become.
He shook his head slowly as he realized he’d completely misjudged his cousins. He was also a little stunned to admit that because of his mother, he’d spent most of his life carrying a chip on his shoulder where women were concerned. Now, after talking to Brandon, he was almost glad she’d left them.
“Damn,” he said. “I’ve been an idiot.”
Brandon laughed and slapped his cousin’s shoulder companionably. “Welcome to my world, dude.”
Nine
“It takes less than two hours to circumnavigate the island,” Logan told his cousins after instructing their driver to take the main highway that looped around Alleria. “But that’s with no stopping.”
“We’ll be making four stops, right?” Brandon said, paging through the detailed itinerary Logan’s assistant had typed up.
“That’s right,” Aidan said. “Three possible hotel sites and the proposed sports-center site. Then we’ll stop for lunch in Tierra before heading back to our hotel.”
Adam put his arm around his wife, who sat next to him in the spacious limousine. “Glad you ladies decided to come with us.”
“Me, too,” Trish said, glancing around at the other wives. “We can get massages anytime, right? This is much more interesting.”
“We like to think so,” Aidan said with a grin.
“If you’re on the lookout,” Logan said, pointing out the window that faced the coast, “you’ll be able to see water most of the time.”
“Sometimes the growth gets too heavy to see through,” Aidan said, “but we’re still only within a few hundred yards of the shore at all times.”
“That’s so cool,” Kelly said.
“It’s a really small island,” Aidan said. “But that’s part of its charm.”
The first two stops were brief. Everyone agreed that neither of the locations were ideal for the type of hotel that the Dukes specialized in.
“We’ve got one more spot to look at,” Logan said as they continued driving north.
When the limo stopped a few miles later, everyone stared in hushed silence.
“It’s perfect,” Trish whispered before they’d even climbed out of the limousine. The driver had maneuvered the car down a narrow dirt road and pulled to a stop at the bottom of a rugged hill, inches from the edge of the sandy beach. Tropical palm trees lined the shore and swayed in the soft breeze.
Once they were out of the car and walking around, Kelly pointed in amazement at the hillside above them where flowering vines of every color, shade and variety cascaded down the fertile green surface.
“It’s like a painting,” she cried, then turned to Brandon. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Fantastic,” he said, pulling her close to him.
“It’s incredible,” Trish agreed.
Logan had always enjoyed this tranquil cove with its flowering cliffs and wondered why he hadn’t brought Grace here before. Someday soon he would take her for a drive and show her the beauty of his island.
As he listened to his cousins and their wives, Logan had every confidence that the Dukes would build the perfect small hotel here that would blend in with the beauty of the land and the sea. He wondered if Grace might come back to visit sometime and see the completed project.
He quickly shook his head, wondering where that thought had come from. Once Grace left, she wouldn’t be coming back to visit the island unless she needed more spores. It would be smart for him to keep that in mind.
Julia wandered closer to the water, then turned. “Can I live here?”
Cameron laughed, then said to the others, “This beach is perfect.”
“It’s on a slight inlet,” Aidan explained, pointing to the land that extended out on both sides of the water. “So you’re protected from the stronger trade winds. But you’ve still got more waves coming in than we have on the other side of the island. And there’s a nice breeze, so you’ll attract a good sailing crowd.”
“As long as they bring their money along, we’re happy to have them,” Adam said with a laugh, always the businessman.
They spent almost an hour exploring the area. They checked the shallow cliffs for erosion and found none. The twins had already commissioned an environmental-impact study and a geological-viability assessment of the land itself. Adam asked how fast and high the tide came in and Aidan had an answer for him.
“But we don’t expect you to go by our word alone,” Aidan added. “We welcome your independent surveyors and inspection crews.”
“Dude,” Brandon said, “first of all, you’re family, so we’re not worried. But, also, you’re part of our investment group, so you’ve got skin in the game, too.”
Logan flashed a grin at his brother, then looked at his cousins. “The truth is, we would be building our own hotel here if you hadn’t been interested.”
“We’re interested,” Adam said, then glanced at his brothers. “Am I right?”
Cameron and Brandon answered with firm nods, then Cameron said, “Let’s have the bean counters work the numbers and we’ll draw up the papers.”
After a brief stop at the proposed site of the sports center, they had lunch outside on the patio of a small, friendly French bistro that specialized in local fish and shellfish. A colorful market umbrella protected the entire party from the rays of the sun as they enjoyed the views of the lively harbor along with the exceptional food.
“Oh, my God, I’m stuffed,” Trish said, pushing her dessert plate away. “All I’ll be capable of doing this afternoon is passing out on a chaise longue on the beach.”
“Me, too,” Julia said, dabbing her lips with her napkin. “But this was lovely. I’ve never tasted a richer, more delicious sauce than the one on the Coquilles St. Jacques.” She squeezed her husband’s arm. “Sorry, sweetie, but I’m going to dream about it tonight.”
Cameron chuckled, then took a bite of the tarte tatin they were sharing. “How in the world did a chef with so much talent for haute cuisine wind up in this tiny place?”
“He’s the son of a local family,” Logan said. “Studied in France at several three-star-rated restaurants, then came home to marry his childhood sweetheart.”
“She’s our waitress,” Aidan added with a grin.
“That’s so romantic,” Kelly said, causing Brandon to smile as he took her hand and kissed it.
As he watched his cousins flirt with their wives, Logan had the strangest urge to drive straight back to the hotel and find Grace. He missed her and wished, not for the first time, that he’d invited her along, knowing she would fit in perfectly with his family.
“Guess there’s not much chance of stealing the guy away, is there?” Adam asked, as he finished the last bite of his chocolate mousse. “We could use someone this talented at the new hotel.”
“Not a chance,” Aidan said firmly.
“We know,” Logan chimed in, chuckling. “Because we’ve tried.”
“What other secrets does this fabulous island hide from the rest of the world?” Kelly asked, intrigued.
“Well, since you’re family,” Aidan said, winking at her, “I guess it’ll be okay to disclose a few secrets. For one thing, we’ve got amazing hot springs up in the rain forest.”
“I haven’t read anything about that,” Kelly said, frowning.
“We’ve never put it in any of the brochures,” Logan admitted. “Don’t want anyone trampling on our own little piece of paradise.”
“We won’t advertise it, either,” Brandon said.
“It sounds so romantic,” Trish said.
“Definitely,” Julia said, and gave Cameron a playful tap on his shoulder.
Cameron returned her smile, then explained, “We’ve got a secluded pool and a grotto on the grounds of our resort in Monarch Bay. It’s pretty cool.”
