Page 14 of Come Back to Me

It’s like sexy fruit. And honestly, I didn’t know fruit could be sexy. There’s a hint of apple and lime and then salt, which shouldn’t have a scent in my opinion, and then there’s this hint of warmth. Like a musk.

I bet his sweat tastes better than Zee’s cookies.

(Ooooh, boy, where the frickety frack did that thought come from?)

This near, I can see a jaw forged from iron it’s so damn stubborn and that his hazel eyes are more blue than green. I take note of the silvery flecks at the widow’s peak that frames his face and also in his trimmed sideburns.

I knew Cody Korhonen was H.O.T.

I knew he was fine.

I knew he was sexy.

But I didn’t know that I wanted to scoop him up like he was ice cream and have him melt over me.

When his pupils dilate then turn into pinpricks, when his Adam’s apple bobs, when his lips flatten slightly, I see it all.

“Because kids make a lot of noise that isn’t music,” Zee answers on my behalf, though when I look at her, I take note of her raised brow as she studies the pair of us.

He grunts then steps aside, and I curse myself because I want to trail after him à la Winnie the Pooh who’s caught a whiff of honey.

“There’s a job at The Coffee Shop too.”

“Why, Cody, it’s almost as if you think my best friend needs a job,” Zee snipes.

He shrugs. “Won’t you get bored?”

“Only boring people get bored,” I answer, though I admit I’m touched by Zee’s defense.

I don’t need it though. Some people might feel like a burden, not me. Anyway, what burden can I place on a family of billionaires? I might eat a lot, but enough to eat them out of house and home? Nah.

My focus lingers on him as he reaches for the coffee pot. “Do I have what it takes for the barista job at The Coffee Shop? You can judge my skills because I made that.” When he hesitates and puts the jug down, I frown. “If you don’t want any, can I have a refill, please? I’m almost out.”

His eyes narrow but he obliges, then he dips his chin at us both. “See you at supper.”

Zee watches him go. “What crawled up his butt?”

“Last night, while I was whooping Callan on the PS5, he told me Cody has nightmares.”

“Was that why you went easy on him?”

I shrug. “I didn’t.”

“You sit on a throne of lies.”

Hiding my smile behind my coffee mug, I take a deep sip.

“Do you think he dislikes you or something? Is that why you were asking if we knew him back in school?”

“Maybe.”

“I don’t remember us doing anything to piss him off. He was a Korhonen, and we weren’t.”

Korhonen = cool as fuck (adj.)

“Colt hasn’t said anything about your stay here causing problems. But why would he? We only get together for supper. You’re annoying, but there’s no need for him to want you out. I can talk to?—”

“No. You don’t have to mediate on my behalf. I don’t think Cody dislikes me.” A man who looks at me the way he does certainly isn’t thinking about dislike. Not that I tell Zee that. “I just think he doesn’t trust me.”

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