Page 47 of Ruthless Wars

With a giggle, I recall a story. “Well, I once told him I was taking him to an art gallery but dragged him to Pottery Barn. Sure, he was disappointed at first, but we had fun jumping on a bed, and when they shooed us away, I made it all better with a Blizzard and pretzel bites from the food court. Now, Jaclyn was my hellion.”

Coop gives me an incredulous look. “Jaclyn? The future CEO of Long Multinational?”

“When her head wasn’t in a book, she was in one fight or another.”

“You were bailing her out?”

“Hell no. I was having her back, especially in college. Poor Wyatt was our one phone call. Every time.”

With a tight turn, we head away from the ocean, driving inland up a steep hill. As we round a curve bordered by a thin line of trees, a luxury seaside mansion appears.

As soon as Coop parks, I hop out of the car, grateful for my casual deck shoes as I shuffle along the pebbled drive. “It’s gorgeous,” I say, taking in the lavish home. The sleek lines and rounded angles offset its grandeur, blending perfectly into the nature around it.

“Alli has a fresh pitcher of sangria waiting, and some other goodies in the kitchen. She and Gabe headed to the beach since Evie’s already slacking on the job,” Coop says, shooting her a scolding glare over the rim of his Ray-Bans.

“O, ye of little faith,” Evie says, handing him her phone opened to what seems to be a GIF starring Evie and Austin.

I lean in for a closer look, immediately captured by Coop’s strong arm swooping me tightly against his easygoing T-shirt that I’m sure was made exclusively to cuddle against.

“I already texted Gabe.” In the six-second video, Evie’s making a V of her fingers, moving them back and forth between her eyes and the camera, mouthing, “I see you.” Behind her is Austin, mirroring her movements with, “Me too,” coming from his smiling lips.

“Fine,” Coop says. “You earned your keep.”

When he tightens his hold on me, I melt into the wall of his heat, ready to hump his leg if he keeps it up. After hooking his shades onto the neckline of his shirt, he presses his lips to mine.

Pulling away before he’s ready for me to go is hopeless. He’s not done kissing me yet, no matter who’s watching.

Coop’s kiss is rough and hungry, his fresh stubble rubbing my lips. The sensation makes me tingle, almost as much as his solid cock makes me wet as it presses into my belly.

Breathless, I moan into his mouth.

“Shhh,” he whispers against my lips. “As much as I’d like you to break the sound barrier tonight, we’ve got a house full of my family.”

Seductively, I bite my lower lip. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. You want me quiet? That’s your problem to solve.”

“Hey, Austin,” Coop hollers, though the man is just a few feet away. He seems to have unloaded luggage from both convertibles while I’ve been in Coop’s arms, and just shut the trunk of ours. “I know you’re dying to hit the beach, and I’ll bet Evie would enjoy the sand between her toes.”

Austin’s chuckle ends in a nervous huff. “You’re not actually trying to set me up with an engaged woman, right?”

“No.” Coop’s tone is stern and certain. “But we only have a couple of days here, and you’re not exactly a homebody. And Evie—”

“And nothing.” Austin crosses his arms over his chest. “If you want me and Evie out of your hair, you’ll have to throw money at the problem.”

Coop pulls me closer, and instantly I know that no matter what outrageous demand flies out of Austin’s mouth, Coop’s ready, willing, and—by the boldness of his erection against me—more than happy to pay.

Confident, Coop gives his cousin a shark’s grin. “Name your price.”

“Your black card.” Austin’s words prompt a questioning brow to lift clear to Coop’s hairline, so he clarifies his outrageous demand. “For the afternoon. That includes a few hours renting a premium sailboat—the only one left in the marina at this hour—shopping, a supremely expensive seafood dinner, and whatever else I can do to squeeze this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all it’s worth.”

Coop fishes the card from his wallet, not hesitating for a second to hand it over. “You drive a hard bargain. But are you sure Evie’s okay with this?”

The slam of the house’s front door draws everyone’s attention to Evie. In denim capris and a loose white T-shirt, she’s beaming from ear to ear as she skips over, quickly knotting her hair in a low bun at her nape before securing it with a scrunchie. “I’m ready.”

“Ready?” I ask, piecing together the puzzle of two obvious co-conspirators who probably used the drive from the airport to work out the details well ahead of Coop’s suggestion.

He looks down on me sweetly, pressing a light peck to my forehead, silently insisting he’s fine with being duped.

“I’m finally going to learn to sail,” Evie says with a huge grin. “Can you believe it?”

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