she moved out. It’s a touch larger than my own house, with floor-to-ceiling windows that peer out in all directions. If someone were standing in the upstairs living area, they’d see me right now. I shiver.
The doorbell rings and my pulse skitters, hammering in my temples and stomach. Morganna snickers. Chloe rises ostensibly to get the door, but I beat her to it, pulling it open and stepping back. Cody, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, wearing a half grin and messy hair, puts up one large palm to wave. “You,” he says, as he lets his hand drop. He wants to pull me close. I sense it in the way his hands move. They reach up for me ever so subtly.
I sigh. “You,” I return our unconventional hello. “Come in. Morganna and Chloe were just leaving. Let me grab my bag.” Morganna laughs. She knows how little is actually in my bag. Cody saunters into the living area with more confidence than he has any right to have and grins at the women.
“Ladies. Ladies. How is your week going?” Rolling my eyes, I take the last swig of tea from my cup, slam it on the counter, and head for my bedroom.
Morganna and Chloe make small talk. I hear Chloe cackle in her raspy, flirty accent. Then Cody asks about the new owners. Morganna explains that she hasn’t had much to do with the sale and thinks they’re nice people. Or serial killers. She’s not quite sure. I shake my head at her dry humor, so unlike my own. Cody’s voice grows closer. I know he’s behind me without even looking. I can sense his presence from a mile away. “You haven’t changed the house much,” he says. Yeah, but everything else has changed. “I like what you’ve done in the hallway.”
I turn on my heel to face him. “Thanks, yeah, it needed a pop of color. I have some design catalogs we can go through to help spruce up your house if you want to take a look with me.” His blue eyes narrow and a ghost of a smile appears on his lips. Other ideas, ones that don’t involve going through catalogs, are running through his mind. Playing it cool, I nod. “Okay. I’ll leave them at home.”
He nods, crosses the distance between us, and pulls me into his arms. “I’ve needed you this close since the second you opened the front door,” he whispers, his lips at my ear. Sighing, I lean into his chest further and breathe him in.
“We need to get out of here as soon as possible, Cody.” I have visions of Dax strolling in the front yard with a head wrap and an Uzi, opening fire on anything that moves. Not really, but he’s acting strange and with strange comes volatile. “I’m sure you know Dax is still in the picture,” I say. One would think I’d be upset or heartbroken, but honestly, I’m just pissed and confused.
Cody pushes me away gently and takes a large step back. He looks out the window to the left, avoiding eye contact completely. He’s about to lie. It’s a tell. I sigh. You know that feeling when the bagboy calls you ma’am? A little confused, a little glad their mama taught them manners, but a whole lot of “shit, they won’t be checking out my ass when I leave the store”? That’s the strange feeling I’m comparing this to. “No fault of my own. You must know how twisted up about this he is seeing as you granted him a broken nose.” I’m half joking, but Cody winces. “He can be persistent,” I say, trying again.
He coughs and covers his mouth with his fist. “Lainey, right now I don’t give a flying fuck about him. I’m sorry I broke his nose. He was being an ass and it was early in the morning, and the list could go on, but I won’t make any excuses.” Good, I wouldn’t believe any of them, anyways. Cody fixes me with his beautiful gaze. “We do need to get out of here as soon as possible, but not for any other reason except I want to get you out of here so I can fuck you. And then fuck you some more. And when you think I’m done, make love to you so goddamned thoroughly, that neither of us remembers we live on planet Earth.” Maybe he will be checking out my ass when I leave, then.
My neck works