Page 45 of Dark Side of the River

Cooper quickly slid back under the wheel and threw the pickup into gear. He drove to the turnoff where they’d left her pickup and pulled down behind the old gas station, cut his engine and his lights.

They sat in silence as the stream of vehicles passed on the main road. Tilly’s heart was still pounding from the kiss and the earlier terror. Had that been a warning from someone at the meeting? Or was that an attempt on their lives? They would never know, thanks to the sheriff appearing when he did and scaring off whoever was following them. Right now, she was too aware of Cooper, their earlier kisses and his caresses still firing her blood.

He hadn’t moved from where he sat, both hands still on the wheel, the silence and darkness enfolding them as the last of the vehicles passed.

“Coop?” She was half-afraid of what he would say, let alone do next. Tell her they could never see each other again? Or make love to her right here in the cab of his pickup? The latter sent a fresh wave of desire rippling through her. She had wanted him for so long without admitting it. Had she just been waiting for him to come back to Powder Crossing? Was that why she hadn’t slept with Stuart when he’d tried to initiate sex? Because she’d always wanted his best friend?

He cleared his voice. “Tilly, you don’t know how badly I want this, how long I’ve wanted to kiss you, to make love to you.”

“Coop—”

“But I don’t want the first time we make love to be in my truck,” he said, finally looking over at her. His gaze met hers, burning into her.

Her throat went dust dry. “The first time?”

Cooper nodded. “After that, I’d make love to you on the tailgate if you want, but not the first time.” Her heart pounded harder. “And not tonight, not until I talk to Stuart.” He shook his head. “If I kiss you again...” He opened his pickup door and stepped out.

She sat for a moment before finding her purse and on wobbly legs got out to walk to her pickup. He opened the door for her, helped her inside, leaning in to kiss her lightly on the lips. “Good night, Tilly.” Their gazes locked. Cooper was the first to pull away with a groan.

He closed her door and walked back to his pickup, but he didn’t leave until she started her truck and drove out, Cooper behind her all the way out to the turnoff to her ranch.

On the private road to the house, she found herself grinning, giddy and at the same time a little scared. Did she really think they could do this? There was their families and Stuart. She knew the sheriff wouldn’t take it well—even though she’d told him that she didn’t feel like he did and wouldn’t be going out with him again. But she’d said it wasn’t because of Cooper, and after that kiss, she knew it definitely was.

Just the thought of Cooper made her ache. It was going to happen. She wasn’t sure how, but it had to happen.

COOPERWASSTILLshaken by the time he reached the ranch. Tilly. Just the thought of her made his heart race again. He wanted her like he’d never wanted anything, anyone, and yet he worried that being with her would only lead to heartbreak for them both.

He thought about the story she’d told about their parents. If true, their love hadn’t been strong enough to bridge this feud between the families. What made them think theirs would be any different?

They were already pushing their luck. Look what had happened tonight. He hadn’t been able to see who had chased them, possibly trying to run them off the road. PI Jason Murdock? He couldn’t imagine why. But then again, he had no idea who had hired the private investigator. Someone who wanted to make sure they didn’t find out the truth about Oakley’s shooting? Or someone who didn’t want him and Tilly investigating? Or just some fool redneck from the meeting who didn’t want them coming back?

The latter seemed the most probable, since after the sheriff had forced the driver of the truck over, he hadn’t done anything more. He’d probably recognized the driver. After all, the sheriff had been waiting down the road. For them?

The Dirty Business meeting alone was enough to make Cooper worry. It was clear that things were heating up between the two factions. The sheriff had known about the meeting. Or he’d followed Tilly to the old gas station, seen them leave together and waited. Then again, he could have known about the meeting all along.

Cooper’s head hurt trying to figure out not just who was behind Oakley’s shooting, but who they could trust. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the sheriff and whoever had chased them might have been in on it tonight. He told himself he was wrong. Stu had been his best friend for years. When Cooper had been arrested for Leann’s murder, Stu had still been on his side, helping as much as he could, hadn’t he?

Now Cooper wasn’t sure of anything. He found himself questioning if he’d ever known Stu. Even if the sheriff and Murdock hadn’t been in league tonight, it didn’t explain what Stu had been doing on that road at that hour as if waiting for them. There was only one explanation. He’d known about the meeting. He’d known that he and Tilly would attend. So who’d tipped him off? Not Pickett, Cooper was sure.

He had too many questions and no answers. Still, after tonight, Cooper felt as if things had gotten more dangerous. Tonight’s close call had felt...personal.

Once in the house, he went straight to his room on the third floor. The rooms were large; each had its own living area and bathroom along with the bedroom. Holden had the old house remodeled as his children had grown so they would want to stay on the ranch rather than leave and get their own place.

He closed the door behind him and stood trying to make sense out of everything, maybe especially what had almost happened between him and Tilly. He could have so easily made love to her tonight right there in the cab of his pickup. He’d wanted her so badly.

Fortunately, good sense had overridden desire. He’d meant it about not wanting to make love to her the first time in his truck. But he had also wanted to come up for air. This was moving too fast. He’d been gun-shy since Leann. How could he not be? She’d killed herself. Because of him?

Wasn’t that what worried him? That even though they’d both said they weren’t looking for anything long-term, maybe she had lied and been so hurt that she—

He shook his head. He had never believed that she had taken her own life because of him, and yet how did he explain her death? Maybe suicide was unexplainable. How could one ever really know what was going on in the mind of another human being?

The one thing he did know was that he was going to have to put the past behind him. That meant putting Leann and her death behind him.

He saw her favorite book on the shelf where he’d left it. He shook his head as he moved to the shelf and pulled it down. As he did, the worn book spine bit into his finger. He loosened his grasp in surprise.

The book dropped from his hand to the floor, falling open as it did. A half dozen folded sheets of notepaper fluttered out. Blinking, he stared down at them, recognizing the notepaper as the same kind Leann had written her alleged suicide note on.

As if sleepwalking, he reached down and picked up the book and the notes. Unfolding one of the pages, he felt his heart drop. It was addressed to him. He staggered over to the couch and sat down, placing the book next to him as he opened each of the notes. They were all addressed to him, none of them apparently completed.

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