by Lacey Wolfe
“I’d love to take you out.” He cleared his throat. “If you’d like. No pressure.”
“What did you have in mind?” Anything he came up with would be fun.
“I need a shower. How about I come pick you up in about two hours and we’ll go find something fun to do?”
She shook her head. “Not my house. I’d rather meet you someplace.”
He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t push. “Okay. Eleven here?”
“That works.”
“Good. I’ll see you soon.” He winked and flashed her his incredibly sexy smile.
Lily nodded as she reached behind her to grab the door handle. Only, she hadn’t realized she’d moved several steps toward him. And in her attempt to grab the car handle, she’d lost her balance, landing on her backside.
Her cheeks burned. Why did she keep doing stupid things in front of this man?
“Are you okay?” Cody knelt down. “You’ve got to stop falling.”
Yeah, she was fine, minus the fact her ass hurt from the gravel. “Fine. I thought the car was right behind me.”
He stood and held his hand out to her. She took it. His hand was softer than she expected and as he helped her, he was stronger than she thought as well. She was on her feet so quickly; she fell right against his hard body.
“Sorry.” She gazed up into his eyes.
“No complaints here,” his voice thick.
She stepped back quickly, needing distance between them. “Eleven, right?”
“Right.”
She turned, staring at the door handle as she reached out and grabbed it. This man made her a mess. She climbed into her car and before she could close the door, he grabbed it.
“Wear something comfortable.”
“Comfortable…check.” That was good, she’d only had one nice dress; jeans, however, she had plenty of.
Cody closed the door and waved, before he jogged in the opposite direction.
Lily leaned back in her seat. That man did things to her she’d never experienced. Mainly being clumsy. She’d never considered herself a klutz, but when he was around, everything changed.
Maybe going out with him wasn’t such a good idea. She’d go home, shower, dress in something comfortable, and then come up with an excuse to get out of it.
Chapter Six
Cody stepped out of the shower and began towel drying his body. This morning’s run had been intense. A lot of it had been to release some built up frustration. Go figure when he finished his run, he’d see the woman who had his mind a confused mess.
He shouldn’t have asked her out again, but she was so darn cute, he couldn’t help it. He wanted to know everything about her, including why she looked like a deer in headlights when he suggested picking her up. For some reason, she didn’t want to let him know anything about her personal life.
He pulled clean clothes from his drawers and slipped them on. In about thirty minutes he had to leave to meet up with Lily. The minutes would probably feel like hours. He needed to find something to do to distract himself, or he’d go insane watching the clock.
As he walked through his house toward the kitchen to grab a small snack, he heard his phone beep from the counter. Picking it up, his gut dropped when he saw it was a new text from Lily.
So sorry, have to cancel.
He sighed. He’d been looking forward to this, but had a feeling she’d try to cancel. He wasn’t going to let her out of it that easy.
How come?
He set the phone down and rummaged through the pantry before finally deciding on a granola bar. As he opened the wrapper, his phone alerted him of a text.
I don’t have a reason; it’s just not a good idea, like I said before.
Cody grinned. At least she was honest.
Come out with me as a friend. That’s it.
He ate the granola bar as he waited for her to reply. Staring at the phone, he wondered what was taking so long. He could imagine her typing thirty different messages and deleting them all before she finally decided on one, but he had to wait patiently, which wasn’t easy.
Finally, his phone beeped and the screen showed a simple answer, okay.
It was settled, for the next thirty minutes, she was going to go. Cody wondered, however, how many more times she’d try to get out of this before eleven actually came.
Thirty minutes later, he leaned against his truck, staring at the entrance to the park. Hopefully Lily didn’t stand him up. She was complicated and it drove him crazy. He wanted to know why she was so reserved. Her life seemed put together from the outside. She worked, she was a mom, and had a good relationship with her ex. What was holding her back?
He licked his lips and rubbed his chin before glancing at his watch. She was five minutes late. Now his nerves were beginning to get the best of him. Women were always late, though. It was in their handbook, or something, to make a man wait on them.
Finally, her car appeared. He was definitely relieved not to be stood up. Straightening his shirt, he walked over to her car and opened the door. She smiled up at him. Her hair was up in a ponytail, but a few lose strands outlined her beautiful face.
“I was worried you might not show.”
She sucked in her bottom lip then replied, “That wouldn’t have been kind.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t have some romantic lunch planned. Just lunch then bowling.” That would keep things friendly.
“Bowling?” She laughed. “It’s been a long time. You know, I used to be on a league when I was in high school.”
“Oh yeah?” She was going to whoop his ass at this game.
“Yup. It was fun. It’s where I met my ex.” She put the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “I guess I shouldn’t talk about my ex, huh?”
“It’s fine.” Though it made him feel jealous. “We’re friends. You can talk about whatever you want.”
“You’re something else, Cody.” She brushed past him toward his truck, and he snuck a peak at her ass. Thoughts of spanking her rounded butt entered his mind. That certainly was not a friendly thought.
Cody had to figure out how to have lunch with her then go bowling, all while thinking of her as nothing more than friend. Yeah, that was not going to happen. He opened the passenger door and she tossed a flirty smile his way. She had no idea what she did to his heart. He was already falling for her, which wasn’t smart at all.
After closing her door, he went around to his side and climbed in.
“Where’s lunch?” she asked.
“The Swift Water Café.” He tried to look serious.
“You’re kidding?” She raised an eyebrow.
“No.” He shook his head, suppressing the smirk as he tried to look crestfallen.
“Well, okay.”
Cody laughed. “Kidding. I’m sure that’s the last place you want to eat.” He put the keys in the ignition and started up the truck. “There’s a sandwich shop by my sister’s bookstore. It’s really good.”
Her tongue moistened her lips as she shook her head with a smile. “Anything’s better than going to my place of work on my day off.”
He knew the feeling.
* * * *
Lily slid on the rental shoes at the bowling ally. Ick, she hated these things. There was no telling how many people had worn them and if they’d ever been cleaned. With her luck, the person before her had some foot fungus infection, and by tonight her toes would burn. However, it wasn’t like she knew they were going bowling, so bringing her own set of shoes hadn’t been an option.
She glanced over at Cody and his lime green and fluorescent orange shoes they’d given him. They didn’t match his dark jeans and grey t-shirt he wore. But man, he sure looked sexy. The sleeves of his shirt hugged his biceps. He did more than run that was for sure. Being an officer, he had to stay fit. Or so she assumed—she’s seen fat cops in the past.
“You ready for me to kick your ass?” She stood, straightening her shirt.
He grinned, letting his teet
h slightly peek through his lips. “You never know, I might kick your ass.”
Oh, she hoped he’d do something other than kick it. Squeeze it. Pinch it. Pat it. Even look at it.
This is why it was a bad idea to even try this friend thing. There was no way she could be his friend. She’d much rather shove him down on the bench, climb on top of him, and play with a different set of balls.
God, snap out of it. This was crazy thinking. Clearing her throat, she walked over to examine the row of bowling balls. She picked up several, putting her fingers in the holes, until finally finding the right one. Her mind couldn’t help wandering again—away from the hunky man thoughts—on who else had their fingers in these holes and what germs she’d have after. Lily never really considered herself a germ-a-phobe, but as she walked around this place, it seemed more and more like she was turning into one.
“Who goes first?” she asked as Cody placed his desired ball next to hers.
“You, of course.” He typed away on the small computer and a moment later, the screen above their lane said she could start when ready.
She picked the ball up and walked up to the lane. With her legs slightly apart, her nerves took over. It was time to be honest; it had been years since she’d played. She’d hurt her back a few years ago in a car accident and hadn’t picked up a ball sense. Then it dawned on her, she and Heath had never taken their son bowling, yet that’s how they’d met.
“Are you chicken?” Cody asked.
She chuckled. “Hell no.”
With that, she got herself into position and released the ball. Only the ball rolling straight down the lane and right to the center pin didn’t happen.
“Damn, gutter ball.” Cody laughed and her cheeks burned.
Lily couldn’t believe she’d done that. She took several deep breaths as she waited at the ball return for her ball. Once it was back, she picked it up and went back to position.
Come on, you can do this. She tossed the ball down the lane again, this time it was headed straight for the center, but then it curved, only hitting half the pins.
Agh! She’d take it, if she had to.
“I just need to warm up.” She sat down.
“If you’re in the gutter, I’m sure I will be, too.” Cody grabbed his ball.
Lily should be keeping an eye on how he threw the ball, but instead let her gaze wander to his backside, watching how his body moved as he released the ball. Cody clapped his hands and stomped his foot. Lily darted a look at the board. A strike. Cody got a strike. This wasn’t looking good. Wasn’t this supposed to be fun?
“Your turn.” He beamed.
She glared at him. “Don’t get too comfortable with your score.”
“Right now I’m going to sit down and enjoy the view.”
Her cheeks warmed again. He’d been checking her out the same way she’d done to him. This time as she stood before the lane, she gave her hips a little shake before she released the ball. Closing her eyes, she waited for the sound of the ball to meet the pins.
It was a long clink and with a deep breath, she opened her eyes. Strike!
Lily jumped up and down, clapping her hands. She spun around and placed a hand on her hip, ready to gloat. She hadn’t expected Cody to be standing right there; his chest close enough for her to touch if she really wanted. Oh yeah, she wanted to.
Licking her lips, she stared up into his eyes. He had the cutest smirk on his face, but something else was drawing her to him. Something that made her take a step toward him, instead of away. Her breasts touched his chest. Oh God, she really wanted to kiss him.
She lifted herself onto her toes. She was going to make the first move, but then he stepped back, breaking the connection.
“I’m sorry about that.” He ran a hand through his dark hair, tugging on the ends. “I don’t know what came over me.”
Whatever the pull was between them, it seemed to be super charged. “It’s okay.” What else could she say? She’d wanted to kiss him, and obviously he’d wanted something since he’d crept up so close to her.
“I need to respect your choice to be friends.” He picked up his bowling ball.
What a nice guy. There weren’t many. Any other guy would’ve let her kiss him, even though she probably would’ve regretted it after. There was a part of her, though, that wanted him to throw caution to the wind, wrap his arms around her waist, and pin her to a wall somewhere. Oh yeah, just thinking about that got her body in a tizzy. With a hunk of a man like that pressing her to a wall—woo, she now understood the expression of needing a cold shower.
They finished the game and played another, all the while Cody remained the perfect gentleman. She had to admire the guy. She shook her hips several times, hoping it would bring him close to her again, but he resisted.
“That was fun.” He slipped off the ugly shoes when the second game was finished, which she’d won. “I’m glad you came out with me for a bit.”
“I enjoyed myself. I don’t get out much.” She kicked her bowling shoes off.
“How come?”
“How come what?”
“You don’t get out.” He leaned back in his chair. “I get you have a son and he comes first, but you should do more for yourself.”
“I work, too.” That wasn’t a good excuse, but she just wasn’t ready to talk about her mom.
Cody leaned down to slip his shoes on.
“I really did have a good time,” she said. “I’d like to hang out again.”
After he slipped on his last shoe, he sat back. “I’d like it, too, but I don’t want to play games. I can’t get a good feel of what’s going on between us.”
That’s because she was a mess. One moment she wanted him, the next she was telling him she couldn’t see him. Lily really wanted a life, but at the same time, she’d made a commitment to care for her mom. That was why she moved here. So it wouldn’t be right for her to run around town with Cody and dare she say, fall in love.
“I can do the friend thing.” Even though she wanted so much more with him.
“Me too, but when you stare at me like a piece of candy, it makes it hard for me to resist you.”
She giggled. “Candy?”
“Yeah, you lick your lips and your eyes perk up.”
She’d have to make a point not to look at him like she wanted to lick him anymore. “I think you’re just joking.”
He chuckled and held his hand out to her. She took his hand and started to stand, but froze mid-way when he spoke, “See, there you go again. Here I just wanted your shoes to take up front, and you took my hand.”
Lily yanked her hand back as her cheeks burned. Maybe he wasn’t such a gentleman, but more of a jerk. “I can get my shoes.”
She stood and brushed past him.
“Wait, Lily,” he called, but she couldn’t stop walking.
She continued to make a fool of herself. Did she look like some sort of raging, horny woman or something? She set her shoes on the counter and turned. Cody set his shoes next to hers then took her hand and led her back to where they’d been before. Talk about playing games. He was making this just as confusing as she was.
Though, she loved the feel of his hand, holding hers tight.
Still holding her hand, he said, “I’m sorry. I’m not good at this.”
“What?”
“This, whatever it is. I haven’t dated a woman in a long time.”
Now her curiosity was peeked. Cody was hot, how could he not be fighting women off with a stick. “We’re not—”
He released her hand and took a deep breath. “Yes, I know. It’s hard, though. I’m really attracted to you, and it’s not easy keeping this friendly, when I really want to kiss you.”
He wants to kiss me. She moistened her lips.
“That drives me crazy.” He groaned.
“We could kiss once. I’m curious, too.” And desperate. And horny.
“So you want me to kiss you?”
She nodded. “Just a
little one. A peck.”
Cody took a deep breath, and she could tell his wheels were spinning in his head. How could they not be? She was throwing all kinds of mixed signals, but if they kissed, they’d get it over with. She’d know if this was worth pursuing or not. Oh, whom was she kidding? They would never be friends, even if the kiss sucked.
Cody leaned forward, his gaze on hers. His lips were inches from hers. One peck. Just a quick touch of the lips and it would be done. Then his soft lips were on hers, and she sighed. Instinct took over, and a small peck wouldn’t be enough. She gripped his shirt, tugging him closer. Her lips parted and his tongue slid in. Now this was the kiss she’d needed.
Everything in her screamed for more. This was right. It felt amazing as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her snug against him. Why had she been denying herself this? This was the best kiss of her life. There was no way they could be friends. Somehow she had to find a way to see this man. This magical man who made her feel like she was being lifted off the ground as he kissed her.
The kiss ended before it really got started when Cody stepped back, breaking the connection. “I should get you back to your car.”
No, she wanted to stand here, in the middle of the bowling alley, and kiss more, but Cody was already walking away. Did he not get the same feelings she did from that one magical kiss?
Chapter Seven
Cody sprinted, pounding his feet onto the pavement. He’d totally screwed up that date—or whatever it was—yesterday. One minute she wanted to be his friend; the next she wanted to kiss.
And that kiss. He’d never experienced one like it. It had been short, but felt like an eternity. Then, like the dumbass he was, he freaked and took her back to her car, hardly speaking another word to her. Then just let her drive off with a confused expression on her pretty face, but he had no words for how he felt. He still couldn’t wrap his head around it.
He wished he could blame his ex, Tori, for his cowardly way, but he couldn’t. They’d been broken up for two years. Since their breakup, he’d been cautious with any girl he ever attempted to date, which resulted in women not interested at all. He hadn’t had a date in almost two years.