“Oh, I’ll be right back.”
He steps out the back sliding door, and all I can think isHallelujah, silence!But I need to take advantage of this opportunity.
When I used his bathroom upon our arrival, I spotted what appeared to be a home office across the hall. So that’s where I head.
I turn on the hall light and hope it illuminates the room enough for me to see inside. Almost immediately, I spot a trash can under the desk; when I pull it out, pieces of cut-up magazines fill it. I ball my hands into fists. I knew it. I knew the man was lying. He didn’t even try to hide the evidence. But then, if it were for show at work, why would anyone come to his house?
I hear the back door open, and quickly make my way across the hall to the bathroom where I flush the toilet and turn on the faucet.
“Cody?”
I pop out of the bathroom. “Yes?” I manage to keep the anger from my voice.
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed. I hope you don’t mind.”
Yes! Finally, some peace and quiet. “Not at all. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Joseph goes to his bedroom and closes the door. I’ll be sleeping in the guest room down the hall from him.
As I walk into the room, I look closer for signs of Lucy. There’s artwork hanging over the dresser. It is all pastels and spring flowers. Glancing around the room, all the touches are a pastel blue. Doesn’t look like something Joseph would choose.
But I have to push away the possibility that Lucy lived here. The idea of them having sex on the table where I just ate dinner, or on the couch where her ex-husband and I relaxed after our meal is just too much.
A car door slams outside. Curious, I’m up and at the window just in time to see Joseph’s black Acura pulling out of the driveway with the lights off.
I rush to his bedroom; the window is wide open, and he’s gone. What the fuck? He ditched his hired security? Something is really wrong with this guy.
I run outside and get in my car. Fortunately, he lives on a long road, so I’m able to see him until he turns right. I turn on my headlights just before I turn to follow him, keeping a good distance.
Where would Joseph go that he doesn’t want me to know about?
Not long later, he pulls into a food bank parking lot. I continue down the street a short way, then park and turn in my seat to watch him go inside.
A food bank?
He’s one of the highest-ranking administrators at the college. There’s no reason he should need to go to a food bank. Is there?
CHAPTER4
Lucy
Yesterday,I managed to get through my last class on autopilot. Then I sent an SOS text to Connie, and like the best friend she is, she came over with two bottles of wine and listened to me bawl my eyes out as I told her about my encounter with Cody.
The moment she walked in, I knew she canceled a date for me. Her hair was hanging in blonde waves, and she was wearing her blue dress, the one she reserves for driving a guy nuts. It fits her like a glove and accentuates all her curves. She assured me that I saved her. Her date was trying to talk her into going to his mother’s place to have sex… since he lived there. According to the guy, his mom would wear headphones so it would be okay.
After we were done being grossed out over her date, she suggested I call Joseph and ask why Cody was here, pointing out that he’d said he works security and speculating he was probably offering some sort of service to Joseph.
With that man’s habits, I’m not surprised he needs security.
But I didn’t call. The odds of Joseph telling me the truth were slim. Instead, I spent the rest of the night drinking and crying while Connie tried to console me.
Today, I’m rocking swollen, red eyes and a nasty hangover. I need to stop thinking about Cody; sexy, hot, protective Cody has invaded all my thoughts since I saw him yesterday. It’s not healthy. What I need to do is prepare for my next lecture. One foot in front of the other. That’s how I’ll get through today. That, and some aspirin. And makeup to cover up the redness.
By the time I’m wrapping up my last lecture of the day, I’m finally feeling better. I spin around as I give the class their homework.
“For class tomorrow, read chapters ten through twelve and do… ”
Then I spot Cody in the back of the classroom. Why the hell is he here? And how the hell does he keep finding me?
