Cocky Senator's Daughter: Hannah Cocker (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 8)

by Faleena Hopkins

  I mutter, “Of course he does,” then call over my shoulder, “Thank you!” on my way to the elevator. Inside, my pulse climbs with the numbers until there are no more left.

  Now that I’m facing his front door I almost turn around. But the faint sound of crying comes through and I hurriedly knock, all fear lost as my maternal instincts kick into high gear.

  Justin opens the door in a loose t-shirt and sweatpants, holding Hannah to his chest, his large palm on her back as he whispers to her, “I know, Hannah. You’re scared.” He gives me a face that screams help. Dropping the bags onto his hardwood floors, I walk around him to see her face.

  “Hi Hannah. I’m Jaimie. You wanna come here?” I open my arms to take her from him. He hands her over like he doesn’t want to, but has no options left.

  As I rock her and he picks up the bags, I ask him in a hushed voice, “What happened?”

  “She couldn’t find her mother.” Seeing my confusion he explains, “The photographs. I’d had them in a place she couldn’t find. Not on purpose,” he hastily adds.

  “Of course not,” I murmur, following him into a modern kitchen with absolutely no color to it whatsoever. So obvious a man lives here. “Do you have any tissue?” He goes to rip off a paper towel. “Anything softer maybe?”

  “Oh, right,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. Hannah’s crying is quieter as I rock her, my eyes on his journey to the guest bathroom. He’s barefoot and adorably handsome. I’ve only seen him in suits, and while I love how he looks in them, I think I prefer this.

  With her on my hip I search for a glass and fill it with tap water. Justin comes out and runs over. “No! I’ve got a Britta filter. Don’t use tap.” Handing me a wad of toilet paper he takes over pouring.

  “Here, Hannah, blow,” I tell her. She does her best, but children this age never know how to really let it all out. “One more time, honey.” She tries again as I tell Justin, “The water isn’t bad here.”

  “This is better. She gets the best.” He fills it and goes for another glass. “You want some?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “You brought food?”

  “I brought enough for all of us.”

  Relief waves over his gorgeous features as he opens the bags. “We’re starving,” he mutters.

  “Hunger might be contributing to this,” I smile, tilting my head toward the little girl in my arms. He blinks at me with tired eyes, relaxes a little and nods.

  Heading for his couch I glance to my left, Atlanta sparkling outside incredibly large windows. His kitchen and living room have no separation and with these high ceilings there’s an enormity that might be daunting to a child, at first. Especially since everything is black or cold silver. Even the art is monochromatic. Sitting on his leather couch with Hannah on my lap, I ask him, “How many bedrooms do you have?”

  While shoveling food onto actual plates he says, “Two, but one’s an office. Guess I’ll have to change that.”

  Tossing a bit of used tissue onto his coffee table, I unravel a bit more and dab her eyes. She’s staring at me like she needs a woman’s touch, but also like she wishes I were someone else, and who can blame her for such a wish? “You miss your mom?”

  She nods, sniffling. I glance to the stack of photos pressed against her chest.

  “Can I see?”

  She holds them out for me and my heart cracks open more with each and every one. “She’s very beautiful.” Hannah nods, her nose and cheeks bright pink. She inherited her father’s coloring, but as a girl who loved her mother more than life itself, I know what she needs to hear. “She looks like you.”

  Hannah’s eyes go wide. “Really?”

  “Yep. And who’s this?”

  Tiny fingers hold up a Pepto Bismol-colored alien who’s seen better days, his fur smashed flat and missing in places. She whispers, “Lou.”

  “Hi Lou. Are you Hannah’s guardian angel?”

  “He’s my best friend.”

  “I can see he loves you very much,” I smile, smoothing back tear-soaked blonde hair from where it sticks to her cheeks. At hearing Justin padding toward us with plates balanced in his arms, I glance over and catch him with an expression on his face that makes my heart skip.

  Jaimie

  “You’re good with her.”

  Heat pours into my cheeks. “I’ve spent a lot of time with kids in my job.”

  He sets the plates down and goes back for silverware. Hannah’s eyeing the food.

  “Smells good, huh?” Lifting her off me I stand her up in front of a feast. She goes right for a tater tot.

  Justin returns and sorts everything out while she peels it. “I figured we’d just dig in.”

  “Maybe cut the burgers so she can see which one she prefers?”

  I can tell he’s relieved to have a task. “Here, Hannah. You don’t have to eat anything you don’t like.”

  Disney’s The Little Mermaid is on and Hannah gets sucked into the movie while chewing. Setting down her mother’s picture she takes one more tater tot, but she keeps it very close to where she stands. Then Lou gets a home next to the photo. Justin watches her, and I watch him. He looks so desperate I want to hug him.

  To give his fear-laden, one-track mind some peace, I pick up a burger triangle and offer it to him. “Your home is very nice.”

  He takes the burger. “Thanks.” Grabbing a handful of fries, too, he sits back on the couch and exhales loudly. “Wow.”

  “How are you?”

  “Hanging in there.” He meets my eyes and holds them. After a moment I see the man I know returning, more confident and calm. “What kind of events did you do in Boston?”

  “Didn’t you Google me?”

  “I want to hear it from you,” he smirks, shoving the food in his mouth like he’s starving.

  In between bites of chili I tell him, “Large parties like major birthdays. Anniversaries. Big ones. Twenty-fifth, fortieth, fiftieth, etc. I did those almost as much as weddings. And there are always children at them, needing to be wrangled when they get upset or fight with each other. That part of the job has always amused me.”

  “What don’t you like to do?”

  “Um…bridal showers aren’t my favorite.”

  “No? Why not?” He grabs more burger triangles from the table. The way his t-shirt pulled across his shoulders during that reach looked so good. “I thought you women love that shit,” he smirks with amusement.

  Laughing lightly I answer, “Not me. I think a wedding and reception are enough. There’s also the rehearsal dinner, so why the need for a shower? Just an excuse for more attention. I’ll do the event, don’t get me wrong. I just won’t like it. And if I’m invited to one, I usually don’t go. Baby showers, either.”

  He nearly chokes in disbelief. “Really?”

  “Yep. Really. I see the point in those. You’re celebrating a baby coming. You need help shopping because who knows what to get, right? But I dislike the actual events. Too girly for me.”

  “Huh,” he mutters, turning for the fries. “I think she likes the tots more. You take these.” He hands the whole plate to me. “Are you going to start up in Atlanta now?”

  “My business? I guess I will.” I drift off, chewing while I watch the screen, but my mind isn’t on mermaids. It’s on my life.

  “Where’d you go, Jaimie?”

  Glancing over I smile. “Sorry.”

  “You were frowning.”

  “Was I?” I can see he’s not going to drop it, so I decide to be open. What have I got to lose? I’m here. We’re talking. This is a miracle in and of itself. “I have to start over, Justin, and I can’t even begin to tell you how layered that is. I’ve got to develop relationships with the community. Find great caterers. Perfect locations. The kind of florists who can fix a problem the day it happens. Everything is new. I don’t know anyone. It’s just…a lot.” We gaze at each other a long moment. “What?”

  “You’re talking to me about things other than
…” He pumps a fist in a sexual manner.

  I hit his hand and laugh, “Stop it!” glancing to Hannah.

  “She’s not looking at us. Come on. I checked.” His smirk falters as he gazes at me. I know this would be the moment he’d kiss me if we were alone. Chemistry is snapping its fingers at us, demanding attention. He blinks away toward the food and picks up a plantain to ask Hannah, “You want one?”

  She smells it and shakes her head, going back to the T.V. He bites off the end and says to me, “I’m just saying. Should I be flattered? Am I good for something more than…” He does the sexual pumping again with laughter in his eyes.

  “Maybe you are.”

  “You’re not sure.”

  “Not yet.”

  He laughs an easy laugh and I melt at the sound, though I don’t show it.

  “Hey, Hannah. You have to eat more than just potatoes. Try some of the burgers.”

  She looks at him, unsure if he has the authority. They stare at each other for a long moment, and then her arm reaches over for a small triangle. Holding it in both hands she chews it while staring at him. She nods and goes back to the movie.

  He stifles a laugh and mumbles out of the corner of his mouth, “I guess that one’s a go. Which was it?”

  Craning I check it out. “BBQ sauce one.”

  “Lone Star Tex Melt,” Justin nods.

  “Oh, you know their menu?”

  His eyes darken suddenly and his volume drops. “Tanny worked there. Her mother.”

  I set the plate of fries down and touch his leg. “I’m so sorry, Justin. I should have remembered that. It totally slipped my mind.”

  “How would you have known?”

  Blinking, it hits me. The only way I know is because of those two gossipers at the host stand. My mouth closes, but from his face I know I have no choice but to explain. “When I was there I overheard a couple employees talking about you guys.”

  Fire explodes behind his irises and he stands up with a lot more calm than he is feeling, so that Hannah doesn’t become alarmed. Trying to control his temper he rakes white knuckles through his hair and walks to the windows as though searching for The Vortex from here.

  I slowly go to him, glancing to check if she sees this. She’s chomping away at the screen. Touching Justin’s back I whisper, “Stay calm. You’re doing great.”

  Under his breath he hisses, “I’m trying.”

  I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his shoulder blades. His tension releases and his thick hands wrap over my forearms. “People love drama, Justin.”

  He nods and turns around, embracing me. “I know.” Breathing me in, he whispers, “You just shower?”

  “Uh huh.” My body alights as I breathe him in. “You, too?”

  “Yeah.”

  We stay a moment, quietly inhaling each other’s scent until we can’t take it anymore. Releasing at the same time, Justin gives me a look like he wants to kiss me so badly. He lays his hand on my back and guides me to the couch. We eat the rest of the meal in silence, watching the movie together. When Hannah has had enough, she climbs up with Lou and her mother’s picture.

  I stand up immediately. “You sit by her.”

  He blinks at me a moment. “Thank you.”

  Taking my place, he pulls her body against his so that they’re hip to hip, with his arm around her. He reaches over and takes my hand, rendering me speechless as he goes back to watching the movie. After awhile she leans into him, eyes glued to Ariel running to the beach before her soon-to-be returning mermaid tail won’t let her. Within seconds, Justin’s asleep.

  I don’t care how good Disney is. I’d rather watch him while he sleeps with his arm around his little girl, and listen to the air he breathes softly in and out as he’s on the verge of snoring, his strong fingers clasping mine, any day of any week ever.

  Justin

  Hannah climbing off the couch wakes me up with a start. Jaimie’s already standing and meets my confused look with the explanation, “Hannah has to go to the bathroom.”

  “Oh,” I mutter, rubbing my eyes as they walk away together. The last time she went was the senior living home. The girl holds it like a camel.

  Rising up I trudge to my phone. I feel like I could sleep for days. “So many people, I have to scroll to see them all. Jesus,” I mutter to myself.

  I almost set it down but it rings in my hand. Swiping I answer, “Hey Dad.”

  “Justin! Thank God. We’ve been trying to get ahold of you. How are you?”

  “I’m okay,” I exhale, sitting on the stool by my kitchen island and rubbing my eyes, both from exhaustion and a desire to avoid this. I’m a take-care-of-it-myself kind of guy and sometimes it bugs me how close our family is. A bigger part of me would kill for any single one of them if they were in danger.

  “Is she there with you?”

  “Where else would she be?”

  Dad barks, “Well, you never called us! How should we know?”

  It’s always we with him. Mom’s the same. It’s like they’re one person and I secretly hate it for a reason I’ll never tell them. “I need some time. I’m sure you can imagine this is a big deal.”

  He huffs and announces, “I should say it is. Why won’t you let us help?”

  “Dad, it just happened. I want her to get used to me. I want her to know her father.” My chest twists up and I shake it off, walking over to stare out at the cityscape view. “She just lost her mother. Introducing her to everyone is too much today.”

  “I can’t argue with that logic,” he whispers. Mom says something in the background and he tells me, “Your mother wants to talk to you.”

  “No, Dad…”

  “Justin! Are you okay? Your father won’t say it but he’s worried about you. You gave your seat up.”

  “I wasn’t going to win, Mom. I was running as an Independent. They never win.”

  “Oh stop it. You were winning them over, honey. You know you were. Oh Justin, but I’m so proud of you!” She starts weeping and I close my eyes.

  “Mom…”

  “I’m just so proud! And so surprised!”

  Gotta laugh at that. Through a grin I tell her, “Yeah, I’m sure you’re not the only one feeling that way.”

  “At least Jason was there for you. I’m so glad you called him, at least. God, if you weren’t born a twin I don’t want to think about how alone you’d keep yourself.”

  “Mom.”

  “At least my sister and her family were able to help a little, too. But I have to admit I was a bit jealous they saw Hannah first. When can we meet Hannah?”

  Smiling at Mom’s emotional rambling I glance over and see Jaimie returning with Hannah in her arms. The sight of them stills me and I say into the phone, “Mom, I’ve gotta go put my daughter to bed.”

  I said that on purpose for the reaction I knew it would receive.

  “Your daughter! My lord, I never thought I’d hear those words from you!”

  I laugh, “I love you, Mom. I’ll call soon.”

  “Call tomorrow!!!”

  “We’ll see.” Hanging up I throw my phone on the couch, walking to them. Jaimie hands her to me. “You tired?” Hannah nods, long eyelashes at half-mast. “Okay, let’s get you to bed.”

  “I’ll grab her pajamas.” Jaimie walks to the wreck of clothes on the floor and picks through it while I watch her bend over.

  “Hannah, can you change your own clothes?”

  “Duh,” she answers with an eye roll.

  Jaimie stifles a laugh and I cut an amused glance to her. She follows us into my bedroom and I set Hannah standing on the bed. “I’ll leave the women alone for a moment then.”

  In a few minutes Jaimie calls me back in. She waits nearby while I tuck Hannah in, her skin and hair looking so bright against the black pillowcase and comforter.

  “We’re going shopping tomorrow. Have to get you your own bed.”

  She’s too tired to care, eyes growing heavier by the second. She
holds up Lou for me to kiss, and I do it because I can tell it’s a habit of hers. Tanny must have kissed that doll the last time. And the hundreds before that. I’m learning how to roll with the punches more quickly. “Sweet dreams, Hannah.”

  “Goodnight, Hannah,” Jaimie says, a few paces back.

  “Night,” she whispers, burrowing into Lou, her mother’s photo in her other hand.

  I’ve gotta walk backwards out of my bedroom, I’m in such disbelief. There’s a little girl who shares my blood lying right there.

  In case she gets scared, I leave the door open and find Jaimie in the hallway waiting for me. “I’m going home.”

  Oh no, you don’t. I’m not ready to let you go yet.

  “Stay.”

  Those smoky charcoal eyes search mine. She glances to my lips and whispers, “Okay. A little longer.”

  We open a bottle of Opus One and while I pour, Jaimie watches me like she’s not sure what to say. “I was going to open this when I won. It ain’t cheap.”

  “Oh!”

  “No, don’t look so sad. It’s okay. I guess it just wasn’t my time. It’s not like I lost and they hated me. I forfeited.”

  She takes her wine goblet from my hand and watches me replace the cork and set the bottle aside. A beautiful smile appears and with conviction she offers a toast. “To the next election where you’ll dominate.”

  Chuckling, I tap my goblet to hers and we drink, our eyes locked together. I think she got even sexier after I saw her maternal side because I can’t stop staring at the woman. She licks the red wine from her bottom lip, smile changing.

  “Do it again.”

  “Justin, not tonight.”

  On a devilish smirk I ask, “You really think that’s all I want? Ever?”

  “I have no idea what you want.” Her eyes darken.

  I lean against the shiny black kitchen counter I paid a fortune to install. “I want to make a difference. All those things I said in my speeches, I want to make them real. And if I can’t from Washington, I’ll fight like hell to get it done here.”

  “Like help the homeless shelters,” she quietly offers. “I saw the video, Justin. I saw what you did.”