Page 21 of Starring Role

Coop looked nervous. "Uh—" He made little placating gestures with his hands. "Don't worry about it. It's my problem. You don't need to—"

Jimmy laughed. "Did you think I was going to threaten him? No, really. It's not like that."

Cooplooked relieved but embarrassed. "Really, I didn't think you were going to go all He-Man on him, but...I should take care of it myself."

That gave Jimmy an idea. "If it would get you out of an awkward situation, I could."

"What?"

"Just that: tell him you met a wolf, and the guy is...well, modesty forbids." Jimmy grinned sharkishly. "But also that he's kind of possessive and wolfish."

Coop looked appalled. "I couldn't do that! Make you out to be irrational and dangerous."

"It's the truth. Not about me, I mean, but some wolf shifters would get pretty possessive after just one...date."

Coop's face heated visibly. "Not you?"

"I think I'm a bit too rational to get jealous so quickly. Especially since you haven't said I can't see you again." He gave Coop his best cheeky-puppyeyes, and Coop melted under the look.

"Of course. I'd love to see you again."

"Then, do you want my help with the guy, or what? If it would make the situation worse, of course, I'll stay away. But if it would help you have a convenient out, let me know."

"It seems like a shitty thing to do to you." Coop wavered. "But I bet it would buy me some time, and he'd stop being interested—if heis at all, to be honest. I think he'd have called me sooner if he wasreallyinterested."

"Probably," agreed Jimmy. He couldn't imagine asking for Coop's number and then not following up—unless, of course, he had a major case of nerves. It was hard to imagine a rich guy in the entertainment industry having a case of nerves, though. Coop seemed like the one who was getting nervous about it.

"It's shitty not to tell him the truth. But honesty isn't always the best policy. I came so close to losing this role already. I guess I'm being silly, huh?"

Jimmy shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't met him." He held out a hand. "Want me to text him as your jealous boyfriend?" He grinned, enjoying the idea of that role, even if he wasn't foolish enough to think it was realistic rightnow. Still, the guy didn't have to know that. For all anyone knew, he could be halfway in love with Cooper, insanely jealous and thinking of him as his future mate.

Coop's flush brightened. "I should definitely say no to that. But itwouldbe an easy out for me. Shit. Let me think about it, okay?" He walked around the kitchen, scrubbing at his hair, thinking, his face a little tormented.

"You can decide later, okay? We should get to the studio for filming. Eat something?" Jimmy was pretty sure Coop would say no. The guy seemed to have some food issues. Then again, Jimmy had never had to eat differently for a job, so he didn't know how difficult it might be. Nobody had ever told him to change his body shape or his weight in his life, and he wouldn't have taken it well ifthey'd tried. But Coop would do anything for his job. Jimmy could tell that already.

"Scrambled egg whites and fruit. Nothing that will set you back, I promise."

Coop's face relaxed into a relieved smile. "You're so kind to me. Thank you."

He said it so sincerely that Jimmy had the feeling he was going to blush. He replied with a short, embarrassed nod, and went to fix Coop a plate.

It was all well and good being casual, but he could get attached to this man very easily.

They left it at that, and after a quick breakfast, Jimmy eating a lot more than Coop and a lot more carbs, Jimmy drove them over to the studio. It was a bit early for Coop to be on set, but hopefully nobody would notice that. Jimmy dropped him off in the parking lot, near his car, with a quick promiseto text later.

They hadn't solved therich guy asking him outissue, but at least Jimmy had offered his help if it was needed or wanted.

"See you later," Jimmy said before Coop had shut the passenger door, and for an almost imperceptible moment, Coop's smile widened. Ah, yes. Jimmy hadn't been wrong; Coop liked the idea too.

Nice.He was determined not to get his hopes up—mates had tobe something two people felt, not just one; Dad and Mom had always said so. But if he played his cards right, and got really lucky, maybe he'd at least end up with a boyfriend. He would be downright proud to date Cooper.

Time would tell.

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Coop decided to putRorke Swindon off with a quick text about his schedule, hoping that would indicate a cooling lack of interest in his part. Bestnot to let Jimmy pretend to be the jealous boyfriend unless it got bad. It was true he didn't want to piss off the guy, but also, he had a feeling Swindon had too much pride to chase someone who was vaguely uninterested in him, and he might not need a wolf to scare him off.

It would be a bad precedent, letting Jimmy solve his problems for him, but Coop couldn't say he wasn't tempted. He hadalways rather liked being taken care of. When he'd first gotten an agent, he'd been so happy and relieved, thinking all his problems were over now and he'd have someone looking out for him all the time. Of course, it wasn't really like that; it was a business relationship, and sometimes (like the other day) Allan suggested things that really didn't make Coop feel looked after at all. It reallywas all about money at the end of the day.