The cottage is literally all the things—snug and cozy, with a retro kitchen and old-fashioned lace curtains in the windows. It’s furnished, which is perfect, considering I don’t own any furniture. I’ll need to fill it out with a few things, and get new bedding, but otherwise, it’s everything I could have hoped for.
The owner is an older woman with kind eyes. I give her my very best smile and tell her all about myself, but emphasize that I need a place to finally settle down. She doesn’t seem too concerned when I admit I have some unfortunate things on my credit, and she’s excited to learn I have a job at Old Town Café. She knows the owners, and says if Natalie hired me, it speaks highly of the sort of person I am.
I leave with assurances she’ll call me in a day or so. I turn up the music and sing along with the radio as I drive away, heading for the café. I’m still a little sad at the thought of not staying with Cody anymore, but I have a great feeling about the cottage. I can’t remember the last time I lived somewhere without shared walls. Probably when I still lived in an RV with my parents, and even then, RV parks aren’t usually quiet places. I bet the little cottage is peaceful at night.
I pull up to a stop sign. There aren’t any other cars around. The main streets in town get downright crowded, but I’ve hardly seen any other traffic on the back roads. I press on the gas and my car sputters, then jerks forward, bouncing me in my seat. The engine makes a weird grinding noise and dies.
Oh no.
I turn the key and try to start it again. Nothing. I pat the steering wheel, as if I can coax my car back to life.
“Come on, baby, don’t fail me now,” I say, turning the key again.
The engine revs, but won’t turn over.
I look at the clock. I’m supposed to be at the café in twenty minutes. Can I walk there fast enough? I’m not sure, but I can try. There’s no way I’m going to call Natalie and tell her I’ll be late. Talk about a horrible start to a new job.
I get my phone, hesitating. Cody is at work, and I know he doesn’t want to be bothered during the day. And he’s already rescued me so many times, I’m beginning to lose track of all the ways I owe him.
But I don’t know anyone else in town well enough to have their number.
I look up at the street sign to see where I am and send Cody a text. I am so sorry to bother you, but my car died at the intersection of Anchor Street and Starfish Lane. I have to be at the café in 20, so I’m going to walk, but my car is in the middle of the road. Don’t know who else to call.
I set the emergency lights flashing and take my purse. It feels weird to leave my car sitting there, but there isn’t much I can do if it won’t start. I certainly can’t push it out of the road, and I know nothing about cars.
I could pop the hood and stare at it for a while, hoping for some nice person to drive by and help me, but then I’ll definitely be late for the café.
My car will probably be towed before I can find a way to get back to it, but I guess it needs a tow anyway. Thing is, I don’t know how I’ll pay for a car repair. I sigh and close the door, locking it behind me. Jetty Beach is small enough, I can live without a car. Although the cottage I just saw won’t work. It’s too far from town. Fuck, that’s disappointing. It seemed so perfect.
I take a deep breath and start walking toward town.
My phone dings with Cody’s text. Stay where you are. Rescue incoming.
God, he is so sweet. I answer. It’s okay. I think I can make it if I walk.
I continue up the road. At least I’m wearing decent shoes. And the sun is shining, so that’s a plus. This would have been way worse in the rain.
But I haven’t gone far when the rumble of an engine comes from behind me and tires crunch on the gravel as a truck pulls over.
“Hey,” someone says behind me. “I hear you need a ride.”
I turn to see Cody’s brother, Hunter, leaning out of the driver’s side window of a green Toyota pickup.
“Hey,” I say. “Um, yeah, my car died back there.”
“I passed it,” he says. “Come on, get in.”
I climb in the passenger’s seat. “Thank you so much. How did you get here so fast?”
“I live close,” he says. “Cody texted and said you had car trouble, and I’m off work today.”
I stare at him, not sure what to say. Cody texts him saying the perfect stranger who walked out on his family dinner after breaking a plate and spilling chicken all over herself needs help and this guy just … gets in his truck and picks her up?
“Oh, and don’t worry about your car,” he says. He pulls back onto the street and heads toward town. “Ryan’s on his way. Between the two of us, I figure we’ll get it started and at least take it back to Cody’s place for you. Can I have the keys?”
Wordlessly, I hand him my keys.
“Perfect,” he says. “Car troubles are the worst, aren’t they?”
His other brother is coming, too? For me?
“You’ll probably still need to take it in to an actual mechanic,” Hunter continues. “I know enough to hopefully get it running, but you’ll want a pro to take a look so you don’t have this problem again. I know a guy in town. He’s a good guy—won’t screw you over or anything.”
A lump rises in my throat. I want to thank him again—not like I can ever thank him enough—but I can’t get a word out. I don’t want to cry.
Hunter’s phone saves me the trouble. “Hi, Mom. Yeah, I picked her up. Oh, she’s fine. No, she has to go to work. I’m not sure about after, but I’ll ask her. Pie sounds great, you don’t have to tell me twice.”
He pauses and is silent for a moment.
I glance at him from the corner of my eye.
He takes a deep breath, and his brow furrows. “No, I haven’t,” he says. “Look, Mom, I don’t really want to talk about that right now. Okay. Love you, too. Yes, I will text you when I drop her off so you know she got to work safe, even though that’s going to be in like ninety seconds. Okay, Mom. Bye.”
I swallow hard and find my voice. “Did your mom just call about me?”
“Yeah, word travels fast with the Jacobsens,” he says with a chuckle. “Cody texted me, because he knew I was close, and I gave Ryan a call, since I figured I could use help with your car. Who knows how Mom found out. She probably called Ryan and he told her. Oh, and she invited you over for pie tonight.”
“Pie?” I say, my voice weak.
“Yeah, she makes the best pie you’ll ever eat,” Hunter says. He pauses, glancing at me. “Don’t feel obligated though. She’ll understand if you can’t come. You’ve had a stressful day already.”
I stare out the window as he drives into town. I make friends wherever I go, but I’m never very close to any of them. I don’t even have many contacts in my phone. I see people when I see them, like Mrs. Berryshire when she would sit outside her front door. But that’s it. I date when I meet someone I’m attracted to, and I’m usually friendly with the people I work with. Outside of that, I take care of myself. That isn’t always easy, but it’s the only way I know how to live.
This entire family stopped what they were doing to help me and I can’t fathom why. As far as they know, I’m just a charity case Cody picked up. No one knows what happened between Cody and me last night. At least, I don’t think they know. I’m no one to them—just some random girl.
Hunter pulls into a parking spot down the street from the café. “What time do you get off work?”
“Um,” I say, fumbling. “I’m not sure. I don’t officially start until tomorrow, so I’m just here to fill out paperwork and stuff.”
“Okay,” he says. He grabs his phone and types out a text. “I’ll just let Ryan know to meet me here, then. I’ll come in and get some coffee and a sandwich or something. I’m hungry anyway. If you’ll be longer than, say, an hour, Ryan and I can go check out your car. But if you won’t be long, we’ll just wait here.”
My chest constricts and the lump in my throat rises again. M
y phone dings with a text from Cody.
Hey sunshine, did Hunter find you?
I reply. Yes. We’re at the café. About to go in.
Good. I was worried. I can’t leave here until later, but we’ll make sure you have a ride home. I’ll see you tonight.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep tears from welling up in my eyes. I have to pull myself together before I go in.
Hunter smiles at me. “Okay, we’re all set. Let’s go get you started at your new job.” His voice is downright cheerful.
I take a shaky breath, pushing down my swelling emotions. “Thank you so much for all of this.”
He shrugs. “Sure, it’s no problem. We’ll get you all taken care of. Don’t worry.”
I am worried. Not about my car, or my new job. I’m worried about the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’m so grateful to Cody and his family, but it scares me. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay these people. I don’t know how to thank them.
I don’t want to screw this up.
My orientation at work goes well. Natalie is just as pleasant as she was the first time we met. The café is pretty standard. I’m not supposed to be working, officially, but I jump in and make coffee when a line forms at the front counter. Hunter has lunch while he waits for me, and Ryan joins him.
Natalie shows me around and introduces me to Harold, one of the cooks. I fill out the employment forms, then she sends me on my way with my schedule for the coming week. It isn’t quite full-time hours, but she says she’ll be able to work me up to it. She has me working early mornings, which suits me well. I like being done with my workday in the early afternoon, so I have my evenings to myself.
Hunter drops me off at Cody’s, insisting he and Ryan will handle my car. I hate the idea of them spending their free time dealing with my problem, but they’re so easygoing about it—and they don’t listen to my arguments, taking me to Cody’s place despite my protests. There isn’t much I can do. A couple hours later, they pull my car into Cody’s driveway. Hunter’s face is triumphant when he tells me he fixed the problem. He won’t even let me pay for the part he bought, telling me with a wink that I can just give him my employee discount when he comes into the café.
My plan to cook Cody dinner went down the drain, but he brings takeout and we curl up on the couch together with dinner and a movie. My head is still reeling from everything his family did for me, but he acts like it’s nothing. I’m filled with gratitude, but I hate feeling indebted to them—and to Cody.
I have to work early the next morning, but Cody’s still worried about my car, so he gets up and drives me. Natalie shows me the opening routine. The first several hours go by in a blur as I help her prep the shop, then wait on customers when we open.
I take a break about halfway through my shift, and check my messages. I have a voicemail about the cottage. She’s happy to rent it to me, and since it’s vacant I can move in anytime.
I’m so relieved. I don’t want to keep depending on Cody for everything. It isn’t like me.
Cody picks me up from work. The news bursts from my lips as soon as I sit down in his passenger’s seat.
“I found a place to live,” I say.
“Already?” he asks. “Wow, that’s … obviously, that’s great.”
“I know,” I say. “It’s completely perfect. It isn’t even an apartment, it’s this cute little cottage, and it already has furniture. Even if I don’t get full-time hours at the café, I won’t have any trouble affording it.”
Cody pulls out onto the street and turns toward his house. “Great news.”
“Isn’t it?”
But something about his voice tells me Cody isn’t so sure it’s great, despite having used that word twice.
“Aw, are you going to miss me?” I ask. I mean it as a playful tease, but when he looks at me his eyes are intense.
“Yes, I am.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so we spend the rest of the drive back in silence.
My car seems to be running fine, so I drive over to my new place the next day. Cody helps me bring in my stuff—it’s not like there’s a lot of it. Moving is pretty easy when you barely own anything. Cody’s mom comes by with groceries. I thank her profusely, trying to hide my bewilderment. Are these people for real?
Cody stays for a while, but eventually says he should get home. We both have to work early the next morning. He kisses me goodbye, his mouth lingering against mine as he stands in the doorway. I think about asking him to stay, but it seems like it’s time for me to be on my own again.
I shut the door behind him and lean against it, breathing out a long breath. This is good. My new place is adorable. It has a little kitchen at the back that’s open to the rest of the house, with a small dining table that separates it from the living room. There’s a wood fireplace—I’ve never had a fireplace in my life—and a comfortable couch next to an oversize chair. I don’t have a TV, but I can watch stuff on my laptop, and the room doesn’t have much space for anything else. Down a small hallway are two bedrooms, and a bathroom with pink tile.
I haul the new bedding I bought down to one of the bedrooms and make the bed. When I finish, I stand back and look at my handiwork. The comforter is light gray with a white paisley pattern—a nice balance of soothing and girly. It’s a lovely bedroom. I’ll be very happy here.
I take a shower and shave my legs. There’s nothing quite like new sheets against freshly shaved legs. I open the dresser, looking for a tank top to wear to bed—and the drawer is full of Cody’s t-shirts.
Oh my god.
He must have put them there when I was busy bringing stuff in from my car. I grab one and hold it to my nose, breathing him in. I slip it on and climb into bed.
I lie there for a long while, unable to sleep. It’s eerily quiet. Crickets and frogs sing their evening songs outside my window, but no cars drive by. No sounds of neighbors stomping, or fighting, or having sex carry through the walls.
It’s going to take some time to get used to this.
After a while, I groan and turn over. I’m bored. My body is tired from working, but my mind won’t relax.
And I miss Cody.
God, that’s stupid. Nine days, I’ve known him. Not even two weeks. Usually my first night in a new place is filled with excitement, but I’m not awake because I’m thrilled with my new digs. I’ve only had a taste of Cody, and I want more. My body wants more.
I think about his strong chest, his muscular arms, those ridiculous abs, his adorable dimples. The way he takes what he wants, tells me what to do. My hand slides down my belly, beneath my panties, and I press my fingers against my clit. I let my eyes flutter closed as I swirl my fingers around and imagine Cody’s swollen cock, plunging in, stretching me. He feels so good. I haven’t slept with every guy I’ve dated, but I’ve been with my share, and no one has ever filled me the way Cody does.
I pull my hand away, frustrated. Buttering my own muffin is not going to cut it tonight. I’m keyed up, but I don’t just need a quick release. I need Cody.
I glance at the clock on my phone, wondering if he’s still awake. It’s just before eleven, but we both have to get up early. I definitely shouldn’t wake him. It would be silly to get up.
I just moved into my new place, I should at least spend the first night in my own bed.
Maybe I’ll just text him.
Hey, are you still awake?
His reply comes only seconds later. Yes, is everything okay?
I smile and lick my lips. I’m fine. Miss you.
Baby, I miss you too.
I sigh. This is so crazy. But fuck it.
I get up and throw on a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt. I get my purse and keys and open the front door. The cold night air hits me, raising goosebumps on my arms. I stop. I shouldn’t do this. It’s not like we aren’t going to see each other soon. I can hang out with him tomorrow. I can certainly wait a day.
I glance down at my keys and draw my eyebrows toge
ther. There’s my new house key, and the big black key to my car. But there’s a third key there. One I didn’t put on my keychain.
It’s Cody’s.
Holy shit, he put his house key on my keychain. I smile and hurry out the door. If that isn’t fate telling me to go to him, I don’t know what is.
I pull up to his house, my heart racing. His last text came mere minutes ago. My cottage is less than a mile from his house, and it took no time to get here. I creep up to the door, feeling like a kid sneaking around, and slide the key into the lock. It turns, and I go inside.
The lights are off. I take off my shoes and walk up the stairs, taking quiet steps. A sliver of light filters onto the landing from his bedroom. I lean close to the door, putting my mouth near the edge.
“Cody?”
The floor creaks and the door opens.
His mouth is on mine, his hands pulling off my clothes. I stumble in, dropping my purse to the floor, yanking off my sweatshirt. Cody’s hands are firm, dragging my leggings off. He rips off his shirt, kissing me again as soon as the fabric goes over his head.
He leads me into his room, his mouth never leaving mine, until his legs hit the bed. I break the kiss and work my way down his neck, to his chest. I run my tongue down the ripples of his abs, my hands on his hips.
I wrap my hand around his thick cock and take the tip into my mouth. Cody groans, running his hands through my hair. I move my tongue around, sliding it across his swollen flesh. I open wider, pulling in the crown, and suck hard.
Cody shudders. “Holy shit.”
I stroke up and down with my hand while I suck on the top, drawing as much into my mouth as I can take. Cody’s hands on my head are gentle, guiding me up and down. I raise my gaze to look up at him. He meets my eyes and he moans again. I smile at him, curling my lips around his cock.
“You have got to be kidding me,” he says, breathing hard. “You are the hottest woman on the fucking planet.”
I move faster, stroking him with a firm grip, plunging him into my mouth. His eyes close and he leans his head back.
Must Be Fate: (Cody and Clover) (A Jetty Beach Romance Book 3) Page 10
