He looked taken aback by her direct approach, but she didn’t believe in mincing words.

Apparently he didn’t, either. “You’re a flight risk. You’re about to lose a valuable asset, and you have no close ties in the area. You could-”

“No close ties?” She couldn’t let that one pass. “I’ve lived in this town my whole life. I have dozens of close friends. Oh, but I guess friendship doesn’t hold any weight in your world. Only blood ties.” Blood ties who hadn’t shown Johnny a speck of consideration when he was alive.

“Let’s walk.” Without waiting for her consent, he descended the porch steps to the brick walkway, giving her a nice view of his backside in those perfectly tailored khakis. What a waste, putting buns like that on a stiff-necked lawyer.

She followed, then took up beside him, matching his long strides. The way he strode along the street, oblivious to his surroundings, didn’t surprise her. Like he wanted to clock in a few miles before lunch. Health-club mentality, typical of people whose jobs didn’t require any physical exertion.

“Even if I could trust you,” he said with arrogant confidence she would keep up with him, “there’s always the chance something could happen to the boat while you’re out-a storm, a wreck.”

“That’s hardly likely,” she countered. “I’m an excellent sailor and I know the currents and the hazards as well as I know every splinter on the Dragonfly’s decks. The boat is fully insured. And I’ve never tried to cheat anyone in my life.”

But Cooper didn’t know her, so of course he would be suspicious that she would try to rip him off somehow. Lawyers believed everyone was trying to rip them off because they were trying to rip off everyone else.

“I am fully confident justice will prevail,” she continued, “and I will keep my boat. You’ve checked by now and discovered that Johnny’s will was properly filed and probated just as I said.”