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“You didn’t really just say that?” Eve felt her brows inch up her forehead. “How old were you when you beat Mitch for the family championship?”
One side of her brother’s mouth curled upward in a knowing smile. “Hey, not every kid is a natural born athlete like yours truly.”
“Oh brother. Talk about an inflated ego.”
“I beg your pardon?” His hand on his heart, Kyle had the audacity to look offended before laughing and shaking his head.
Addison, Kyle’s wife, rolled her eyes at her husband, and shaking her head, kissed him on the cheek. “Such a ham. Good thing I love you.” Patting his hand gently, she turned to face Eve. “I will say one thing, if anyone on this ship can relate to kids, it’s Craig.”
Kyle nodded. “The man does basically play for a living.”
“Pot calling kettle black?” She smiled at her brother.
Kyle rolled his eyes. “By now I’m sure Craig’s engaging Jake in a favorite video game or some such thing to help the kid take his mind off his grandmother.”
When they picked Jake up from camp, Jared had done a remarkable job of explaining to the little boy that his grandmother wouldn’t be home for at least a short while. For the most part, Jake listened carefully and only dared ask a few basic questions about hospitals and Mary’s injuries, but by the time they were climbing into the car for the ride home, Jake’s silence either meant he was at peace with the situation or completely distraught, and she didn’t have a clue which it might be.
Unfortunately for everyone, once they parked at the marina, Jake had appeared less than impressed with the big boat, showed little interest in the Wave Runners parked aboard, or the suggestion of tubing on the small motorboat. Fishing hadn’t captured his interest either. Eve had thought every little boy was genetically inclined to want to speed, get dirty, and put worms on a hook. Apparently, all of her expectations were dashed at the perpetual blank expression on Jake’s face. Though she did think that she had caught a glimpse of interest in his eyes as they’d walked past the bridge, but then Craig had appeared talking about his latest challenge getting permits to light a beach scene in a recent production and the little boy slipped back into his previous state of disinterest.
Shortly after that, Craig offered Jared and Jake a tour of the yacht and since she already knew as much about the boat as her brother, she opted to stay in the lounge with Kyle, thinking the fewer people along for the tour, the more likely the possibility that Jake and Jared might find something to bond over. Something to make the next few weeks more comfortable for both of them.
“Hey man.” Kyle pushed to his feet as Jared entered the room. “Long time, no see.”
The two men fell into one of those back slapping man hugs that reminded Eve how close the two had once been before Jared took over the Golden Creek. For years they’d partied hard and traded top spots on the most eligible bachelor lists. A good reason why she really shouldn’t get so involved, and yet… She studied the two mens’ smiling faces. Both men seemed to have manned up and settled down. At least she hoped so.
“I think I may need more help than I thought.” Jared turned to the sofa where she sat.
Eve didn’t like the sound of that. As inconspicuously as she could manage, she tried to glance around Jared in search of Jake. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” He slid into the chair beside her. “He’s talking to the captain about the engines.”
“He’s talking engines?” She wasn’t sure which surprised her more, that Jake was interested in the ship’s engines, or that he was talking at all.
Glass paused at his lips, Kyle raised a single eyebrow in her direction.
“Why would the captain be boring a little kid talking about the engines?”
“Bored isn’t the first word to come to mind.” Jared leaned back in his seat. “Probably because Jake asked him something about nautical miles and the next thing I knew, the two of them were talking as if they were old navy buddies. The kid really seems to know quite a bit about engines, or he’s very good at faking it.”
“Really?” That had not been what Eve was expecting. Especially not from a nine-year-old. “I’m going to go with he does like boats.” If nothing else, the alternative that he was faking an understanding of the ship’s engines left her with images of a future con man feeling out his mark, and that was just crazy.
“I think,” Jared blew out a short sigh, “he likes anything mechanical.”
“And why will you need our help?”
Jared’s gaze lifted to Kyle’s. He’d almost forgotten he’d mentioned needing help when he’d joined them in the lounge. At least Eve’s brother had enough manners not to point out that his previous comment was most likely directed at just her not her and Kyle. “You want to know anything about ranching, I’m your go-to guy.” He paused and smiled. “And maybe if you want to know about cars, but engineering, not so much.”
“Did you say cars?” Interest sparked in Kyle’s eyes.
“He owns a Porsche GT-3 RS.”
Lips tight in an approving smile, Kyle nodded. “Nice set of wheels.”
“I think so.” Jared smiled back.
“In college, all you ever drove was the ranch pickup.”
Jared hefted a lazy shoulder. “I went shopping for practical, came home with heaven on asphalt.”
