Chapter 3

chapter

three

Cooper

There's a story behind Harmony's body language around me.

And I'm starting to sense that it's more than natural shyness.

That fact is clearer now that the Mosley sisters are at our house, away from the clamor of the business expo.

Aunt Gabby's intimate sitting room, where our aunt once entertained everyone from hip-hop stars to diplomats, has me relaxed and focused on Harmony's little quirks.

She's a little high-strung and shy, obviously. But there's more to it. Something in her eyes is haunted and distrustful.

First, she declines my offer to help her with her coat. Independent person; I get that. But then, she goes stiff and moody when I offer to make her a drink.

"She hates my guts," I say to Carter as we hang back while the ladies have a side conversation by the bar.

"Irrelevant," Carter says. "This is business."

"You're one to talk," I snort, sipping my bourbon on the rocks. I savor the sweet bite of that first sip of the night.

"What do you mean?"

I roll my eyes. "Carrying her like she's an invalid."

"She could have bruised her ankle way worse if I'd let her keep walking in those heels."

I let it go and stare at Harmony across the room. There's lots of whispers and hisses happening over there.

"She's walking fine now, so let's not perform the superhero act again, eh?" I say.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, cool it with the romantic shit. I think Harmony feels pressured and I don't want her thinking I could start making demands in exchange for funding their project."

"Neither of them think that," Carter says.

"We'll see about that."

Finally, Summer says something to Harmony loud enough for me to hear.

"No talking until you've had something to eat," she tells her sister.

We've got this part handled.

"This way, ladies," I say, leading everyone through the main kitchen and out to the back patio. "Welcome to my happy place."

The spacious, newly installed outdoor kitchen gazebo is the perfect conversation starter as the four of us nibble on appetizers and make small talk. This kind of vibe is where I shine. But Harmony is still tight-lipped and on edge.

Trying to break the ice, Summer says, "Ever since we were kids, she's always wanted a swimming pool in the backyard."

"It's nice," Harmony says, looking away as I beam at her, for the umpteenth time today.

Summer prods her. "This looks a lot like the one you pinned on your vision board."

Now we're getting somewhere. "Vision board, huh?" I say. "Interesting."

Harmony finally adds, "I went to college on a swim team scholarship," she says."

"Cool! You'll have to come over and show me how to do the breaststroke," I say earnestly.

Harmony blushes a deep red.

I don't know why my brother looks as horrified as one would if I'd requested a sexual favor. "It's the hardest stroke to master," I get out before Carter cuts me off.

"Let's eat!"

Everything I say is embarrassing. Sometimes, having a twin is worse than raising a teenager.

"You said this was your happy place?"

Our bellies full of dinner, Carter and Summer have wandered down to the koi pond to enjoy the sunset.

Harmony seems to warm up to me now that she's had something to eat—and changed from her revealing outfit into dressy trousers and flowing tunic. She looks a lot more comfortable now, and that makes me happy.

I make a mental note to keep her comfortable and well fed. And to build her a pool one day.

I let her pick a comfortable seat on one of the couches by the pool, and I sit two cushions away to give her space.

"The whole house is my happy place, actually. After our parents died, Aunt Gabby took us under her wing. We spent a lot of time here as kids, and she always looked out for us," I say. Harmony leans toward me, listening.

"When Carter and I inherited this house, I wanted to gut the place and modernize it, but Carter said we shouldn't spend so lavishly. So we agreed we could each pick one major splurge. Carter went hiking on the Appalachian Trail."

"Ew, no thanks," Harmony mutters.

I laugh, and I'm in full agreement. "My splurge was the pool, the patio, and everything you see back here."

"It's perfect. It's my dream backyard."

"Cool."

She looks around and sighs. "We didn't have much after our dad left. Our mom raised four kids on her own in a small apartment. I decided a long time ago that I wanted lots of kids and a huge backyard for them to play in. A pool, swing sets, a tree house, a trampoline. Everything we couldn't have."

"And a mother-in-law suite?" I add, winking.

"Well, that might not be necessary. She just started dating someone and I don't know much but I do know she's taken care of very well. Very well."

"She sounds like a great lady and deserves a comfortable life."

I love watching Harmony's face when she talks about her mother. My heart squeezes at the memory of our parents and Aunt Gabby. Our family might be comfortable, but it's suffered a lot of loss and a lot of fractures. I can already see myself turning this house into a place full of family and friends, rather than a show place for celebrities and people I don't care about.

Sorry, Aunt Gabby, for what I'm about to say.

"I loved our aunt, but I'd like to gut the place and redo it. I could do with a few less cupids, you know what I mean? And I'm all about a nice water feature, but a moat? Really?"

Harmony laughs so hard she has to set her glass of pinot on the coffee table. "Oh my god! I'm so glad you said that. I was so freaked out by the cupids! No offense, but I thought the Playboy Mansion and the Versailles of Florida had a baby. I almost made Summer turn the car around and leave."

I am dead. I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe.

"I shouldn't have said that!" Harmony cries, leaning in and grabbing my hand. "My mouth got away from me!"

"Stop it, I love your mouth."

Immediately she snatches her hand back.

The air is thick between us as we sit there, watching each other.

"Tell you what. You get me a return on my investment, and you can be the first to take a sledgehammer to the cupid fountain," I tell her. "In fact, you can help me DIY the whole place."

"But what would your girlfriend say about me hanging around your house in a sexy utility belt?"

If she's trying to make me less aroused, she's having the opposite effect. Now, I can only imagine Harmony waltzing around my house in nothing but that and a hard hat.

"No girlfriend. And I'm inviting you as a friend," I tell her.

Her genuine smile breaks me in half.

"Friends," she says.

We fist-bump each other, and I'm happy Harmony is comfortable with me.

"Let's go find the others and sign the contract."