The One Real Thing (Hart's Boardwalk) Read Online Free PDF Page B

he’d said he’d fix her car so she didn’t have to pay the local garage to do it.
    But Cooper knew from Cat that Aydan was also looking for a stable man in her life.
    Cooper wasn’t that guy.
    For now, he was steering clear of relationships.
    Despite the fact that they lived in a small town and everybody knew Cooper wasn’t interested in settling down again, Aydan seemed to be testing his position.
    When he’d turned up at her place to tow the car to the large shed he owned on the outskirts of Hartwell, he’d known something was up right away. It was the short jean skirt, tight tank top, and high red heels she was wearing.
    Aydan usually dressed for comfort. He’d only ever seen her in a skirt and heels when she was on the prowl with Cat when they were younger.
    Shit.
    “I really appreciate you doing this, Coop,” Aydan said, closing the distance between them again. She ran her fingertips down his bare arm. “Maybe I could have you over for dinner to say thanks.”
    Shit.
    “Sure. You, me, Angela, Cat, and Joey.” He said, deliberately mentioning her kid and his nephew. “A family dinner sounds good.”
    Her face fell. “Well, I was thinking—”
    “It shouldn’t take me too long to get the parts for your car. As soon as they arrive, I’ll make time, get it fixed up for you. For now I’ve got to get the bar open. I’ll give you a ride back into town.”
    He went to move past her, but she grabbed his wrist. “Coop . . . I’d really like to have you over for dinner. Just you. Angela is staying with friends next weekend.”
    Ah, hell.
    She was staring up at him with those pretty blue eyes as if he could hand her the world with just one word, and it made him feel like the biggest asshole for not giving her what she wanted. She deserved a good guy in her life. Cooper just wasn’t the guy. He reached out and brushed her soft cheek with his thumb. “If you were anyone else but my sister’s best friend, I’d be over to your house for dinner in a heartbeat.”
    She blushed, her gaze dropping. “That’s just your diplomatic way of saying you’re not interested.”
    “Hey.” He tipped her chin gently to raise her eyes back to his. “Ayd, you’re gorgeous and you’re sweet, but you know I’m not in the place to start anything up.”
    This time she gave him a sympathetic smile. “I get that. You know
I
get that.”
    “Good. So we’re okay?” He grinned.
    She rolled her eyes. “When you smile like that you know it’s hard for any woman to be mad at you.”
    He winked at her and heard her laughing as she followed him to the truck.
    Relief moved through him.
    “How’s Angela doing?” he asked as they rode back into town.
    “Oh, she’s doing great. She got a summer job at the fun park and she’s helping out a lot. She’s a good girl.”
    “She is that.” Cooper smiled. “You’re doing a great job there, Ayd.”
    She gave him a tired smile. “I do what I can.”
    “Which is a lot more than some.” He pulled up to a stop at her small house. It was in the crappiest neighborhood in Hartwell. She’d moved Angela there nine months back. They used to live four houses down from Cooper, but when her asshole of an ex left them, he left them without the means to pay rent on the nicer house.
    “Thanks for saying so, Coop.” She opened the door. “And thanks again for the car.”
    “No problem. I’ll call you when it’s fixed.”
    She threw him a wave over her shoulder and Cooper pulled away from the house.
    “Call Cat,” he said to his truck’s computer system.
    His sister picked up on the third ring. “What’s up?”
    “Did you know Aydan was going to make a play for me?”
    His sister groaned down the line. “Oh, please tell me she didn’t.”
    “I wish I could.”
    “Well, don’t feel special. She has a list of suitable guys and you’re actually last on the list. She probably just went for it because the opportunity arose.”
    Cooper grinned. “You always know how to make