Turning them around, Cooper propped on the edge of the desk and pulled her in between his legs. “Abby decided I should know certain things about you, about your history, before I got myself in too deep.”
Pulling her hands from his, she said, “Did she, now?”
“I don’t like the way she did it, but here’s a chance to tell your side.”
“So now I’m on trial?” This was not going to happen. Cooper was the one person who didn’t treat her like a criminal, and now he wanted to play judge and jury while she pleaded her case? No thank you. “Let’s just forget it.”
“Hal, wait.” Cooper caught her hand and refused to let go. “Why are you so mad?”
“You lied, Cooper. You said good or bad, and the minute you got the ugly truth, you spooked. Which is exactly what you said wouldn’t happen.”
“But I didn’t—”
Too pissed to listen to anything he had to stay, Haleigh ripped her hand away and charged for the door.
“Now wait a damn minute,” Cooper said, catching Haleigh before she reached the door. “All I’ve done was offer you a chance to have your own say. If I’d believed Abby and told you to get lost the minute you walked in, then fine. You’d have every right to be pissed. But if you recall, I didn’t do that.”
“I shouldn’t have to defend myself,” she growled, madder than he’d ever seen her. “Not to you.”
“Who said anything about defending yourself? Jesus, Hal. What do you think she told me? A few engagements and a drinking problem aren’t exactly felony charges.”
“Don’t do that.” Haleigh poked him in the chest. “Don’t make light of who I am and pretend it doesn’t bother you.”
“And don’t put words in my mouth,” Cooper said, poking her in the arm. “If by bother me you mean am I annoyed by what you’ve been through? Yeah, I’m bothered. If you mean am I ticked that your best friend would betray you, yes, I’m bothered by that, too. But if you think for one minute that I’m going to run the other way because you’ve actively avoided marrying someone, or tried to drown yourself in a bottle once or twice, you’re wrong.”
Like a tire driven over a nail, Haleigh collapsed, her forehead dropping hard against his sternum. “I wish it was only once or twice.”
“I admit,” he said, rubbing her back, “I don’t know what it’s like to fight off the demons you carry around. But if you’ll take some backup, I’m ready to fight with you.”
Her head rolled from side to side. “No. No no no. That’s why we shouldn’t do this.” A golden curl fell over her right eye as she looked up. “You shouldn’t have to fight anything. You deserve an easy life with a simple girl. A girl who doesn’t have enough skeletons in her closet to stock a Halloween store.”
Tucking the wayward strand behind her ear, Cooper smiled. “Simple is overrated. And boring.”
“Heartache and frustration are not an alternative to boring.”
Seeing that she was determined to push him away, Cooper offered a compromise. “How about this. I take you to lunch. You tell me about these bozos you were smart enough not to marry, and if you want to talk about the other part, that’s up to you. Either way, after I hear the ugly details, I’ll decide if I’m in or out.” He couldn’t tell if she looked relieved or defeated, so he pulled her close and whispered, “But here’s a spoiler. I’m in no matter what you tell me. Just so you know.”
She didn’t smile, but she came close. “Abby is so right. I do not deserve you.”
“Then it’s a good thing Abby doesn’t get a vote.” Cooper opened the door and allowed Haleigh to step through first. Before they reached the front counter, Ian stepped in from the garage. “Hey, cuz,” Cooper said. “I’m taking Haleigh to lunch. You want me to bring you something back from Mamacita’s?”
“Heck, yeah,” Ian said. “Get me four tacos and an enchilada.”
“Are you feeding a small army?” Haleigh asked.
“Nope,” he said with a grin as he patted his stomach. “Just a growing boy.”
“Boy is right,” Cooper agreed. “Let Frankie know I’m leaving.”
They didn’t make it a step before Ian asked, “How’s Jessi doing?”
Haleigh said, “She’s good. Busy with the baby. Thankfully, Emma is starting to sleep longer and scream less.”
“She didn’t scream at all the night of the cookout. That’s a good little baby,” said Ian.