Definitely not like Ethan, who swooped in bristling with aggression.
“Margot Blackthorn?” Cooper whistles, looking just as pleased to see her as he was to see me. “I wasn’t expecting to find you here.”
Margot jerks her thumb at me. “Hattie owns this place now. I’m helping her spruce it up and get organized.”
“Besties till the end. Couldn’t do it without her,” I joke.
Margot smirks. “Iamkinda invaluable like that.”
I roll my eyes as I turn pointedly back to Cooper.
I haven’t thought much about him since Ethan exploded in his face. Now, I wonder why.
In the middle of the store, eyeing the books with interest, he doesn’t look like a bad guy at all.
Although I’ll admit, I might be more than a little dazzled by his appearance.
I’m not shallow, but I’m a human woman with eyes, and he is very nice to look at.
Can a bad guy really pull off tan suit pants and a classic Ralph Lauren look like he just walked off a sailboat?
He places a hand on his chest and gives me another disarming smile, noticing my observation but not seeming to mind.
“I really am sorry for making a mess of things at the dinner,” he says. “Truth be told, I’ve been beating myself up over it ever since.”
The corners of his eyes crease with sincerity as he looks at me.
Margot returns to sorting a smaller stack of books from a box near the register, ignoring us again as she puts in her earbuds and hums to the music.
“Beating yourself up? Why?” I ask cautiously. “Don’t do that. I’m not sure what got into Ethan, honestly.”
“Nah, don’t apologize. I never wanted to cause any friction between you two. Ethan had every right to get a little territorial, and at such a sensitive time for the poor man, too.” The sides of his mouth turn down in a frown.
“It is a bit difficult right now,” I agree, glancing at Margot again, though she doesn’t seem to have heard.
When she glances up, she just offers me a shrug.
Guess I’m on my own.
“Can I ask what’s up with you guys? Ethan doesn’t like you very much, but I’m not sure why,” I offer. “Actually, he warned me to stay away from you.”
Cooper smiles, grabbing his chest in a pained motion.
“I’m sorry to hear that. But I’m not surprised. Frankly, I think we got off on the wrong foot years ago. He never liked how close I was with his grandfather, and perhaps he had good reason.” Redness lights Cooper’s cheekbones and he runs a hand through his hair, looking chagrined.
“Well, I don’t know what went on, but—”
“Hold on, let me get to the point.” He holds up a hand, digging around in his pocket until a brown envelope appears. “I’m no villain, Miss Sage—Hattie. Can I call you that?”
The flash of his teeth is mesmerizing.
“Sure.” I blink to try and clear my head.
“I’m afraid I have a…” He grimaces. “A complicated history with the Blackthorns. And I’m somewhat at fault for Ethan’s suspicions, I’ll admit. However, I came to make amends.”
I give him another frown. “The bookstore, you mean?”
“That’s right. I heard you worked here.”
