Emma Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 11) by Faleena Hopkins

Author:Faleena Hopkins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hop Hop Productions Inc
Published: 2017-07-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 25

T ANNER

M y nephew, Ryder, and his best friend, Jimmy, safely hang off the front of the 56’ motor yacht I chartered to take us around the San Francisco Bay for a day cruise. It’s not as huge a boat as I could have chosen. Those don’t go fast enough and the boys crave action.

Jen packed us lunches which sit waiting in a cooler near her legs. She and I are drinking Rex Hill Pinot Gris, because she only drinks California wines out of loyalty. We’re on cushy, waterproof seats, our backs to the wake, sun in our hair and skin shining of sunscreen she made me put on. We get to relax and enjoy while Captain Jack, as he half-jokingly calls himself, steers us to all the best hideouts.

“You’re awfully quiet, Tanner,” Jen notices. “I’ve been doing all the talking.”

“You like talking,” I remind her, the glass at my lips.

My sister gives me the look she’s given me my whole life. “Har har. You’re always reserved but never like this. I’m talking to a statue.”

“A handsome statue,” I wink, trying to change the subject. “Looks like Ryder and his friend are having fun. Think he forgives me for missing the graduation?”

“He reveres you and you know it. His uncle could forget a dozen birthdays and he’d find an excuse to forgive you.”

“Not if they were yours. He’d never forgive me then.”

The Golden Gate Bridge looms majestically ahead and Jen turns her head to take it in. “My son is very protective of me. Never forget my birthday.” After a moment she asks in a more private voice. “Did you lose money?”

“I didn’t lose money, God, do I look that terrible?”

“Something’s wrong, I can tell. And business is all you care about, so I figured something must have gone terribly wrong. You have shadows under your eyes, and even out here you look pale, Tanner. Confide in me for once!”

We inherited the same stubborn gene. Rubbing my chin I consider telling her the subject is closed but with one flicked glance I can see she won’t drop it this time.

“Give me more wine,” I grumble, holding my arm out. She reaches into the cooler and hands me the bottle.

Leaning in she watches me pouring and her eyes, dark like my own, begin to sparkle with curiosity. “This is going to be about a woman, isn’t it?”

Filling my glass above the acceptable line set by polite society, I cock an eyebrow. “I think it’s shit. But maybe you’ll see something I don’t.”

“Pour me some, too, you lush.”

“Thank God someone else is driving this thing,” I mutter.

Jen chuckles, “Cheers to that,” dark, loose hairs flying back in the wind, unable to be contained by her low ponytail. “Who is it, and why the frown?”

I sigh and spread my legs, getting comfortable. “She’s too young for me.”

“How old?”

“She looks early twenties but Dan tells me from her bio that she must be nearer to thirty, if not that.”

Jen cocks her head. “That’s not too young.

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