The voice she’d heard was her brother’s.

LINNEA FINISHED THE croissant, carefully licking her fingertips to rid them of butter and flakes. She needed to keep busy, to quell her racing mind. She began preparing chicken salad from the lovely roasted chicken she’d purchased. The meat was still warm to the touch. As she worked, her mind repeatedly assessed how she felt about Anna sleeping with her brother. It was a lot to take in. What was Cooper doing here, anyway? When had they met? Had they been seeing each other on the sly? Linnea snorted. Why didn’t they have the decency to take their tryst somewhere neutral? So much for Anna being lonely. She certainly didn’t need cheering up!

She took extra care while she chopped the slippery green onions not to cut off her finger. The onions were making her eyes water and she was so agitated, she could barely cut evenly.

“Hey.”

Cooper’s voice. She took a calming breath, then looked over her shoulder. Could it be more obvious? Cooper had combed his dark hair with his fingers, his skin was flushed, and he had his shirt on inside out. She felt her cheeks flame and turned back to her onions.

“Hello.” Chop. Chop. Chop.

“I rode over on my bike. Boy, am I out of shape. I’m winded.”

“Really? You don’t sound winded.” She glanced over her shoulder. “By the way, your shirt is inside out.”

He lifted his arms to take off his shirt. She couldn’t help but notice he was in pretty good shape. He reversed it and put in on correctly this time. “Better?”

She rolled her eyes. He was oblivious.

She finished chopping and tossed the onions into the cut chicken cubes. Then she picked up a towel and began drying her hands. She turned to face Cooper across the room. With his six-foot-two frame, his broad shoulders, his dark hair and eyes, he was handsome in a John Kennedy Jr. kind of way. It was no wonder Anna was attracted to him. Linnea had to face the fact that her kid brother wasn’t a boy anymore. Though he seemed a bit sheepdog-like in manner today. Linnea set the towel on the counter and crossed her arms, curious how he was going to play this.

“So, you’re done with quarantine?” she asked him.

“Yeah,” Cooper said, nodding. He leaned against the opposite counter.

She smiled. “It’s nice to see you.”

“Long time.”

“Yeah.” She was waiting it out.

After an awkward pause, he said, “It’s been close quarters on Sullivan’s. Mom’s been hovering. And Dad…” He snorted. “He can’t wait to get me out to the work site.”

“You need a job,” she said without emotion. “You’re lucky to have one.”

“Lucky is not exactly how I see it.” Cooper crossed his arms. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Here it comes, Linnea thought. She took a breath, hoping she could handle this with grace.

“I can’t live at home. I’m going frickin’ crazy and it’s only been two weeks. Mom’s cooking like Gordon Ramsay, shoving food at me. She’s trying to personally guarantee I gain the Covid nineteen. And Dad, he’s polishing up the brass plate.” Cooper spread out his palms like he was reading a sign. “Rutledge and Son.” He dropped his hands. “I love them. You know I do. But I can’t live with them.”