Page 44 of Triple Pucked
He works in the ER at Freedom Heart hospital. I wonder how often Cody has seen him in the last seven days.
Once? Twice?
Michael works harder than any of us. Cody never complains about being left alone in Tide Cottage.
Cody is a wild spirit, and Michael is the stern but steady influence on him.
I fit with them here more than I do with my own twin.
The kitchen is cozy with exposed beams and wide-planked wooden floors. The walls and open shelves are painted sky blue.
Cody’s surfboards are stacked against the far wall. A tangy brine smell wars with the fruity and spicy scent of the freshly baked cake.
Cody holds out the cake knife to me. “Do you want to do the honors?”
I take the knife like he’s passing on a baton, slicing it into the rich cake. I raise my eyebrow at the neat layers inside, which are mottled with blackberries.
It’s unusual and unexpected.
Pride blooms through me that I baked this with Cody.
Cody leans over, taking a deep sniff. “Hmm, like summer and fall had a freaky baby.”
When I pull a face, Cody laughs.
I push the plate toward Cody. “Eat.”
Then I cut a second, thick slice and drop it onto a plate. I pull it closer.
Cody grins, and his cheeks dimple. “Mike’s not here to catch us. So, let’s eat the cake with our hands. It’s more satisfying than, as Neve would put it, Mike’sold man rulesof using a fork.”
He snatches up his slice of cake and stuffs it into his mouth, munching happily.
I hope that he doesn’t choke.
Cake baking is a deadly business.
“It’s good,” Cody mumbles around his mouthful, giving a sticky thumbs up.
I take a smaller bite myself, struggling to hold back the moan at the delicious flavors of tangy blackberries, spicy cinnamon, and the kick of coffee in the icing.
I understand why this recipe would be worth killing for.
Cody looks at me eagerly. “Orgasmic, right?”
I nod, taking another bite.
I settle comfortably on the stool at the counter. Then I glance out of the cottage’s window.
The beach outside is remote with sea stacks that rise from the swelling waves. Sunlight ripples across the sea.
It’s calm here. Robyn visits the cottage as a sanctuary when she needs a break from Shay’s noise or my intensity.
Are we…our pasts…too much for her?
“Hey, no frowning in front of the cake.” Cody shields the cake with his arm. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
