"He's also smart," Linda said gently. "He won't go far wrong, no matter where he lives. And if he loves this boy..."
They watched as the crowd parted and the two moved closertogether, dancing very clearly together now, seemingly unaware of the little glances and smiles and smirks the cousins were throwing their way. Their eyes were only for each other.
They made a beautiful picture, even to Dane's jaded eyes: tall and muscular Jimmy, lithe and strong, with his shock of pale hair and his bright blue eyes, next to the smaller, sleeker Cooper with his dark hair andhis movie-star good looks, and his smile that could light the world. They were so obviously falling in love. They didn't smell of each other yet—not in that way—but it clearly wouldn't be long.
Linda sighed at almost the same moment Dane did and wrapped her arms around him. "It would be wrong to interfere. Maybe they'll be happy."
He tore his gaze away from the boys so he could embrace hiswife and mate, closing his eyes as he breathed in the comforting scent of her hair and her clean, soft smell. "I hope so." In the end, that was all he wanted for any of his pack—for them all to be happy. And safe. But he'd also like it if they didn't move too far away to visit.
One thing, at least, was clear: there was nothing abusive or mean about this Cooper boy. But that didn't mean hewouldn't end up hurting Jimmy all the same.
#
"That was a great visit," said Jimmy. He wanted to crow it from the rooftops: his family had liked Cooper. Of course he hadn't thought they'd be mean to him—he wouldn't have allowed that—but he hadn't been sure they'd actually like him. To his delight, they'd taken to him as if he belonged, although more gently, mindful of a non-shifter'sfragile bones. None of his brothers had grabbed Coop and hefted him into the air, squeezing as hard as they could, or tackled him into an unexpected wrestling match, or any other horseplay.
"I'm not sure we fooled them," said Cooper, who seemed uncharacteristically quiet on the way back. "Your dad wasn't...thrilled."
"Oh, my cousins made some jokes, but there's no way they know anything forsure. I hope that didn't offend you too much."
"No, no, it's fine."
"But what did you mean about my dad?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong." Coop sounded sad as he spoke. "I guess we just weren't as discreet as we thought we were, or something."
"I didn't notice anything weird." And Jimmy's father certainly hadn't said anything to Cooper privately, since Coop had never been out of Jimmy'ssight, not even for a moment. Then again, Dad wouldn't have, anyway.
"Maybe he expected better for you."
"That would be silly. Who's better than you?"
That made Cooper laugh and brought back his smile. It had been on nearly the whole time they were visiting, and he'd curbed most of his nerves, but still, the moment they were in the car, he'd gone flat-faced and nearly catatonic, he wasso still. It was weirdly like after he'd been acting, when he took a break and clearly needed one. But it hadn't all been acting; he'd liked the pack, and they'd liked him. But he'd tried so very hard. It was sad he'd felt he had to.
He'll relax around them in time. Once he realizes they really do like him.
And once he realized that there would be time, lots of time, all the time in theworld. Jimmy had been dancing around the idea, but he was already all in. Dating Coop was serious to him, and he wasn't going to be the one to walk away.
"So, are you up for going back to my place? If you're worn out and want to go home instead, don't be shy about saying so."
Cooper gave him a quick, flattered look, licking his bottom lip, apparently unconsciously. "Of course. If you stillwant to."
"Yeah, absolutely." Jimmy's voice was gruff. It would be good to get Coop home and finally back in his bed. It had felt like forever, waiting for the weekend visit. Now, there was clear sailing ahead, and Coop's lithe, naked body.
He hesitated, but this needed to be said as well. Coop was so uncertain of where they stood, and Jimmy wasn't entirely sure either, but he wanted tobe. He wanted them both to know. "And if you're okay with it, I'd like to date you. Officially. I mean, it can be absolutely as quiet as you need it to be. I don't want to interfere with your career, but if we're on the same page, can I be your boyfriend?"
"I passed the test, then? Yes, I'd love to date you—officially." Coop's grin was triumphant, sweet and dimpled, and his eyes were dancing."I'm not sure my agent would be okay with me saying anything publicly, but there's no need to do that yet, anyway."
"Yet?"
Cooper blushed. "I mean, we're not exactly moving in together tomorrow, are we?"
"About that..."
Coop laughed. "No, seriously! You're not inviting me to move in with you, are you? I really did pass the test!"
"There's no test. No, no. I know that wouldn't bediscreet. But if you're going to be here long, you need somewhere better to live than a hotel room. So, how about an apartment in the same building as me? And if it happened to make it easier for us to see each other—"
"I like the way you think." Cooper was looking more and more cheered up, the longer they talked.
