Page 72 of Summer Nights

I twirled the pasta on my fork, my heart beating fast now that I figured out what I wanted to do. "I'd love to see Shep's house, and I've always wanted to go minigolfing."

Cooper paused and looked at me. "You've never been?"

"It's so expensive, or at least it was when I was growing up, and then you get older, and things like that are just for kids."

Cooper grinned. "We can go minigolfing."

I had visions of golfing and then eating an ice-cream cone. I remembered it was one of those dates that was popular when we were in high school. Not that I ever let a guy take me anywhere. I always rebuffed that kind of attention back then. I was focused on getting a college scholarship so I could have a better life.

I had vowed never to depend on anyone ever again, and here I was living with a man. I'd justified the move in my head, but now I was questioning the intelligence of the situation. We finished eating dinner, and I helped him clean up.

"You want to go for that walk now?"

"Sure, let me grab a sweater." The breeze in the evening could be cool.

When I returned, he held his hand out for me, and I rested my palm in his. It felt good to hold his hand. He was probably doing it so he could help me balance in the sand. He was usually worried about my safety. But it felt good.

Once we reached the edge of the surf, I asked, "Why did Shep get the house?"

"He was closest our grandmother."

"Did you get jealous of her attention for him?"

Cooper fell silent for a few seconds. "It wasn't that she liked him better. They just bonded in a different way. They understood each other. So no, none of us was jealous."

"You weren't upset that your twin got her house?" It had to be worth millions.

"We all inherited something from her, so it's fine. I think Shep feels closer to her there, and we'd never begrudge him that."

"That's sweet." Cooper surprised me more every day with how thoughtful he was. How deeply he felt about things. His personality around Shep had been muted because he had lived in his shadow. But I'd gotten to know him better the last few months.

"I hope I'm not preventing you from seeing your brother."

"I'd already decided to give him some space. He can't grow if I'm always keeping a close eye on him. As Dad always said, he has to sink or swim. I'm done keeping him afloat."

"If you want to have time with your brothers or friends, don't worry about me. I can cook when I have to."

Cooper grinned. "When I have to?"

"I work in the evenings, so it's always been easier just to pick something up on the way home."

"I'll let you know if I'm not cooking dinner and going out instead. But I've been enjoying staying home lately. There's someone who I look forward to seeing at the end of the night."

I grinned. "And who might that be?"

He moved close to me, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. My breath hitched at his tender touch. "You."

Then he kissed me on the beach for anyone to see, and I didn't care. I wasn't worried about sending the wrong message or falling more for him. I was starting to think the fall was inevitable. I just hoped I could pick myself up after he was gone.

Chapter Eighteen

Cooper

I got up early to work at Shep's house. He was still working on ripping out the numerous bathrooms, so I used my key to get in and met him upstairs. The house was enormous and would take a long time for him to renovate with him working on it by himself.

I preferred to hang out with him here more than at the bars.

I followed the noise to one of the guest bathrooms. This one was a Jack-and-Jill style, connecting two bedrooms.

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