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The one sitting in the chair closed her eyes in a near swoon. “Stop. You’re making me hot.”
“This morning’s paper said he killed two men in a fight over you.”
Rusty nearly got out of her bed. “That’s not what the paper said at all!”
“I put two and two together.”
“It was self-defense!”
“Honey, calm down.” She patted Rusty’s hand. “If you say it was self-defense, then it was self-defense.” She winked down at Rusty. “Listen, my hubby knows Bill Friedkin. He thinks your story would make a terrific movie. He and Friedkin are having lunch next week and—”
“A movie!” Rusty was aghast over the thought. “Oh, no. Please tell him not to say anything. I don’t want anything to come of this. I just want to forget about it and get on with my life.”
“We didn’t mean to upset you, Rusty.” The one who had been sitting in the chair rose to stand beside the bed. She laid a comforting hand on Rusty’s shoulder. “It’s just that we’re your two best friends. If there was something dreadful that you wanted to discuss, some—you know— personal aspect of the disaster that you couldn’t tell your father, we wanted to make ourselves available.”
“Like what?” Rusty shrugged off her friend’s hand and glared up at them. They exchanged another telling glance.
“Well, you were alone with that man for almost two weeks.”
“And?” Rusty asked tetchily.
“And,” she said, drawing a deep breath, “the paper said it was a one-room cabin.”
“So?”
“Come on, Rusty.” The friend’s patience gave out. “The situation lends itself to all kinds of speculation. You’re a very attractive young woman, and he’s positively yummy and certainly virile. You’re both single. You were hurt. He nursed you. You were almost totally dependent on him. You thought you might be stranded up there for the duration of the winter.”
The other took up the slack and said excitedly, “Living together like that, in such close proximity, in the wilderness—well, it’s positively the most romantic thing I ever heard of. You know what we’re getting at.”
“Yes, I know what you’re getting at.” Rusty’s voice was cold, but her brown eyes were smoldering. “You want to know if I slept with Cooper.”
Just then the door swung open and the topic of their discussion came striding in. Rusty’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Her friends spun around, reacting to the radiant smile that broke across her face. He barely took notice of them. His gray eyes found and locked upon Rusty. The sizzling look they exchanged should have answered any questions regarding their le
vel of intimacy.
Rusty finally composed herself enough to speak. “Uh, Cooper, these are two of my closest friends.” She introduced them by name. He gave each of the women a disinterested, terse nod to acknowledge the introductions.
“Oh, Mr. Landry, I’m so honored to meet you,” one of them gushed, round-eyed and breathless. “The Times said that you are an escaped POW. That just blows my mind. I mean, all that you’ve been through already. Then to survive a plane crash.”
“Rusty claims that you saved her life.”
“My husband and I would like to give the two of you an intimate little dinner party when Rusty gets up and around. Please say you’ll let us.”
“When did you decide that?” the other asked with pique. “I wanted to give them a dinner party.”
“I spoke first.”
The silly chatter was irritating and embarrassing. Their squabbling made them sound like the two stepsisters in Cinderella. “I’m sure Cooper can’t stay long,” Rusty interrupted, noticing that he was growing increasingly impatient. As was she. Now that he was here, she wanted to get rid of her so-called friends so she could be alone with him.
“We’ve stayed long enough,” one of them said as she gathered up her handbag and coat. She bent over Rusty and kissed the air just above her cheek, whispering, “You sly thing, you. You won’t get away with this. I want to know everything.”
The other one leaned down and said, “I’m sure he was well worth the plane crash. He’s divine. So raw. So...Well, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you.”
They stopped on their way to the door to say goodbye to Cooper. One even tapped his chest with a flirtatious hand as she reminded him about the dinner party she was planning in his honor. They glided out, smiling smugly at Rusty over their shoulders before the door closed on them.
Cooper watched them go, then approached the bed. “I’m not going to any damned dinner party.”
“I didn’t expect you to. Once the novelty has worn off, I’ll advise her to drop that idea.”
