“I heard you took pity on Preston’s oldlady and did some shopping with her today.” Cooper smirks at me.
“Just being of service. However, if youask Olivia, she’s the one who did me the service.”
“No cat fights?” Cooper’s smile getsbigger.
“Um—nope.”
“You seem unsure about that fact,Cookie.” Cole’s hand gives my hip a little pat.
“We sort of argued over a dress, butIwas the more mature person and let her have it.”
“Are you sure that’s what happened?” Colelooks like he knows something I don’t. In fact, as I glance around the limo,all the men look like they know exactly what happened between Olivia and me.
I stare at Cole, who gives me histooth-paste ad smile. They do know! I’m not sure who I should be mad at: Lukeor Cole. I guess that depends on who did the telling. I jerk my hand out ofCole’s. It comes free only because he’s not expecting it, and I cross my armswith a humph.
“Cookie.” Cole skims his lips along myneck. “Don’t get upset. We were finishing up a meeting when Luke showed up togive me the rundown on what happened during the shopping trip.”
“If it’s any consolation, Kate, my moneyis on you kicking the shit out of Olivia. I’ll take those odds any day of theweek.” Kit winks at me. I narrow my eyes at him, and he laughs.
“You know what, you’re all a bunch ofVega’s. It’s a good thing I love all of you. I look at Kit, tilting my headback and forth. “Yeah okay, all of you, most of the time.” And point a fingerat him. “You’re a lot to deal with, sheesh.”
“Vega?” Race asks.
I glance at Cole. “It’s Kate’s term forAlpha.”
“Hmm, Vega Men, it’s kind of catchy.”Cooper nods, like he’s giving his approval. “I can be a Vega man.”
“Good, because you all are.” I raise myvoice so Luke can hear from the front seat, “Luke included.” He turns around,giving me a little nod. I cock an eyebrow and nod back. Cole pulls my arm backto him, entwining our hands. The limo finally stops in front of the mansion.Luke gets out and a few minutes later, a valet opens the door. Race, Kit, andCooper all get out. “Remember Kate, stay close to me.” He kisses my cheek andthen gets out. He reaches his hand in for me and I take it, climbing out. Iwrap my arm around Cole’s and the six of us make our way into the house. Themayor, his wife and a few other people stand in the foyer, shaking hands aseveryone enters. Cooper shakes the line of people’s hands, and Race and Kit arejust behind him.
“Kate.” Cooper comes back to Cole and me,holding out his hand for me. “Would you like to get a drink with me?”
“Um—sure.” I glance at Cole to see ifhe’ll object, but he smiles and nods.
I take Cooper’s arm and we make our wayinto a large room where people are milling around. A bar is set up towards theend, next to a set of French doors that open into a large tent where dancing isgoing on.
I give Cooper a side glance. That wasplanned. He peers at me, and I smile, then turn away. “Don’t be upset with himor me. He’s very protective of you. He doesn’t want you subjected to unpleasantthings, love.”
“He can’t protect me from every bad thingI’m going to face in life.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t try.” We stopat the bar and wait behind the few people in front of us.
I shake my head. “The only way that willhappen is if he locks me in the villa, and even then—given my luck—somethingwill happen.”
Cooper laughs. “Yes, uh—life with you isnever dull.”
“Hey.” I playfully slap his arm. “Whatdoes that mean?” I point a finger at him. “Choose your words carefully, Mr.Prescott.”
“It means shit happens to you, and youmake the best of it.”
Now I laugh. “Okay, I can accept that.”
“What can I get you?” I look up at theguy—wait whoa, it’s Elvis behind the bar. This has to be a good sign—no, makethat an amazing sign.
“Hey,” I whisper to Coop, “It’s Elvis.”And giggle.
Cooper shakes his head. “I think someonebrainwashed you with too much Elvis.” He turns to the Elvis bartender, “I’lltake a scotch neat.”
“And how about you, little mama?” Thebartender asks.
