Page 49 of Cody


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“Uh huh,” he says as he sits in a chair. “Was he alone?” He pinches the phone to his shoulder and puts on his socks. “He wanted to lose you? Why not just ask you to leave?” Cody sighs. “All right. Yeah, he might go there, but I’ll check out his house.”

Cody stands up and slides his phone into his pocket, then buttons up his shirt. “I’m so sorry, I have to go.”

“What’s going on?”

He puts on his shoes and a jacket. “Rover met up with Joseph last night after a fundraiser, and apparently, Joseph was pretty freaked out but wouldn’t say why. Then this morning, he purposely ditched Rover. It makes no sense.” He sighs. “Rover says Joseph got a call, and he thinks he was threatened. He’s checking one location, and I’m going to Joseph’s house.”

“Why, if you aren’t protecting him anymore?”

“Because I told Rover if he ever needed help to call me. I thought it would be good to get on solid terms with the guys working at Morgan Thompson Security. You know, for when I look for work up here.” He winks, then leans down and gives me a kiss. “I’ll see you tonight, right?”

“Yeah, sure.”

And then he’s out the door, and I’m standing there stunned. He didn’t sayifhe will look for work up here, butwhen, as if it is a foregone conclusion. The man really is ready to uproot his life and move to Washington state for me? For us?

The thought causes another crack in the armor I have built up to protect my heart. Can I really imagine a future with him? Who am I kidding? The guy has been back in town for a couple of weeks, and I’m already thinking of a future with him.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I should back off, protect myself. But can I? I’m already in so deep it scares me.

* * *

“Okay, I want all the details,”Connie says as we sit down next to each other at a table in the corner of Kelly’s. It’s our usual restaurant and our usual table so we can people watch.

I agreed to meet her for coffee instead of sitting around Cody’s place. But as I look around, I’m wondering if this was a good idea. There are at least three guys staring at Connie.

Today, her blonde hair is straight, and her makeup is light, but it doesn’t matter what she does, the woman is gorgeous. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s wearing tight jeans that show off her curves. And she’s wearing heels.

“Wait, are you going on a date after this?”

She smiles. “I’m still looking for Mr. Right, you know.”

I take a sip of my coffee, savoring the dark roast they serve here. “Want to tell me about him?”

“I don’t want to jinx anything. Besides, we are here to talk about you. Like I said, tell me all the details.” She leans forward, smiling.

“I hate to disappoint you, but there aren’t many. We had a date and went back to his place.”

She leans back and crosses her arms. “I knew it. You had sex. That’s how he got you, isn’t it?”

“No, we didn’t. We slept. And that isn’t code for anything. We actually slept.”

“Then why are you glowing?”

How do I describe getting the one thing I’ve always wanted, a second shot at the love of my life? Finally, I explain, “He’s my one. And he’s back.”

Connie sighs, saying nothing.

“What? You still don’t trust him?”

She takes my hand in hers. “Lucy, you’ve been on one date with the man, and you are ready to open your heart again. I’m worried about you. Do you remember our freshman year in college? I had todragyou to parties so you wouldn’t just hide in the dorm all the time. His leaving destroyed you.”

“I haven’t forgotten. That’s why I’m a little scared.”

“Are you afraid he’ll do it again?”

I take another sip of my coffee. “I was. Until this morning. Now my heart is telling me to grab on to this second chance. I never thought I’d see him again, and now here he is.”

Connie scans the crowd. The men who have been watching her are trying to make eye contact, but I know Connie, and these men aren’t her type. She passes on men in suits. She says she sees enough of those in court.