Page 28 of Starring Role

Chapter twelve

They sat in front ofthe TV, watching a movie that Coop had refused to pick, so Jimmy had. Cooper seemed a bit distant and worryingly eager to please. Jimmy had hoped to spoil him to make up for not having sex tonight. So far, he didn't feel like he was succeeding. Coop had been very polite about the meal but had eaten it without any real sense of enjoyment.He could fake his smiles, but Jimmy was too good at reading body signals and human pheromones. Coop was stressed, far more on edge than he'd been yesterday. If he didn't calm down and start enjoying himself soon, Jimmy was going to give him an easy out and cut the evening short. He really liked spending time with this guy, but didn't want it to be a pain for Coop. Really, he worked hard all day,so he shouldn't have to put on an act tonight for Jimmy.

The thought that he was doing that made Jimmy a little sad, but realistically, he was trying to jump ahead in the relationship if he thought Coop should trust him immediately and fully. They were still getting to know one another, and he was probably rushing things if he expected the kind of comfortable ease together he'd been hopingfor.

Maybe he'd been wrong to suggest they abstain. But it really would be harder to let Cooper meet the pack if their scents loudly proclaimed they were 'doing it.' At present, he was giving Coop the promised back rub. He wished it was more comforting than it seemed to be, although Cooper's posture had relaxed a little, his shoulders slightly less hunched as he leaned tentatively into Jimmy'stouch.

It felt good to touch him. Jimmy was definitely getting attached. He hoped Cooper wouldn't mind too much.

To be honest, Coop didn't strike him as the detached type himself. There was something vulnerable and needy about him, something that made Jimmy want to protect him—and made Jimmy think Coop wasn't very good at protecting himself. Jimmy was self-aware enough to realize thatdidn't mean it was true, or that being taken care of would be welcome. Sure, he'd gotten away with barging in on the conversation with Singh, but that had been thin ice, and Jimmy knew it. He'd try to contain himself in the future.

A cell phone started ringing in the kitchen.

"Is that your phone?" he asked. "Mine doesn't sound like that."

"Um...yeah. I left it out there."

Not a bad idea,since Coop's jeans were so tight, it would probably be painful to leave the phone in his pocket. Not that Jimmy was going to mention anything about Coop's jeans, or suggest he loosen them, or better yet, do away with them altogether. That would be a very, very mixed message to send.

"Let me...um...I guess I'd better get that."

Coop got up and walked out to the kitchen. He'd kicked off hisshoes, and seeing him walk around the apartment in his socks was oddly endearing. Of course he looked better wearing nothing at all, and that was another impression Jimmy was going to keep very much to himself.

Jimmy paused the movie and listened. Cooper sounded reluctant to answer, and more reluctant when he started talking. "Hi, Allan." He was silent for a few seconds. "Well, I appreciateyou saying that, but it really wasn't cool, you know?" Another short pause. "I'm just saying you shouldn't have threatened me. Maybe I really should find a new agent. Someone who doesn't want to pimp me out. Just..." He sighed. "No, I'm not. But really—I mean, we're both supposed to be professional, but at least, if I was crying on your shoulder or something, you could chalk it up to mebeing an emotional actor. It really wasn't... You've been in the business longer than I have, so I—yes, of course your judgment matters, but I don't—"

His breathing was getting more intense. Jimmy couldn't help it; he got up and walked out to be there if he was needed. The instinct to protect was a doozy now. He made sure he didn't move silently so he wouldn't startle Coop again, and whenCoop looked back at him, distress on his face, Jimmy put a hand on his back.

Coop's breathing evened out, and he listened calmly. At last he spoke, sounding more like himself. "Okay. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's not going to happen. If you don't want to work with me anymore because of this, then—" He drew a breath. "Okay. Then the topicis closed. Good night, Allan."

He hung up.

"Wow," Jimmy said. "You were pretty firm with him. Who was it, your agent?"

"Yes," Coop said coolly. "He's showing a new side of himself," he added distastefully. "I'm not going to date Swindon for him, and honestly, I'm disgusted he would make such a big deal out of it. I'm sure it isn't such a big deal to Swindon himself—and it certainlyisn't make-or-break for my career now that I'm working steadily. It probably wouldn't have been before, either." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

"I'm sure you're right." Jimmy bit his lip to keep from offering to handle the call next time. He really needed to stop that. Coop would mention it if he wanted help.I hope he will, anyway. Coop would have to trust him firstand not be ashamed to ask for help. "Do you think you should stop working with him?" he asked, gently massaging Cooper's shoulders.