Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Nana laughed, not bothered by the news of her son’s antics. “It’s my house. He may have grown up in it, but I own it. He can’t sell it any more than he can tell you to move home. Let him have his little snit–”
“Snit?” I asked, thinking that was an understatement of the year.
“–while you do your thing.” Nana arched a brow and eyed Cody like he was the thing I should be doing.
“Nana,” I scolded, appalled. My face was hot.
Cody chuckled then gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “I want you to know, Riley is more than a little fun to me. She’s everything I ever wanted.” He set his hat on his seat then winked at me. “I’m happy to be her fun, but I want to be so much more.”
I lost my breath. He had to be telling the truth. Who lied to someone’s Nana? Not only would it make him an asshole, but my nana could suss out falsehoods better than a lie detector.
Nana set her hand on top of his and gave it a little pat.
Cody must’ve felt he got his point across because he touched my hip and guided me in that subtle, protective way of his, to the buffet line. I was still flushed and breathless as I took out two trays.
He immediately took over Nana’s tray, pulling a plate from the stack and handed it over along with napkins and silverware.
“Is this…is this really real?” I asked, a tremble in my low voice.
His lips curled in amusement. “This is really real, sugar. I’m your man now. I’m gonna take care of you. Protect you. Provide for you. Make you happy. Can you deal with that?”
He probably could tell I got wet again, and he wasn’t even dirty talking me. No, he was sweet talking, and it was working. God, he was incredible.
Why was I so nervous? This was what I wanted. A man who wanted me and only me. Who wanted to make me happy. Permanently. Sure, if Matt or Ethan–or even Tyler before I found out he was a shifter–said any of what Cody said to me, I’d laugh. I wouldn’t believe them because they couldn’t provide for me. They couldn’t protect me. Tyler probably could, with his wolf, but gah… bad kissing. Tyler didn’t want to take care of me. He’d only wanted a good time.
Why was I okay with it when Cody wanted to give me everything? Why had I been okay with compromising?
I shouldn’t, and Cody wasn’t going to let me.
“Are you just…courting me? Convincing me?” I whispered as we went down the line from the salad area to the main courses, holding the plates out for the food to be scooped onto them. It was spaghetti night, so my plate was piled high with pasta, and an attendant just plopped a big meatball on top. Cody handed over Nana’s plate right after for the same things.
As he waited, he said, “Well, I am trying to do both of those things. Is it working?”
I let out a breathy laugh, grabbing tongs to get a roll from a basket. “Yeah. It is.”
He gave me a slight bump with his body into mine. “You’re asking if this will last, aren’t you?”
My head wobbled as I nodded. It seemed easier to talk to him while busily filling our plates.
His cell rang from his back pocket. He pulled it out, read the display. “Hey, Jimmy, what’s up?” he asked. The soft demeanor he seemed to have for me slipped away. His body tensed, and his jaw clenched so tight I thought he might crack a tooth. “Are you serious?” He set a hand on the back of his neck and tipped his head down. “Fuck. He still there? Okay. Yeah, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
He ended the call and shoved his phone away.
“What’s the matter?” I asked, worried.
“Sorry, sugar. I’ve got to go. That was Jimmy at the bar. Says someone from the sheriff’s department showed up because of an anonymous tip that we’re serving underage drinkers. He’s hassling our customers by IDing every person in the place.”
“Oh no,” I groaned. I knew exactly who that was and why. “My dad’s there, isn’t he?”
Cody shook his head. “Was, but Levi, the sheriff, showed up and sent him home.”
I knew Dad was upset about me being with Cody, but to mess with his business? To mess with everyone in the bar who was there just to have a good time… because of this? He was taking this too far.
“You deal with the bar,” I said, lifting my chin in determination. “I’ll deal with my dad.”
19
CODY
I wouldn’t hide my emotions from my mate, but I wasn’t going to share with her how much her father was pissing me off. I understood his overprotectiveness. Hell, if I had a daughter, I’d–well, I had no fucking clue. I’d be ridiculous–like he was–when it came to her safety, but I wouldn’t keep her from her fated mate. Maybe that was because I was a fucking shifter, and he wasn’t.