Page 11 of Cody

The sound of voices nearing the screen door revealed that Mom and Cody were coming inside. I moved away from the wall and disappeared into my room. I couldn’t face Cody again right now. If Mom hadn’t come home, we would be fucking against the wall right now, because I’d been that close in giving in to his filthy demands.

I knew I should unpack my car, but suddenly I just wanted to get out of the house. I was eager to get my coffee shop up and running, and I had some possible locations to look at. I hit the bathroom and went through my morning routine, then threw on some jeans and a tee before slipping into my Crocs. Like a coward, I listened at the door, and when I didn’t hear voices anymore, I assumed that Cody was gone and the coast was clear.

You know what they say about assuming. Cody and Mom were sitting at the dining room table when I walked out, discussing the porch. I just managed to stop myself from coming to a screeching halt. Cody glanced up when I entered the room and gave me the once over. Slowly. Letting his gaze linger on my breasts until my traitorous nipples hardened.Damn him!I tried to ignore him, but it was hard when the man was so easy on the eyes. A sexy smirk spread across his face, and the dark look filling those all-seeing orbs spoke volumes at what he’d like to be doing.

To me.

Of course, the image made me moan inside and my panties wet.

He was teasing me with the promise of what I knew he could deliver while challenging me at the same time. The man had no shame.

Well, he’d soon learn that I could give as good as I took. I made sure Mom wasn’t looking when I licked my lips and then gave him an air kiss. His eyes rounded slightly, and then his face broke out in a full, sexy grin that I took it to mean challenge accepted.

Shit!

What the hell was I doing flirting with a man who looked like he always got his way?

“Mom, I’m heading down to Main Street. I’ll be back later.” I grimaced at the slight breathlessness in my tone.

“Good luck finding a spot for your coffee shop.” We’d talked about it the night before, and we had both agreed that Main Street was the best location.

“Thanks.” My purse was hanging on the hook by the door. I reached for it. “Want me to bring anything back?” At the door I paused long enough to glance back at her, proud of myself for ignoring Cody.

“If you want to bring home something for dessert tonight, that would be nice.”

“Got it.” I left the house without saying a word to Cody, pleased with myself for not showing him how nervous—or horny—he made me feel. I got the impression the man was good at reading people.

As I drove slowly down the little Main Street of Coldwater, my gaze searched over the shops and restaurants that lined both sides of the street. I was glad to see that the town hadn’t let the area get run down. The buildings were old but solid, and the business fronts with their clean window displays and fancy signage drew the eye and made you want to stop and go inside.

I loved the historic vibe that the antique shops, family-owned hardware store, art gallery, and bookstores gave off. It was something that I hadn’t appreciated when I’d been growing up there.

I spotted an open parking spot in front of the florist shop and pulled in. The realtor I’d contacted before returning to Coldwater had said there were three vacant stores, and I wanted to check them out.

I bypassed the first place I came to because it bumped right up to a bakery. A little further down the road, next to the hardware store, was a larger place. According to the lettering on the window, it had once been a cigar shop. I scrunched up my nose as I peered inside and noticed the smoking lounge off to the side. Cigar smoke didn’t bother me, but any lingering odors that hung around might annoy other people. A fresh coat of paint could only do so much.

Across the street and down the end of the strip plaza was the third available store. The first thing that I liked about the location was that there was additional parking on the side of the building. The small lot was half-full, as there were limited parking spaces in front of each store.

The second thing I liked was that the place was completely empty, so there wouldn’t be much clean up to do. It was a nice size for a coffee shop, and I could visualize in my mind what the setup would look like.

Excitement began to move through me. I dug out my phone and sent off a quick text to the realtor stating that I was interested in the shop and asking when we could meet to discuss the terms. Then I decided to kill some time waiting for her response by making my way back to the bakery, certain I’d find something there for dessert that night.

As it was nearing lunchtime I wasn’t surprised to find that the bakery was busy. Some people—me included—occasionally liked to have dessert for a meal. I found nothing wrong with having a big slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top for lunch. As soon as I stepped into the place, I got an instant high from all the warm, sugary goodness that was thick in the air.

“Hello!”

My gaze went to the woman behind the glass-encased baked goods. Returning her smile, I walked toward the counter. “Hi,” I returned her warm greeting, my gaze moving back and forth between her and the array of desserts on display. “I think I put on ten pounds just by looking,” I joked.

She laughed. “You don’t recognize me, do you.”

I took a second, longer look at her, gauging her to be around my age, maybe a little younger. Blue eyes, blond hair, curvy, and very pregnant. There was something familiar about her. I thought for a minute but just couldn’t place her.

“I’m sorry—”

The smile never left her pretty face. “It’s okay. It’s not a test. And I was gone for twenty years. Maybe you remember my cousin, Sammy?”

As soon as she said Sammy’s name, I knew who she was. The two girls had been like sisters growing up. Always together. “Mia!”

She seemed pleased that I’d remembered without her providing any further hints.

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