His green eyes, full of questions and wonder, locked with hers. Did he suspect the truth?
Hollow, she handed her drink to Hazel. “I’ll meet you at the table.” She smiled as if her life wasn’t about to collapse at her feet. “Just let me stow my guitar.”
Her friends went toward the table and Scarlett headed for the back door, hoping for a minute to gather her thoughts. Maybe even a few extra seconds to drive away before Cooper caught up to her. Outside, she all but ran for her car.
“Scarlett.”
Of course he was right behind her, his long stride easily negating any head start she might’ve had. She popped the trunk, set her guitar carefully inside, and closed it again. And with no escape, she turned around and faced her daughter’s father.
“Cooper. What are you doing here?”
“I’m on vacation,” he said, joining her in the pool of light from the parking lamp high overhead. He was wearing a polo shirt and dark jeans with leather sneakers. She supposed it wasa fair vacay look for him. Seven years ago, it had taken a couple of weeks for him to shed the elite professional attire he favored, despite the notorious humidity of a Lowcountry summer.
Still, something about him struck her as entirely too distinguished for the Pelican. Maybe it was the striking gray at his temples.
“Have a lovely visit.”
“I booked a house for a month.”
“Why?” she demanded before she caught herself. He must be doing well. Charleston rentals weren’t cheap in the height of the season. “I mean, enjoy your visit.”
“You look different.”
She gripped her keys. For a sexy crush-worthy professor, he wasn’t always the smooth talker. She shrugged. “It’s been seven years.”
“You’re married?”
“No.”
“But a mother?”
“Yes.” She took a step toward the pub, but it only brought her too close to him. The familiar scent of his cedarwood cologne wound around her, tugging on her heart and all the ridiculous dreams she’d locked away long ago. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“The beaches here are different too.” His voice low, loaded with an emotion she couldn’t pinpoint, held her captive. “I thought it wouldn’t matter.” His mouth twitched. “I did learn to surf.”
She imagined it all too easily. Cooper in a wetsuit looking irresistible out on the water. “Around here, most folks prefer to surf at Folly Beach.”
“Good to know. But I’ll give the beach here a try first.”
“Here?” she echoed. He couldn’t seriously be staying in Brookwell.
But he was nodding. “The rental isn’t far. I walked over.”
“Of course you did.” Because life was so fair like that. “Have a nice evening.”
“I didn’t expect to see you. Find you.” His brow furrowed over those gorgeous eyes. “Whatever the right word is. I’m glad to see you again.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re doing well.” Maybe she’d get out of this unscathed after all.
“How old is your daughter?” Cooper asked, his voice dropping to that scholarly, intimate tone that used to make her feel like the most important person in the world.
“Six.”
He rocked back on his heels. She knew he was calculating. The curiosity in his eyes went sharp before softening with a flash of something that looked dangerously like longing.
“And she’s expecting me home soon.”
“You live here.”
