Rocky Coast Romance

by Mia Ross

  She’d never admitted that to anyone, she realized, not even herself. It felt strange, but somehow liberating, as if being honest with herself would grow on her if she gave it a chance.

  “In your line of work, I’d imagine those are good qualities to have.”

  “Mostly. Sometimes they get me in trouble, though.” That had jumped out of her mouth all on its own, and she cringed at how pathetic it made her sound.

  “Everyone makes mistakes, Bree,” he said gently. “What we do afterward is what counts.”

  “I guess.” Looking away, she turned her attention to Sammy. Somehow he’d climbed the ladder and stood on the dock, shaking off water before flopping down in an exhausted pile of damp fur. “I’m amazed you want to keep that monster. He’s a sweetie, but what’s in it for you?”

  From the corner of her eye she saw he was focused on the view out to sea and didn’t look over. “Sometimes it gets kinda lonely out here. It’d be nice to have someone here when I get home.”

  “I’m sure there are girls around here who’d love to be here for you.”

  He groaned. “You sound like my mother. Felicia was the one I wanted to share this with. When she turned me down—”

  Cooper shrugged in typical male fashion, but Bree wasn’t letting him get by with that. “That’s no excuse for living like a hermit out here. You could keep this place and live in one of those gorgeous houses in town. You’d be closer to your office and—you know—other people.”

  Even she had friends, she added silently. The few solid ones who’d stuck by her and refused to allow her to slide out of touch with them. As far as she knew, Cooper occasionally played golf with Derek Timms and a grown man who still went by the name Otter. That such a great guy would be reaching out to a dog for companionship screamed loneliness to her, and that just seemed wrong.

  “Mom and her crew will be here soon,” he said, rising from his seat. “If things aren’t set up, she’ll have my head.”

  As he went inside, inwardly Bree seethed about the idiocy of the strong silent type. She’d gone out of her way to try to help him, but he wouldn’t let her. But when she considered what she’d learned about him, she finally understood where he was coming from.

  More than once he’d been betrayed by someone he’d trusted. Loyalty was priceless to Bree, and everything Cooper did and said made it clear he valued it just as highly as she did. While she observed him through the kitchen window, one word came to mind: brokenhearted.

  Unfortunately that was a quality she understood very well.

  Bree pushed down her own bad memories and tagged after him. She hadn’t meant to pry, and his stoic manner made her regret being so inquisitive. Again. She was here to do a job, she reminded herself, not get attached to the people she was writing about.

  Especially not this handsome, infuriating man who made her laugh one minute and mutter under her breath the next. The last thing she wanted in her life right now was chemistry. She needed to stay focused on her work, and make sure Nick wouldn’t have to think twice about adding her to his permanent staff. Because if things at Kaleidoscope didn’t work out, her career just might be over.

  Chapter Eight

  “A few friends, he said,” Bree muttered to Amelia while she dumped a tray of empty cups into the trash and replaced them with fresh ones. “There must be two hundred people here.”

  “It’s a great spot to watch the show,” she explained, fanning herself with her duster cap. “The only place better is from a boat out in the harbor. Red launches the fireworks from a barge, and with the lighthouse in the background, it’s quite a sight.”

  She’d be stuck here helping clean up, but Bree did her best to sound like a good sport. “It sounds awesome.”

  “It is,” Cooper said from behind her. “I thought you might enjoy seeing it for yourself.”

  Still holding the tray, she stared at him. “You’re going out?”

  “Always do.”

  “And you want to take me with you?”

  When he nodded, she felt a rush of excitement and forgot all about being professional. Dropping the cups, she launched herself at him in an impulsive hug. He returned it, and for a few blissful moments, she was wrapped up in those strong arms of his.

  Then she realized what she’d done, and she hastily pulled away, hoping no one other than Amelia had noticed. She wasn’t keen to become the talk of Holiday Harbor. “Sorry about that. I lost my head there for a second.”

  “Well, I hate to brag, ” he replied, eyes twinkling in fun. “But I’m kind of used to that.”

  Rolling her eyes, she decided the best response was to laugh at herself. “I’m sure.”

  Now that he’d floated the idea, she couldn’t wait to go. Not a clock watcher by habit, she couldn’t resist checking the display on the microwave every few minutes. At 8:30 p.m., folks started drifting away, headed for the marina. Amelia was one of them, and Cooper came in from the deck to wish his mother good-night.

  “Bree, it was lovely to meet you,” Amelia said with a warm hug. “If you find yourself back this way, make sure to stop in and see me. There are plenty more Landry stories I didn’t get a chance to tell you.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Turning to Cooper, Amelia asked, “Dinner at my house tomorrow?”

  “Just like every other Tuesday.” Giving her an indulgent smile, he walked her to the door and gave her a peck on the cheek. “See you then.”

  “Such a good boy,” she informed Bree. “Believe me, there’s not another one like him anywhere. I’ve looked.”

  Cooper groaned and gently shoved her onto the front porch. “Good night, Mother.”

  He closed the door and leaned back against it with a long-suffering male sigh. “I love her, but she’s a real handful sometimes.”

  “I like her. She’s spunky and fascinating to talk to. Not to mention she loves her boy to pieces.”

  Hanging his head, he grumbled something she didn’t catch. But the image of this tall, strapping man being defeated by his slip of a mother made Bree laugh. “Buck up, counselor. She’s gone.”

  Lifting his head, he whined, “Do you have any idea what kind of third degree she’ll be giving me at dinner tomorrow?”

  Picking up on the legal reference, she suggested, “You could always take the Fifth.”

  “Not with her. If I don’t answer, she’ll just make something up.”

  As he headed for one of the open French doors, she was confused. “We’re going now?”

  “If you want a good spot, we have to get there soon.”

  Bree motioned around the wreck that used to be his living room. “Your house is a disaster, and there’s still a bunch of people here.”

  “They all knew I’d be going, and that they’re welcome to stay.” Reaching back, he snagged a windbreaker from a metal coat tree fashioned to look like a heron. “The place will still be a disaster later, or in the morning. The fireworks are happening now.”

  “But—”

  Shoving the coat at her, he turned on his heel and strode out the door with Sammy in tow. Mumbling about cavemen, she pulled the jacket on and grabbed her camera. Hurrying after him, she noticed he had a pleasant word for everyone they passed by, but not for her. It was like she wasn’t even there.

  When they got to his boat, though, he stepped in and gallantly offered her a hand. Standing in front of him, she swallowed her pride and thanked him. “I’m kind of a handful, too, aren’t I?”

  His laughter was a nice switch from the response she normally got from men who’d just discovered how deep her stubborn streak ran. “Yeah, but never boring. That’s part of your charm.”

  While he cast off the lines, she stood there in perplexed silence. She had charm? Since when? Pretty much everyone she’d known for more than five minu
tes complained about her temper, her intensity or one of several other less-than-appealing qualities. Cooper obviously saw them, but he liked her anyway. Or maybe he was just being nice because he knew she’d be out of his hair in the morning.

  Whatever the reason, it was a refreshing change from the usual, and she hummed to herself as she adjusted the settings on her camera for manual photos. Going from near darkness to bright flashes in the sky, it would be tricky getting them just right. She made her best guess and took a few test shots, then adjusted to get a better result. Mostly it kept her from watching Cooper expertly maneuver his boat through the crowded harbor toward an available spot with a straight line of sight to the lighthouse.

  By the time they dropped anchor, it was five minutes to nine. Cooper pulled in all the sails, giving them an unobstructed view. All around them boats of various sizes and styles were bobbing in place, their lights twinkling in the slight ripples of the water. The sound of laughter and different styles of music floated on the breeze, giving the night a picnic kind of vibe.

  “This is so cool,” she said as Cooper joined her on the bench.

  “I thought you’d like it.” Calling Sammy over, he fastened the offensive leash on to the dog’s collar.

  The Newfie’s face wrinkled into a canine grimace, but he didn’t whine. He was being so brave, Bree felt even more sorry for him. “He really hates that. It’s like he thinks you don’t trust him.”

  “I know, but if he bolts at the first firecracker, I want to at least have a chance of keeping him in the boat. Finding a black dog in the water at night would be almost impossible.”

  She had to admit, he made good sense, and she liked the way he guarded the safety of this dog that had appeared in his life. Sammy needed someone to take care of him, to make sure he was safe and happy. Even though Cooper was so busy, she suddenly understood why he hadn’t hesitated to adopt the stray.

  From taking over his family’s firm to spending time with his mother to serving the rest of his grandfather’s mayoral term, Cooper took care of things. Not only that, he knew what—and who—was important to him, and gave them the attention they deserved.

  Felicia may be gorgeous, rich and famous, Bree concluded, but the model had one severe flaw. She was an idiot to let Cooper Landry get away. Someday some incredibly fortunate woman would become his wife, and Bree hoped his future fiancée would appreciate what she was getting.

  Her mulling ended abruptly when she heard the telltale hiss of launching fireworks. Cooper pointed to a section of black sky, and a couple of seconds later, the first sparkler burst to life in the darkness. Several more followed, and then the show was on. There were booming ones, multicolored twists, and some so bright she had to squint to look up at them.

  She’d seen plenty of explosive displays, but these were something else again. With the stately lighthouse as a backdrop, it was an incredible sight. A quick check showed her Sammy in the bow of the boat, barking and wagging his tail in approval as each new blast went off. Glancing around, she saw the same appreciation from the people watching Red’s show.

  Pure, unabashed joy, she thought with a smile. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d experienced so much of it in one place. A cool blast of wind coming off the water caught her by surprise, and despite the windbreaker, she folded her arms with a little shiver. Without a word Cooper slipped his jacket off and draped it over her.

  Sweet and simple, it was the most wonderful thing anyone had done for her in a very long time. Tilting her head back, she smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

  “No problem.”

  “Are you this nice to all the girls, or just me?” He replied with a mischievous grin that made her laugh. “So I’m special?”

  “Yup.”

  Turning to face him, she asked, “Why me? You hardly even know me.”

  He hesitated for just a second, as if he was weighing whether or not to answer. When he finally spoke, his tone was laced with compassion. “I know you well enough to see you’ve been kicked around and could use a break.”

  “Most people don’t bother to look that closely at me,” she confided as the wind picked up and blew her hair into her eyes. “Why do you care?”

  Reaching out, he pushed the hair aside with his fingertip and gave her a sympathetic look. “Because you need me to. Isn’t that reason enough?”

  It was more than reason enough, but the words caught in her throat, and all she could do was nod. He grasped her shoulders, and her heart leaped at the thought that he was moving in to kiss her.

  Instead he spun her around and pointed into the sky. “Red’s done reloading, so it’s time for round two. You don’t wanna miss anything.”

  “Definitely not.”

  They watched the rest of the fireworks in silence. Oddly, she was both disappointed and relieved that things hadn’t gotten romantic. What in the world was wrong with her? Her hands were full just getting her career back on track, she reminded herself sternly. The last thing she needed—or wanted—was the distraction of a relationship, especially this far from civilization. Standing on the gently rocking boat, with Cooper planted solidly behind her, Bree tried to put the near miss out of her mind.

  Instead she found herself wishing she could take back what she’d said earlier and invent an excuse to stay in Holiday Harbor.

  * * *

  “Now, you make sure not to be a stranger,” Mavis ordered brusquely, cuddling Reggie in her arms while Cooper loaded Bree’s bags into his car. “Anytime you want to come back, you’ll have a place to stay right here.”

  Smiling, Bree tickled the pig under his chin the way he liked and embraced his owner. Though she’d obviously tried to hide it, Mavis had been near tears during breakfast, and Bree wanted to leave her with good memories. “Thanks so much for everything. I’ve got a whole year’s worth of great stories from everything you told me about this place.”

  The keeper’s widow brightened at the compliment. “Maybe you could write a book about Last Chance Lighthouse.”

  “If I do, I’ll dedicate it to you. And Reggie,” she added, tapping his snout fondly.

  To avoid a long, awkward delay, she waved goodbye and climbed into her seat. Sammy barked “good morning,” and she reached back to pet him before buckling in.

  Before they crested the hill, she looked back to see Mavis still standing there, silhouetted against the whitewashed walls of the tower that meant so much to her. Choking up a little, Bree waved again, pleased to see the woman smile and return the gesture before disappearing from sight.

  It was crazy, Bree knew, but in the past few days, she’d grown very attached to this quaint fishing village and the quirky people who called it home. She’d settle down in a spot like Holiday Harbor someday, she vowed silently. It was a big planet, and there had to be more places like this on it somewhere. She just had to find one of them.

  In town things were bustling, and people stopped them every few yards or so to talk to Cooper and his furry new friend. Several wished Bree a good trip home, which she found very sweet. They’d hardly gotten to know her at all, and here they were wishing her well. Not long ago, she groused, people had been thrilled to see her leaving, because it meant the trouble was over.

  When they got to Cooper’s office, Bree noticed Julia’s storefront was dark, the paper-covered door closed and locked. “Well, that’s a bummer,” she commented to Cooper. “I was hoping to say goodbye to her in person.”

  “She’s off somewhere, doing something fantastic, no doubt. I’ll tell her for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Once they stepped inside the lobby, her tablet displayed a string of messages from Nick in her in-box, and she smiled at the subject lines.

  R U working?

  Did u get my msg?

  Where’s my article?

  She opened the latest on
e, sent at the crack of dawn this morning, and typed the only answer she knew he cared about. Coming soon.

  After clicking Send, she opened her file to add a description of the Fourth of July in Holiday Harbor. Less than five minutes later, her email alert chimed with his reply: Great job.

  Now that she’d gotten positive feedback from him not once but twice, she was feeling better about her future prospects with his magazine.

  Pondering her own future led her to another thought, and she waited for Cooper to stop typing before getting his attention. “We’ve got some time before the bus gets here. Tell me about this development opportunity everyone’s so upset about.”

  “It’s probably better if I show you.” Spinning around, he took a large cardboard tube from his credenza. While he unrolled the plans, he explained. “Ellington Properties wants to build fifty estate homes around a golf course out at Schooner Point. To start.”

  He anchored the top corners with a stapler and tape dispenser, holding the others down with his fists. It was a furious pose, and Bree couldn’t help staring at him. Gone was the calm, composed demeanor she’d assumed was his nature. As he glared at the plans, his eyes blazed like furious sapphires, sharp and dangerous.

  “You don’t like this idea?” she asked, even though the answer was obvious.

  That got her a derisive laugh completely out of character for the easygoing man she’d spent the weekend getting to know. Summoning a patient tone, she asked, “May I see?”

  “Don’t get all polite on me. If you want to look, go ahead.”

  The date on the plans was almost a year ago, which didn’t make sense. “These are dated last fall. Why are you only voting about it now?”

  “Because I didn’t know anything about it till I was hunting for something in Granddad’s office and found this wedged inside a drawer.” His voice still hummed with barely contained anger, and she could only imagine how furious he’d been when he’d first uncovered the drawings.