Page 38 of The Nook for Brooks
“Um…”
His eyes tilted toward the spiral staircase. “Right-o then, let’s see your wardrobe. Surely you’ve got something up there more wilderness-friendly than bow ties and cufflinks.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
But he was already making his way up to my tiny abode.
By the time I reached the top of the stairs, Cody was already making himself comfortable. He sat on the edge of my bed like he’d claimed the kingdom, long legs stretched out, arms braced behind him, surveying my private quarters.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said with a grin. “It’s like a tower turret. Small but cute. Very you.”
“It’s not small,” I said, straightening a stack of coasters on my side table. “It’s… efficient.”
“It’s adorable,” he said, patting the quilt as though testing the bed’s firmness. “Ready for a prince to come and rescue you.” He winked.
“Can we just get this whole humiliating exercise over and done with?” I muttered, flinging open my wardrobe doors. Inside, a phalanx of pressed shirts and neat bow ties were all lined up at attention. “Oh, what a shame. It would appear I have nothing remotely suitable for the great outdoors. We’ll have to forget the whole thing.”
Cody peered forward with interest. “Wow. Do you even own jeans?”
“I have corduroy trousers,” I said stiffly.
He laughed so hard he almost toppled backwards onto my pillows. “Babe, the only thing you’ll attract in the woods wearing those is moths.”
I bristled, tugging out hanger after hanger as if to prove nothing I owned was about to miraculously transform into khaki or camouflage. “Forgive me if I don’t buy my wardrobe based on things Idon’tenjoy doing, but that’s generally what people do.”
But Cody was determined to find a solution.
He unzipped his backpack with a flourish and pulled out a neatly folded pile, tossing it onto the bed. “Lucky for you, I came prepared. Cargo shorts. Hiking shirt. Breathable fabric. Pockets galore. You’re welcome.”
“You want me to wear your clothes?”
“Uh-huh. I’ve even got a spare pair of boots in case something happens to mine.”
“I cannot possibly wear those.”
“You can and you will.” He leaned back on his elbows, pleased with himself once more. “Now come on. Get changed, quick sticks.”
“I’ll change in the bathroom,” I said, picking up the clothes as though they might bite me.
“Oh, come on. You can strip in front of me.” He raised his brows, wickedly amused. “I gave you a hand job yesterday, remember? Now stop stalling. We’ll start to lose the light soon.”
More anxious than ever, I began unbuttoning my shirt. By the time I was down to my briefs, there was no disguising the very obvious contents tenting the fabric.
Cody’s eyes widened and his grin turned wolfish. “Jesus, Brooks. Fuck, I could jump you right now.” He dragged his gaze slowly up and down, making no effort to hide his appreciation.
I tugged the hiking shirt in front of me like a shield. “Control yourself.”
He licked his lips. “Don’t worry. I’d rather wait till tonight, lying beneath the night sky, just you and me and a galaxy of stars.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Oh, the things I could do to you.”
“Wow, that went from romance to porn fast.”
He barked a laugh. “Come on, the woods are calling.”
I tugged on the cargo shorts like a was putting on a space suit then submitted myself to the indignity of Cody’s hiking boots.
“Perfect,” Cody said, far too pleased with himself. “You look rugged.”
“I look ridiculous,” I snapped. “I look like an extra in a budget documentary about the Oregon Trail.”
