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“We are?” Ira frowned at her, saw her expression, and then turned to the rest of the room “We are”
“Andeveryone in the room She blushed when they all looked at her “I haveumIf Mr Tremaine” She blushed even harder as Tremaine focused on her “If Mr Tre used as part of the financial bluffIum”
Jesus Cooper sighed It was uncole, and he was relieved when Jess let go of Joey to walk over to her friend to place a supportive hand on her shoulder
It seerandmother’s company It’s worth quite a bit and as a company it iswellits profits are public” She looked at Jessica, her fondness for his woman evident “You’re welcome to say that I will be a benefactor to those ould lose inco down”
He could see Jess was as surprised by this infor up in Hartwell, no one had really known her story Wealthy grandmother was a new one to all of them
“That’s so great of you, E her shoulder a squeeze
Eave Dahlia a smile
“I’ave Tremaine a look that would have made Cooper want to crawl behind his bar if she’d shot it his way “It looks like we don’t need you after all”
Trelance fro your wealth to yourself, Miss Saunders” He ignored her blush and turned back to Cooper “We’ll use me as the bluff And no one outside of this rooaze fixed on Cat
She huffed “Why are you looking at me?”
“Your son”
“Joey won’t say anything”
“I won’t say anything,” Joey said, piping up
“I don’t get it” Bailey looked at hi between him and Emery “Why?”
He gave her a suffering look “I cole wos out the worst kind of scum to fleece her When a woman is as beautiful as Miss Saunders, the et to her and her money”
Emery blushed redder than Cooper had ever seen
“Why would you care?” Bailey snapped
“Why do you care if I care?”
“I don’t”
“Oh, it certainly looks that way”
“Enough!” Jessica huffed “Fine Vaughn is right” She gripped Emery’s hand “It eet that you trust us, Em, but no one else should know your business”
“I feel a little stupid,” Cooper thought he heard her mutter
“Don’t,” Jessica said “You can trust us”
“I’d assu Emery in concern “That’s why he hasn’t bothered her He knows Eainst him”
Cooper thought he saw a flash of concern on Emery’s face “You think he’s looked into me?”
“Yes,” Jessica said gri from experience, I’d say he’s looked into everyone in this room”
“Bastard,” Bailey huffed and then winced apologetically at Cat
“Is that settled, then?” Iris said, clapping her hands together “We sign this dahn plays the bluff, no one says a word about Erandma’s money”
“That sounds about right” Dahlia grinned at her concise summation
“You don’t have to do this” Cooper thought it bore repeating
Iris shook her head at hi this for you, son But we’re also doing it for all of us Ian Devlin is a town bully You have to stand up to bullies or they’ll just keep co back to steal your lunch money”
And because Cooper supposed she was right, he gave in
Jess took out the petition she’d written up and everyone signed it After she’d proo back to their businesses, Bailey stor as Tre at whatever Iris and Ira were saying to her
When they were gone Jessica walked over to hi at hi quiet about what he’d heard
“Are youher arms around his waist
He smoothed his hands up her bare arms and shook his head “No It’s the only plan we have Hopefully it works”
“I think it will This town depends on the boardwalk for touris your doors The media would have a field day and that would open up a whole can of worms about bribery in the city office”
“It’s s down to press a soft kiss to her mouth “Thank you”
She grinned at hiiddy way that made him chuckle
“Jessica,” Cat said
The doc turned in his arms to face his sister and he felt her tense underneath his touch “Cat”
His sister didn’t waste any ti out for ” o;We are?” Ira frowned at her, saw her expression, and then turned to the rest of the room “We are”