Keys To Her Heart (Brookfield) (7 page)

“Where’s lunch?” she asked.

“The Swift Water Café.” He tried to look serious.

“You’re kidding?” She raised an eyebrow.

“No.” He shook his head, suppressing the smirk as he tried to look crestfallen.

“Well, okay.”

Cody laughed. “Kidding. I’m sure that’s the last place you want to eat.” He put the keys in the ignition and started up the truck. “There’s a sandwich shop by my sister’s bookstore. It’s really good.”

Her tongue moistened her lips as she shook her head with a smile. “Anything’s better than going to my place of work on my day off.”

He knew the feeling.

* * * *

Lily slid on the rental shoes at the bowling ally. Ick, she hated these things. There was no telling how many people had worn them and if they’d ever been cleaned. With her luck, the person before her had some foot fungus infection, and by tonight her toes would burn. However, it wasn’t like she knew they were going bowling, so bringing her own set of shoes hadn’t been an option.

She glanced over at Cody and his lime green and fluorescent orange shoes they’d given him. They didn’t match his dark jeans and grey t-shirt he wore. But man, he sure looked sexy. The sleeves of his shirt hugged his biceps. He did more than run that was for sure. Being an officer, he had to stay fit. Or so she assumed—she’s seen fat cops in the past.

“You ready for me to kick your ass?” She stood, straightening her shirt.

He grinned, letting his teeth slightly peek through his lips. “You never know, I might kick your ass.”

Oh, she hoped he’d do something other than kick it. Squeeze it. Pinch it. Pat it. Even look at it.

This is why it was a bad idea to even try this friend thing. There was no way she could be his friend. She’d much rather shove him down on the bench, climb on top of him, and play with a different set of balls.

God, snap out of it. This was crazy thinking. Clearing her throat, she walked over to examine the row of bowling balls. She picked up several, putting her fingers in the holes, until finally finding the right one. Her mind couldn’t help wandering again—away from the hunky man thoughts—on who else had their fingers in these holes and what germs she’d have after. Lily never really considered herself a germ-a-phobe, but as she walked around this place, it seemed more and more like she was turning into one.

“Who goes first?” she asked as Cody placed his desired ball next to hers.

“You, of course.” He typed away on the small computer and a moment later, the screen above their lane said she could start when ready.

She picked the ball up and walked up to the lane. With her legs slightly apart, her nerves took over. It was time to be honest; it had been years since she’d played. She’d hurt her back a few years ago in a car accident
and hadn’t picked up a ball sense. Then it dawned on her, she and Heath had never taken their son bowling, yet that’s how they’d met.

“Are you chicken?” Cody asked.

She chuckled. “Hell no.”

With that, she got herself into position and released the ball. Only the ball rolling straight down the lane and right to the center pin didn’t happen.

“Damn, gutter ball.” Cody laughed and her cheeks burned.

Lily couldn’t believe she’d done that. She took several deep breaths as she waited at the ball return for her ball. Once it was back, she picked it up and went back to position.

Come on, you can do this.
She tossed the ball down the lane again, this time it was headed straight for the center, but then it curved, only hitting half the pins.

Agh! She’d take it, if she had to.

“I just need to warm up.” She sat down.

“If you’re in the gutter, I’m sure I will be, too.” Cody grabbed his ball.

Lily should be keeping an eye on how he threw the ball, but instead let her gaze wander to his backside, watching how his body moved as he released the ball. Cody clapped his hands and stomped his foot. Lily darted a look at the board.
A strike
. Cody got a strike. This wasn’t looking good. Wasn’t this supposed to be fun?

“Your turn.” He beamed.

She glared at him. “Don’t get too comfortable with your score.”

“Right now I’m going to sit down and enjoy the view.”

Her cheeks warmed again. He’d been checking her out the same way she’d done to him. This time as she stood before the lane, she gave her hips a little shake before she released the ball. Closing her eyes, she waited for the sound of the ball to meet the pins.

It was a long clink and with a deep breath, she opened her eyes.
Strike!

Lily jumped up and down, clapping her hands. She spun around and placed a hand on her hip, ready to gloat. She hadn’t expected Cody to be standing right there; his chest close enough for her to touch if she really wanted. Oh yeah, she wanted to.

Licking her lips, she stared up into his eyes. He had the cutest smirk on his face, but something else was drawing her to him. Something that made her take a step toward him, instead of away. Her breasts touched his chest. Oh God, she really wanted to kiss him.

She lifted herself onto her toes. She was going to make the first move, but then he stepped back, breaking the connection.

“I’m sorry about that.” He ran a hand through his dark hair, tugging on the ends. “I don’t know what came over me.”

Whatever the pull was between them, it seemed to be super charged. “It’s okay.” What else could she say? She’d wanted to kiss him, and obviously he’d wanted something since he’d crept up so close to her.

“I need to respect your choice to be friends.” He picked up his bowling ball.

What a nice guy. There weren’t many. Any other guy would’ve let her kiss him, even though she probably would’ve regretted it after. There was a part of her, though, that wanted him to throw caution to the wind, wrap his arms around her waist, and pin her to a wall somewhere. Oh yeah, just thinking about that got her body in a tizzy. With a hunk of a man like that pressing her to a wall—woo, she now understood the expression of needing a cold shower.

They finished the game and played another, all the while Cody remained the perfect gentleman. She had to admire the guy. She shook her hips several times, hoping it would bring him close to her again, but he resisted.

“That was fun.” He slipped off the ugly shoes when the second game was finished, which she’d won. “I’m glad you came out with me for a bit.”

“I enjoyed myself. I don’t get out much.” She kicked her bowling shoes off.

“How come?”

“How come what?”

“You don’t get out.” He leaned back in h
is chair. “I get you have a son and he comes first, but you should do more for yourself.”

“I work, too.” T
hat wasn’t a good excuse, but she just wasn’t ready to talk about her mom.

Cody leaned down to slip his shoes on.

“I really did have a good time,” she said. “I’d like to hang out again.”

After he slipped on his last shoe, he sat back. “I’d like it, too, but I don’t want to play games. I can’t get a good feel of what’s going on between us.”

That’s because she was a mess. One moment she wanted him, the next she was telling him she couldn’t see him. Lily really wanted a life, but at the same time, she’d made a commitment to care for her mom. That was why she moved here. So it wouldn’t be right for her to run around town with Cody and dare she say, fall in love.

“I can do the friend thing.” Even though she wanted so much more with him.

“Me too, but when you stare at me like a piece of candy, it makes it hard for me to resist you.”

She giggled. “Candy?”

“Yeah, you lick your lips and your eyes perk up.”

She’d have to make a point not to look at him like she wanted to lick him anymore. “I think you’re just joking.”

He chuckled and held his hand out to her. She took his hand and started to stand, but froze mid-way when he spoke, “See, there you go again. Here I just wanted your shoes to take up front, and you took my hand.”

Lily yanked her hand back as her cheeks burned. Maybe he wasn’t such a gentleman, but more of a jerk. “I can get my shoes.”

She stood and brushed past him.

“Wait, Lily,” he called, but she couldn’t stop walking.

She continued to make a fool of herself. Did she look like some sort of raging, horny woman or something? She set her shoes on the counter and turned. Cody set his shoes next to hers then took her hand and led her back to where they’d been before. Talk about playing games. He was making this just as confusing as she was.

Though, she loved the feel of his hand, holding hers tight.

Still holding her hand, he said, “I’m sorry. I’m not good at this.”

“What?”

“This, whatever it is. I haven’t dated a woman in a long time.”

Now her curiosity was peeked. Cody was hot, how could he not be fighting women off with a stick. “We’re not—”

He released her hand and took a deep breath. “Yes, I know. It’s hard, though. I’m really attracted to you, and it’s not easy keeping this friendly, when I really want to kiss you.”

He wants to kiss me
. She moistened her lips.

“That drives me crazy.” He groaned.

“We could kiss once. I’m curious, too.” And desperate. And horny.

“So you want me to kiss you?”

She nodded. “Just a little one. A peck.”

Cody took a deep breath, and she could tell his wheels were spinning in his head. How could they not be? She was throwing all kinds of mixed signals, but if they kissed, they’d get it over with. She’d know if this was worth pursuing or not. Oh, whom was she kidding? 
They would never be friends, even if the kiss sucked.

Cody leaned forward, his gaze on hers. His lips were inches from hers. One peck. Just a quick touch of the lips and it would be done. Then his soft lips were on hers, and she sighed. Instinct took over, and a small peck wouldn’t be enough. She gripped his shirt, tugging him closer. Her lips parted and his tongue slid in. Now this was the kiss she’d needed.

Everything in her screamed for more. This was right. It felt amazing as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her snug against him. Why had she been denying herself this? This was the best kiss of her life. There was no way they could be friends. Somehow she had to find a way to see this man. This magical man who made her feel like she was being lifted off the ground as he kissed her.

The kiss end
ed before it really got started when Cody stepped back, breaking the connection. “I should get you back to your car.”

No, she wanted to stand here, in the middle of the bowling alley, and kiss more, but Cody was already walking away. Did he not get the same feelings she did from that one magical kiss?

Chapter Seven

Cody sprinted, pounding his feet onto the pavement. He’d totally screwed up that date—or whatever it was—yesterday. One minute she wanted to be his friend; the next she wanted to kiss.

And that kiss. He’d never experienced one like it. It had been short, but felt like an eternity. Then, like the dumbass he was, he freaked and took her back to her car, hardly speaking another word to her. Then just let her drive off with a confused expression on her pretty face, but he had no words for how he felt. He still couldn’t wrap his head around it.

He wished he could blame his ex, Tori, for his cowardly way, but he couldn’t. They’d been broken up for two years. Since their breakup, he’d been cautious with any girl he ever attempted to date, which resulted in women not interested at all. He hadn’t had a date in almost two years.

He wasn’t naive. Lily wasn’t Tori, but Lily was holding back. Maybe, in time, she’d open up and share her life with him. He really wanted to know what kept her so occupied when not at work, or with her son. There was something she was keeping sealed behind those sexy lips. Being in law enforcement, he could dig around and find out, but he didn’t want to take her secret away from her, even though he wanted to know. With time, she’d tell him—if he didn’t do stupid, jerk like things he did yesterday.

Cody stopped running, not able to go any farther. He’d pushed his body to the limit and his heart threatened to beat its way out of his chest. Cody had hoped the run would make him feel better. Clear his mind, or whatever, but it hadn’t. He was more ashamed of himself than when it had started. Lily had wanted to kiss him. Obviously she was fighting internally with herself on her feelings for him. Now he just squashed them. He’d be lucky if she ever talked to him again.

After a quick stretch, he headed back toward his truck and grabbed the water bottle he’d left in the bed. Chugging it down quickly, he was able to quench his thirst. He wiped his mouth then tossed the empty bottle back into the bed. His calves ached, so he began a few more stretches next to his truck when the realization that he needed advice crept into his mind. That meant he had to talk to his sisters. The question was, which one?

Cody climbed into his truck. As he drove through town toward home, Alyssa came to mind. She was quiet and not very outspoken. She was more of a people pleaser. Diane was loud and voiced her opinion, and wasn’t afraid to hurt someone’s feelings.