He didn’t look convinced. “If you change your mind—”
“I won’t.”
Maris called her name, catching up to them. “I have your cabin all ready. Would you like to see it?”
Cooper stepped away. “Thanks, Maris. You’ll help her get settled?”
“Sure. Should I finish giving her the tour, too?”
“If you wouldn’t mind.” Smiling, he said, “Get her set up for our Wi-Fi, too.” He glanced at Phoenix. “You can start tomorrow, Ms. Rose. I’ll email you the names and phone numbers of your helpers, along with our usual schedule.”
Phoenix realized she must have offended him to have him walking off without finishing his instructions, but she wasn’t sure how to fix it. “I’ll be ready.”
He flashed her a subdued smile. “Welcome to Cooper’s Charm. As the sign says, it’s a good place to get away.”
*
What the hell just happened? Cooper blindly headed for his house, disconcerted over the tension in his muscles, the hot rush of awareness. True, he’d been intrigued by Phoenix Rose since first reading her unusual name. Everything after that had only heightened the curiosity. Then there was the compassion, too, taking him by surprise, he felt it so strongly; he’d blamed it for his early decision to hire her.
But neither of those emotions explained his reaction when he’d felt her behind him, when he’d turned and met her eyes, widened behind her glasses.
He’d been all set to meet her, to treat her with gentle indifference. But she’d gone all still and quiet, which in turn had dredged up a heated rush of protectiveness.
And something else.
Something he hadn’t experienced in so long, it was almost unfamiliar.
Blocking that thought, refusing to examine his reaction too closely, he headed for his house. He had plenty to keep him busy today. Every day, actually. Phoenix Rose would be one more employee. Nothing more, nothing less.
Somehow before the day was over, he’d convince himself of that.
*
June arrived hotter than usual, which meant the park was already packed. He still hadn’t found a housekeeper, but now that Phoenix was with them and helping to split the extra work, the complaints had dwindled.
He wasn’t surprised that she’d fit right in, at least with the women. With all men, him included, she seemed far more reticent. Polite always, friendly enough, but lacking any real warmth.
He understood why, of course. He’d read the awful details of the attack, of what she’d suffered. What he didn’t understand was his continued fascination with her, a fascination that had grown each day.
Everything about her drew him. With no encouragement from her, he thought of her too often. When she was near, or hell, even just in view, he couldn’t look away.
He recognized his interest as protective, concerned—the same things any moral, normal man would feel toward a woman who’d been hurt. But it was more than that, too.
It was personal.
That shouldn’t be a surprise given her ripe curves, compelling pale blue eyes and air of quiet vulnerability tinged with pride.
The surprise was that it was more than just physical attraction. He wanted to seek her out, talk with her more, get to know her better.
With every other female employee, he’d had no problem drawing a professional line. It was only Phoenix who pushed him past a comfortably detached relationship.
However, her “do not touch” vibe, along with his respect for her privacy, kept him from showing any overt interest.
He’d lied when he told her that her background hadn’t factored into him hiring her. It absolutely had. His routine research on a potential employee had taken him well beyond the usual superficial work record and into personal, life-changing issues. Of course he’d sympathized with her.
And admired her.
The woman was a fighter.
Caught in a web of his own interest, he stood at the kitchen door overlooking the park, coffee in hand, and waited for her to emerge from her cabin. Like clockwork, she stepped out promptly at 7:00 a.m. and started on her walk. She always went around the park first thing, checking for problems and getting her equipment out so she could start her work when quiet time ended.
Wearing modest shorts and a loose T-shirt, her inky-black hair in a clubbed ponytail, she headed for the maintenance building.
He studied her, not quite smiling but definitely... Hell, he didn’t know what to call it. Enthralled?
Though she didn’t seem to realize it, Phoenix Rose was a sexy little thing, short at five-four, especially when standing next to him. Most women would consider her plump, but most men—himself included—would focus on her big soft breasts, rounded hips and beautiful legs.
Definitely enthralled.
Her purposeful stride made her ponytail bounce. Made her breasts bounce, too. When her sleek hair was loose, the ends teased over her chest right where her nipples would be. She had a dimple in her chin, dainty but strong hands, a surprisingly narrow waist, and eyes the color of a summer sky.
Never before had he considered glasses sexy. But now... Maybe he liked them on Phoenix because he knew she used them to hide—much like a superhero. Whenever she got nervous, she touched them as if to remind herself they were there, adjusting them needlessly.
He could have told her that the glasses didn’t conceal a thing. Neither did the loose shirt.
At his age, after what he’d had, what he’d lost, he didn’t indulge relationship games—or even relationships, really. Those had ended with the death of his wife six years ago. These days, if he found a woman attractive, he let her know it. She either reciprocated and they had sex, or she didn’t and he let it go. Neither outcome troubled him much.
Either way, he didn’t get involved.
Phoenix was different.
Her vulnerability was as obvious as her hope. She wanted to make this work and because, in some ways, her reasons for coming to Cooper’s Charm were the same as his, he’d been happy to give her the chance.
Smart move on his part.
She did a great job with the grounds, keeping everything tidy, well-trimmed, and adding a professional flair that really classed it up. Flowers bloomed in every bed, the walkways were cleanly edged, and even the trees looked healthier after she’d removed several branches.
Did she throw herself into her work to help her forget, as he’d once done? At twenty-four, she’d run a successful landscaping business. That is, until the incident six months ago. So maybe she was just a workhorse by nature.
Admirable for someone so young.
When Phoenix disappeared from his sight, he turned back into the kitchen and went to the computer station at the end of the counter. The laptop was already open and on, an image frozen on the screen.
Phoenix stared straight ahead, battered, her glasses missing, her eyes wide and vacant with shock as paramedics tended her. A moment that personal and devastating should have never been posted, but in the social media world of today, a lot of things were online that shouldn’t be.
Coop didn’t sit and he didn’t need to read the accompanying story. He’d looked at the story so many times, he already knew it by heart. It still drew him far too often as he struggled to understand her better.
Six months ago, when Phoenix was alone at the business during a frigid day in November, two men had broken in armed with a handgun and an AR-15 style rifle. It had been such a successfully busy day selling Christmas trees and wreaths, the till was likely full.
The men had taken all her money along with some personal items—and then they’d assaulted her.
His muscles tensed as his hands fisted.
Not rape, thank God, though apparently one of them had tried as the other kept watch. Overall, they’d badly manhandled her, thrown her around, hurt and robbed her. It wasn’t until a prospective customer stopped in to see if the shop was still open that she’d finally escaped.
The men had run away and to this day, they hadn’t been caught.