Love Inspired August 2013 - Bundle 2 of 2: Healing Hearts\Rocky Coast Romance\Daddy Next Door by Margaret Daley

Author:Margaret Daley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

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

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