by Nicole Smith
"Well, I suppose I could stop cheating."
He stared at her blankly. "What did you say?"
She giggled, a little apprehensively. "I said I could stop cheating."
"You've been cheating--this whole time?" He stood up and came around the table.
"Now--now, Cody, you don't want to do anything drastic." She scooted her chair back. When she hit the wall she stood up, right as he reached her. He was suddenly tickling her.
"Nooo! Oh, no, I'm too ticklish," she managed to say between bouts of giggling. "I promise--I promise to stop cheating. Really."
He let up and stood there with his hands on her waist. "You're sure? No more cheating?"
"Yes--move your hands. I don't trust you," she said with a nervous laugh.
He moved his hands away, palms up facing her. "Okay. I can't believe you were cheating!"
Julia moved her chair back to the table and sat down. "It's from boarding school. We played every card game there is, and how well you cheated was a big part of the game. It was a very competitive school."
"So, you lived away from home when you were a kid?"
"Yes, for most of my school years. Mother and Dad were too busy with business."
There was a pause. "Your deal," Cody said. "And, I'll be watching your every move. No funny stuff."
She dealt and was glad Cody had dropped the topic of schools. They weren't her fondest memories. He always seemed to know when to stop talking about something.
They played for two hours more, and the score was closer, although she still beat him. By the time they'd had another beer each, Julia was yawning. "Wow, that beer hit me hard. I think I need to go to bed."
"Yeah, me too. Good game. Even if I'm still suspicious of you."
She gave him her best innocent look. "Me?"
"Ha! Yes you," he said with a grin.
He took their beer bottles into the kitchen, while Julia checked the front door lock again. Then, she checked the sliding glass door lock. Sighing, she decided to go on to bed and try to forget about door locks.
Cody turned out all the lights except for one on a side table in the living room. "I'll leave this on in case I get up in the night."
She knew he was leaving it on for her as well, but said nothing.
They parted in the hallway. "Good night, Cody, sleep well."
"Night to you too. Sweet dreams."
"Let's hope." She walked on down the hall to her room.
It was about three hours later that she woke up, with a jolt and a cry in the night.
* * * *
The cry from Julia's room had him up and running down the hall before he was actually awake. Flicking on the light by the bed, he found her sitting up, tears in her eyes. "Julia, it's all right. You're safe."
"Cody--it was the worst dream. She kept stabbing me."
"What can I do to help?"
"Nothing, I think. I just need to get back to sleep and forget about it."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah," she said, both hands brushing her hair back. "Man, bad dreams really suck."
"Yes, they do," he replied with feeling.
"You too?"
"Not as bad as yours sounds."
He was shirtless and dressed only in pajama bottoms with a drawstring tie, and he was suddenly aware of her looking at him. A blush covered her cheeks.
"Sorry to get you out of bed. But, thanks for coming in here so quickly. I'll get a drink of water and be okay."
"All right, then. Good night, again."
"Night."
He walked back down the hall to his room. Turning restlessly in bed, he heard her get up and the water running. He decided the excitement was over for tonight and told himself to fall asleep. Then he heard footsteps.
"Cody," she whispered in the doorway. "Are you asleep?"
"Not yet," he said, intrigued.
"Can you just hold me? I can't stop being afraid."
"Come here," he flipped the covers back and she got into the bed with him. Within a minute she was comfortably in his arms, her head resting on his chest.
"Thanks," she said in a soft voice. "I feel like I'm being dumb about this."
"No, it's fine. You're safe now, that's what matters."
"Safe," she sighed.
He made himself relax even though every nerve ending in his body seemed to be waking up. Did she have any idea of the effect she was having? He hoped not. He would never take advantage of her. No matter how attracted to her he felt, no matter how arousing the situation. Giving a little sigh himself, he automatically stroked her back and let himself fall back asleep.
* * * *
Julia woke up in his arms, warm and relaxed next to him, until she realized she was in bed with Cody. Then she became wide awake, remembering fast. Why on earth had she felt compelled to be with him after her moment of fear? And asking him to hold her? Best to sneak on out of here before he wakes up, she thought. Before I have to look at how my feelings for him are changing.
"Good morning, Julia," a husky voice said.
"Uh, morning. I was just getting up."
"Well, if you must," he said and gave a little laugh.
She slid out of the bed and stood up. Her black nightgown was long and silky and probably wildly inappropriate for the occasion. "Yeah, well, thanks for last night. I mean--that didn't come out quite right."
He gave a full laugh. "Relax. If you start coffee I'll see about making breakfast, okay?"
She gave him a small smile. "Okay. And Cody...thanks." Turning quickly, she left the room and practically ran to hers to grab her robe. It was a big flannel robe, a man's robe she'd had for years and years. With the belt wrapped around her, she was fully covered, neck to feet. By the time Cody came out, barefoot but dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, she had coffee going. Julia had found some chocolate donuts she'd brought from the bakery and was nibbling on one. They had become a favorite of hers.
"I'm still fixing you a healthy breakfast, even if you eat that donut," he said, opening the fridge.
"And I'll probably still eat that breakfast, even if I eat this donut. So, there."
He laughed.
"Do I have time to go change clothes?"
"Yes," he said. "Plenty of time."
"Okay, be right back." She dug out some black jeans and a deep blue sweater, and began to brush her hair. By the time she'd put on her make-up and returned to the kitchen, Cody had finished cooking the Irish oatmeal and was chopping dried fruit into it. He tossed some walnuts in, and handed her a bowl.
"Looks good. Hearty." She got some coffee and moaned with her first sip. "I think coffee is some kind of miracle drink. One hit, and my brain comes awake."
"Yeah, tea in the morning just isn't the same."
"You've been a tea drinker instead of coffee?"
"A woman I knew was into tea. She never had coffee at her place, and I had to make do with tea."
"Were you with her long?"
"A couple of months. She was sweet. She went back to college and got a degree in counseling. I heard she married a professor at the university. Bit of a scandal."
They sat at the counter and ate breakfast, not saying much. Cody claimed the other chocolate donut as his dessert. Julia insisted you couldn't have dessert at breakfast.
"I'm telling you, you can too. I proved it years ago by eating candy as breakfast dessert after Halloween."
"You're nuts."
Cody ate the donut in a few bites while Julia watched with a look of fascination on her face.
"How come guys can always eat with such gigantic bites?"
He shrugged. "We have superpowers of eating? I dunno. Listen, I need to take off and get to the shop. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for staying last night."
"You're welcome. See you later?"
"Sure, I'll be around." She walked him to the door, after he'd gathered up his things in the duffel bag. Waving to him as he drove off, she sighed and returned indoors. She stood in th
e kitchen and let herself get a feel for the house. It had returned to being a cozy, welcoming place, instead of a scary house.
As she began to clean up the kitchen, she thought about last night. She couldn't believe her own audacity at getting into Cody's bed. He really had been quite sexy in just those pajama bottoms. Sleeping next to him, with her head on his chest, had felt comforting to her last night. But this morning, it made her blush to think of it. He was such a gentleman--today she wondered why he had been so restrained.
Was she unattractive to him? He didn't even try a thing, no moves at all, when she was in his bed. Of course, if he had done anything she would have been out of there in a flash. She sighed. Her heart was going in a direction she wasn't sure it should. Here she was thinking of him as someone she could fall for, when all he'd been was completely sensitive and helpful to her. He hadn't come on to her at all. Which, now that she thought of it, was pretty depressing.
Although, she hadn't been looking her best lately. It wasn't like she had tried to make a play for him. She wasn't here to find a man anyway. What am I doing even thinking like this? She felt flustered inside and decided to sit down and start on the sweater for Cody. Crocheting would settle her nerves. When she pulled out the yarn, the blue reminded her of his eyes--eyes which could look gentle or strong or amused depending on what was going on. She loved the way he kidded around with her, and the way he listened. I'm doing it again, thinking of him. Enough! Fortunately, her phone rang and she was soon talking to Mrs. Gilchrest about her computer. But, somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew suggestive thoughts about Cody lurked.
* * * *
Sheriff Jones was in the bakery when Frank stopped by to pick up a muffin for his morning break. Kayla was listening raptly, and soon Frank was as well, when he heard his son's name.
"When I passed by early this morning, guess whose Corvette was parked right out front? I think Cody spent the night there! Could be the two of them are getting together, although with Cody that wouldn't be unusual--oh, uh, hello Frank."
"Sheriff," Frank said with a nod and a frown. "Cody was helping out Julia since the beach house is still a bit scary for her after what happened. He was there for her safety, nothing more. I'd appreciate you not going around spreading rumors."
"I see. Sorry, Frank. It looked like something--"
"Well, it wasn't. Kayla, if you'd get me a blueberry muffin, I'll be on my way."
Kayla quickly bagged up his muffin, and watched wide-eyed as he left.
Damn the town gossips, Frank thought. Of course, he'd wondered last night when the two of them had left for the beach house, if they might get together. But he'd bet his left arm Cody had been a gentleman. There was something between the two of them. He could see the spark of it at times. And there was a comfort level there--they seemed easy and relaxed with each other. If something did develop, he hoped it was the real thing, and not just a passing fling. He'd been impressed by how Cody had stopped dating around lately. All he really wished for his son was to find the right girl. And maybe that he'd have some kids. Being a grandfather was something he was looking forward to very much.
He took a call from Betsy--Mrs. Gilchrest. His relationship with Betsy had been kept very quiet for about two years now. She felt being the bank president meant she should not flaunt a relationship without marriage. Frank went along with this, even though he wasn't as concerned about what people might think. They were both comfortable in their own homes, living apart, but every now and then, he got the urge to propose to her. Then, they would talk it over and decide they did, in fact, like the situation as it was. Betsy said when she retired from the bank, she might reconsider the idea.
Today she was very happy Julia had agreed to look at her computer. She'd been ripped off by the guys in the mall once too often and had sworn she'd buy a new computer rather than go there for help. She got off the phone with him after thanking him profusely for recommending another option.
As he finished eating his muffin and drinking his coffee, Frank was surprised to see Julia standing in the doorway. "What are you doing here?"
"I need some tools. I'm fixing Mrs. Gilchrest's computer today. I need some tiny tools if you have any."
"Hmm. I have some, but probably not everything you need. We started carrying some a while back when Lucretia Evans began her jewelry-making business." They walked back into the main store and headed up an aisle.
"Lucretia? That's her real name?" Julia asked.
"Yep. Her mother was...well, different. Anyway, Lucretia needed some tiny tools, so I got them for her. Here we go." He pointed to a section on the rack in front of them.
"Ah. Perfect." Julia picked out three tools and headed for the cash register. "I wanted to ask if you have any idea of how much to charge Mrs. Gilchrest."
She and Frank discussed various numbers and then Julia left with her bag of tools.
Frank smiled after her, noticing how she was looking much more healthy--and attractive--in less than a week of being here. And she seemed excited about working on a computer again. His idea of yesterday was a good one. He'd already spoken to Betsy about facilitating it, and if she was impressed with Julia...it might happen.
Cody walked in. "Hey Dad. Was that Julia's car I just saw?"
"Yep, she needed some tools. She's working on Mrs. Gilchrest's computer."
"Cool." Cody wandered to the back of the store, looking at lanterns. "I'm thinking about getting some of these for the shop, but I wanted to get a different style than what you carry here."
Frank nodded, arms folded across his chest. Waiting.
"Anyway, Dad...I was thinking."
"Is this about Julia? Because I'm sure you didn't come down here to look at lanterns."
"Well, no, I'm not really interested in lanterns. And yes, it is about Julia. Do you think it would be strange if I asked her out?"
Frank felt his eyebrows rising even as he tried to keep shock off his face. "You're asking me? About a girl? Cody, when do you ever ask me about your dates?"
"This is different. She's different. I don't want to take advantage of her in any way. And I know I've been more like a safety for her with everything that happened."
"Yes, but I doubt she sees you only as her savior. What's this really about?" He unfolded his arms and leaned back against the counter with the register on it.
"Dad--how did you know--with Mom? How did you know she was the one for you?"
"Cody, are you saying what I think you're saying? Do you think Julia might be the one for you?"
"Yes, I think she might be the one. And I don't want to blow it."
"Well, now, this is different. When I met your mother, it was like being hit in the head. Changed how I looked at everything. I just knew I would never want another woman the way I wanted to be with her. She made me feel complete."
Cody nodded. "I can't stop thinking about Julia. When I left the beach house this morning, it was like I was leaving a piece of me behind."
"Sounds like you've got it bad. However, it's all very soon, isn't it? All I can tell you is to be yourself, be honest with her and with yourself--and realize the rumors about you two have already started. Sheriff Jones is responsible. He saw your car out there this morning."
"Damn, and it was all totally innocent, too. I hope the rumors won't upset Julia. Anyway, don't worry Dad. I was a perfect gentleman last night."
"I never expected anything less."
"I'd better get going. Thanks for the talk."
"Any time, son, any time." Frank said. Cody getting serious? About time, he thought with a satisfied smile. They'd make beautiful grandchildren for him, he decided as he went back to work. And, the Grainger family would grow again, filling the house with joy.
* * * *
Julia was in an empty office at the bank, with Mrs. Gilchrest's machine opened up before her. Somehow, ants had gotten into the computer. They were now dead, but she'd found one smashed on the hard drive. No wonder the computer had stopped func
tioning. She was debating whether to advise purchasing a new hard drive or an entirely new computer when her cell phone rang.
"Julia?"
"Yes. Holly? Is that you?"
"Julia, are you all right? I don't get any answer to my emails, and then I hear about the thing with Patrice on the news of all places. I'm ready to kill Dad and Cody for not calling me when it happened. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, Holly, stop worrying. I had a bad day and night, but I'm over it now. Your family has been great. I even spent one night in your old room at your Dad's house. Cody helped a lot, too."
"Oh, good. I was worried about you. I'm glad Cody and Dad have been there for you. I started getting concerned when I realized you weren't answering my emails. "
"Uh, I haven't actually turned on my laptop to check my emails or anything else. I've been kind of busy," she found herself saying defensively.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm relieved by how much better you sound already. If it helps you to not answer emails, then I say go for it. But, you say you've been busy?" Holly sounded intrigued. "Busy, doing what? You went there to rest, recover, take time off. I can't imagine what you've gotten involved in at Sully Point."
"Well, there's been so much to do and see. But, the most fun I've had is what I was doing when you called. You actually interrupted me working on Mrs. Gilchrest's computer."
"The bank's Mrs. Gilchrest? And what do you mean working on it?"
"I used to love working with computers, Holly. I fixed your Dad's yesterday and I'm doing this one today. It's really great fun and quite relaxing, so don't go thinking I'm wearing myself out. I've been sleeping and eating non-stop. I bet I've already put on five pounds. That bakery of yours is helping out with the weight gain project, of course."
Holly laughed. "Yes, that bakery can definitely help with weight gain. The computer thing, though, that sounds interesting. Just don't overtax yourself, okay?"
"I feel great. You don't have to be a mother hen, because your family is taking quite good care of me."
"Speaking of family, has she called? Your mother?"
"Yes. I don't want to talk about it. Now, I'd better get back to this and finish up. I'm really glad you sent me to Sully Point, Holly. It's working out just great."