Billy Cooper (Cocker Brothers Book 20)
BILLY COOPER
COCKER BROTHERS BOOK 20
FALEENA HOPKINS
CONTENTS
Billy Cooper
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Cocker EXTRAS
About the Author
BILLY COOPER
BOOK 20
"I love how positive this book is and the message it sends. Don't ever give up, no matter what crap life throws at you."
—Cindy
Billy first appeared in Nicholas Cocker and Caden Cockers novels. Now he gets a love story all his own. It begins with Halloween then falls into…fall.
Go ahead and stand up for what you believe in. As I’ve learned, that’s the path to happiness.
LESLEY ANN WARREN
CHAPTER 1
BILLY
“I ’m planning the best Halloween party they’ve ever seen!” I shout, my grin enormous.
Gabriella Montcliff enters my home office with our steaming cups of morning coffee in both her happy hands.
With a name like hers you’d think she’d be a movie star, but a spotlight, the limelight, or attention of any kind from more than one person, freaks her out.
If she were on a stage, she’d run, shaking to a corner.
That’s why we get along, and what makes her a great assistant. We balance each other out. I’m an extrovert to the nines. I love people, the more the better. Entertaining them is how I make my living, and that’s a dream job in my book.
Gabs prefers to be behind the scenes, doing my books.
“It’ll be amazing, Billy! You’re going to scare the hell out of them. I’ll bet they’ll talk about it for years! Maybe their whole lives!”
But she’s one hell of a cheerleader.
Grinning from her to the Internet, I reach for the extended coffee, no milk, one packet of sugar already in it. “The mailing list has grown ridiculously since my Labor Day shindig. They couldn’t believe I got that much sand in the warehouse to simulate an actual beach! The bar has been raised, Gabs! The bar has been raised!”
She looks at the number of subscribers, eyes widened by awe. “Are there even that many people in Atlanta? Nobody wants to miss out this time.”
Laughing, I nod. “It sucks to be the person who has to hear about it from everyone else.” I start perusing newsletter templates in my online mail service hosting site in order to choose the best one to reformat as my Halloween Party announcement.
She’s sipping coffee over my shoulder. “What about that one with the—”
“These are crap!”
Gabs smiles. She’s used to my perfectionism. “Billy, would you like me to design the email for you?”
Skeptical, I’m chewing on the idea as we lock eyes. She’s great and all, but the creative aspects I keep a tight leash on because this party business is my baby.
I started out as a promoter years back. I’m what my friends call ‘a connecter’ —someone with a knack for bringing people together. Clubs of all kinds hired me to fill them.
Then it happened. I got bit by the bug—what every entrepreneur feels—the desire for something of my own. It dawned on me I could make a living doing things my way and not have to work for someone else ever again — I could throw my own parties. Make a mark with throw-downs worthy of their money, time, laughter. It takes a lot more work but at the end of the day, it’s mine.
My failures. My lessons. My blood, sweat, and tears. My successes.
When my parents moved to Florida and left my childhood home empty, I took it over as my den of iniquity. But then there was that fucking fire. Thank God I listened to Nicholas and Matthew and didn’t give up.
“No, I’ll do the newsletter, but thanks.”
Gabriella’s eyes deaden. “Oh, okay.” She attempts a smile to cover her disappointment, but I saw it before it disappeared.
“Gabs, this has gotta be good.”
“It’s cool. You don’t think I can do it.”
“It’s not that…” I trail off because I don’t have a better answer.
She tilts her head, silently giving me a sarcastic, Really?
The truth is, I’ve never given her a chance to try.
My chair spins away from the desk as I kick off and point at the screen. “Fine, fuck, okay, give it a shot! But I get veto-power.”
Her eyes fly open and with a huge smile she plants her coffee next to the keyboard. I give her my chair which makes her giggle with excitement. “I’m going to make it so beautiful—you just wait! Thank you, Billy!”
“You better,” I chuckle, carrying my coffee into the living room and calling back, “I’ll just be over here planning the horror-fest of a lifetime.”
I get no response—she’s officially obsessed with doing a good job. I’m so lucky I hired her.
Collapsing on my weathered, leather couch, I snatch up my tablet, balance it, and reach to set the coffee down on the appropriately-named coffee table that’s crowded with more books than cups. Photographs of Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Romania, Scotland, Turkey, Germany, and more stare back from glossy covers, catching my eye with their guilt-laden reminder that I really need more adventure in my life.
“How long has it been since I went on a trip?” I mutter to myself, unable to find an answer. “Seriously, when was it?” Frowning, I sit back.
“Billy, what are you calling the party?”
Distracted, I shout back, “Halloween Horror House!”
“Kids are going to come thinking it’s a—”
“Right, okay!” I chew on ideas while Gabriella patiently waits in the other room. Finally I smile and call out to her, “Dare to Scare!”
She squeals and yells, “I love it!”
CHAPTER 2
HAVEN
M y favorite costume has always been a witch. When I was a little girl I was the generic type with the pointy hat and black, formless gown, pointy shoes, the whole bit.
I loved it.
But now that I’m an adult, my freedom, combined with an overall need to be creative, has inspired a different witch every