My eyebrows shoot up, but he grins, and I realize he’s messing with me.
“Hi Grandpa,” Emma grins, hugging him. “I want you to meet the man I’m going to marry. This is Tanner.”
“Nice to meet you, son.”
“Mr. Cocker.” We shake hands, both firm.
“Call me Michael. There are too many Cockers running around.” He wraps an arm around his wife. “We take full responsibility for that. Come on, party’s out back.”
“Wait until you try Grandma’s chili,” Emma grins, taking my hand as we follow them.
Nancy waves a hand over her shoulder, “I think I overcooked it this time!”
“Nonsense,” Michael laughs.
Slowing us down I turn Emma to face me. “Two sneaky moves in one day?”
Biting her lip she won’t meet my eyes at first. “One good, one bad? Balanced, right?”
“Grrrrr,” I grumble, “Alright, let’s get this over with.”
“You’re going to have fun, just watch.”
“We’ll see how your uncles feel about that. Or Eric, he still hasn’t warmed up to me.”
“Eric can take it out on the field if he has a problem with it. Besides, he’s training in Florida and can’t make it” Emma mutters so nobody in the kitchen can hear us. There are people everywhere, most of them eyeing us without breaking their conversations. “Hi Zoe! We’ll meet you outside, okay!”
Emma leads me onto a back porch that has three steps taking us into a yard meant for this large a family. Trees line the borders instead of a fence, and on the far right is a faded dolphin fountain that no longer works.
On a flat spot of land, near the house, are tables and chairs under sweeping strands of twinkle lights held up by four poles. To the left is a table for miles filled with more food than I’ve ever seen at a house party, most of it covered with netted tents, protection from bugs, and wandering fingers before its time.
Jake’s at the far end, setting down a large pot of chili while Drew tugs a table cloth into place, chatting with Emma’s red-headed aunt I remember from the event.
We run into Hannah’s father first, the former Senator. He turns around and gives me the once over, holding out his hand as his raven-haired wife stands beside him, watching us with interest. “Justin Cocker, nice to meet you.”
“Tanner Hamilton.”
“Yes, Hannah’s told me all about you from the dinners you’ve had at their home. Thought my wife Jaimie and I might join you sometime.”
“Jaimie Cocker, hello.”
I shake her hand, too, but my eyebrows have risen. I know Hannah and I get along well—a blessing since she’s Emma’s best friend. And her husband Tobias is very funny. We’re quickly becoming friends. So I offer, “I guess they’ve painted a good picture of me, then. I’m grateful for that after—”
“Yes, well, we can put that night behind us now, can’t we?” Justin smirks, pale green eyes dancing. He glances to Emma, who couldn’t be any happier. “And I remember this one looking pretty sad when I ran into her at the hospital. Guess that frown is gone for good now, huh kid?” He gives her a wink as his identical twin joins us.
“Jason Cocker,” he introduces himself, thrusting out his hand. His shake is firm, too.
“Tanner, nice to meet you. I hear you produce Gabriel’s albums? Great work.”
Jason’s inspecting me, even as he smiles at the acknowledgement. “Thank you, he and I work well together. We have some things in common. Both the more creative half of twins, both extremely talented.”
Justin chuckles, “Both not modest at all.”
“Not at all. Modesty is for those who are afraid of being hated. I love myself too much to care.”
Justin eyes him and they both crack up, since Jason was kidding. Kind of.
Emma waves at Hannah, but pauses. “Tanner, I want you to meet my cousin Ben, and his parents.”
“That’s Jaxson and Rachel, with the ranch, yes?”
“Yes,” she smiles, but there’s a tinge of tension there now. I know she hasn’t seen Ben since before we went to the Bahamas. He’s stayed up north of Atlanta on the farm he bought for himself. I’ve done a pretty stellar job of memorizing her stories, so I’m keeping good track today.
“Guys, this is my fiancé, Tanner.”
Jaxson and his son Ben have a lot in common in the looks department. Both sandy-brown hair, both emerald-eyed. Only Ben has a few inches on him at six-foot-six. Even I have to look up as I say, “Nice to meet you, Ben. And this must be Shelby.”
Emma is eyeing the blonde and catches me staring at her. “Hi, I’m Ben’s cousin, Emma. We haven’t met yet.”
Shelby’s voice is quiet, either nervous or reserved. “Nice to meet you.” And she didn’t mean it, anyone could see that.
I shake hands with Jaxson and find him equally willing to forget the fundraiser as everyone else seems to be. He’s got such a grounded way about him that I begin to relax as he and Rachel ask about the orphanage, and I fill them in.
Jeremy—former Marine and the youngest of the brothers—walks up with his wife Meagan, both of them holding hands like newlyweds, like they haven’t been married twenty years and then some. They get in on the conversation and soon we hear Nancy shouting at Jason, “Don’t you dare!”
Emma whispers in my ear, “He just stole the ginger-ale pitcher.” Her eyes blink wide, mouth forming an O. “I forgot to introduce you to Grams!”
“Excuse us,” I tell our circle, and for the first time I’m looking forward to an introduction. I liked May the moment I met her, informally as it was.
Hannah exchanges a look with Emma as we pass through the crowd. She and Tobias stand with Ethan, Charlie and their baby.
Emma’s voice is shaky. “This is kind of a big deal, Tanner.”
“Hey, but no pressure,” I mutter, teasing her. It occurs to me that I never told her about how May said Emma would love me.
“I didn’t want you stressed out for days beforehand. This way you’d just…handle it!”
“Have to admit, it worked well,” I confess as we find May sitting on those same two cushions, only this time under a blue sky.
With eyes sharp as I remember them, May reaches for my hand as we approach. I kiss it and she smiles. “So it all worked out?”
Emma beams at her and gives her a hug, “Hi Grams, did they tell you I’m engaged?”
“Let me see that.” May Cocker takes Emma’s ring finger in hand, the diamond winking in the sunlight. “My my, that’s almost as big as your heart, Emma!”
I’m a tough man, but that melts me. I lean down and hug her myself. “Mrs. Cocker, you are a very special lady.”
She grins and wags a fragile finger at me. “I know things.”
“Hey Emm!” Hannah calls over.
Emma glances around and whispers, “Tanner, look at the house.”
Frowning I crane my neck to the backdoor and see Jen and Ryder walking out, searching for me. “What the fuck?”
May calls out, “Language!” and everyone who is nearby enough to hear me, starts cracking up.
Crimson heat flushes my neck as I apologize. “I’m sorry, May. That’s my sister and nephew over there. I thought they were in California!”
She reassures me, “I knew the surprise was coming. I’m just teasing you.”
“Will you excuse us?”
“Of course! Go say hello!”
Clasping Emma’s hand we make our way to the house.
Jen lights up and Ryder grins and gives a small, cooler wave, both dressed to impress a family they’ve never met, but will soon be a part of.
“How did this happen?” I grin, hugging them, and turning to Emma. “Did you do this?”
She nods, biting her smile. “Hi Jennifer. So great to meet you in person.” They embrace and over her shoulder, Jen gives me an approving wink.
Emma hugs my nephew next. “You must be Ryder!”
They pull away and he scans the layout. “How many people
in your family, Emma?”
“Not enough. We’ve room for two more.”
Jen grabs her and hugs her again. “I was so nervous, but you’re such a sweetheart.”
“Let me introduce you around.”
Jen grabs my arm. “Oh my God, there’s Gabriel Cocker.”
Emma laughs, “You want to meet him?”
I’ve never seen my sister blush until now. “No, not yet. Maybe when I’ve had a little wine,” she swallows, looking terrified.
Ryder rolls his eyes and heads down the steps, having no problem walking up to a group of Emma’s male cousins—Nicholas, Nate and Wyatt, I think? I have yet to meet the ones outside her closer circle.
And believe me, there’s no rush.
As afternoon becomes night, we all take our places around the tables, having filled our plates buffet-style.
Emma is to my right.
Jen, my left.
Ryder sits on the other side of her, deep in conversation with the same cousins, but across from him Zoe is sneaking awe-filled gazes, and never once speaks.
Emma whispers, “Uh oh.”
Privately I lean into her ear and agree, “She has a crush.”
As the party wanes on, my future wife glows brighter and brighter. I can feel how proud she is of me, that I can keep up with the easy going conversation without coming off as stuffy as I was when we first met. It thrilled her that Jake wanted to sit across from us and is laughing as much as I am.
Everyone has accepted me.
The past drama, forgotten.
My future is here with this family.
How life can change in an instant. I stood outside that vacant property, a different man than I am today.
Jake calls out, “Hey everyone! Hush up a sec. Tanner is about to taste his first bite of the chili!”
Emma’s hand wraps around my leg, gripping tightly as I dig in and lift the fork to my lips. The yard is so silent we can hear the cicadas singing in the trees, but that’s it.
I take a bite, close my eyes, frowning like I’m thinking about it. Opening them I look at the fork and say, “That’s the best fuckin’ chili of my life.”
Jake and his brothers crack up as Grams shouts, “Language!” and a bunch of other Cockers join her, shouting it too, with laughter in their voices. Same as hers.
As the conversations resume, I lay my hand on Emma’s, press it into my leg and lean in to quietly tell her, “It really is the best.”
“Isn’t it?” she whispers back, grinning.
“Thank you for changing my life.”
Her smile fades and she touches my temple. “I’ve only just begun, so get ready, Mr. Hamilton. I’m not done with you.”
We kiss and my heart beats with excitement for a future with this woman.
All I used to care about was business. Buying a company, tearing it down and selling off the pieces. Maybe that started to change with Riva, when her story inspired me to give back. It certainly brought me here to Atlanta.
But that courageous bookkeeper cracked my heart enough that Emma Cocker was able to push it all the way open.
Now the only company I’m going to sell off is my own. It’s worth more than I can count. I’ll focus on Atlanta’s Little Angels, and maybe make some of my own. Maybe? Who am I kidding? A large family is in our future. Some extended, some our own.
I’m a man of goals, who makes things happen. The only goal I care about now is seeing if I can make my Cocky Love smile more than she is, right now.
As she tears into a slice of bread pudding I mutter, “No better goal than that.”
Cocking an eyebrow she asks, “What goal, Tanner?”
Smirking I kiss her. “You’ll see.”
EPILOGUE
EMMA
C uddling Carter to my chest I veer right on the stone path to avoid running children, the backyard of Atlanta’s Little Angels teeming with laughter and shouting. They’re always so excited at lunchtime. Guess that will never change—kids love recess more than school. A chance to play, rest their minds, socialize.
Margaret calls out, “David, Martin! Take turns on the slide!”
They nod and stop pushing each other as she and I walk to stand together, watching everyone. Her fingers float over to me so she can stroke Carter’s soft hair as she smiles, “Can’t believe he just turned one. Feels like just yesterday I was being interviewed to run A.L.A. and you weren’t even married then.”
“I know, right?” I smile, kissing his head. “I envy him his ability to sleep anywhere.”
“You taught him that by not being quiet whenever he naps,” she says with authority.
“Guess I did,” I murmur. “But I didn’t mean to. Happy accident. There are always so many people around, with my family or when we’re here with the children. It’s kind of impossible to have everyone tip toe around.”
Margaret crosses her arms, sunlight dancing on our faces as we watch the kids.
My eyes alight on the little girl who joined the orphanage two months ago, coloring by herself in the shade of an oak tree. “I’m going to talk to Rose.”
“Okay Emma.” I start walking and Margaret adds, “I saw you talking with her the other day, too. She’s opening up to you.”
“Seems to be,” I frown. “Been a slow process.”
Margaret inhales deeply, because she feels the same. “It takes longer for some to acclimate. The other children have asked her to play but she keeps to herself.”
Nodding I head over, arms cuddled around my son. Rose glances up as she sees my sandals approach in her peripheral vision. But her eyes dip to the paper again in a hurry. Like I might go away if she doesn’t acknowledge my presence.
Sitting on the grass a couple feet from where she is, I bring my knees up and lay Carter’s back onto them. “You like the shade? That better for your dreams?”
Rose glances to me, which I pretend not to notice. The best way to get her to let down her guard is to allow her to come to me when she feels it’s safe to.
“Bet you’re dreaming of apple sauce and banana pudding, huh, Carter.” I sneak a peek at Rose, her coloring paused. “Someday soon you’ll have pizza. And then apple sauce will seem so boring, right little man?”
“Why can’t he have pizza?” Rose whispers.
Without meeting her eyes, still focused on my toddler, I gently answer, “He still eats mostly baby food, because he’s not big like you are. But when he’s ready, then he can have pepperoni… mushroom… sausage…” I’m searching for the one she loves most. “Pineapple… tomato… basil.”
“You didn’t say cheese,” she whispers.
Glancing over with big eyes I ask, “How could I forget cheese?”
“That’s the best one.”
“Is it your favorite?”
She nods and tugs on her natural curls, full lips thinned by the tension of shyness.
“My favorite is sausage. Have you tried that one?”
Rose nods and wrinkles her nose.
“You didn’t like it, huh?”
She shakes her head in that exaggerated way children do. I nod that I understand, and Carter opens his eyes, pulling my focus.
“Hi little man,” I softly say, kissing his forehead. “Did you hear us talking about pizza? Rose likes cheese, and I like sausage, and someday soon you’re going to have a favorite, too. I wonder what it will be.”
Rose walks on her knees, closer so she can see his face better. After a moment she announces, “Pepperoni.”
I glance to her, thrilled she’s approached us like this. It’s the first time she’s done so, and I’ve been trying for weeks. “You think Carter will love pepperoni?”
A small nod, then, “His fingers are tiny.”
“They are.”
“And pale.”
Laughing I hold his hand to hers, while they stare at each other. “Yes, his skin isn’t the same color as yours, but you’re both children just the same.”
Innocent eyes lock with mine as she asks
, “Why?”
Shrugging one shoulder, keeping my voice gentle so as not to scare her off, I answer, “It’s just how you were born. Your parents had skin like yours, so you were born this way. Carter has skin like mine and Tanner, so he’s born that way. You remember my husband, Tanner, right? Well, he’s way too pale. I think he needs a tan, don’t you?”
Rose nods, which makes me grin. “Want to see what I did?”
“I would love that.”
She pulls her coloring book over and shows me a very tidy effort, all the lines honored in a sketch of zoo animals, but the colors are creative. The elephant is blue. Giraffe, purple. Penguins, pink and red.
“That’s really beautiful, Rose. Thank you for sharing that with me.” Carter’s hand wobbles at the picture and she pushes it closer to him so he can touch it. This completely undoes me, because she could have pulled it away, protectively. But her instinct to share says a lot.
“Look, Carter, isn’t her drawing pretty?” He makes gurgling noises, slapping his hand on the paper. A smile lights behind Rose’s eyes and she flicks a glance to me.
“He likes it.”
“I think he does.”
A month later I find Tanner in the library, which is now Margaret’s office. She’s rarely in it since she’s an active overseer, a social worker with a PHD in child psychology who absolutely adores her job here. So my husband finds himself using this warm, mahogany space more than she does, especially since the coalition has kept him so busy these days.
“Remind me to become an asshole again,” he mutters as he hears me walk in, glancing up to ask, “Where’s my son?”
“Hannah has him. She and Tobias are here for lunch.”
Tanner’s eyes cloud. “It’s noon already? The people in charge of one of these places, stubborn as hell. It’s like I’m asking them to cut their arms off by suggesting things they can do differently. Even though it will help them and the children!”
Running my hands through his salt-and-pepper waves I stand by his chair. “Some people refuse to change. Just move onto the next one and do what you can.”
He sighs, takes my hand and presses a kiss into the palm. “You’re right. I’ve been going to the hardware store for milk.”
Emma Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 11) Page 18
