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No more. He would starve this infatuation by avoiding her and by filling his time and thoughts with Amber. She’d be good for him. He winced. Probably not good that he was thinking of her the same way he thought about brussels sprouts.
He usually picked up his dates, but this morning he would meet Amber because she’d had an early appointment at the Beauty Barn. He pulled his truck into an empty spot and made his waytoward the coffee shop. He didn’t see Amber’s car but she’d probably walked over.
He strode toward the entry, resolved to give her a fair shot. To be attentive. To appreciate her company. No thinking about Kate or comparing her to Kate or wishing he were with Kate.
He’d get to know Amber better. He tried to remember what she’d already revealed about herself—he didn’t want to seem like one of those jerks who never listened. But for the life of him he couldn’t remember anything except her occupation and that she had a sister. He couldn’t even remember if her sister lived in town.
He probably should’ve suggested dinner instead of the easily escaped coffee date, but he’d thought it might be better to ease back into the relationship since he’d more or less ignored her the past few weeks. Maybe he really was a jerk.
When he opened the door the delicious aroma of java filled his nose. He searched the room for Amber’s Marilyn Monroe hairstyle. His gaze snagged on the back of a blonde head, but it wasn’t Amber. He did a double take.
Katelyn.
Are you kidding me right now?He huffed. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t seem to escape her.
She shared a table with a woman he didn’t recognize, and their conversation from the trail came rushing back. The meeting with her birth mother. His pulse thrummed in his ears as he claimed the last empty spot, taking a seat that gave him a full view of Kate’s table—because he was a glutton for punishment like that.
The woman laughed at something, and he could see her daughter in her smile. He could only imagine how nervous Kate must be. He said a quick prayer that the meeting would go well.
“Hey, stranger!” Amber approached from behind and squeezed his shoulders.
“Hey, yourself.” Cooper stood and embraced her. The woman’shair and makeup were expertly done as always, and she wore a cute sundress that made the most of her trim figure. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. Did you already order?”
“No, I waited for you.”
She tilted a flirtatious grin. “Such a gentleman.”
Truth was he couldn’t remember what she liked even though he’d had coffee with her twice. They moved to the register and ordered their drinks.Skinny chai latte—he drilled the order into his thick skull.
They settled at the table while the baristas made their drinks. He glanced at Kate’s table. The woman—Beth, he remembered—was talking and seemed to be enjoying the conversation.
“So, Mr. Sheriff-to-be, how goes the campaigning? I’ve seen the yard signs up everywhere. I talked Cheryl into putting one in front of the salon.”
“Thanks. It’s going pretty well. A lot of events, a ton of glad-handing.”
“That doesn’t really seem like your thing. Not that you aren’t a friendly guy, but you seem like an introvert at heart.”
“True enough. But I want to be sheriff, so I’ll do what’s necessary.”
She flashed a saucy grin. “And do you always get what you want, Deputy Robinson?”
He thought of Katelyn and just barely stopped himself from glancing her way. “Not always.”
“Well, you’ll get your way this time. Everyone around here loves your family.”
Amber had come to town after his dad had left. Cooper hadn’t mentioned the stigma his old man brought him and didn’t feel like getting into it now.
“It’s more the surrounding towns I’m worried about. That’s why I’ve been out of town so much.”
“I’m glad you’ve finally managed to fit me into your busy schedule,” she teased.
“Come on now. It’s not like that.”
“What’s it like then?”
“I’ve just been busy. Distracted.” That was the truth if ever he’d heard it. He glanced at that nearby table. Beth was still talking.
