Cam's hand. "I was surprised when you didn't show at the San Diego
regatta this summer."
"Got myself married."
"So I hear. Congratulations. And now you're building boats instead of
racing them."
"I wouldn't count me out of racing entirely. I'm toying with building
myself a cat over the winter if business slacks off any."
"Keeping busy?"
"Word gets out," Cam said easily. "A boat by Quinn means quality. Smart
people want the best--when they can afford it." He grinned, fast and
slick. "Can you afford it?"
"I'm thinking of a cat myself. Your brother must have mentioned it."
"Yeah, he ran it by me. You want light, fast, and tight. Ethan and I
have been modifying a design for what 1 had in mind for me."
"That's bullshit," Seth murmured, only loud enough for Phillip to hear.
"Sure." Phillip winked at him. "But it's Class A bullshit." He leaned a
little closer to Seth as Cam and Jonathan launched into the lure of
racing a catboat. "Cam knows that while the guy likes him fine, he's
competitive. Never beat Cam in a head-to-head race. Soa"
"So he'd pay buckets of money to have Cam build him a boat that not even
Cam could beat."
"There you go." Proud, Phillip gave Seth a light punch on the shoulder.
"You got a quick brain there. Keep using it, and you won't be spending
all your time sanding hulls. Now, kid, watch the master."
He straightened, beamed up. "I'd be happy to show you the drawings,
Jonathan. Why don't we go into my office? I'll dig them out for you."
"Wouldn't mind taking a look." Jonathan climbed down. "The problem is, I
need this boat seaworthy by
March first. I'll need time to test her, work out the kinks, break her
in before the summer races."
"March first." Phillip pursed his lips, then he shook his head. "That
might be a problem. Quality comes first here. It takes time to build a
champion. I'll look over our schedule," he added, dropping an arm over
Jonathan's shoulder as they walked. "We'll see what we can work out--but
the contract's already in place, and the work sheets tell me May is the
soonest we can deliver the top-quality product you expect and deserve."
"That's not going to give me much time to get the feel of her," Jonathan
complained.
"Believe me, Jonathan, a boat by Quinn is going to feel fine. Just
fine," he added, glancing back at his brothers with a quick and wolfish
grin before he nudged Jonathan inside the office.
"He'll buy us till May," Cam decided, and Ethan nodded.
"Or he'll make it April and skin the poor bastard for a bonus."
"Either way." Cam clamped a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "We're going to
have ourselves another contract by end of day."
Below, Seth snorted. "Shit, he'll wrap it up by lunch-time. The guy's
toast."
Cam tucked his tongue in his cheek. "Two o'clock, soonest."
"Noon," Seth said, peering up at him.
"Two bucks?"