“Yer gonna need a boatload of insurance.”
“I got that covered.”
“Ya got a full proposal?”
“I do.”
“Wouldn’t mind hearing more about it if ya wanna come by the marina one a these mornin’s ta pitch it to us.”
“Who is us?”
“Me and my buddies. We’re kinda like a brain trust of sorts.”
“Is that right?” Cooper asked, equal parts amused and intrigued. “What marina do you meet at?”
“McCarthy’s. Is there any other?”
“I was going to speak to Mr. McCarthy about running my boats out of his place.”
“Ya have ta talk ta Big Mac, Mac Junior and Luke Harris. Three a them own the joint.”
“Good to know.”
“Ya got any interest in real estate? Got a few places that need some work, but I’m so busy these days with the grandkids that I don’t have much time to deal with ’em. Wouldn’t mind having some help if yer interested.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. I’m gettin’ old. Got other stuff I wanna be doin’ than paintin’ and shit.”
“Would you be interested in a partner?”
Ned glanced in the mirror again, maybe gauging Cooper’s level of sincerity. “Maybe.”
Wow, you never knew who you might meet on Gansett Island. “If I stop by this meeting of the minds in the next few days, perhaps we could discuss this further?”
“Perhaps we could.”
“I’ll look forward to that, Ned.” Cooper handed over a twenty as he noted the cars lining the road outside Mason’s house, where Jordan had resided for most of the summer. Gigi said they’d never officially made the decision to live together. It’d just sort of happened. “Thanks for the ride.”
Ned took the bill and started to make change.
“Keep the change. Coffee’s on me at the marina.”
“Sounds like a plan. Ya got a ride home later?”
“I do, thanks.”
“Have a nice evenin’.”
“You do the same. It was really nice to meet you.”
“Likewise, young Cooper.”
Cooper got out of the car at the end of Mason’s driveway and walked toward the lights and voices, rehashing the conversation with Ned. Was the guy for real? He drove a cab for fun while making a fortune in real estate? If it was true, Cooper might’ve just gotten an extremely lucky break in his fledgling career, and one that didn’t involve Jared.
Not that he didn’t want to be in business with his brother. Anyone would want to be in business with Jared. But Cooper didn’t want all the success he achieved in his life to be tied to his billionaire brother. He wanted to do some of it on his own, separate from Jared and the money he’d given him.
As he approached the gathering in the yard, his gaze immediately found Gigi standing with Jordan and her twin sister. All three women were stunning, but he saw only Gigi. She stood out like the rarest of diamonds. She wore a short white strapless thing that left miles of sexy skin on display, and her blonde hair fell in soft curly waves to her midback.
She dazzled him, making his heart beat funny and his hands feel sweaty. That never happened. When she looked up and saw him there, the smile that stretched across her face made him feel like a conquering hero returning from battle to find his love waiting for him.
His love.
Wow, man. Way to get ahead of yourself.
Gigi said something to Jordan and Nikki and then came to greet him with a hug. “How’re you feeling?”
She smelled as good as she looked. “Much better now.”
“Did you take something for the pain?”
“A while ago, but it’s you that made me feel much better.”
“What’d I do?” she asked, seeming perplexed.
“You smiled at me.”
“That’s all it takes?”
“Apparently so.” He kept an arm around her, even though he was uncertain whether she’d want him to with her friends looking on.
Jordan and Nikki came to say hello. Though they were identical twins, Cooper spotted subtle differences.
“Glad you could come, Cooper. I’m Jordan, and this is my sister, Nikki. We met at the wedding.”
Keeping his left arm around Gigi, he shook hands with them. “Right. Great to see you both again. I’m a huge fan of the show.”
“Thank you,” Jordan said. “That’s always nice to hear.”
“We’re big fans of Gigi’s, and you have your arm around her,” Nikki said.
Whoa. These ladies didn’t mess around. “I like Gigi. A lot.”
“She likes you, too,” Jordan said, “and she doesn’t like anyone.”
“That is not true,” Gigi said. “I like you two. Most of the time.”
“You have to like us,” Jordan said. “We’re family. You don’t have to like him, and you do, which is headline news.”
“Don’t listen to them,” Gigi said.
Cooper found her flustered state adorable and knew her just well enough to understand that it didn’t happen very often.
“You’re very handsome,” Nikki said, giving him a critical once-over, “but I suppose you already know that.”
“I, uh…”
“You don’t have to respond to that,” Gigi said with a pointed look for Nikki. “Let’s get you a drink.” She took hold of Cooper’s hand and led him out of the hornet’s nest. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. They love you and wanted to put me on notice. I get it.”
“They’re ridiculous. They know perfectly well that I can take care of myself.”
“But isn’t it nice to have others who care?”
She shrugged, as if it was no big deal to her that her two best friends would kill for her. What was that about?
“What do you want to drink?”
Noting the full bar, he said, “I’ll do a vodka and soda with a twist of lime.”
“How long ago did you take pain meds?”
“Right after the beach. I should be okay to have a drink or two since I’m not driving.”
“All right, then.” She made the drink and added the lime with a flourish. “There you are.”
“Thank you. How are things here?”
“Good. Jordan didn’t get a chance to tell Nikki the news before the party people showed up, so she asked us to hang out for a bit after. We’re going to pretend she’s telling us both at the same time.”
“Because Nikki’s feelings would be hurt that she’s not the first to know?”
“We’re not sure if they would be, so we’re playing it safe. Twins are weird that way.”
“Darling, introduce me to your deliciously handsome friend,” a gorgeous older woman said as she approached them, drink in hand. She had short silver hair, bright blue eyes and wore a red floral blouse with white pants.
“Evelyn Hopper, grandmother extraordinaire to Jordan and Nikki—”
“And you,” the woman said.
“And me,” Gigi said with a soft smile that changed her entire demeanor. Interesting. “Meet Cooper James.”