Chapter 10
Katherine kept her ears tuned into Ollie’s giggles as he continued to play with Bailey across the hall. The knot of tension tying up her insides loosened. Chaos might have disrupted her world, but her son was clearly happy. She could only hope that continued for however long they stayed with Cody.
Cody.
Just thinking about him was enough to make tingles of excitement burst in the pit of her stomach. She pressed her hands to her tummy and sighed. She’d loved Theo with her entire being, but it’d been a long time since she felt the first pangs of…what? Desire? Romance? Love?
Snorting out a laugh, she grabbed her bag and set it on the bench in front of the king-sized bed.
Love was something that was earned, something that grew over time.
After months and months of learning about and spending time with someone.
Her life wasn’t some silly movie where the clouds parted and trumpets played, cluing everyone into the leading hero in her story.
No, she’d had true love—had a hero. Marie was right.
That didn’t mean she couldn’t have it again, but she wasn’t a teenager who believed in love at first sight anymore.
She was a grown woman with responsibilities and a son.
She had to take her time. Move slowly. Understand her own heart before she opened it up to anyone else.
Logic in place, she set her folded clothes out on the bed and placed her toiletries in the en suite bathroom. Cody had said to make herself comfortable. She hoped she wasn’t pushing it too far, but she really didn’t want to live out of a suitcase.
Returning to the bedroom, she fisted her hands on her hips and studied the space.
A navy blue comforter fit neatly over the mattress.
Dark wood made up a long dresser pressed against one wall, a flatscreen television mounted above it.
Four windows connected at an angle and created a cozy sitting nook where two chairs sat with a stand between.
With the shades open, she could spy the mountains practically in the back yard.
Everything was tidy, neatly put in place, and without a speck of dust.
A framed photo of a little boy and who she assumed was his mother stood on the nightstand. Sitting on the bed, she picked it up and ran her finger over the face of the child.
A light tap at the door caught her attention. She glanced up to find Cody leaning against the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest and intrigue lifting his brow. “What cha doing?”
She flipped the photo around for him to see. “Is this you?”
“Yeah, me and my mom.”
“She’s beautiful. Are you two still close?”
Frowning, he took a step forward and tilted his head to the side. “She died when I was in middle school.”
Guilt and shame smacked Katherine upside the head. “I’m so sorry. How did I not know that?”
“There’s a lot about me you never knew.”
She patted the bed beside her, waiting for him to sit before speaking again. “I was an idiot. A silly girl caught in her own world. I’m sorry about your mother. I understand how hard it is to lose your mom. Especially so young.”
“Hmm,” he said, the sound noncommittal.
“What is it?”
“No, you’re right. A part of what we experienced is very similar.”
“And the other part?”
He turned to face her, his lips swished to the side as if uncertain he could confide in her.
Wanting to be there for him in the same way he’d been there for her, she rested her hand on his hard thigh. “Tell me. Please.”
“When my mom died, I was left with a shitty father and asshole of a brother. I had no one to comfort me. No one to care for me. I was all alone. I’m glad that part of our story differs.”
More shame burrowed into her gut. “I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.
Losing your mother was difficult enough.
My family can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but they’re always there.
Always supporting me in every way possible.
Even if they’re over protectiveness can be a little much sometimes.
I hate that they aimed it at you earlier. ”
He shrugged and a rested a hand on top of hers. “It’s great you have them, and them looking after you doesn’t bother me. They should be on guard as far as I’m concerned.”
The gravelly tone of his voice hitched her breath. “Oh really? Why’s that?”
He lifted their joined hands. “Something tells me they’re as terrified of this as I am.”
She frowned, trying to make sense of his words. “And what do you have to be afraid of?”
“You.”
Caught off guard, she blinked twice, trying to decipher his response. “What do you mean?”
“I’m going to be honest with you, because it’s the only way I know how to be.
Something is building on my end of this thing.
It’s surprised the hell out of me, and I’m not sure what it means.
But I know I could fall hard for you. You hold all the power here.
And as much as I hate to admit it, you could destroy me. ”
She couldn’t stop her mouth from dropping open.
She’d never had a man hit her with so much truth, been so vulnerable so quick.
With Theo, they’d met in grade school and been joined at the hip since before she could remember.
Their love had grown from something sweet and innocent into something strong and real.
It had never been this out of nowhere, slap you in the face kind of attraction.
Her mind whirling, she tried to erase the smack-gobbed expression off her face.
“Trust me, I’m scared too. I never expected to feel anything for anyone after Theo died—never wanted to.
I had my chance and loved every minute of it.
Why should I be special enough to find that kind of happiness more than once? ”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger along her jawline. “Everyone in this life deserves to find as much damn happiness as possible. Even someone like me.”
The fact he still saw himself as less-than gutted her. “Especially someone like you. You’ve taken in me and my son, determined to keep us safe. You’ve been my rock the last couple of days. Heck, you’ve went head-to-head with not only my dad and brothers but my grandpa.”
He grinned. “He told me to leave you alone if I planned to hurt you.”
“And what did you say?”
“I’d rather die than hurt you.”
His words were like a healing balm on her battered heart, and she knew deep down to her toes he meant it.
Her gaze flicked to his mouth. His parted lips drew her forward like a magnet.
She didn’t want to wait for him to make a move, didn’t want to sit and wonder what it’d be like to kiss him.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she pressed her lips to his and an explosion of stars burst behind her closed eyelids.
His palm cradled her jaw, his touch tender, and he moved his mouth slowly over hers.
She moved closer, wanting more.
“Mom! I’m hungry, can I have a snack?”
Her son’s little voice from across the hall was like a bucket of icy water over her head. She broke away.
Cody kept his hand smoothed against her face. He brushed the pad of his thumb over her lips. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
She grinned. “I sure hope not.”
He chuckled. “Never thought I’d be asking a beautiful woman this, but can you get out of my bedroom for a second?”
She pulled back, humiliation scorching her veins. “I... I’m sorry.”
“I need to change, and I don’t think that’s something you should stick around for. At least not yet.” He winked then kissed her cheek before standing.
Dear Lord. A part of her didn’t want to get off the bed—wanted to stick around for a show. Another part had to feed her son who waited in the room across the hall.
Logic won out and she hopped to her feet. “Is it all right if I get Ollie something to eat?”
“Grab whatever you’d like. Once I get changed, I can start dinner. Barbeque chicken sound good?”
“Sounds great.”
She walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Chicken would be great, but she could think of something else that sounded so much better.
The heat of the grill threatened to singe Cody’s eyebrows. He wiped his forearm across his brow to mop away his sweat. The barbecue sauce slathered on the chicken sizzled, tempting him to slide his finger through the thick goo to sneak a taste.
Katherine stepped onto the deck, carrying a bowl of salad. She wore a fitted long-sleeved shirt and her long hair hung down her back. A different kind of temptation tightened his gut.
“It’s so nice, I figured we could eat outside.” She set the bowl in the middle of the patio table. “This view is amazing.”
“It sure is,” he said, unable to keep his eyes off her.
Her gaze snapped up, meeting his. The prettiest blush touched her cheeks.
The memory of their earlier kiss hit him with the force of a landslide, and he took a step toward her. One taste wasn’t enough. It only fueled the fire building inside him.
“Bailey wants to play fetch.” Ollie’s excited yell announced the dynamic duo seconds before the boy and dog sprinted across the deck and down the stairs to the backyard.
Clearing his throat, he returned to his task and flipped the chicken. “Almost done here. I’ll head in to grab plates.”
“I can do that,” Katherine said.
“No, it’s fine. Sit and relax.”
He might have to make a couple trips, but he needed some space from Katherine, not seeing her at home in his kitchen.
“Are you sure? I like my hands to stay busy. Keeps my mind off…other things.”
The way her voice dipped, he wasn’t sure if she meant she wanted her mind off the reason she was here or off of him.
“You can make sure the chicken doesn’t burn.” He handed over the tongs.
Something flashed in her eyes as she took the utensil and stared at the grill.
“Katherine?”
“Hmm?” she asked, blinking away whatever emotion had paralyzed her.
“Are you all right?”
She sighed then forced a small smile. “I’m fine. Just not used to manning the grill. That was always Theo’s job. He guarded it like he’d been anointed by God himself as chief barbecuer. Sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologize for talking about Theo. He’s a part of your story, of Ollie’s story, forever. He deserves to be remembered.”
Tears clouded her eyes, and she reached a hand out for him.
He wasted no time in slipping his palm in hers then closing his fingers around her slender hand.
“Thank you. For everything,” she whispered.
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles. “I told you. I’ve got you. And I don’t mean just keeping you safe until whoever is after you is caught.”
Breaking his hold, he left her slack jawed and hurried into the kitchen.
He let out a long, shuddering breath as he found plates in the cabinet and grabbed silverware from the drawer. Hesitating beside the wine rack, he considered grabbing a bottle of white but left it untouched. He needed a clear head, and he didn’t know if she even drank alcohol.
Hell, there was a lot he didn’t know about her. The thought excited him, made him want to spend time discovering all he could about her. But he couldn’t appear too eager. Had to match her pace as they figured out their shit.
He carried everything outside and placed it on the table. “What about a drink?”
“Any chance you have a beer?” She wrinkled her nose in the cutest way.
“Beer, huh? I pegged you as a white wine kind of woman.”
She narrowed her gaze, lips curved just enough for her dimples to appear. “I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not.”
“Take it any way you want, but I’ll grab the drinks while you decide if you’re offended.”
She threw her head back and laughed, the sound combining with Ollie’s giggles as he tossed the ball across the yard for a very happy Bailey.
Returning to the kitchen, he found the refillable water bottle Ollie’d used earlier and filled it with ice water then snatched two bottles of his favorite American ale from the fridge.
As he stepped outside, Katherine placed the cooked chicken on each of their plates, humming a sweet melody he couldn’t quite place.
Task complete, she faced the yard. “Ollie, time for dinner. Wash your hands please.”
Ollie ran after Bailey. “But Mom. Bailey and I are playing. I can’t eat now.”
Cody didn’t want to step into the middle of their argument but knew exactly how he could help. He set the drinks on the table.
“Give me a second,” he said. Popping back inside, he left the door wide open and filled Bailey’s food dish with her dinner.
“Hey! Where are you going?” Ollie’s voice carried inside seconds before Bailey sprinted into the kitchen.
“Good girl,” Cody said then stuck his head out the door. “Dinner time for her, too buddy. Might as well wash up and eat while she’s busy. Plenty of time for you two to play when you’re both finished.”
“Okay!” Ollie sprinted up the stairs and ran past him to the bathroom.
Katherine stood with her fists anchored on her hips. Grinning, she shook her head. “You’ve got all kinds of tricks, don’t you?”
“You don’t even know the half of them.” He cracked open one bottle then handed it to her before doing the same to his. He hoisted it in the air and waited for her to tap the neck against his. “To happiness, no matter how we find it, no matter where it takes us.”
“To happiness,” she repeated, then took a sip of her beer.
He took a long pull of his own, the bitter liquid cool and refreshing as it slid down his throat. Joy like he’d never known settled into his bones as he took in the view. The Smoky Mountains a majestic backdrop for the beautiful woman at his table.
Ollie ran back outside and hopped in his chair. “Looks yummy. Thanks, Cody.”
“You’re welcome, bud. Dig in.”
He held onto the joy, but just underneath it was a new kind of fear. One that told him he could get used to dinners like this—the three of them together, enjoying each other’s company. And if anything happened to take it away, it would break his heart.