Cocky Love: Emma Cocker (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 11)

by Faleena Hopkins

  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.”

  “Exactly.”

  Pulling me onto his lap he frowns. “Wait, if Hannah has Carter who has—”

  “Tobias is holding Clara, silly.”

  Tanner gives a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “When she grows up he’ll probably train her how to fight.”

  “Probably. He taught Hannah.”

  “Still hard to imagine that beast with a daughter.”

  “Speaking of…”

  Tanner’s eyebrows go up. “You have something to tell me?”

  “Oh, no, I’m not pregnant.”

  He relaxes, even looks a little bit disappointed. “Okay.”

  “But I wanted to ask you about…Rose.”

  He eyes me, a smile sparking his lips. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

  “What do you mean?!” I laugh.

  Tracing the side of my face with his knuckle he murmurs, “You think I’m blind, Emm? I’ve seen how much attention you give her.”

  “I wanted to help!”

  He pulls me in for a kiss, and asks the serious question. “What about the other children? How would we explain?”

  Frowning I burrow into Tanner’s chest, and he rests his chin on my head. “I don’t know. But so many of the other kids have gotten placed, and I don’t have any doubt that they all will be, especially with all the publicity we’ve done. Even the new ones who arrive will all find homes.”

  “Right, and you don’t feel Rose will find a home? Continue going to school here like the others?”

  Hugging him I whisper, “I don’t want her to find another home, Tanner. I want her in ours.”

  He rocks me for a second and pulls back to meet my eyes. “What if we fostered her for a little while, to see how it goes? A few children have been fostered by the teachers here before. They’re used to the concept. It will give us a way to ease them into it. They’ll grow used to Rose arriving with you, or me, and leaving with us, too. And she’ll get a chance to see if she likes us.”

  Relieved and hopeful, maybe even very excited, I ask, “Really? You’re open to this?”

  He nods, “She’s a special little girl. She reminds me of Riva, not in her looks, but she tries so hard in school. Margaret told me she stays after the other kids run out to play—that she’d rather stay in and keep learning how to read.”

  “You’ve been watching her, too? Oh, Tanner, that makes me so happy! And if she doesn’t like us, then I will of course drop it and we’ll find her a forever family of her own, I promise. I just want to try!”

  He kisses me and I throw my arms around his neck, squeezing him. The man can drive me crazy sometimes, because he’s such a bull with many opinions and a knack for going silent when he’s angry. But it’s a small price to pay for all the wonderful things I love about him. How often he supports me, how he cares for Carter and snuggles with him all the time, saying things like, “I’m going to teach you all about finance.”

  And on days like this he’s just a miracle.

  As the months pass, Rose finds her forever home…with us. And the children at A.L.A. start welcoming her into their circles more, rather than being mad at her for it. They do this because she blossoms with our love, and finally reaches out to them, shows them who she is. Takes chances and laughs a little bit more each day.

  She isn’t the last child we adopt. And Carter isn’t the last child I give birth to, either. As our family grows, the children don’t act like they’re not blood related. To them, they’re brothers and sisters, looking out for each other, being crazy together, and driving me and Tanner out of our minds with pride, love and happiness.

  The world has grown, accepting families of all types without even raising its eyebrow. What a blessing for our hearts to be open. So much more peaceful this way. Life is filled with love. And I wouldn’t mind if my world got a little bit bigger. Let’s see how Tanner Hamilton feels about that…

  THE END.

  Bonus Fun

  Read a note from me about the writing of this book, on the following pages.

  Read Bonus Scenes for the Entire Series

  Years after the story ends, enjoy sweet and sexy glimpses into the characters’ lives as the years have passed. I used to wonder what happened to my favorite characters in their futures. This answers that call. They are written with much love and care.

  Cocky Readers Facebook Group

  Online Family BBQ where readers help me name characters, get to know each other, and plan our Cocky Cookbook charity project. You must answer questions about the series for entry — a group purely for my #cockerstalkers.

  Cocker Family Tree

  Best way to keep track of which brother fathered who. As we move forward with books for all 17 of their children, this will be helpful.

  Pinterest Board

  With images of places and things from the Cocker Brothers Books — a way to deepen your experience.

  This series is in Kindle Unlimited.

  Join with the Free 30 Day trial and devour them all.

  Please leave a review if you’re enjoying the ride,

  and get ready for all seventeen cousins, the grown up kids of the Cocker Brothers
— all with their own stand-alone love stories. This is going to be the funnest series ever.

  Note From Me

  (Turn the page for the series.)

  Although it took me a while to start writing Emma’s book (after Gabriel’s I caught a cold from pushing myself too hard) when I put fingers to keyboard it just flowed. Emma was dying for her story to be told, just like she was longing to meet a man who helped make her more of who she really is when she’s at her best. That’s what I believe real love does. And sometimes we find it in friendships, sometimes family…from the people who get it. See us. Want us to shine and know how to help make that happen.

  To spend more time with Jake and Drew was so fun, too, because it’s been a year since I wrote their story. (10 books in 1 year! Wild.) They played only a minor role in Ethan’s love story, popping in briefly. If you’ve been around me long enough you’ve probably heard that I never write plot-outlines. I just sit down and type and the characters tell me where to go. Such was the case with Jake and Tanner’s history. Like Tanner, I didn’t know what exactly had happened until the fundraiser scene. And while it was painful to have Emma fight with Jake, it kinda needed to be like that. Why?

  Well, in Hannah’s book we learned that Emma was pretty over-protected by the men in her family. She needed to rise up. The part about Cora was just icing on the cake—never saw that coming as their ticket out of blame. Jake had to admit Tanner hadn’t hit on Drew when the affair (or dating, or fucking, or whatever Cora and Tanner had been doing back then) was revealed.

  But where does Jake go from there? He kind of HAD to still put his foot down. Be stubborn. Save face. Because he’s Jake. That made Emma make the choice. And while it was hard, it sent them to the Bahamas and they got a chance to know each other, just like Hannah said, away from everyone so they could form a bond and fall in love.

  I loved all of it. Many times I was bouncing in my chair, happy, upset, laughing, teary-eyed. Total wreck.

  Anyway, I hope you enjoyed her love story. Thank you for loving this family maybe as much as I do. I will continue to write all of these books myself, without co-authors, so that even though you have to wait for them, they will be true to the Cocker Family, all the characters realized in the ways they were meant to be…springing from my crazy heart.

  Eric is next. In my Cocky Readers Facebook group we chose his cover model together after one of my readers, Paula T., brought Joseph Cannata to my attention. We (as a group) tagged him in comments on his Instagram and asked him to be a Cocker family member. He contacted me, was pretty amused, and sent me some photos to license. My readers voted on which made the cover, and then Joseph even popped in to say hello. It’s quite a fun group. Join us there. But you will be asked questions for entry because we’re keeping this group private and for Cocky Readers only, i.e. fans of this series.

  Thank you for reading this, for enjoying my novels, for spreading the word, and for being you.

  xx,

  Faleena Hopkins

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my ARC pack members for helping me name the hero in this story — so many great suggestions and Tanner felt the most right to me.

  Thank you for my readers in the Cocky Readers Facebook Group for helping me name the Orphanage. Wonderful hearing all of your ideas! I added “Little” to “Atlanta’s Angels” in order to bring in Emma’s story since everyone called her little until they realized she wasn’t anymore. :)

  I’m so grateful to be able to live in a time when my readers and I can talk as we do. The open conversation, and all of your ideas and contributions, makes this that much more fun.

  Love and more love,

  Faleena Hopkins

  (1) Jake Cocker - Cocky Roomie

  A Stand-Alone Bad Boy Romance

  When Jake answers the door wearing only a towel and smirk, Drew decides having him as her roommate is a very bad idea. But lucky for her she has no other choice.

  Meet Jake Cocker - Book 1.

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  Audio book is available, too!

  Add To Goodreads Here.

  (2) Jett Cocker - Cocky Biker

  A Stand Alone Sexy MC Romance

  Like a modern day Robin Hood, The Ciphers save people. And when Jett Cocker meets a feral woman with revenge on her mind, his whole life changes in the blink of a smoking gun.

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  Add To GoodReads.

  (3) Jaxson Cocker - Cocky Cowboy

  A Second-Chance Romance

  Jaxson Cocker needs no one. Or so he thinks. I mean, come on. Can you really meet your soulmate when you’re only eight?

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  Add To Goodreads Here

  (4) Jason Cocker - Cocky Romantic

  An Enemies to Lovers Romance

  Sarah's not my normal type at all. She drives me fucking nuts…which is why my twin brother Justin would tell you she's exactly who I need. Just don’t tell ME that.

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  Add to Goodreads here

  (5) Justin Cocker - Cocky Senator

  A Bad Boy Stand-Alone Romance

  All Justin wants is to be a politician Georgia can trust. But to get that vote he has to get past the smoky-eyed, curvy obstacle to his campaign. And then there’s that other thing…

  Add To Goodreads

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  (6) Jeremy Cocker - Cocky Soldier

  A Military Bad Boy Romance

  Every day I run. From my past. From the ghosts. My family has tried to reach me, but it’s not until an aspiring chef named Meagan almost runs over me and my dog, that I begin to wake up and remember the man I used to be. Now if she’d just stop sleeping with her boss, that would be great.

  Add To Goodreads

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  (7) A Honey Badger X-Mas

  a holiday spinoff novella (from Cocky Biker)

  “A fantastic story that will warm your hearts. A keeper for Christmases to come.” - AngDia

  “This is a very sweet yet hot and engaging story about a tough guy who's a bit of a teddy bear at heart. ” - HappyReader

  "Absolutely the best Christmas short story to date." - Angela

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  (8) Hannah Cocker - Cocky Senator’s Daughter

  A Stand Alone Romance

  Hannah Cocker, daughter of the notorious rake Senator Justin Cocker, is turning her father’s blonde hair grey…especially when he has to rescue her from a bad boy MMA fighter with a secret.

  (Daughter of Justin, Book 5, Cocky Senator. So she’s the sister of Gabriel, Book 10, Cocky Rockstar)

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  Add to Goodreads

  (9) Ethan Cocker - Cocky Genius

  A Billionaire Computer Genius Stand Alone

  Ever had a hot character talk directly to you? This one will.

  In the vein of Deadpool and Ferris Bueller, Ethan Cocker leads you through his love story with a CEO princess who treats him like a pauper. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?

  (Son of Jake, Book 1, Cocky Roomie. So he’s the brother of Emma, Book 11, Cocky Love)

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  Add To Goodreads Here.

  (10) Gabriel Cocker - Cocky Rockstar

  Paige Miller won a date with rockstar Gabriel…only his cousin Ben Cocker saw her first. May the worst man win.

  (Son of Justin, Book 5, Cocky Senator. So he’s the brother of Hannah, Book 8, Cocky Senator’s Daughter)

  Buy or Borrow in Kindle Unlimited Here.

  Add To Goodreads Here.

  (11) Emma Cocker - Cocky Love

  Tanner Hamilton is the biggest snob. Flat out calling me incapable? Too young? A waste of his time? I can’t believe I thought he was attractive!

  Now I’m stuck as his realtor. He wants to play? I�
�ll play.

  (Daughter of Jake, Book 1, Cocky Roomie. So she’s the sister of Ethan, Book 9, Cocky Genius)

  Add To Goodreads Here.

  About the Author

  I write modern day love stories that lift the heart, melt it, and set it back down better than it was. Maybe even crack it up a little. ;)

  I'm also an actress and filmmaker, and will be making my own indie movie very soon. I hope you’ll be by my side during that wild process. For a longer bio about that crazy journey, read my blog post (aka mini memoir) here.

  Instagram: FaleenaHopkins Pinterest: FaleenaMHopkins

  authorfaleenahopkins.com