Cooper (The Family Simon #6) - Juliana Stone Page 0,45
that had, at one time, belonged to Morgan.
Her heart twisted as he perused the room, because she knew what was coming. When he found her, the smile slowly died. It withered and melted into something sad. Just like their love had.
Nathan. Her Nathan.
And Christy.
Oh God.
Heat and cold collided inside her. Queasy, she fought of a wave of dizziness and winced at the roar of sound in her ears. She knew she was trembling but couldn’t seem to stop it. And, God, she wanted to look away from them, but something, some macabre, stupid something held her still. Her heart was pounding so hard and heavy, she was surprised no one else could hear it. But then, maybe they could. Maybe every single person was looking at her with that same look of pity that had been sent her way ever since the accident.
The same look of pity that had replaced the love she used to see in Nathan’s eyes. She might have whimpered, or maybe even cried out.
A warm hand touched hers. A voice broke through the haze that blanketed Morgan.
“Hey, you okay?”
She blinked away tears, and Nathan faded from view. Cooper was silent, his gaze intense as they searched her face. Was she okay? She was so far from okay, right now in this moment, she felt as if she’d never find her way back. Would she admit that? Could she admit that?
“No,” she answered, voice rough. “I’m so not okay.”
Apparently, she could.
Cooper held her gaze a heartbeat longer and then squeezed her hand. “Let’s go.”
“But…” She glanced down at their half-eaten meal and the second bottle of wine that had just been delivered.
“No,” he said, getting to his feet. “Let’s you and me get out of here.”
Her eyes shot back up to his, and everything inside her stilled. He knew. He knew exactly who the couple was.
Morgan slipped her hand into Cooper’s, hesitating because Nathan and Christy blocked her way to freedom. Cooper bent low, his warm breath feathering across her neck.
“Don’t worry about them. I’ve got this.” He tucked her into his side and they turned to face the two people who had hurt her more than she’d thought possible. Never in a million years did Morgan think she’d have the balls to face them in public, and yet with Cooper at her side, she felt stronger. More in control than she’d felt in a long, long time.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
His hand was warm at her back, they stepped forward.
17
Cooper didn’t need anyone to tell him who the couple was, because Morgan’s expression told him everything he needed to know. She was still trembling when she took his arm, and he smiled at her reassuringly, hoping he could somehow calm her.
There was only one exit from the dining area, and as they slowly threaded their way through several tables, he was aware most of the patrons in the room were staring. Some from beneath lidded eyes, others not so shyly. Humans were, for the most part, intuitive creatures—he’d made a career out of studying them—and right now, everyone seemed to be aware that some kind of drama was unfolding.
He kept his grip firm on Morgan as he studied the couple. From his own experience, he knew that not every situation was cut-and-dried…that the gray area could overtake black and white, and something that seemed simple was, at best, complicated in the extreme.
And yet, the wave of protectiveness that rolled through him didn’t give a crap about any of that. All he knew was that this woman at his side had been hurt, and he’d do what he could to minimize any further damage.
He didn’t need to know the details of what happened, because it didn’t matter. He simply didn’t care. He was Team Morgan, and he had her back.
They stopped a few feet from the exit, mostly because there was nowhere for them to go, and Cooper wasn’t sure if Morgan would have sailed past them if she could. By this time, he was pretty much supporting her, and he gave her a reassuring squeeze. The hostess was chatting with the woman, a tall, attractive blonde who sported an athletic build, wide-set eyes, and an engaging smile. She hadn’t spotted Morgan yet, but the man certainly had.
He too was tall—Cooper had maybe an inch or two on the guy—and looked like he hit the gym hard. His dark hair was cut short, almost military in look, and he was dressed casually in jeans and leather.