That sounded too close to caring for her comfort. She needed to get things back to a lighter note. “I’d rather stay here and eat.”
Cody stood confidently in front of her in all his male glory and said, “Pancakes or bacon and eggs?”
She was tempted to take him back to bed. Her addiction to Cody Brennan must be cured. It wasn’t healthy. “Bacon and eggs.”
Pulling her against his warm naked body, he said, “Sounds almost as tasty as you.” He nibbled at her neck.
She broke the embrace. “I’m hungry.”
“Me too.” He gave her a wolfish grin.
“None of that until you have fed me.” She’d brought his shirt into the bathroom with her. Pulling it on, she buttoned it and rolled up the sleeves.
“Mmm... I don’t know if I can keep my attention on frying bacon with you dressed like that.”
“You know, I could just make it into an apron.” Giving him a wicked expression, her hands went to a button.
He groaned. “As much as I appreciate the possibilities...but I promised you food.”
She brushed her fingertips across his chest on the way out of the door. “And I want you at full strength.”
Cody joined her in the bedroom dressed in just jeans and nothing else. She was going to have a hard time keeping her hands off him. If she wasn’t careful, things would get out of hand. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. She wanted all of Cody she could get in the time remaining to them.
They went downstairs, picking up their discarded clothing as they went. She hung hers on the newel post and Cody placed his on top of hers.
“While I fry the bacon, would you butter toast and beat the eggs?”
“Sure.”
A little while later she was busy with a bowl and whisk when Cody came to stand behind her. “Where did you learn to beat eggs?”
“I’m not really very good in the kitchen. My mom always ate out or bought in food. There was a cafeteria in college, and at the hospitals. When I went to work there were always cooks to see to the crew’s meals. So I never had a need to learn.”
“Then let me give you your first lesson.” He wrapped his arms around her. The heat of his chest warmed her back. Cody placed his hands over hers. He then tilted the bowl slightly and briskly whipped the eggs.
She rubbed her butt against him. “I think I would be a good cook if all my lessons were given like this.”
Cody chuckled. It vibrated all the way up her spine.
“Is there anything you’re not good at, Doctor?”
“There are a few things, I assure you.” There was a note in his voice that made her suspect he referred to his past. Would he ever let what had happened go?
As far as she was concerned, he was just about perfect. Her heart squeezed. She would miss him when she was gone. Unwilling to let anything harm their beautiful morning together, she turned and put her arms around his waist, laying her cheek on his chest. “You couldn’t convince me of that.”
“Something wrong?” Cody sounded concerned, the eggs forgotten.
“No, I just needed a hug.”
He squeezed her tight for a second then released her. “I’d better get these eggs on.”
Stacey moved to stand close to him, leaning against the counter. “Did your mother teach you to cook?”
“No, I learned out of necessity. Taking two young children out to dinner every night turned out to be a bigger fiasco than me trying to prepare a meal. Plus I didn’t want to raise them on fast food.”
Like she had been.
“I was determined to learn how to make at least a few solid meals. I still have disasters every now and then, but basically I can put together a nutritious meal in a fairly short time.”
“Once again you’re an amazing man. Everyone should be so lucky to have you as a daddy.” Cody was the type of father she wished she’d had. This morning would be one of those precious memories she would take with her when she left.
* * *
It was around noon when there was a knock on Cody’s clinic office door. He called, “Come in.
Stacey strolled in with a smile on her face. He liked that look much better than the one that had been there the entire week before. His preference really was the expression of bliss Stacey had when she found her pleasure beneath him.
“Hey, I wanted to talk to you about the senator’s son, if you have a few minutes.”
“I always have a minute for you.” Even to his own ears he sounded like Alex when Maggie was around. Surely he wasn’t that lovesick. Love? He and Stacey had both agreed in not so many words that emotions weren’t part of their arrangement. If they weren’t, he was afraid he’d taken a large step over the line. She’d made it clear she wouldn’t be staying for any reason.
“That’s nice to hear.” She started around the desk.
“Stop right there.”
She jerked to a stop. Her brows rose and she gave him a questioning look.
“I just want to make it clear before we start talking that I’m going to stay over here, keeping this desk between us, because I don’t think I can get through the conversation otherwise.”
Stacey gave him a wicked grin. “Got the hots for me, do ya?”
“Yeah, that would be an understatement.” He was already thinking about having her again. About kissing that spot behind her neck that made her squirm.
She didn’t blink when she said, “Sounds good to me.”
Would she ever stop surprising him?
Taking one of the chairs in front of his desk, she crossed her legs and gave him a self-satisfied smile. “No comeback, Doc?”
He had one but it wasn’t something he should be doing at the clinic in the middle of the day. “You’d better watch that mouth. I keep telling you it’s going to get you into trouble.”
Her voice went low and seductive. “What kind of punishment did you have in mind?”
He gripped the edge of the desk to keep himself from hurling himself over it and grabbing her. “You come to my place tonight for dinner and I’ll show you.”
“Will I be expected to participate?” Stacey leisurely swung her foot. She was enjoying this.
“Oh, you can count on that.”
“Then I wouldn’t miss it. What time?”
“Seven?” He needed time to do some special grocery shopping.
Stacey nodded. “I can’t wait.” Then she actually winked at him.
When was the last time he’d traded bedroom talk with a woman? And not in the bedroom. He’d never done so. What was happening to him?
She straightened in her seat and her look turned serious. “I think Salty is getting the best out of the senator’s son. He’s doing all of his therapy without complaint now.”
“I hear a but coming.”
Stacey’s lips pursed and she nodded. “He’s still seriously grappling with the idea of a limp for the rest of his life. I’m worried about his emotional stability more than anything.”
“I’ll have Rick look in on him. He worked wonders with Fleur. Maybe it’ll work again.”
Stacey stood. “Then I guess that’s it. I’ve got a hot date to get ready for so I’ll see you later.” She gave him a grin and a little wave over her shoulder on the way out.
* * *
A few hours later Cody was putting the final touches on the small table on the porch where he planned they would eat their meal. His romance skills were so rusty he was nervous about the evening.
The doorbell rang. She was here. He hurried to the door.
Stacey stood on the stoop looking adorable. Her hair was down and swung freely around her shoulders. The slight breeze lifted a few strands and blew them across her face. She brushed them away. The simple but feminine dress she wore fit tightly to her body then flared out around her hips. It was a short one this t
ime that showed an amazing amount of her breathtaking legs. A pair of almost-not-there sandals were on her feet. Her smile gave her both a vivacious and beautiful appearance. He was completely captivated.
Cody pulled her inside and took a deep inhalation of her peach scent before he kicked the door closed. He kissed her with all the pent-up passion he’d been tamping down all day. Her arms came around his neck and she leaned into him. When they broke apart they were both breathing heavily.
A buzzing came from the kitchen. He released her and hurried down the hall. “I have something in the oven.”
She followed. “You’d better not burn my supper.”
He pulled the hot pot out of the oven.
“It smells wonderful.” She was the one who smelled like heaven. He had to get a grip on himself or he’d be groveling at her feet.
“What do we have there?” She tried to look in the pot when he removed the top.
“Brennan pot roast.”
Pursing her lips, she nodded. “I feel important. Not just pot roast but Brennan pot roast.”
“Are you making fun of the cook?”
“I’d never make fun of someone feeding me.” She smiled amiably at him.
He gave her a narrow-eyed gaze. “Good, because you’d have to watch me eat and do without if you had been. Why don’t you go on out on the porch while I finish up here? We’re going to eat out there.”
“You don’t need my help?”
“I’ve got it. I’ll be out in a minute.” He stirred the beans in the pot on the stove. When he went to join her she was standing at the rail, looking out at the ocean as if she was contemplating a puzzling problem. He placed their plated meals on the table.
She turned to him. “This looks amazing.”
He held her chair for her.
“The girls would love to see you now.” She sat.
“I can hear them giggling. They’re not used to their father romancing a woman.”
“Are you romancing me?” She studied him as if she couldn’t believe herself worthy of his actions.
“I like to think so. That was the plan.” He took his seat across from her.
Their meal was slow and easy. They talked of movies they had seen, places they had been and their favorite meals. Cody enjoyed every minute of it. Stacey was intelligent and engaging, in his eyes the perfect dinner guest.
Stacey placed her fork on her plate. “Uh... I’ve been thinking.”
His chest constricted. About what? “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“I’d like to take a walk on the beach.”
Relief eased the tension in his shoulders. He had been afraid she might want to call a halt to their relationship.
“Then come back and show you just how sexy I think you are.”
His manhood immediately sprang to life. He could forgo the walk for the latter but he would go along with her plans. Anything to keep her in his arms and bed for as long as possible.
* * *
The last few days and nights had been the most amazing, exhilarating and fascinating Cody had ever known. Stacey was everything he’d ever dreamed of in a woman. She was as exciting and entertaining in bed as out.
They worked side by side during the day, exchanging small smiles when nobody was watching. In the evening they had dinner and then sat on the porch until after dark. Hand in hand they would climb the stairs to his bedroom. Stacey satisfied all his desires and more. She continued to surprise him. Aggressive and demanding at times, she could be just as tender and giving at others.
Today those days and nights of heated pleasure would end. His mother and father were bringing the girls home. He expected them at any moment. Their return was bitter-sweet. He had missed his girls but tonight he would miss Stacey too. His heart was made even heavier by the fact that in just three days Stacey would be gone for good.
Their lovemaking the night before had been slow, deliberate and utterly poignant. Stacey seemed as aware their time together was nearly over as he was. A sick feeling filled his gut. He had to start adjusting, accepting it must end. Now he was waiting at the ferry for his family to arrive. So why did it feel like part of it was still missing? That idea he refused to examine. It would get him nowhere.
He hadn’t asked Stacey to come along, believing them being together to meet the girls might send them the wrong message. Before he’d left the clinic he had told her he was leaving to meet the ferry. She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes and she said, “I’ll see to things here.”
He watched as the ferry pulled into port, the ramp came down and cars started to unload. Soon he saw Jean and Lizzy waving excitedly at him. He returned the greeting, spying his parents behind them. The second the girls were off the ferry they ran to him, wrapping their arms around him.
“Hey, Daddy. We missed you,” they each said to him.
“I missed you too,” Cody said. He had, yet he was confident that the separation had been good for all of them. He had needed to let go temporarily.
“We had the best time.” Jean beamed up at him.
He went down on one knee and wrapped them in his arms. “I want to hear all about it.” A few minutes later, after he had spoken to his mom and dad, he herded them all off to his car.
Lizzie said, “We brought something home for Stacey.”
His chest ached. “You did?”
Excitement filled Jean’s voice as she said, “We got her a bracelet to replace the one she gave me. Now she can remember me when she leaves.”
“I’m sure Stacey will like that.” He had no doubt she would.
“Can we call her? Go see her?” Lizzy asked.
He drove out of the parking lot. “We’ll get in touch with her soon. Right now we need to get you home. So, Mom and Dad, how was your trip?”
Stacey tried to push away her feelings of being left out. She didn’t belong with Cody when he met his family. She wasn’t a member of that group. She understood that in her mind but her heart tugged her to the harbor. Knowledge didn’t make her heart hurt any less. She’d known she was getting in over her head, had tried to stop it, but couldn’t. Cody’s magnetic pull was just too strong. She and Cody hadn’t discussed the fact she would be returning to her cottage that night instead of being in his bed. They both knew the score.
Going home to an empty cottage held no appeal so she worked late. Stacey updated all the patient charts and had done some work that wasn’t necessary until the next week. She even made a second round to check on the patients. She didn’t want Cody to have to come in for an emergency on the first night of the girls’ return or while his parents were visiting. At least, that was the excuse she used.
Instead of going home, she chose to go to Sunbeam Victuals and Delectables for a cup of hot tea and a vegan sandwich. Not her favorite fare but a change from Cody’s high-calorie meals. There she wouldn’t have to worry about running into him.
The last few days had been the most contented of Stacey’s life. She and Cody worked together during the day occasionally sneaking a kiss when no one was around. In the evenings she went to his house. Sometimes she helped him prepare dinner and other times she sat and talked to him while he worked. They most often talked about his childhood which was almost idyllic compared to hers. Sometimes she would share one of her experiences in a different country.
She’d never before shared this type of connection with another human being. Cody hadn’t only become her lover but her friend. Those were more difficult to find. She’d always looked forward to leaving one post and been excited about the next but this time she was dreading the change.
She was climbing into her car when her cellphone rang. To her surprise the phone ID told her it was Cody. “Hi.”
“Could you come over?” He sounded as if he wasn’t sure about asking or was afraid she might refuse. Still, her heart skipped a beat.
“Aren’t the girls there?”
“Yes, they’re the ones who asked me to call.”
It hurt that it wasn’t him who’d wanted to call. Even though she felt compelled to go, it wouldn’t help her start detaching herself from Cody. It had been years since she’d let someone get so close to her. “I don’t know. I’m tired. I’m just heading home.” She had been up most of the night with him so it was a sweet tired.
“Just for a minute.” His flat tone implied he was uncomfortable about insisting.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She was confident it wasn’t. It would only make it harder for her. Possibly them.
His voice lowered. “The girls brought you a surprise or I wouldn’t insist.”
She couldn’t not go now. Everything in her wanted to see Cody anyway. If just for a moment. She sighed. “Cody.”
“We’re adults. We can do this.” He sounded as unconvinced as she felt. “The girls are refusing to go to bed and it’s a school night.”
He was laying the bricks of guilt on her.
“My mother and father are here also. They would like to say bye before they leave.”
“They don’t really know me.” Her being friends with his parents was just one more level of involvement she didn’t need.
“They feel like they do after they’ve spent a few days with the girls. I understand you were the topic of conversation for most of the trip. You make an impression on people.” His voice dipped lower. “You sure have on me.”
Warmth poured over her. He had on her as well. “Okay, but I’m only staying for a few minutes. I’m just leaving Phoenix’s now.”
“Thanks for doing this.”
The pathetic thing was she wasn’t even fooling herself. Everything in her drew her to Cody.
When she pulled up to Cody’s house the porch light was on. What would it be like to come home all the time to someone who cared enough to leave a light burning for you? She tapped lightly on the door and it was immediately opened.
Jean and Lizzy said in unison, “Stacey!” They wrapped their arms around her waist for a hug. She returned their embraces. Her heart swelled. She could learn to love this type of reception.
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