Page 14 of Rebels and Roses

Jane wasn’t sure what she expected the next time she saw Cooper. But she hadn’t expected him to walk into the bookstore with a nice-looking younger man with reddish-brown hair and brown eyes. He was about the same height as Cooper but slighter in build. He had a boyish smile that he immediately used on Jane the minute he saw her. Clearly, he was the type who loved to flirt. She’d seen his type many times.

With a roll of his eyes, Cooper guided the unknown man to a table in the coffeeshop portion of the store, silently mouthing the word “later” as an explanation. Jane didn’t have a clue as to what was going on, but he hadn’t brought in his ex-wife Fiona for a latte and a slice of pie.

At least I was spared that.

“Who’s that with Cooper?” Lucy asked, a stack of books in her arms. She’d been in the back unpacking new merchandise.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before.”

Lucy shrugged and went back to shelving books on an endcap display for a new thriller writer. Jane manned the register but was keeping one eye on the men who were now drinking coffee and eating from a plate of macaroons - courtesy of Piper thismorning. She’d also brought a lemon loaf and some cinnamon rolls. One of the latter Jane had eaten for breakfast after she’d arrived.

After the first morning rush of customers, Jane’s practice was to go into the office area and work on the books for an hour or two. Lucy was glad not to have to do it herself, and she liked being with the customers more than she liked spreadsheets.

Jane, on the other hand, adored spreadsheets and pivot tables. That was one of the big reasons she’d gone into accounting and finance. Numbers were her friend. They always made sense even when her life didn’t.

“I brought you another coffee.”

Jane looked up from the computer to see Cooper standing in the doorway, holding a steaming mug. She couldn’t help thinking that he made a handsome as hell barista.

“Did Lucy see you come back here?”

“I made up a story about needing to talk to you about bookkeeping services for the theater. Which isn’t made up, to be honest. Zack and I were talking about it the other day, and we both want to hire you for that. We sure as hell don’t want to do it.”

Cooper entered the backroom, closing the door behind him before sitting down on another office chair next to hers. He held out the mug, and she accepted it gratefully. She’d brought a healthy glass of water with her, but she really needed the caffeine.

I’ll drink the water right after this cup.

“It wasn’t Fiona who sent me that text. It was her brother Tom.”

“Oh. But then why did you think it was her?”

“Because the idiot stole his sister’s phone. He didn’t think I’d answer a message from him.”

“Was he right?”

Cooper chuckled, a smile playing on his well-shaped lips.

“Probably.”

“So, he stole her phone, sent you a text, and you went to meet him last night. I assume that’s who you came in the store with?”

“It is. I let him sleep on my couch. He snores.”

“So do you.”

Not that she’d ever spent an entire night with him. She hadn’t, of course. But they’d napped, and Cooper was definitely a snorer.

“Not like this. He needs to see a doctor.”

Jane didn’t reply, waiting for Cooper to continue telling his story. But he didn’t say anything else.

This was so like him. She had to pull information out of him bit by bit on a regular basis. She was sure that he acted this way because he liked being difficult and ornery.

“What did Tom want?”

Clearly, you want to tell me. So…just tell me.

“Now that’s the strange part of this. He says he’s being watched and followed.”

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