“You’re not working today?”

“Nope. Playing hooky.” It felt good to be naughty.

“Then get dressed,” her brother instructed. “We’re going out.”

“Bossy boots.” She didn’t fancy getting up yet. She’d been planning to stay in bed and read a mystery novel that promised lots of blood and gore. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll find out soon.” Cooper’s reply was frustratingly cryptic. “So get your lazy butt out of bed, have a shower and put on a nice dress. I’ll drop by and pick you up in an hour.”

“You’re actually going to make me get out of bed?” She hated the whine in her voice.

“Yes. Out you get. Go on. You can do it.”

“Fine,” she grumbled. “But I’m not happy about it.”

Cooper hung up, and she dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. Usually, she enjoyed hot showers, but with the warm weather, it was a bit much. She hurried through her morning routine, rinsing her hair and adding a leave-in conditioner without blow-drying. Since she didn’t have any idea what Cooper had in mind, she thought it was better to be safe than sorry and slapped on a light coat of makeup. She dressed in a blue halter-necked dress and slid into her favorite pair of strappy sandals. Deciding it matched the outfit too perfectly to ignore, she added the blue topaz necklace Eli had given her. No one would read anything into it. It didn’t mean she was pining for him. It was no more than a pretty necklace. And if it happened to remind her of their time together, that was her little secret.

Cooper was lounging on the outdoor swing seat, rocking back and forth, when she locked the door behind her. He whistled. “You look nice.”

“Thanks,” Aria said. “Where are we going?”

“Nope.” He treated her to his lady-killer smile—the one that had gotten him under the skirts of most of the unmarried women within ten kilometers. “Not telling. Be patient.”

“I’m not a patient person,” she reminded him.

“Like I could forget.”

He ushered her into his old Ford. She kept silent as he drove up the hill and away from the lake before veering down a side street. They drew closer to Eli’s construction site, and she grew increasingly nervous. She didn’t want to run into him after yesterday. Not when she’d been so hurt, and he’d been so oblivious. Especially not when she was wearing his necklace.

“Sit still,” Cooper instructed as she fidgeted in the seat.

They turned into the construction site driveway, and Aria held her breath.

He parked the car. “Out you get,” he said.

“I don’t want to be here.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and didn’t open the door. “Take me home, Coop.”