Page 81 of Talk Birdie to Me

Cody, though, seemed to genuinely want her to be comfortable.

She wasn’t sure if that terrified her more or less than chivalry.

“Thanks,” she said. “For everything. I would have been fine at home, but I appreciate this.”

“You and I both know you would not have been fine there.” Cody gave her a hesitant grin. “Thanks for letting me take care of you.”

A warm sensation traveled up Geena’s spine and settled in her chest. She couldn’t remember anyone ever going to such lengths to care about her. And Cody had been doing exactly that almost since the moment they met.

She’d misjudged him in the beginning, and his quick exit from their date was also him trying to take care of her. Or at least not hurt her. Once he realized they weren’t compatible, he’d stepped back and let things end.

But Gary changed that plan.

Gary.

That pit in her stomach opened up again and filled with shame.

She couldn’t think of a single thing she could have done to prevent his capture, except maybe have been home when the thief took him. But what could she have done besides put herself in danger?

She could have at least tried to stop them.

Geena would never forgive herself if they didn’t find Gary. He wasn’t just her responsibility. She’d grown to enjoy his company and cared for him. Genuinely. She already missed his little noises. And his big profane noises, too.

“I miss him already.” She wiped at a tear forming in the corner of her eye. “It’s not just guilt. I really miss that bird.”

Cody put the pillow and blanket down on the edge of the bed and wrapped her in his arms. He pulled her head onto his shoulder and rubbed her back.

“I know,” he said. “We’ll find him. I promise.”

She sniffled against his shoulder and relaxed into his arms. “You can’t promise that.”

She appreciated the assurance, but it didn’t change the fact that Gary was missing and they had absolutely no idea who might have taken him.

No one knew he’d been living at her place. Especially no one she could imagine doing such a thing.

But there was one person who had no moral compass and valued money over anything. Someone who’d heard the bird in the background and recognized its vocabulary from calls with his client.

Cody was right about one thing, even if he couldn’t promise they’d find Gary. He was right that there was nothing they could do about any of this tonight.

Tomorrow, however, was a different matter.

Cody rubbed her back and kissed the side of her head. Both were such small gestures of care and comfort, and Geena didn’t realize how deprived she’d been of such kindness.

“We’ll do our best,” Cody said. “We’ll do everything we can to find him. How about that?”

Geena pulled away just far enough to look him in the eye and nod. “I like that. Thank you.”

Cody brought up both hands and cradled her face in his palms, rubbing a thumb along her cheek. That now familiar heat rose inside Geena again, this time making its way to her face.

But she wasn’t worried about him seeing that flush. Part of her wanted him to see it.

When he kissed her, she relaxed against him, feeling safe and desired. Both feelings she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

Their kiss became more heated, so she reached up to grab his hands and pulled her face back just a few inches.

“I’d better get some sleep,” she said. “Work in the morning, and I’m already exhausted. Tired eyes aren’t good for number-crunching.”

Or an interrogation.

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