The Hero (Thunder Point #3)(24)

“Will he paint and repair the walls?”

“He says if he has to put any work into it, he wants seven hundred.”

“What about the damaged overhang?” Devon asked.

“I think I can talk him into that—it looks dangerous. And the agreement reads that if anything doesn’t work or leaks, he has to replace or repair it. But it’s four-fifty, as is. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have wasted your time. It’s horrible.”

Devon had been thinking about the layout—a small but functional kitchen, a good-size living room with a pretty little fireplace, two nice-size bedrooms and a rather large, disgusting bathroom. And a view to die for.

“I think it’s beautiful. I’ll take it!”

Six

Midafternoons on a weekday were a quiet time at Cooper’s. Perfect time to have a little sit-down, and Landon and Spencer were asked to join Cooper and Sarah for a talk. Rawley passed the four of them as they were seated around a table on the deck and he headed back to his kitchen.

“You’re welcome to join us if you want the latest news,” Cooper said to him. “We’re having a status update meeting.”

“I don’t do meetings. It ain’t in my contract. I’ll tend bar and serve. Anyone want anything?”

“I’m good,” Spencer said, wondering what this meeting was all about.

“I’ll have a Coke, Rawley,” Landon said.

“’S’at right?” he said, and went inside. But he didn’t come back.

“How’d that work out for you?” Cooper asked with a laugh.

“You need better help around here.” Landon leaned back in his chair lazily. “Just give us the update,” he said. “And be sure you clock my time.”

Cooper looked at Sarah. “Do we have to be married before I can cuff him?” he asked.

But Landon got a wop on the back of the head from Spencer. “I don’t have to marry anyone to do that. I’m his new coach. Now can we get to it? Please?”

“All right, we’re getting married,” Cooper said.

“We know this already, Cooper,” Spencer replied.

“Soon. Two weeks from Saturday. Carrie said she’d cater a party right here—could be very nice. We’ll have a quiet ceremony out on the beach,” he said, taking Sarah’s hand. “Then have a little sunset party on the deck, on the dock, on the beach.”

“How lovely,” Landon said, bored to tears.

“Landon, how would you like your own home?” Sarah asked him.

“So you’re moving out on me instead of moving Cooper in with us?” he asked.

“Something like that,” Cooper said. “We’ve been knocking around plans for the past couple of weeks. Sarah’s going to be flying the rest of the summer. At least that’s the way it looks right now. But she’s short—her schedule is already lightening up and they have a brand-spanking-new Lieutenant Commander on his way in to take over most of her duties. So we started talking to builders. And we’re going to build. Right there,” he said, pointing to the steep hill next door to the bar. “Nice big picture window, big deck, stairs to the beach, big kitchen. We’ll be excavating around the lot, making room.”

“You’re going to disturb the wildlife?” Landon asked. Cooper had been trying to respect the wishes of the departed friend who had left him the beachfront property; Ben had wanted the promontory on the other side of the bar left to the birds and flora—a natural preserve.

“The land between me and Thunder Point doesn’t have any wildlife except beetles on it,” Cooper said. “I’m going to develop it. At least some of it. I have to—I need a couple of decent roads. That’s the price of a house. And I want a house.” He reached for Sarah’s hand. “Sarah’s going along with me on this, at least until she figures out what she wants to do. While she’s having a little time off to think, she’s going to be a general contractor. She’s going to help me build us a house.”

There was quiet for a few moments and then it was Spencer who broke the silence. He cleared his throat. “I couldn’t be happier for you both, but what does this have to do with me?”

“You’ve been hunting for a house,” Cooper said. “You hoped to get into something with a bigger kitchen and bathroom before football practice started and you ran out of time to look. I think we can help with that. Consider it another temporary situation, but Sarah’s place won’t move in the wind, it’s in town, and it’s small but nice.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Wait a minute,” Landon said. “I might get enough of Spencer at practice, no offense.”

“No offense taken,” Spencer said. “You’re not my dream roommate, either.”

“Landon, let’s talk about you having your own place,” Sarah suggested.

Landon sat up straighter, but suspiciously. And hopefully. “Like an apartment?”

“Like the toy hauler, where Spencer and Austin have been staying.”

He glanced at it, thought for a moment. “Hot! Can I move it? Like somewhere else?”

“No,” they said in unison.

He slunk back down in his chair. “Well, it’s better than sleeping in the same place with you two, I guess.” He glanced at Spencer. “They’re embarrassing.”