“It’s time to break for lunch,”Codysaid.
“ThankGod.”
“You’ll get used to it.” He winked as he pulled off his gloves and set them on astool.
She followed suit, removing the extra set he’d given her. When he reached for her hand, she took it. Their fingers laced together and they walked hand in hand toward theB&B.
Inside the dining room, four sets of couples sat chattering with each other. Since she hadn’t met Brady, Rachel, or Jimmy yet, Cody introduced them. Another brother strolled into the room andstopped.
“Oh, brother. Am I completelyoutnumberednow?”
“Drew, this is Abby,” Cody said. Then he turned to her and added, “He’s the only singlebrotherleft.”
“And I’m going to stay that way. I’m the holdout,” he said withagrin.
“We’ll get you hitched too,” Madison said while waving a spoon throughtheair.
“Doubtful,” Drew said. “But if you want to set up a mail order bride for me, goforit.”
“I might just do that.” Madison archedabrow.
“You’d better not,” Drew warned. He turned his attention to Cody. “When did thishappen?”
“Over the last few days,” Codyreplied.
“I swear. Cupid’s running around here with a quiver full of love darts,”Drewsaid.
“What’s a love dart?” Jimmyasked.
The adults alllaughed.
“It’s what happens sometimes when two people meet,”Rachelsaid.
“Does it hurt?” Jimmyasked.
“Only if you let it,” Cody said while lookingatAbby.
She smiled and took his hand under the table. Everyone else seemed so happy in his family. Maybe the fact that most of them were werebears really wasn’t a big deal. If they could all be happy with their mates, then maybe she could too. The more time she spent with Cody, the more she wanted to give their relationship achance.
* * *
After Abby helpedthe other women clean up the kitchen, she checked to see if Cody was upstairs in her bedroom. When she didn’t find him there, she headed to the other house where Mack greeted her on the frontporch.
“Are you lookingforCody?”
“Yeah, do you know where he went?” sheasked.
“He said he had to run into town to pick something up from the post office. He’ll be back soon. They closed about fifteen minutes ago,”Macksaid.
“Aren’t you cold?” Abbyasked.
“I like it when it drops below freezing. It’s invigorating,”hesaid.
“Idon’t.”
“You’ll get used to it,”Macksaid.
“I was thinking about movinguphere.”
