Catherine was pleased, which was a relief. I realized as I sat down that I wanted her approval, badly. I tried to convince myself that it was just because she was so important to the shelter, to my new position. It had nothing to do with Cooper. Cooper who would be seeing a very pissed-off me in a few hours when I left work.

When the meeting was over, Catherine and Susan left for a walk through while I worked on my craft supply list for the majority of the day, jaw set and fingers flying on my keyboard. I didn’t even see Brian until he pulled up a chair and set a cup of coffee next to me.

I looked up and sighed, grateful and a little embarrassed.

He sat back in his chair and smiled. “You were working a little hard, so I brought you some fuel.”

I picked up the coffee. “Thanks, Brian. Is there a chance there’s liquor in this? Because that would be fantastic.”

He chuckled. “Not this time, but I’ll see what I can do for the next round.” He took a sip of his own coffee, watching me over the rim. “So you know Cooper Moore?”

My smile fell. “He’s my brother’s best friend. They went to Columbia together.”

I couldn’t quite read his expression. “Interesting.”

“Listen,” I bristled. “I didn’t know Cooper’s mother was our benefactor, and as far as I know, that fact had nothing to do with me getting this job.” I hoped, at least.

He put up a hand in surrender. “I’m not judging or accusing. I know you’ve got the muscle to handle it.”

My brow was low. “Damn straight, I do.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I let out a breath and tried to relax. “I’m sorry to snap at you. I just don’t like the idea of not being taken seriously or that I got here any way but by my own merit.”

“I get it. I mean, this is a highly competitive field full of sharks, the old charity game. Wouldn’t want anyone to do you any favors.”

I smiled, feeling sheepish. “Well, when you say it like that, it does sound pretty silly.”

“Nah, not silly,” he said with a comforting smile. “You work hard and want that to be your legacy, not who you know.”

“I really had no idea about Catherine’s involvement with the shelter. I knew she did charity work, but I really only met her a few times, years ago. She’s been here since the nineties?”

He nodded. “She’s done so much for the city, for the people who live here. It wasn’t until she took over that the shelter really took off, expanded its reach. I’ve seen how much the people who come through here are touched, and that’s largely thanks to Catherine’s efforts.” He was so earnest, so heartfelt.

“You really love it, don’t you?”

“I do. It’s definitely more rewarding than being a sous chef. That was nothing but low pay, long hours, and loads of backstabbing. And let me tell you — they’ve got sharp knives.”

“Hurts less going in, at least,” I said with a chuckle.

He smiled, watching me for a second. “Let me take you to dinner.”

“Man, you don’t quit, do you?” I shook my head at him, amused.

“Not when I want something.”

I sighed, still shaking my head. “I’m sorry, Brian. You seem like a really nice guy …”

He sucked in a breath through his teeth and laid a hand on his heart. “Ouch.”

I smiled. “Just friends. Okay?”

Brian pushed his chair back and stood, smiling back playfully. “All right, all right. Duly noted.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I’d better get back to my spaghetti sauce. I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Brian.”

He left me alone in the office, and I took a breath, sitting up a little straighter and laying my fingers back on the keyboard with my mind a mess. Not about Brian — once again, I didn’t feel a single thing, even as he threw his charm all over me with the subtlety of a busted fire hydrant. I swear, my brain was broken, hijacked by hormones or pheromones or some other invasive mone that wanted to ruin my life.

I checked the time. Two hours until I would head over to Cooper’s and give him a piece of my mind. I’d been lied to, and he’d betrayed my trust — two things I wouldn’t stand for. My heart lurched when I thought this might be the end. Because I couldn’t stand for this.

There was no way for him to talk his way out of it, not this time.

Cooper

Music played softly as I stretched out on my leather recliner in my favorite room in the entire world, reading Watchmen for the ten thousandth time.

Some rich guys had a red room of pain. I had a black room of nerd.

Shelves lined one wall completely, lit to display collector action figures, graphic novels, comics. The other three walls were covered in framed artwork with gallery lights — Gambit and Rogue’s first kiss signed by Stan Lee, the original Batman movie poster signed by Tim Burton and Michael Keaton. Art made from my favorite comic frames, one floor to ceiling piece from V for Vendetta with a note from Alan Moore along the bottom.

And in the corner, in a standing case, was my very own custom-made Batman suit.

Seriously, don’t look at me like that.

My defense is this: I really, really wanted to go to ComicCon. My addiction is my dirty secret. No one knows, and I don’t want them to. If I went to ComicCon as Cooper Moore, everyone would find out. But if I went as Batman, my secret would be safe, even if a hundred people took pictures with me that day.

I smiled to myself. It was maybe the most epic day of my life.

My doorbell rang, and my brow dropped when I looked at my watch. It was six, and I wondered who it could be as I hauled myself out of my chair and made my way to the door. There were only a handful of people on the list of visitors who could come up unannounced, and I hoped I knew which one it was.

I opened the door to find a very angry, very adorable Maggie in my entryway.

“When were you planning on telling me that your mother runs Project Homestead?”

I had good reason for keeping it from her, and I opened my mouth to defend myself. “Mags, I—”

“Don’t you Mags me, Cooper. You told her about me. Did you call Susan? Did you get me that job? I don’t need your goddamn help. I’m a grown-ass woman with the ability to get a job I want without your help.” She poked me in the shoulder.

“Maggie—”

“I’m not finished!”

I smirked and leaned on the doorframe, folding my arms, waiting for her to get it out of her system.

Her eyes narrowed even more. “Don’t you gimme that smile, you son of a bitch. I’m sure you pull strings all the time to get what you want, but that’s not how I do things. You had no right to interfere.”

“I didn’t.”

Her lips twisted in a scowl. “Don’t lie to me, Cooper. Your mother told me you spoke to her about me.”

“I did, but not about your application.”

She tilted her head, confused. “But she said …”

I watched her. “Did she say I had anything to do with it?”

Her brow dropped. “Well, no, not exactly … but you knew I was applying there. Why didn’t you tell me your mother was a benefactor?”

“Because I knew that was the job you wanted, and I wanted you to apply. I had a feeling you wouldn’t if you knew I was connected. Looks like I was right.” I gave her a smile as her face softened.

“You really didn’t say anything?” Her eyes were wide, her voice apologetic.

“I really didn’t.”

“God, Cooper. I just … when I saw her … and she said … and I just thought …” Her shoulders slumped as she let out a breath and turned. “I’m sorry. I should go.”

I reached for her wrist, chuckling as I pulled her into me. “No, you shouldn’t.”

Her cheek pressed against my chest. “The way she said it just sounded like you had something to do with it. I didn’t even ask you, just came here and started yellin’. I’d just been thinking about it all day and had myself convinced. I’m an ass.”