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“You are a lucky man. Jane is terrific.”

“She is,” Cooper replied. “So is Alli.”

“Alli?” Sam decided playing dumb was the move here. “Why did you mention her?”

“Because of the way you two were looking at each other all during lunch. Do you think we’re blind? Because it was clear to anyone who paid the slightest bit of attention that you and she were making goo-goo eyes at each other. Clearly, you’re in that first blush of love stage in your relationship.”

“I’m not in love.”

The denial came out automatically. It wasn’t true, though. Sam did love Alli. He’d meant what he said to her, but he also wasn’t sure that he was the right man for her. He had so much crap in his life. Could he ever be someone who loved with their whole heart? He’d already lost so much of it when his mother disappeared.

“Sure. Right. Whatever you need to tell yourself. But don’t fuck this up, Sam,” Cooper warned. “Don’t make a huge mistake and push her away. You’ll end up regretting it. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually. If you love her, don’t let anything get in your way.”

“Since you know so much about love, maybe you should write romances instead of mysteries,” Sam replied. “But you don’t know anything about Alli and me.”

“I know enough,” Cooper sighed. “I know that look on your face now, and I know how you looked at her before. I don’t pretend to know how your brain works all the time, but let’s face it, we Winslows are not renowned for our emotional intelligence. Don’t be stupid for as long as I was. Smarten up now.”

With that parting line, Cooper started walking toward his own car parked further down the row. Sam climbed into his own vehicle and started the engine, but he didn’t leave the parking space. His mind was still working on Cooper’s advice.

His brother simply didn’t understand. Sam wasn’t pulling back because he didn’t love Alli. He was pulling back because he did.

If he couldn’t be what she needed, it would be better for both of them if he walked away. She might even thank him someday in the future.

But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt today.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Awkward.

It was the best word Alli could think of. She’d walked into work this morning, coffee in hand, not knowing what to expect. The tender, loving man she’d woken up with yesterday, or the cold, remote one she’d experienced after lunch?

Sadly, it was the latter, not the former.

Sam couldn’t have made it clearer that he wasn’t comfortable around her, and he wished she wasn’t there. By ten in the morning, she was ready to offer to go home just so he could relax a little. Her mere presence seemed to make him tense.

That wasn’t what she wanted. She might not be happy with him at the moment, but she didn’t want to make him miserable.

She wanted to ask how he was doing and whether there was anything she could do to help. But she didn’t do that. His demeanor didn’t invite anything more personal than greetings and some work chat.

“Shit,” she heard him say under his breath when he glanced at his watch. “I forgot about the movers.”

“The movers for Leigh’s things?”

“Yes,” he said, rubbing his temple with his fingers. “I’m supposed to meet them at her condo while they load things up.”

“I’ll do it,” she replied immediately. She could give him some alone time and space. “I can meet them there.”

His brows shot up in surprise.

“You will? I mean, are you sure? I’m the one who made the commitment, not you. I should be the one to do it.”

“I have no problem doing it,” she assured him. It would be a relief for both of them if she were out of the office. “Unless it was something that was important for you to do.”

“Thank you. Actually, it would be a relief. I have so much that needs to be done today now that Rick and Henry are out of the company.”

“I’m happy to do it. I just need the key.”