Page 9 of Stone's Promise

I rolled my eyes but took the outfit anyway. "Thanks, Mama."

As I dressed in front of the mirror, Mama gave me a pointed look. "So, when were you going to tell me you were dating one of those hunky wrestlers?"

I spritzed on a little bit of perfume and sighed. "MMA fighters, Mama."

She waved a dismissive hand. "I see you didn't correct me about them being hunky."

I hesitated, my mind flickering to Cody and his strong, quiet presence, the way he didn’t hesitate to step in and help me get Trey off my back.

"I guess they’re attractive, if you like the muscular, athletic type." I admitted, trying not to sound too interested. “It's not a big deal. Cody is just going to the open mic with me tonight."

As soon as the words left my mouth, a knock sounded at the door. My stomach flipped.

"He's here early," I said, suddenly panicked.

Mama patted my shoulder. "Go ahead and answer it. I'm going to check to see if Oliver got into his pajamas."

I nodded, exhaling as I turned toward the front door. My heart pounded just a little harder than it should have for a fake date.

I shoved my feet into my low top Nikes, barely taking a moment to glance in the mirror before heading downstairs. My stomach fluttered with nerves, though I told myself it was just because of the event, not because Cody was waiting on the other side of the door.

When I opened it, my breath hitched for half a second.

He stood there in a button-up shirt and jeans, his normally scruffy jaw freshly shaved, and his hair neatly combed.

"You clean up good," I said, tilting my head as I took him in.

His eyes flicked over me in return, and for a brief moment, something warm sparked there. "You're pretty.”

Before I could decide how to respond, Mama appeared at the top of the stairs, waving.

Cody waved back. "I see where you get your looks from."

"Ah, he knows what's up," Mama teased, winking at me.

I hid my smile before turning back to Cody. "My mother is in a playful mood tonight. Ready to go?"

"Sure." He stepped back to let me lock up, and we started toward his truck.

"Oliver's getting ready for bed," I told him as we walked. "I'll introduce you two later, or he'll want to talk about MMA all night."

"I wouldn’t mind. I know MMA. This public charity stuff? No clue."

I glanced over at him as we reached his pickup. "It’s just an appearance tonight. We don’t have to say anything."

But as I climbed inside, smoothing my skirt over my legs, a twinge of doubt settled in. This was my first time stepping out with Cody in public. What had I just gotten myself into?

Cody drove us to the comedy club. When we went inside, it buzzed with energy. The low hum of conversation mixed with bursts of laughter from the stage. The place had a warm, intimate feel. Exposed brick walls, dim lighting, and round tables clustered near the spotlight. I was just about to relax when I spotted a familiar face moving toward us with a microphone in hand.

Herb Caldwell, a local news anchor, was grinning as if he’d just found gold.

"Cody Stone," Herb called out, waving for his cameraman to follow. "Mind if we get a quick shot?"

Before I could react, Max stepped in, placing himself between Cody and the camera. His posture was calm but firm, his head slightly lowered, tail still. Protective.

I moved quickly, stepping in front of Cody and putting on my most charming public relations smile. "Herb, hey," I said, my voice light and warm. "We’re just here to enjoy the event tonight. No press, no interviews, okay?"

Herb, undeterred, shifted to angle his mic toward Cody. "Come on, just a quick photo."

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