Dropping the mask from one hand to the other I produce a diamond ring, holding it up and walking back to my seat.
The look on Natalie’s face is priceless as I bend my knee and hold it out for her.
Over the speakers, the voice says, “Natalie Noe, will you marry me?”
Her mouth falls open and she grips the armrests.
I repeat in my own voice, “Natalie Noe, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she laughs, standing up and hitting her head.
I wince and reach for her, but she doesn’t care about the bonk.
The passengers burst into applause as I pull her close and whisper against her lips, “I love you. Be my wife.”
With tears hovering, she nods, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you did this. Yes!”
When I officiated his wedding Eric warned me I was next. I told him nope. And I was right—which I rubbed in his face—because less than a year later I was in Louisiana marrying Sofia Sol with her true love, the first time the Cockers and the Ciphers were all together. That was a fun weekend.
Natalie was there in the audience.
And the whole time she and I were there I planned to put her at the altar with me very soon. Just had to pick the right time to propose and make it special.
When you live with someone it’s harder to surprise them. Also, I found that as the days move on it becomes clearer that marriage will work, or it won’t. She and I get along better than I could have imagined. Natalie keeps me on my toes, and I amuse the hell out of her.
As we buckle up and lace our fingers together, we lock eyes. “I live to make you smile.”
The happiest grin bursts onto her beautiful face. “How did you get the airline to agree to this?”
We lean over the armrest to share a kiss, and I murmur against her smile, “It wasn’t easy to pull this off. But nothing good ever is.”
THE END-ish.
F or more Max and Natalie, turn the pages for the special Bonus Scenes normally only available to Club Cocky.
Each Cocker Brothers novel has these, because I used to ask myself, “What happens later to these characters?” when I watched Rom-Com movies or read romance books.
This answers that call. I’m including these special bonus scenes in Max and Natalie’s book (on the next page) because it’s the only one where those scenes occur pretty soon after their main story ends and I thought you’d enjoy them. Some readers don’t know that this series has these for ALL the books. Now you do. They’re the reason I started writing books about the kids. You’ll see why when you meet Max and Natalie’s child. Because it’s all about having a great time.
xx,
F aleena Hopkins
CHAPTER 42
BONUS SCENE 1
M AX
“He’s crying again,” I groan into Natalie’s back before throwing my feet down and padding to my newborn’s cozy crib that he hates.
“What’s got you so upset, Logan?” Tiny fists try to punch me as I lift the little guy up. It’s 3:33 a.m. and he’s losing his shit. I smile at his gurgling squalls, “I’m bigger than you, buddy. I can take you. But I like your fight.”
My wife groggily rolls over and reaches for him. “He’s hungry, Max.”
“You want the tit, Logan? Is that why you’re trying to punch your father? Jealous that I get to munch on them, too, huh?”
With an exhausted laugh Natalie says, “I’m glad he can’t understand you.”
“I understand him. Here I was in bed with you and he was two feet away from the only woman he’s ever loved.”
Her laughter grows as she shakes her head and coos, “Hello Logan baby, come to Momma.” She cuddles him close and pulls her nursing bra down. Instantly our son goes very calm, gazing at his mother like she single-handedly turns the planet on its axis.
“He just wants the tit!”
“Max,” Natalie mutters, “Don’t make it gross.”
Crawling into bed I cushion her back with extra pillows. “That better?”
“Much, thank you.” Logan’s little mouth latches onto the nipple, and Natalie glances to me. “I love you.”
Giving her a soft kiss I murmur a sincere, “I love you too, Partner,” and get quiet to watch my wife feed our child from her very own body. “This is a miracle.”
“I don’t know if it’s a miracle,” she smiles. “Let’s not get carried away.”
Running gentle fingers over the black peach-fuzz that covers his tiny head I ask him, “Logan, do you think it’s a miracle? No, don’t answer. Just keep sucking with your eyes closed. Maybe you’ll fall asleep again.”
With our shoulders pressed together Natalie sighs, “Oh please God. They never warn you how tired you’ll be.”
Closing my eyes a wishful second, I confess, “My cousins warned me, but I didn’t believe them.”
“You have to experience it firsthand to really understand.”
“Ethan laughed his ass off when I told him that I need more sleep.”
We lean our heads together as she says, “He’s got a funny laugh.”
“He does. And he laughs a lot, which is good. I’ve gotta get some water, Gorgeous. Throat is parched.” Stretching out my fatigued legs, I stand and pad over to our kitchen, rubbing my eyes the whole way. It’s dark, and the light that explodes from the refrigerator is intense. That’s when you know you’re sleep-deprived. Feels like you’re hungover but you haven’t had a drink in forever.
Pouring a large glass I drink it all down and refill it for Natalie. “You want any snacks?”
“Cheese?”
Snagging a couple string cheese sticks from the crisper I mosey back to bed, my eyes growing accustomed to the dark again as I go. “Got you two.”
“My hero.”
“You’re easily impressed,” I chuckle.
“I was craving some but didn’t want to get up. That’s hero-material.”
“Want some water?” She nods and I place the glass in her hand, climbing into bed and getting settled. “Mmm, warm.”
“Set this on the nightstand for me, and maybe open one of those string cheeses?”
“What would you do without me?”
“Cry.”
Laughing at her flat delivery, I help her and ask, “What’d you think of Ethan’s house?”
“Amazing,” she distractedly replies, chewing the end off a stick. “I love Charlie, too. She said I could call her any time for tips.”
“But Ethan is the stay-at-home Dad.”
A sharp look slashes from Natalie’s exhausted peepers. “She’s still his mother! Charlie was there every day when Kaya was an infant And that’s what Logan is!”
“Whoa Captain Girl Power! We’re just talking here.”
My wife’s eyes lose their edge and she takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry, babe. Really tired.” Giving me a kiss she adds, “I’ve been sharp with you lately.”
I pull the blankets up over them both. “I snapped at you yesterday. We’re human.”
“Yes, but you own up to it faster than I do.”
“We’re learning. That takes time.”
Switching Logan to the other breast, she meets my eyes for a second as her fingers press down to position the tip of her nipple for his reaching mouth. Then her gaze drops and she sighs, “Communication is crucial. You hear people say that all the time, but it never sinks in until you find yourself acting like an asshole.”
Chuckling I reassure her, “You’re not an asshole. You’re a new mom and that’s not easy. Neither is admitting when you’re acting…well, in a way you don’t want to be.”
“A way I’m not proud of,” she mutters and rolls her eyes as Logan closes his again.
“Watching my parents hash it out all my life I learned one thing. If you talk to each other, hash it out with respect, and without blaming, you can become closer.”
We cuddle up, getting quiet.
Logan falls asleep as my hand strokes his hair while her body nourishes him. When his mouth
goes lax she glances to me with the silent question, Dare we put him back in the crib?
I shake my head and whisper, “Let’s just enjoy this.”
Her long eyelashes drop to watch him. “You’re right. They always say this time passes so fast.”
“One can dream.”
CHAPTER 43
BONUS SCENE 2
M AX
Emma has been walking us through the first floor of a Craftsman home in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood. It’s very charming over here. Trader Joes is within walking distance, as are countless restaurants and shops that Natalie and I can push the stroller around.
But the main reason we want to move here is that my brother said if he ever settled down it would be in this area. I want to be like Emma, Hannah and Ethan—buy homes near the people I’m closest to. Mom and Dad are just a ten-minute-drive away.
Emma has pointed out the newer amenities, the older ones that make the house affordable for a couple of Indies like us, and the things we’d definitely need to fix at some point. She glances from me to my wife, including us both. “I used to hate this question, but as your realtor I’m asking for practical reasons not pressuring ones. Do you plan on having more children?”
Natalie and I lock eyes. I’ve got our eight-month-old strapped to my chest in whatever they call this contraption. He’s happy as a clam, like all successful cock-blockers.
“That’s why we want to move,” my wife hesitantly admits since she and my cousin are not close yet.
Emma frowns her confusion. “Because you do want some?”
Cupping his dangling feet I explain with a smirk, “See the thing is, Emm, this smiling guy right here has made it difficult for me to get busy with my wife.”
Emma laughs, “Lofts are sexy until there are three of you!”
“The bathroom is begging us to find a new spot.”
“And I’m tired of making no noise,” Natalie adds, shooting a look to me, then back to my cousin. “If you know what I mean.”
“Oh hell yeah!” Emma waves her hand. “Say no more.” Walking toward the stairs she explains, “This home has three bedrooms, as you’ve seen. So I’m not sure if you’re like me and my husband, and plan to have a large family. That’s why I wanted to know. There’s not enough room for huge growth.”
As Natalie glances to me I shrug, “We hadn’t talked about it. But my parents had five, so I like a big family. I was thinking at least twenty.”
She gapes at me. “No way!”
I grin, “Kidding!” and point both index fingers at our son. “After this party boy, who loves to pull an all-nighter on a regular basis, I think maybe one. Two more at the most.”
Emma motions us to follow her through a door under the stairs. “One of the wonderful things about this home is the basement has already been remodeled. It does have a laundry room, so you would be interrupted by weekly chores, but I think it would make a wonderful office space.”
“Harry Potter’s house!” I joke.
Natalie corrects me, “He was just in a cupboard under the stairs, poor guy. But look at this, Max! It’s huge!” She asks Emma as we stand on lower level, “Is it just me or did they put a lot of money into this part, but neglected the others? It feels new!”
“Yes, this was the husband’s Man Cave,” Emma nods, motioning to a white wall. “He had an invisible TV there, and the bar was over there. Dart board where you see all the holes outlining the shape of a circle on the south wall. I think their marriage was going downhill for a while because they’re now getting a divorce.”
“Ugh,” I mutter, looking around. “If he did all this it was a cry for help.”
We exchange a look as Natalie crosses to me. “I bet you’re right.”
Emma walks to the washer and dryer, keeping things positive like a good realtor needs to do. “These are new. So that’s nice. And this room can either become an office, as I mentioned, or perhaps a playroom later, or a bedroom if you don’t mind going upstairs to use the guest bathroom.” Meeting my eyes she asks, “What?”
“You’re so professional, Emm. It’s been pretty cool to witness. Never saw you in action until you started showing us these places.”
She laughs, sliding a finger into her wavy hair. “I’m pretty good at my job.”
My gaze flicks to Natalie as she touches Logan’s head with a wistful look in her eyes.
“You like it, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“You want to keep looking or go with this one?”
She locks eyes with me, slightly surprised. “Just like that?”
“It’s been a month of searching. You know me. I’m not a huge planner. Emma would show us the best places on the market first, right?”
My cousin nods. “I always do that. Don’t want you to miss out and choose something sub-par.”
“Well, I think that this house is cute as hell,” I shrug, adding, “It’s within our price point. I like that it’s a fixer-upper. That’ll give us a stronger feeling of ownership as we work on it, don’t you think?”
She blinks at me, a smile growing. “Yes, let’s do it.”
Logan makes goofy noises so I point to him. “See, he agrees with us. Well, Emm, what do you need from us?”
She explains all the logistics of buying our first home as we walk upstairs. Turning around in the empty foyer with sunlight streaming around her from the window in the door, Emma off-handedly says, “And I’m waiving my fee, of course.”
“What?” My back stiffens. “No, you’re not. We’re paying you just like anybody else would.”
Emma’s warm brown eyes crinkle with a smile. “Don’t be dumb, Max.”
“Don’t give us charity, Emma.”
The smiles vanishes, and that Cocker fire flashes from her eyes as she whips a finger through the air. “Hey, this isn’t charity!”
“Feels like it!”
“That’s because you’re a mule!” She takes a step forward, cutting off my next retort with a clipped, “No! Cut it out, Max. You’re a storyteller, here’s one for you. Once upon a time there was a man named Max. He was a realtor.”
I groan, “No!”
“And he was damn good at his job. And had NO problem saying it because he was taught to be proud of himself and his accomplishments.”
My lips twitch. “You gonna get on with it or just defend your cockiness?”
“And then one day his younger cousin, who he loved very dearly and didn’t see nearly enough of, went and made a movie that made Max cry.”
“Wait, my movie made you cry?”
She ignores me and continues, “And she knew that he had a lot more movies inside his big heart to make. And so she wanted to become a sort of…let’s say silent investor in his creative future by waiving her fee in hopes that he would hurry the fuck up and make more films!”
“Do you realize you changed sexes mid-story? Max wasn’t a she.”
“I’m talking about me!” Emma cries out, stifling a laugh. “And I messed up, yes, I did, but that doesn’t change the point.”
Jogging a thumb at my cute cousin, I ask Natalie, “You believe this girl right here?”
Emma’s shoulders slump. “Max, if the tables were turned, you would never in a million years charge me that fee, would you?”
Frowning I glance to my son’s head, stroking it with my thumb. “No.”
“I knew it.”
“Still…”
“No still! We’re family. Look, if you’d demanded this or felt entitled, we might have a problem. But you’re not like that. I want to waive my fee because you’re such a good person, Max. I’m investing in your future creations. Plus, I got to spend all this extra time with you guys! I was getting jealous at the stories Charlie was telling me.” She looks at Natalie. “You two are getting pretty close. Maybe invite me to lunch?”
My wife walks up and hugs her. “Of course!” As they separate she explains, “Charlie just always invites us over. It wasn’t meant to leave you
out.”
Digging for her ringing phone, Emma admits, “She and my brother Ethan are so much better at that stuff. They still have lunches with our grandparents on a regular basis. Hello? Oh hey, handsome. I’m with Max and Natalie right now. But I think we just found them their new home!”
As Emma walks into the empty living room to talk with her husband, I lower my voice to tell Natalie, “I didn’t know she cried at the movie.”
“I think everyone cries at it.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmhmm.” Her eyelashes drop to Logan’s stare as she walks to us. “Your daddy’s a real live director. What do you think of that?” Arms and legs flail with his smile. “See? He’s proud of you!”
On a snort I argue, “He just loves his Momma.”
Bending down to play with his feet and beam at him, Natalie grins, “That too! Because I’m lucky. Yes, I am! Oh, look at that smile!”
CHAPTER 44
BONUS SCENE 3
N ATALIE
“He’s finally asleep,” I whisper and set Logan oh-so-gently down in his crib.
Max walks up to stand next to me. “I think he likes his new room.”
“Mmhmm, I do too.” Leaning into him I feel my husband’s arm slip around me, pulling me a little bit closer.
After a beat of silence he jumps and whispers, “Okay, let’s go!” rushing to the door and holding it for me.
I’m stifling a laugh as I head out. We left the monitor on, and it’s set up in speakers throughout our house.
This door needs to be shut all the way if we’re going to try and have some fun tonight.
My husband never ceases to make me smile. On his way downstairs he’s dancing ridiculously. It’s so silly that I’m soon doubled over trying not to wake our son.
I mouth, “Stop it! Just stop!”
Which only makes him act weirder.
He juts his chin and does “The Egyptian” down our new staircase, loses his footing and topples down.
Max Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 15) Page 18
