Before he could finish, Cooper kicked at his lead leg, sweeping it out from under him, and the shirtless fool went crashing to the bank, half rolling into the creek. He clutched his knee, groaning.
Almost at the same time, Cooper snatched up the other jerk by his shirt, saying close to his face, “You seriously don’t want to do this.”
The explicit warning hung in the air. Somehow, Cooper looked even bigger, bulkier—and all congeniality had disappeared in a poof.
Hands up, the leaner man said, “Okay, dude. Relax.”
Behind them, Harry finally showed up. “Let’s go,” he said, his tone sullen. “I’ll get my money tomorrow.”
Phoenix stared at the abuser. Along the left side of his face, mud caked in his hair and ear and was smeared across his jaw. His eye was slightly swollen and bloodshot. A rip in his T-shirt ran from the neck down to his sternum, causing the material to hang on his frame. He looked defensive and...
Small.
Physically and emotionally.
The realization surprised her, but now, with Cooper in charge of the situation, they all appeared far less threatening, more like the boys he’d accused them of being.
Residual fear kept her legs quaking, but her heart had slowed from its frantic beat.
She watched as the other two helped Frank from the creek. He limped badly. Together, shoulders hunched, grumbling among themselves, they departed.
As soon as they were out of sight, Cooper turned and, as he started to take his shoes from her, noticed the rock. One dark eyebrow shot up. “Were you planning to brain someone?”
Feeling horribly self-conscious now, she dropped the rock into the creek with a splash. “Maybe.”
A smile flashed over his face as he stepped into his shoes, then knelt to tie the laces. “You should have left when I asked you to.”
Anger vibrated in his tone but she didn’t know if it was aimed at her or the men. She’d wanted to go—and he deserved the truth. “I...couldn’t.” Reaction settled in, making her voice tremble.
He shot her a look, and his stern expression softened. After tying her shoes, too, he straightened. “Come on.” Easing the dog back into his own arms, he made sure his shirt stayed tucked around the poor thing. “I don’t want to stick around to see if they find their balls.”
No, she didn’t want that, either. Anyone heartless enough, cruel enough, to torment an animal was, in her opinion, capable of anything.
Cooper adjusted the dog in one arm, keeping it close to his chest, then wrapped a big hand around her wrist and started them on their way.
Phoenix licked her lips, her thoughts flying. “That man—Harry they called him—he was muddy and the side of his face was red.”
“He tried to take the dog from me.”
A simple statement, that said so much. “You hit him?”
Shrugging, he kept them going at a fast clip. “I wasn’t going to let him have the dog.”
No, of course he wouldn’t. She went the rest of the way silently, not sure what to say, anxious to get the dog to safety so she could assess his injuries. Minutes later, they emerged near the golf cart. Kids were close by, shooting baskets. A man was in the process of parking an enormous RV. Two women walked by, involved in friendly conversation.
It all seemed so normal, but Phoenix faced the truth: she wasn’t. Not yet.
Would she ever be?
*
Cooper turned the golf cart and instead of heading for the maintenance shed, he drove it to his own home. Phoenix was quiet, too damn quiet, as she idly stroked the dog’s head resting on his shoulder.
It had taken every ounce of control he had not to annihilate the punks who’d mistreated the dog and frightened Phoenix. Rage, familiar in its intensity, shimmered just beneath his calm facade.
“You shouldn’t pay them.”
Hearing her speak, regardless of what she said, relieved him. “They won’t get a dime from me.” The words emerged gruffer, angrier than he’d intended, but he was still so fucking furious...
Phoenix tipped her head. “But you said—”
“I want them to show up tomorrow.” He wanted that bad. “How else can the police talk with them?”
“Oh.” She released her breath on a faint smile. “I like that plan.” Then she frowned. “You’ll keep him?”
“Her, and yeah, I will.”
Her brows rose above the rims of her glasses. “He’s a female?”
Despite his volatile state, Coop laughed. Talking about the dog helped tamp down his turbulent mood. “Yes, she is—and why are you so surprised?”
“I dunno.” She eyed the dog skeptically. “He...she...just looks like a male, don’t you think?”
“Not where it counts, no.”
She choked, then gently stroked the dog’s head. “What if someone claims her?”
Shaking his head, Coop rejected that idea. “She’s a stray.” He glanced at Phoenix again, glad that she was loosening up even if he couldn’t. “Didn’t you see all the bloated ticks on her?”
“Uh, no.” Snatching her hand back and scooting a few inches away, she asked, “Ticks?”
“Likely fleas, too. A bath is on the immediate agenda—and since you had her against you, you should leave those clothes outside until you can wash them.”
Looking a little queasy, she asked, “What about her ear? It’s bleeding.”
“Hard to tell the problem under all that mud, but I don’t think it’s serious. Might’ve just been a tick that broke—”
“Eeww.” Her face scrunched in disgust.
It belatedly occurred to him that she might want some time alone. Her clothes were wet, her hands still trembling in reaction. Just because the dog was a priority for him, didn’t mean she felt the same. “I wasn’t thinking. Did you want me to take you home first?”
“No.” She firmed her mouth, and probably her resolve. “I’d like to help, if that’s okay.”
More than okay; he wanted to keep an eye on her, at least for an hour or so. After that...well, he’d have to see. “If you’re sure?”
“Positive.” With one finger, she tentatively touched the dog’s head, and said softly, “It’s the least I can do.”
Coop didn’t like the sound of that. Keeping his voice even, blanking out all frustration, he asked, “What does that mean, Phoenix?”
She whispered, “At the creek, with those men...” Her breath shuddered in, back out. “I was no help at all.”
“You held the dog when I asked you to.”
She shook her head. “I went deaf, dumb and blind, just like...” Her gaze shifted away, but she turned back to him seconds later as if facing her demons. “Just like before.”
New anger surged through his blood, further tensing his muscles until he thought he might break.
What the hell was a woman supposed to do against three men?
What could she have done against armed robbers?
Not a damn thing...just as his wife couldn’t.
The fury churned, bubbling up, harder and harder to suppress. Staring straight ahead, he clenched his hand on the steering wheel. A dozen retorts came to mind, none of them appropriate.
“I thought I was doing better—until that happened.”
“You had a rock,” he reminded her.
“That I’m not sure I could have used.”
“Well, thank God you didn’t. I had it under control.”
She teased, “It’s those alpha tendencies of yours.”
Cooper snorted.
She was quiet a moment, then softly admitted, “I was so scared.”
His jaw clenched. “Sometimes fear is commonsense.”
“Not if it paralyzes you.” She leaned her head against his shoulder in a brief show of affection, then straightened again. “I don’t know what would have happened to the dog if you hadn’t been there.”
The dog? It bothered him even more wondering what might have happened to her.
“You were really impressive, by the way.”
One more compliment and he’d lose his tenuous hold on control. “I was fucking furious.” Still was—not that she noticed. “I almost wish they hadn’t left so easily.”
“You wanted to fight?”
He gave a sharp nod. God, how he’d wanted to demolish them. Only his concern for Phoenix and the poor dog had stopped him.
“You’re confident you’d have handled them okay?”
He was, but... “Not confident enough to risk you.”