Page 65 of Cooper

“Although Joe and I obviously have the final say on anyone we hire, we do have a vote every time we add someone new. The vote for Dax will happen when he gets back from Iraq. Yours already happened.”

I knit my brows together in confusion.

I hadn’t realized there was something as official as avote.

“Do we vote together or individually?” I ask curiously.

“It’s an official vote where we’re all in the same room together. But in this particular case, since you and Cooper are involved, we needed to have a private conversation first. Because if he decides to join us, there could come a time when you have to make a very difficult choice. Cooper’s life or Casey’s. His life or Levi’s. Erik’s. Can you do that?”

I’m thoughtful. “In theory, yes, of course, but I don’t think it’s that cut and dried. It can’t be. We’re talking about human beings. And please, I mean no disrespect with the question I’m about to ask, but I’m trying to understand… would you pick Erik over one of your children?”

Sandor nods slowly. “That’s a very fair question. And the honest answer is—you’re right. It’s not as black and white as Erik or my boys. I would probably die trying to save both.”

Yeah, that’s kind of what I’ve been thinking too.

The thought of leaving Cooper to certain death while spiriting away Casey or one of the kids leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but it really wouldn’t be any different than leaving anyone behind. “I don’t know that leaving Cooper behind in a life-or-death situation would be different than leaving you or Lennox or any of my friends. I would hesitate, but in the end, I believe I would do my duty.”

“That’s all we can ask,” Sandor says quietly. “Five years ago, I would have had completely different answers and guidelines, but we can’t ask people not to have personal lives. Not to have children. To just focus on the job. That’s not only unfair, it’s unrealistic. All we can do is trust that everyone is trained and in the best position to save as many people as possible under any and all circumstances.”

“The other issue, of course, is if you break up. Cooper seems to think the two of you can work together, but I think it’s different for you.” He holds up a hand when I start to protest. “Don’t deny women can be more emotional. It’s how you’re built biologically. Hormones and all that. You do a hell of a job, but how will you feel if he breaks your heart and then you have to see him every day? When Lennox and Sandor broke up, she asked to be transferred to Monaco to bodyguard the twins.” Casey and her ex-husband Jayson have shared custody of their twin daughters, and the girls spend the school year in Monte Carlo with him and his new wife.

“I don’t know how I’ll feel,” I admit. “It would be difficult, I’m sure, depending on the circumstances of the break-up—like if he cheated on me with someone who works here at the palace—but I could do my job. I might want a few weeks in Vegas or something, just for a change of scenery initially. I think that’s a fair request. The royal family would never be in danger because of it, though. Not in a million years.”

I don’t know if that’s completely true because I can’t imagine us breaking up unless it’s mutual, where we grow apart or something. I’d never let a broken heart impact the safety of the family, though.

“Then I guess we’re moving forward with Cooper taking on some Royal Protector duties to see how he feels about it,” Joe says, closing his laptop.

Holy shit.

I know nothing is official and Cooper hasn’t made up his mind, but I allow myself a moment of excitement anyway.

I really want him to say yes.

TWENTY-THREE

Cooper

It’s beenan interesting and exciting few weeks since we got back from Paris.

I’m starting to feel stronger. It’s most obvious first thing in the morning when I wake up and can get out of bed virtually pain-free. I’m running on the treadmill again and starting to lift light weights. My recovery is going slower than I’d like, but everything else in my life is moving at warp speed.

I tried to talk to my CO about potentially separating from the military, and that would be a whole thing, so I’d have to fly back to the States at some point. Either way, I need to end the lease on my apartment, sell my truck, and pack up my stuff. I can sell most of it, because I wouldn’t take it to Hawaii if I go that route, but I do have clothes and some personal items I want to keep. I also have to visit my family, which will be a little complicated because my mother has no idea what I’ve been up to since leaving Germany.

I don’t completely understand it myself.

I’m content here.

And not in a boring, sedate way.

I’m involved with a gorgeous woman I’m falling in love with, I have an opportunity to try something totally new, and I’m making friends in the process. Outside of my unit, it’s been years since I could have real friends. The military doesn’t stop me, but between deployments, moving around, and the general lifestyle, it’s hard.

Here in Limaj, I’ll be based in one place if I decide to stay, which is a huge draw for me. I haven’t stayed in one place or had what I consider a home since I graduated from high school so it’s a novel idea for me. Hell, everything about this job is pretty novel.

I just don’t know if I can do it.

How does a guy like me leave behind the country I’ve lived, breathed and fought for? I’m a proud American, and it feels a little like a betrayal to want to do those things for a royal family I never knew anything about until my CO got me in touch with Sandor. Back then, I couldn’t point to Limaj on a map.

Now I’m thinking about moving here.

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