CHAPTER SIX
Cody’s head was in his hands. Bent over his desk, he was actually close to pulling his own hair out. If one more person made a smartass remark about him and Cat, he was going to lose it. The emotional minefield last night had triggered was very real and very confusing. Dealing with all these new feelings was bad enough, so the last thing he needed was being subjected to everybody else’s opinion on the matter.
There was one person’s opinion in particular that he was dreading. It was the reason he’d been clicking ignore every time his phone had rung today.
Zach. His best friend. His blood brother. And the one person who’d think to ask the question he really wasn’t ready to answer yet.
There was someone he did want to speak to, though. His fingers had been itching all day to call her. And he would’ve if he had the first clue what to say. Leaving Cat’s sated, sexy body in bed in the early hours of the morning had been a form of torture. What made it worse though, was that look on her face. A look he couldn’t shake.
Feeling guilty was nothing new for Cody. Guilt wrenched his insides daily. Naturally, after last night, it had kicked up a notch. But he could deal. What he couldn’t deal with was the thought of Cat feeling like what they’d shared last night was anything less than special.
He hadn’t missed the hurt flashing in those big eyes when he’d told her he had to leave. He wasn’t an idiot; leaving after sex wasn’t okay. Especially after the first time. Well, third technically. It cheapened it. And that’s the last thing he wanted to do. There was nothing cheap about his feelings. And there was certainly nothing cheap about the connection they’d shared.
Heavy footsteps brought him out of his contemplative stupor and forced his head up just in time to see an angry looking Zach storm his office and slam the door shut.
“What the fuck, man?” Cody was having major déjà vu. “I’ve been calling you all goddamn day. You seriously thought I wouldn’t track your ass down?”
Oh, he knew he would, he just thought he had a couple more days before his friend resorted to that. Apparently not.
“I’m really not in the mood, man. Can we rain check this shit for another day?” Cody was now scrubbing his face. He was tired as hell. He needed a shower, a shave, and some sleep. Order debatable.
Zach’s burly arms crossed over his chest. “No, we can’t rain check this. How long has it been going on for? Was the fighting just for show, to throw us off the scent?”
Was he being serious right now? “Jesus, Zach. Do you hear yourself? This isn’t some weird-ass psychological thriller. Cat and I aren’t fighting to lure you into a false sense of security while secretly planning your demise.”
He watched his friend’s lip twitch, finally dispelling some of the tension thickening the air.
“Okay, fine. Can you at least explain to me how you went from needing to be physically separated in case you killed each other one minute...to making out in front of the whole town the next?”
No. Not really.
It didn’t make sense to him either. The woman drove him crazy. That wasn’t going to disappear magically just because they’d had sex. But he had seen a new side to her. One that she’d been hiding. From him at least. One he liked a lot.
Yeah, as if you don’t like all her other sides, too.
“I wish I had an answer for you. All I know is that the woman does something to me. She makes me feel alive. And I haven’t felt that way in God knows how long.”
Reflection was a bitch. After that, he stopped paying attention to his friend and started talking to himself, vocalising out loud all the messed-up things living rent free in his head.
“Maybe it’s ‘cause she doesn’t take any shit and gives as good as she gets. And is as funny as hell while doing it. Maybe I’m a sick bastard and get off on fighting with her. Or maybe...it’s just ‘cause she’s the sexiest fucking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I can’t leave her alone. I don’t fucking know.”
“Shit,” was his friends reply. He looked back up to see Zach slumped against the door, a contemplative expression on his face. “You really fucking like her, don’t you?”
That was just a tiny snippet of what was going on in his brain right now. His friend hadn’t even heard the half of it. He didn’t even know that they’d slept together. Had no clue it was the best sex of his life. And hadn’t the slightest inkling of just how deep his feelings already ran for her, and how much he liked her. All of her—sweet and sour. And that was fucking him up.
Today was not the day he was going to admit that, though. Today was the day he was going to brush his friend off, be there to tuck his son in tonight, eventually shower, maybe shave and finally...go to bed and hopefully actually sleep.
“I’m really gonna need to take that rain check on this conversation, man. I’m tired, my head hurts and I really got nothing else to give you right now.”
Zach’s astute blue eyes took him in. Finally, coming to some sort of a decision, he pushed off the door. “Fine. You have until tomorrow. I spoke to Libby and turns out I am free to fish with you and Dylan. So, I’ll see you then.”
Great. Just great.
***
Turns out having a nine-year-old by your side at all times comes in pretty handy. Zach hadn’t had any chance whatsoever to deliver a lecture or ask more questions. Thank God for small miracles. Fishing had also managed to silence Cody’s thoughts. At least for a little while.
“Alright, time to eat,” he announced as he pushed up from his chair.
Zach took the hint and rose too, while Dylan decided it would be a good time to sit back on the ground. Cody worked with his friend to pack up and gather the folding chairs. It wasn’t until they started moving that Dylan finally got up, a squeaky groan following behind them as they made their way back to the truck.
“You coming to get lunch? Or you want me to drop you off?” Cody asked Zach.
“I could eat. But do you mind if Libby joins us?”
Two against one was his first thought, but he quickly shook it off. Dylan was his secret weapon. No one was going to bring up anything while his kid was there. If anything, this morning had proved that.
“Of course, man, that’s fine.”
After loading up, they all climbed into the vehicle and Cody began their drive over to Burger Factory. Zach was keeping Dylan entertained with a game of eye spy while Cody once again found himself lost in thought. Thoughts of Cat. He still hadn’t called. Or messaged. And he was beginning to feel like a Grade A asshole.
It’s not that he didn’t want to talk to her. He did. That was all he wanted to do. But he didn’t know what to say. What to do. This was all new to him. He’d been with one woman in thirty-four years, and he’d married her. So, unless he was ready to get down on one knee, he was shit out of luck when it came to conversation topics.
“You okay?” Zach’s voice echoed around the cab.
He glanced over to see his friend staring at him, a knowing look on his face. Great.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just hungry.”
Striking his friend’s bullshit meter didn’t feel great, but what else was he supposed to say? No, I’m not okay. I’m freaking the hell out ‘cause I’ve only ever been with one other woman my entire adult life and I have no idea what the hell I’m doing. Yeah, he was sure that would go down like a lead balloon with his nine-year-old in the car.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, little man?”
“Would you rather be a fish or a worm?”
Cody fought back a smile. It was that time of the day. The ‘would you rather’ time. Bring it on. For once, it was a welcome distraction.
Ten minutes later, when they finally pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, even Cody’s belly was rumbling. It had been a long morning.
Libby was already there when they arrived. He spotted her a mile off in the yellow cushioned booth at the far end of the room. The closer they got though, the more he squinted. She wasn’t alone. A shock of black hair was peeking out of the booth.
Shit.
It was a trap. An ambush. His eyes flicked to Zach, who was purposefully pretending he hadn’t felt Cody’s death stare sink into the side of his head.
The closer they got, the sicker he felt. But it wasn’t until those captivating, bright eyes turned on him that he thought he was going to puke. She had no idea either. That was clear by her gasp, and then by the look she shot Libby.
“Hi guys,” Libby beamed, disregarding the impending danger. “How was fishing?”
Dylan took that as his cue to start listing off all the fish he’d seen today. Cody caught Cat’s gaze and took the opportunity to mouth ‘sorry’. Instead of her usual eye roll or glare, she offered him a small smile. But it was a sad one.
Goddamn. I’ve fucked things up already.
The idea of her being upset in any way or for any reason was bad enough. But if there was a chance it was his fault, it would be like a dagger to the heart.
“Zach told me how good you are at air hockey.” Libby was still talking to Dylan. “I noticed there’s a table in the back, wanna go check it out? Maybe have a game before we eat?”
Dylan’s attention went straight to him, big brown eyes up and seeking permission. One nod was all it took before he was racing across the restaurant toward the play area. Libby and Zach were following closely behind. Subtle. Cat seemed to think so too.
Taking Libby’s seat, he slid into the booth opposite Cat, his eyes never leaving hers. Studying her. Trying to get a read on her.
“I should’ve known she was up to something. She gave me way too many compliments on my outfit,” she grumbled into her glass.
Letting his gaze roam for a second, words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. “You do look un-fucking-believable today, sweetheart.”
And she did. It was rare she was in anything other than jeans. But today, she was back in the shorts she’d tormented him with at the barbecue and a thin green vest. So thin, he could see the black bra she had on under it.
His eyes returned to her face just in time to register the surprise written all over it. For once, she was tongue tied. She didn’t even attempt a reply, which meant he was on his own, winging it. Perfect.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call,” he rushed out. “I meant to but, shit, the truth is...I didn’t know what to say.” He dragged his hand through his hair. Probably in search of his brain. “I don’t know how to do this. I don’t even think I know what this is. But I guess I want it to be something. If you want it to be too?” Wrap it up man. You’re babbling. “But it’s okay if you don’t. I guess that’s why I’m supposed to call...to ask you that?”
Jesus Christ, Cody. Shut the hell up.
Could he sound anymore pathetic?
“God. You really are bad at this, aren’t you?” He’d never been so happy to see those blue flames light up again. Even if they were accompanied by an insult.
“Yeah, kitten, I am. Wanna give a guy a break and help me out?”
She made him wait of course, taking a long slurp of her soda before putting him out of his misery.
“Okay, McBride, you got a night off this week?”
He felt a smile stretch out for the first time since he’d walked in. “Yeah, I do. Wednesday.”
“Cool. Shall we say dinner? I hear Casalingo is nice.” Amusement danced in her eyes, making his pulse quicken. “Not that I could tell you that for sure. Some neanderthal carried me out of there before I even had a chance to nibble on my breadstick.”
“What an asshole.” He tsked. “I’m sure I can find you a breadstick to nibble on, kitten.” A single eyebrow quirked up at that. “How ‘bout I pick you up at eight? And you can wear that pretty black dress of yours.”
“Eight works for me. Sadly, that pretty black dress is no longer in service, though.”
“No?” That was a real shame.
“No. That neanderthal I told you about? Well, turns out the zipper didn’t go down far enough for his liking...so he ripped it clear off.”
Damn. He really had been a wild animal. Flashes from that night made an appearance and all of a sudden, the air became electric.
“I can relate. One of my favorite shirts had the buttons ripped right off, too.”
“And how did that happen, officer?” she asked, not-so-innocently. He loved it when she called him officer . A bit too much.
“Cat attack. Vicious little thing.”
A full-blown smile hit him square in the chest. God, she was beautiful. He wanted to tell her just how much. But he stopped himself. Even he knew that would come off too strong and maybe even scare her away.
“You know you smell of fish, right?” Her face was still lit up, but now she had a devilish glint in her eye.
“That doing it for you, kitten?” His own grin widened as he threw her a cheeky wink.
That musical giggle he hadn’t heard nearly enough escaped her pretty pink lips as her head tipped back. “You’re such a dork.”
It was a good thing she’d already noticed that. And had still agreed to go on a date with him. Because he was a bit of a dork. And the more she got to know him, the dorkier he got.
“Plenty more where that came from, sweetheart. You’re in for a real show on Wednesday.”
“Don’t I know it.”
He could practically hear the crackle of the current sizzling between them. Eyes locked, he couldn’t look away. Didn’t want to. He wanted to drown in them. Drown in her.
Burger Factory had other ideas though, as a perky teenager strolled up beside them, looking at them expectantly. “You guys ready to order?”
Just as he was about to brush the girl off and ask for more time, Cat jumped in. “We sure are. I’ll have the trucker burger and fries.” She then turned her attention back to Cody. “What about you and Dylan?”
Damn. Zach and Libby would be going hungry. You sure as hell didn’t want to be on this chick’s bad side.
Who was he kidding? He’d only ever been on her bad side. Until now.