Free Copper by Iris Abbott Page A

the Metal Cowboys came up with a concrete plan, the faster they could move from planning to the action phase.
     

FIVE
    Marla slowly stretched.  The scrapes on her knees and palms were still stinging from the fall on the asphalt parking lot.  She glanced down at her taped side. A dull ache settled in sometime during the night, but the tape was clean, no sign of bleeding. She was grateful for that much at least.
    After taking stock of her body the first thing she noticed was that the other side of the bed was empty. She remembered Copper being with her when she fell asleep.  Judging by the cool sheets, he’d been gone for a while.  She should be relieved, instead she felt bereft.  She would examine her strange reaction to his absence later.
    She carefully maneuvered her way out of bed, cleaned up, and got dressed.  She could hear faint sounds coming from downstairs. Time to face her hosts, all five of them.  In the back of her mind, Marla was aware that Copper was the only one who mattered. 
    She took a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other, moving closer toward the noise and the unavoidable face-to-face with Copper. Seeing him always tied her stomach in knots. Now it would be even worse. She laid her soul bare to him.  He knew about her worst mistake, her darkest secret, and the cause of her deepest heartache. 
    Last night, she opened up to him in a way that she’d never been able to do with anyone else.  She wasn’t intimidated by his rough good-looks and tough demeanor anymore.  Instead she was overwhelmed by the sizzling physical attraction between them and the unexpected tenderness and concern he showed for her the night before.  Rough and tough she could ignore and move away from.  She had no idea how to fight this other side of the intriguing man. 
    The trail of sound and the unmistakable smell of frying bacon led her to the kitchen.  As soon as she entered the room several pairs of eyes turned her way.  She flashed a smile around the room but refused to raise her eyes above shoulder level. 
    “Morning,” she greeted everyone with a shy smile and soft voice. 
    There were several grunts of acknowledgment.  A clear hello from Natalie rang out above the deep sounds made by the men.  “Just ignore them,” she told her sister.  “They were still plotting and planning when I came down for coffee first thing this morning.  You want some breakfast?”
    At the mention of food, Marla’s stomach loudly growled. Her hands flew to her belly. “Sorry about that. I didn’t eat dinner yesterday.  I was going to have leftovers when I got back to the apartment, but getting shot kind of derailed that plan.”
    Looking around the kitchen at the somber faces, Marla sighed.  “I’m starving, where’s the food?”
    “I thought you might be hungry,” Natalie said with a smile.  “I saved a plate of bacon and eggs for you.  It’s warming in the stove.”
    Marla spied the stainless steel commercial double oven and headed that way.  “You’re a lifesaver.  Thanks, Natalie.”  Almost as if to prove her point, her stomach growled again.
    She grabbed the plate and returned to the table.  The only empty seat just happened to be to the right of Copper, who was seated at the head of the table.  Her knee brushed against his when she sat down. Her body tensed. She jerked away, knocking over the glass of orange juice at her place setting.
    She quickly stood, trying to mop up the spreading liquid with the paper napkin that was lying next to her plate. Marla unbalanced her chair. It toppled over, causing a loud crash that made her spin toward the noise.  A dismayed look settled on her face.  “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I guess I’m all thumbs this morning,” she quickly threw out a plausible excuse.
    Copper looked like he was trying to swallow a grin. “I think you’re entitled after the day you experienced yesterday.” He reached out a hand. “Let me get that.”
    His voice