butt to the premiere he could as well. That was low. Her prognosis was excellent, her treatment done, and they both knew it. But it had seemed easier to say yes than to argue with two of the stubbornnest women he knew. Besides, he had a backup plan. He could always change his mind and slip away in the dark. No one would know any better.
So here he was, hiding in the backseat of a limo while around him chaos ensued. The crowds were ten people deep—at least. A loud round of cheers erupted, and he knew Beau and Betty had just exited their limo. There was just his brother, Maverick, along with Charlie and their mother ahead of Cooper. So what the hell was he going to do?
Restless, he kicked out his feet and pulled his cell phone from his pocket, but there was nothing there. No message. No missed phone call. No Morgan. He stared at the blank screen for a long time—as if his eyeballs could somehow make magic happen.
His finger trailed across the last number that had called. Holly. With a sigh, he shook his head. He’d spent a good chunk of his adult years hating her. Hating himself more. If life had taught him anything, it was that carrying around that kind of guilt and hatred was ill-advised. That kind of shit would eat a man alive.
Morgan had saved him. He just hoped Holly would find her own salvation. She’d said as much when they’d talked a few hours earlier.
Another round of cheers sounded from outside, but he did nothing. His driver had been instructed not to move forward unless told to, and Cooper glanced up, uncaring that the publicist was probably freaking the hell out.
His phone pinged just then, and he glanced down, his publicist, the crowd, the entire damn place forgotten as he skimmed the message. It was from his brother.
Get your ass out here.
Scowling, he was about to pocket it when another message came through. This time from Charlie.
You were right.
He stared at the words for a few moments and frowned. What the hell did she mean by that?
His phone pinged. Another message from Charlie.
Morgan’s eyes do change color in the sun.
Wait. What?
You should see it. So beautiful.
Cooper’s head shot up, and his hand was on the door, but the damn thing wouldn’t open. He yanked on it. “Davis, let me the hell out,” he growled.
“Would you like me to move up, sir?”
“I’d like you to open the goddamn door.” Frustrated and angry, he waited.
The lock clicked, and Cooper shot out of the limo, head cranked around as he searched ahead. The crowd roared, but he heard nothing. He marched down the path between the cars and the barricades, moving past security and that frantic publicist who looked as if she was, in fact, losing her mind. He searched the crowd on the red carpet. Saw his cousins Jack and Beau. Their wives Betty and Donovan. He spied Maverick and his mother off to the side, and Charlie…
His heart, already thumping like a damn drum, kicked up another notch, because his sister-in-law stood beside the most beautiful, engaging, infuriating, lovely, argumentative, and amazing woman he’d ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Cooper pulled up short, his gaze hungrily taking in the long, loose waves that fell down her back. She wore a shade of green that clung to her curves, from the high neck to her hips to her feet. A gauzy wrap caressed bare shoulders, and her eyes… They glistened, shining from the flashes from the cameras that surrounded them.
She took his breath away.
Lips parted, she turned toward him, and he didn’t wait. Christ, the hounds of hell couldn’t keep him away. He strode forward, his long legs eating up that red carpet like a starving man at a banquet, and he didn’t stop until he had her in his arms. Until her warmth was pressed against him. Until her scent was inside him.
He held her for as long as he could, and then his hands slid up to cup her face so that he could see—really see—what was going on in her head. The crowd roared its approval, but he didn’t hear a thing. He was so focused on Morgan that a bucket of firecrackers wouldn’t have moved him.
“Hey,” she said, her voice throaty and more than a little raspy.
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You came.” He spoke roughly and was lucky to get the words