truly following him?”

“I believe that he believes it.”

The subject of this conversation needed to be changed. He was already pissed off that Tom had come crashing back into his life without so much as a head’s up. The younger man had simply shown up here, assuming that Cooper would drop everything to help.

Sadly, he wasn’t shocked. The Kemp children had always thought they were the center of the universe. Other people’s needs weren’t high on their priority list.

Face it, you don’t like dwelling on the past.

Cooper had always been a live-in-the-present kind of guy. Not looking back and not looking too far forward.

Except when it came to his mother’s disappearance.

“Are you flying out this afternoon?” Cooper asked Zack. “Do you need a ride to the airport?”

“I was going to take him,” Lucy said.

“You have to work,” Zack objected. “I can’t take you away from the bookstore for that long.”

“It’s okay. It’s fine.” Lucy nudged Jane with her elbow. “Tell him it’s fine.”

“It’s fine.”

Jane repeated the words so robotically that everyone had to chuckle at her deadpan delivery. Cooper knew good and well that Jane could handle the store on her own without breaking a sweat. The woman was amazing.

“I can take an Uber,” Zack said with a roll of his eyes. “No one has to drive me. I’m a grown man, and I can get on an airplane all by myself.”

“I have the afternoon free,” Cooper replied. “Besides, I can drop Tom off at the same time. Two birds, one airport. Or something like that. Anyway, I can do it. It’s no trouble.”

“Fine,” Zack capitulated. “I’m saying yes, because if I don’t, you’ll drive me up a wall.”

“I guess I’m just chopped liver,” Lucy sniffed, pretending to be insulted but a smile played on her lips. “I’ll have to stay at work.”

The way Zack and Lucy looked at one another - their gooey love-soaked expressions - made Cooper want to gag out loud if only to give them a hard time. He was happy for his brother. They made a great couple. But he was also kicking himself now that he realized that Lucy had wanted to say a proper goodbye to Zack. New couples always wanted to kiss at the airport. He didn’t know why, but he’d seen it a dozen times with friends. Was there something primal about seeing off a loved one when they were taking a long trip that required an airplane?

Cooper had simply wanted to discuss the entire reason that Zack was even going on this business trip. He was meeting with an old friend from college who had opened a successful art movie theater on the East Coast. They wanted to get some tips and insight.

Lunch ended, and Cooper and Zack hung back near the table while Jane and Lucy visited the ladies’ room. Tate was already back behind the bar, flipping through a newly delivered stack of mail.

“Keep an eye on Lucy for me, okay?” Zack asked. “I know she’ll be fine, and I’m only going to be gone a day or two, but I worry. I know it’s silly, but I do.”

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