Risky Romance (Wolf Security #4)

37. Whisper

The way Cody looked at me had every inch of my body tingling. I couldn’t wait until Ryder and Piper left so we could tear our clothes off again and repeat all the wonderful things we’d done in the jungle.

“So, Cody,” Ryder said, in his serious tone, “I want to personally thank you.”

Cody bulged his eyes. “What the hell for?”

Ryder put his beer on the counter. “Because despite Jewel’s insistence on pushing her luck, you not only saved her from that bastard Bruce, but you somehow managed to survive four days in the jungle alone with her.”

“Hey! I’m not that bad.” Jewel scowled at Ryder, but her expression broke into a smile.

“I mean saved her in the jungle, too,” Ryder corrected with a grin.

I frowned at Jewel. Hadn’t she told them about saving me? “I must correct you. Jewel saved me from drowning in the river.”

“It was nothing.” She rolled her eyes.

“I was unconscious when you pulled me from the river.”

She shrugged. “Luckily, I know CPR.”

“Jesus. No, she didn’t tell us that.” Ryder slapped her with a gaze that I imagined a father would give to a child that he was incredibly proud of. He turned to me. “Well, it seems you two have quite a story to share with us.”

“Yes, but we don’t have time for that now.” Piper glanced at the clock on the oven. “We’ll have you over for a barbeque. How about Sunday?”

Piper looked at Cody for an answer.

The confusion on his face was priceless. “Oh, um, I don’t know?—”

“We’ll be there. But before you go, don’t you have something to say?” I said, wriggling my brows at my boss.

Ryder clicked his fingers. “Right, I nearly forgot. So, here’s the deal. This house belonged to me and my first wife, but I don’t need it now that Piper and I live a few houses away along the beach. So, Cody, my house is yours to?—”

“What? Woah.” Cody backed up, raising his hands.

“I’m not giving you the house, buddy.” Ryder chuckled. “I’m saying you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to get yourself sorted.”

Cody’s jaw dropped, but he shook his head, sweeping his gaze between me and Ryder. “I can’t.”

“Cody,” Piper said, stepping forward, “earlier this year, I lost everything I owned when my boat sank out there.” She nodded toward the windows overlooking the ocean. “I had nowhere to live, no job, and only the clothes I wore when we capsized. And I had a teenage daughter with me, Scout. Believe me, I would not have survived through all of that if it wasn’t for the help of these two.” She smiled at Ryder and me.

“Still. It’s too much. I’ll figure?—”

“Shhh.” Piper interrupted his objection. “We haven’t lived in this house for months, and we’ve been meaning to rent it or sell it. It’s just been empty.”

“I don’t want to impose.” Cody shook his head again.

“Look, stay three nights or three months. We don’t mind.” Ryder settled his gaze on Piper and the love between them was on display. “But for now, the way I see it, it’s the perfect option. Your house is off-limits, and it seems silly to pay for a hotel when this place is sitting empty anyway.”

A frown drilled across Cody’s forehead, and he looked completely lost for words.

“We’ve been rushing around the last couple of days, cleaning it up and finding some furniture for you. It’s not much, but?—”

Cody interrupted with a shake of his head. “I’ve been living in an old shipping container since I was thirteen. This is more than enough.”

“You lived in that shipping container since you were thirteen?” My jaw dropped. When Lacey had given me the clothes for Cody, she’d told me about the shipping container on the Western boundary. It was sparsely furnished, neat, and Lacey said it had looked like he’d been living in it for a while. But not since he was a kid.

Cody shrugged. “Better than living with my uncle.”

I filed that away in my ever-growing list of things I wanted to learn about Cody. “So,” I said, rubbing my hands together, “what do you think? Could you put up with that view?”

Cody looked torn as a mix of emotions played across his face. I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around him and chase away his sorrows. Instead, I gave him space, hoping he’d accept Ryder’s offer.

“I won’t take no for an answer anyway.” Ryder clapped Cody on the back and offered his hand.

Nodding, Cody shook Ryder’s hand. “I will pay you rent.”

“No need, we were?—”

“I will not take no for an answer.” Cody met Ryder’s gaze.

“Roger that,” Ryder said. “I’ll let Jewel show you around. Thank you for saving Jewel. She’s an important cog in our team, although an annoying one at times.”

I grinned the widest grin I could manage. “Thanks, boss, you’re the best.”

Ryder nodded at me. “See you at work tomorrow. I still have that paperwork to fill out from you losing your weapon.”

“Damn.” I scrunched my nose. “I’d hoped to avoid that.”

“Yeah, well, looks like your luck has run out, Jewel.” He attempted to scowl at me, but it didn’t meet his eyes. “Anyway, we have to go. Call me if you need anything, Cody. My number’s over there.”

He pointed to a notepad next to the wall.

“I won’t need anything.”

“All the same. Get some rest. You look like shit.”

“Ryder!” Piper scowled at her fiancé. She turned to Cody. “Ring me if you need help with anything.”

After walking them to the door and sharing one final round of goodbyes, I returned to find Cody standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows. His rigid posture and the way he gripped his beer made my thoughts twist with nerves. When I was around him, butterflies danced in my stomach, and I felt like a giddy teenager with her first crush.

He stood motionless, staring at the ocean view, and the tension in his shoulders made me wonder if he was still angry with me. Hell, he had every right to be.

I topped up my glass of champagne, more to steady my nerves than anything else, and took a large sip. “So,” I said, forcing joy into my voice, “want a tour?”

When he turned, the sadness in his eyes made my heart lurch.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, hesitating to close the distance between us.

He heaved a sigh. “Nothing.” His voice was soft, almost lost.

“Good.” I wasn’t buying it, but I wasn’t going to push either. Not yet. “Come on, let me show you around.”

When he didn’t move, I climbed to the middle landing on the stairs and waited. “Come on, cowboy. After the grand tour, I’ll show you the best part.”

He grumbled something under his breath and his shoes squeaked against the tiles as he crossed the floor. At the bottom of the steps, he stopped, looking up at me with those stormy eyes.

“We’ll have to get you some new cowboy boots,” I said, trying to lighten his mood.

He squinted. “No, thanks.”

“Now that’s a shame.” I clicked my tongue. “Come on.”

Determined to keep the mood upbeat, I led him through the upstairs part of Ryder’s house. Most rooms were bare except for the master bedroom, where a double bed dominated the space. Piper had insisted on leaving the bed behind when they’d moved into their own place together down the beach.

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, painting golden rectangles across the hardwood floors.

I bounced on the edge of the bed, testing its springs. “So, what do you think?”

A frown creased his forehead, carving deep lines I wanted to smooth away. “I don’t know what to think.”

I shifted over, hoping he would sit beside me. He didn’t.

This wasn’t the brave man who’d faced danger in the jungle with fierce determination. The storm I’d unleashed on his life had ruined the cowboy who’d stolen my heart, and the weight of my destruction showed in every line of his body. He moved to the window and stared across the ocean like it might hold some answer to the questions he refused to share.

“Cody,” I said softly, “I am truly sorry for what happened to you.”

He peered at me over his shoulder, and his profile looked sharp in the afternoon light. “You were just doing your job.”

“No.” The word caught in my throat. “I mean for not believing you. Deep down, I knew you were innocent, and I should have spoken up. I should have defended you.”

My chest caved under the weight of my guilt.

“It’s just, with all that evidence on your land . . .” I trailed off because the excuses sounded hollow even to my ears.

He turned away and scraped his fingers through his hair. “I’ll never understand how I missed all that bullshit happening right under my nose.”

“Oh.” I sat up straighter. “Didn’t anyone tell you?”

He spun back to me with tension radiating from every muscle. “Tell me what?”

“About the tunnel?”

“What tunnel?”

“Our friend, Jaxson, and his sniffer dog, Zeus, found a tunnel that ran from that drug lab under Bruce’s place all the way to the canning shed. An underground network that could operate with very few people knowing. Including you.”

He groaned. “No wonder he forced me out of the cannery all the time.”

“Our theory is the tunnel was built when they constructed that shed.” I eased forward on the bed. “We also assume that’s why Bruce didn’t want you or your dogs near that paddock. The tunnel had several air vents through the corn rows.”

“Jesus.” He sucked in a breath, and understanding dawned in his eyes. “That explains why I didn’t see anything. I rarely went inside the cannery, and I never went to his place.”

Finally, the rigidness in his shoulders softened.

I stood and strolled to him. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”

He met my gaze yet seemed lost for words.

I touched his arm. “Please, can you forgive me?” A knot wedged in my throat, and it was so hard to breathe, tears pooled in my eyes.

“I needed you to believe me, Jewel.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. You’re a good man. An honest man. And I knew that. And I’ll never forgive myself for what I put you through.”

His gaze dropped to where my fingers rested on his arm. “Every night in that cell I wondered why you, of all people, couldn’t see the truth.”

“I did see it.” My voice cracked.

“Was it because of what my parents did? I should never have told you?—”

“What? No. Fuck, no. Cody, I am truly grateful and honored that you told me about your parents. I saw the real you out there in that jungle. The man who’s been screwed over by everyone and yet somehow, you’re still decent and honest. The way you protected me, the way you put yourself in danger to save me. That’s how I knew I’d made a terrible mistake. Trust me, I’ve met my share of assholes in my life, and many of them blame their rotten upbringing for their actions, but you are nothing like your parents. You’re honest and hardworking and . . .” Tears spilled down my cheek.

He caught one of my tears with his thumb and his touch was so gentle my heart ached.

“I should’ve spoken up when you needed me the most. And I know I destroyed everything you built but please, Cody, will you forgive me?”

“Jeez, you talk a lot.”

A half chuckle, half sob burst from my throat.

His eyes softened, and at last, the man I'd fallen for in the jungle broke through the storm that had darkened his features. “I forgive you.” He pulled me into his arms.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pressed my face against his chest, inhaling his familiar scent. His heartbeat was steady and strong beneath my ear, a rhythm I wanted to listen to forever.

“Promise me one thing,” he murmured into my hair.

I looked up, meeting his gaze. “Anything.”

“Promise me you believe I forgive you.”

A laugh escaped my tears, and relief washed over me. “I promise. Thank you for giving me another chance.”

He pulled me close again and our hearts seemed to beat in sync. After a while he broke our embrace and asked, “What did you mean when you said you’d show me the best part after the house tour?”

I grinned, rubbing my hands together. “I thought you’d never ask.” I walked to the wardrobe and flung open the doors. “Here are some more of your clothes from the farm. Take a shower and freshen up. I bought shampoo, soap, and a new toothbrush and toothpaste for you.”

He released a massive sigh. “A hot shower would be very nice.”

“Good. Then, put on some shorts and meet me in the kitchen.” I blew him a kiss, then practically floated down the stairs.

I was halfway through a glass of champagne when he appeared on the stairs in cargo shorts that hung low on his hips and a white T-shirt that revealed every defined muscle in his chest.

Well, hello .

I had to remind myself to breathe.

“Come on, cowboy.” I caught his hand, savoring the warmth of his callused palm against mine. Leading him across the polished floors, I slid open the glass doors and stepped onto the sprawling veranda. “Welcome to my office.”

His frown made me grin.

“You asked me what I did for work.” I gestured to where the ocean stretched to the horizon in an endless canvas of blues and silvers. “I work out there. Chasing down criminals, rescuing people—like when we pulled Piper from her sinking boat.”

He nodded and a smile softened his features. “I can see you out there, being everyone’s hero.” He swept me up in a gaze that was so intense my heart skipped a beat. “And I never properly thanked you for saving me from drowning and bringing me back to life.”

I frowned. “Yes, you did. You?—”

He cupped my face in his hands, and then his lips were on mine, soft and sweet and full of everything that was warm and gentle about this incredible man. When he pulled back, his thumbs traced my cheekbones. “Thank you.”

“Oh.” I swallowed hard and every inch of my skin tingled. “ That kind of thank you. Well, in that case, maybe you should thank me for breaking you out of jail, too.”

A magnificent grin transformed his face, lighting up his eyes.

“Hmm, let me see.” His fingers threaded through my hair, and he gently tipped my head back. Starting at my shoulder, he traced a path of feather-light kisses up my neck, each one sending sparks through my body. When he reached my ear, he whispered, “Thank you,” in a sexy baritone that spoke right to my libido.

As he drew back, steadying me, my body hummed like a plucked string as I struggled to remember how to stand.

“Anything else?” He cocked his head, and a knowing smile played at his lips.

“Well, um . . .” Every coherent thought evaporated and was replaced with vivid images of us tearing off our clothes so we could repeat some of the incredible moves he’d shown me in the jungle.

“How about a walk?” he said. “I’ve never been on a beach before.”

My heart did a little dance. “Well, cowboy, this will be your first of many.”

We kicked off our shoes, and hand in hand, we crossed the powder-soft sand until we reached the firm, wave-packed shoreline.

As the first rush of cool water swept over his feet, he yanked his hand away, backpedaling from the surf. “Jesus, that’s cold!”

“You big baby.” I laughed, sending a spray of water his way. “You faced down monster pythons and killer rapids, but you’re scared of a little ocean spray?”

A wicked grin spread across his face as he waded back in, splashing me with a well-aimed kick. “At least in the jungle, I knew what I was dealing with.”

“Oh really? You knew that python was going to?—”

Something dangerous flashed in his eyes, and recognizing his playfulness, I bolted before he could pounce, sending water flying as I splashed through the shallows.

“Get back here, lady!” His voice was closer than I expected, and when I glanced over my shoulder, he was right on my heels.

Squealing and breathless, I zigzagged through the shallow surf. His strong fingers caught my arm, and in one fluid motion, he swept me over his shoulder. From my upside-down vantage point, I had a spectacular view of what had to be the finest backside ever poured into cargo shorts.

Yay me.

I gave his perfect rear a playful smack and made a half-hearted attempt to wiggle free. I could have broken his hold if I’d wanted to—my combat training did give me some unique skills—but there was something deliciously thrilling about being swept away by this man.

After a few teasing feints toward the waves that had me shrieking with laughter, Cody gently lowered me to my feet. Our eyes met and both of us grinned like teenagers. Something shifted between us as if we’d crossed an invisible boundary that pulled us even closer together.

Taking his hand, I led him away from the surf line. As the sun began its descent behind the coastal hills, painting the sky in brilliant golds and pinks, we found a spot on the sand to sit and watch the endless waves roll in.

As Cody’s arms tightened around my back, I knew with absolute certainty that this was exactly where we belonged. We’d survived near death many times in the untamed wilderness of the Daintree. Whatever came next, we would face it together.

Cody tucked a wayward strand of my hair behind my ear. “You know what’s funny?”

“What?”

“I always thought I knew who I was and what kind of life I wanted, but I don’t know anything anymore.”

I placed my finger against his lips. “Stop right there, cowboy. Yes, you’re starting over, but you can do anything you?—”

He grabbed my finger. “I was going to say . . . but the only thing I do know is that I want you.”

A smile teased my lips. “Good, ‘cause I want you, too.” I crawled onto his lap just like I had in the jungle, and his warm hands rested on my hips. “So, what do you think about living here?”

He inhaled deeply and pretended to consider it carefully. “Might be tough if you keep talking as loud as you do.”

I gave him my best side-eye. “You’re assuming I’m moving in with you?”

He jerked back, surprised. “You mean you weren’t?”

“Hell no.”

His jaw dropped and I giggled. “We haven’t even had our first date.”

“I’m pretty sure our three nights in the jungle could be considered dates.”

“Does this mean we’re dating?”

“Well, that depends on you, my lady.”

“Me? Why?”

He ran his hands up my waist. “Because I’m starting from nothing. I don’t have a job anymore and I have nothing to offer you.”

My heart swelled to bursting. “You’re wrong. You can offer me the most precious thing in the world.”

He frowned and his gorgeous eyes searched my face like he was trying to decode a mystery.

“Your love,” I whispered.

He cupped my face in both hands and when he kissed me, his incredible lips gave me the answer no words could.

When he finally drew back from the kiss, the tenderness in his eyes made my heart soar. “I do love you, Jewel.”

“I love you, too, cowboy.”