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Cooper smiled, showing a sexy dimple in his left cheek. Jess’s pulse skipped. The man was getting to her.Blast him!
“I played second string quarterback,” he said. “But I wasn’t fast enough to be a starter. And I only did it for the scholarship. What I really wanted to do was write.”
“Do you like sports, Trevor?” Jess tried to draw the boy out. “I noticed you watching the game on TV.”
Trevor shrugged. “I just like to watch. My dad was an athlete, but I take after my mom’s family. They only play chess.”
“So do you play chess?” At least he’d given her an opening.
“No. It’s a stupid game. You win or you don’t. I hate it. So I guess that makes me a disappointment to both sides of the family.”
“Trevor—” His father’s tone carried a warning.
“Well, it’s true,” the boy said. “Dad, do I have to be in here? Can’t I take my plate into the other room to watch the end of the game?”
“No, you may not,” Cooper said. “You’re a guest. Behave like one.”
The boy didn’t argue. But his silence and his sullen expression said all that was needed. He hunched over his plate, picking at his food. Jess’s sympathetic gaze met Grace’s.
“Jess.” Cooper spoke into the awkward hush that had fallen over the table. “Didn’t I hear Maggie say that you helped out at school? What is it you do?”
So he really hadn’t been told why she was here and neither had his son. This wasn’t the best time to come clean, but she had little choice.
“I’m the youth counselor for the district. It’s my job to work with kids who are struggling, get them the resources they need, and steer them away from more trouble if I can.”
She stole a glance at Trevor. He was glaring at her. “So are you a shrink?” he demanded.
“No. I have a degree in psychology, but I’m not trained as a psychiatrist.”
“You’re a cop, then?”
The question touched a nerve, but Jess kept her voice calm. “No, I’m not with the police. I’m just a facilitator. If a student needs more help than I’m qualified to give them, I refer them to specialists who can offer more. Does that answer your question, Trevor?”
He shrugged. “I guess.”
“If there’s anything else you want to know, just ask me.”
“Yeah, I get the idea.” The sarcasm in Trevor’s voice was subtle but unmistakable. Jess chose to ignore his reply. He’d guessed why she was here, and he was already defiant. Pushing the boy would only make things worse.
* * *
“So how’s the campaign going, Sam?” Once again Cooper steered the conversation onto what he hoped was safe ground. At least he’d figured out why Jess had been invited. But it stung a little that it wasn’t to meet him.
Sam finished the lasagna on his plate and reached for a second helping. He was a big man with a big man’s appetite. “Funny you should ask,” he said. “Something has come up—sorry, Grace, I meant to tell you right away but you were busy with dinner when I came home.” He glanced around the table. “What I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room. That goes for you, too, Trevor and Maggie. Not a word. Got it?”
The two young people nodded. Even Trevor seemed excited about being part of a big secret.
“Here’s the thing,” Sam said. “I’ve been running against the man who’s mayor now—Rulon Wilkins. Rulon’s a politician, and he knows how to work a crowd. But he hasn’t done much for the town, so I’d been hoping for a fair chance.”
“What’s happened?” Grace asked. “Has something changed?”
“I’m getting to that,” Sam said. “Today I got the news that Rulon’s being investigated for misuse of public funds. In other words, he’s been using town money for things like vacations with his wife, dinners, and car expenses.”
“That’s no surprise,” Grace said.
“It isn’t. But until now there’s been no accounting. Rumor has it that Rulon may resign rather than face prosecution. If he does that, since the election’s nonpartisan, and I’m the only other candidate, I might be asked to step in and finish his term.”
Maggie clapped her hands. “That would be wonderful, Daddy!”
