“You look just like your daddy, baby girl.”
She was standing with her back to the door. Cody knew he should walk in or announce himself, but he couldn't do it.
“I wonder what he would say if he saw you,” she said, as she kissed her little girl's head. “I wrote him a letter. Do you think he read it?”
Before Cody could stop himself, a noise escaped him, and Jessie stopped. She turned slowly and her eyes widened the moment she saw him.
“Cody,” she whispered in warning.
“I brought dinner,” he whispered back. “Julie asked me to tell you.”
“How long have you been standing there?” she asked, with worry in her eyes.
“Not long,” he said, as he stepped into the room. “I thought you didn't really know him. She said you couldn't contact him.”
“Cody,” Jessie said. “Please.”
“You lied to her,” he said. “You do know.”
“It's not like that,” she said, as she quickly placed her daughter in the crib before turning back to him. “You have to believe me. You can't tell her, Cody. I'll tell her. I just need some time.”
“If he answers?” he asked, and he didn't miss the hurt look that flashed across her face before it was gone again.
“Please,” she said, in a pleading tone.
“Okay,” he said. “You'll tell her though, right? You'll tell her that you know where he is?”
“I will,” she answered.
“Are you coming?” Cody heard Julie quietly ask from down the hall.
“Don't make me regret this,” he whispered, and Jessie nodded. “I won't lie to her.”
Cody turned and walked out of the room, and as he walked down the hall toward Julie, he couldn't help but wonder why Jessie would hide who the baby's father was from Julie. It just didn't make sense.
The three of them sat at the kitchen table while they ate pizza. Cody couldn't miss the tension filling the air around them, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he just watched. Jessie had a nervousness about her. Cody already knew why, so that didn't surprise him. Julie, on the other hand, was confusing the shit out of him. She had a smile on her face one moment and a nervous look the next. He knew something was going on, and he wanted so badly to ask, but he didn't have to. When she'd turned her phone on for the third time, Jessie broke the silence.
“What the heck is so interesting on that phone?” she asked.
Julie looked up and over at Jessie.
“What?” she asked.
“You've been looking at that thing like it has the answers to all of your questions,” Jessie said.
“I have not,” Julie said defensively.
“Yes you have,” Jessie said, and Cody almost choked when her next words came out. “You have another man Cody needs to worry about?”
“No,” Julie said. “Not that Cody would be worried anyway.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Cody snapped, before he could stop himself.
“Nothing,” Julie said. “It has nothing to do with a man. I'm just waiting on an email. It's nothing important really.”
“Is it about tomorrow?” Jessie asked, and Cody saw her whole body tighten as she did.
“What's tomorrow?” Cody couldn't stop himself from asking.
“Um,” Julie made a noise, as she sucked the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth. “I actually wanted to talk to you about that.”
“Oh yeah,” Cody said, clueless to what she was talking about.
“I have to go somewhere tomorrow, and I was wondering,” Julie began, but stopped herself.
“Spit it out, Woman,” Jessie said, with a smile. “This is going to be good.”
Cody looked over at Jessie, and she nodded her head at him.
“What is it?” Cody asked Julie, as he looked back to her.
“I was kind of hoping you'd want to go with me,” Julie said.
“And there it is,” Jessie said, with a laugh. “Run, Cody.”
“What?” he asked, feeling even more confused than before.
“You might as well take him,” Jessie said. “You're with him all the time anyway.”
“Shut up,” Julie snapped out at her sister.
“Are you seriously asking him?” Jessie asked.
“Yes,” Julie answered. “What's wrong with that?”
“Really?” Jessie blurted out. “Did you seriously just ask me that?”
“What am I missing?” Cody asked.
“I have to go home tomorrow,” Julie said.
“You do?” Cody asked, feeling as if someone kicked him right in the gut. “For how long? What about school?”
“For the weekend,” Julie said.
“Wait!” Cody said, surprise filling his words. “You said go with you.”
“Forget it,” Julie snapped.
“No,” Cody said. “Are you asking me to go home with you?”
“I was,” she said, as she looked down at her plate, “but I can now see that it wasn't a good idea. Can we just forget that I ever said it?”
“No,” Cody answered, as he leaned over and lifted her chin so he could see her eyes. “How long will we be there?”
“I'm going tomorrow after class, and I'm coming home Saturday night,” Julie said. “It's been six months since Jack died, and they're having something for his parents and his sister. I'm going, but Jessie won't. We usually spend time together on the weekend anyway, so I thought maybe you could go with me.”
“To your parents' house?” Cody asked.
“I said forget it,” Julie said, as she pushed back from the table and stood up. “Thanks for dinner.”
Cody was on his feet with his hands on her arms before she could get out of the room.
“I'll go,” he said.
“Are you two crazy?” Jessie asked.
Both Julie and Cody looked over at her, and she shook her head.
“I said I'm going,” Cody said.
“Whatever,” Jessie said. “Don't say I didn't warn you.”
Cody stood, with his eyes on Jessie's, wondering what exactly she meant by what she'd said. Then he looked back at Julie. What was she doing? Why had she asked him to go? Was it because she wanted him there, or was she using him to piss off her father? He didn't care. Either way, he was going to be there with her. He was going to protect her. She'd let out a few of the things her father had said to her. She'd also talked about her brother, her father, and the business. She wanted to be a part of what her dad had built, but he'd ruined that. He was also super pissed that she was teaching and not with him. Cody knew she was nervous about going home, he could see it written all over her face. There was no fucking way she was going alone. He wouldn't let her. In that moment, Cody didn't care what it was he'd be walking into. He was going to be there. He was going to make sure her father treated her with respect. The man could talk shit about Cody all he wanted, but he wasn't going to disrespect Julie, his own daughter. Cody was going to make sure of it.
“I don't need warned,” Cody said sternly. “I'm going, and that's that.”
“Wait a second,” Jessie said, as she held up her hands. “There will be all of the parents, and they are crazy. If that's not enough for you, there is even more crew than parents. Each and every one of them will do anything and everything to protect one of theirs.”
“That's fine,” Cody said.
“You know what,” Julie said, “I've changed my mind. I'm going alone.”
“Bullshit!” Cody growled out. “I'm going with you. Not a damn thing you're going to do about it.”
“It's a bad idea,” Julie said. “I wasn't really thinking.”
“So you didn't want me there then,” Cody snapped, as he took a step back.
“Oh, I did,” Julie said, as she looked at him with the most sincere look on her face. “I do, but I hadn't thought it through when I asked you.”
“Julie,” Cody said, as she took her own step back and crossed her arms over her chest in a protective way that r
eally pissed him off.
When she closed her eyes without responding, he took the two steps forward, reached out, and lifted her chin.
“Look at me,” he demanded.
She slowly opened her eyes, and he saw tears in them.
“Do you want me there?” he asked.
“I do,” she whispered.
“Then I will be there,” he said. “Do you hear me?”
Julie nodded before whispering.
“Do you want to be there?”
“I do,” he said, as he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, and held her tight. “More than you know.”
“I'm glad you're going,” Jessie said.
“You are?” Cody asked, as he looked over at her while keeping his arms around her sister.
“I am,” she said. “I know you'll make sure she comes back in one piece.”
“Most definitely,” Cody said.
“Only one more warning,” Jessie said. “Watch out for Jason.”
“Jason?” Cody asked, instantly feeling like his veins were on fire just hearing the guys name. “Who the fuck is that?”
“Julie's best friend,” Jessie answered. “Ever since I can remember.”
“A guy,” Cody said, more to himself than to either of the women. “Her best friend is a guy. How have I not heard this before?”
“No idea,” Jessie said. “He's something else though. The man cares for her with every bit of himself.”
“Does not,” Julie said.
“Oh, he does,” Jessie told Cody. “He races cars too, so watch your ass. He'll run right over it. The man is a monster when he's behind the wheel. He's pretty damn big and scary even when he's not, and he will do anything for Julie.”
“Oh yeah?” Cody asked.
“Yes,” Jessie answered.
“Knock it off,” Julie said, as she pulled away enough to look at her sister. “Don't tell him that. Jason is not like that.”
“He is,” Jessie mouthed in Cody's direction. “Watch out for him.”
“I'm sure I've dealt with worse than him,” Cody said, brushing off Jessie's warning.
“I doubt that,” Jessie said. “I'm telling you, nobody cares about Julie like he does. Don't say I didn't warn you.”
Cody felt the rumble leave his chest before he could stop it when Jessie's words came out. Fuck that, he thought. There was no way some Jason guy was going to do a damn thing to come between him and Julie, it didn't matter how long his ass had been around. That shit was not happening. Cody would make sure of it.
Julie left Cody in the living room while she went to her room for a moment, and as soon as she was gone, Jessie was right there.
“You must be pretty special,” Jessie whispered.
“Why's that?” Cody asked.
“Because she's never once brought a guy home,” Jessie answered.
“What?” Cody asked.
“She's never brought a guy home,” Jessie repeated, making sure to stretch out each word, and Cody instantly felt a tug in his chest.
“Really?” he asked.
“Yes,” Jessie answered. “So, if for some strange reason, you're just fucking with my sister, I am begging you, don't do it. Don't go.”
“I'm not fucking with her,” Cody said, feeling defensive, even though he knew he shouldn't have been.
“Then I meant what I said, Cody,” Jessie said, as she turned to walk away. “Watch out for Jason.”
Then she was gone, and Cody was left feeling more protective of Julie than he ever felt before. Oh, he'd watch out for Jason, he thought. He wasn't taking his eyes off that fucker for a second.
When Julie walked Cody out to his car, he was thinking and feeling things he'd never ever felt before. By the time they reached the car, he couldn't take it. He wrapped his arms around her, turned her with him, and slammed her back against his door, as his mouth came down on hers with more emotion than it ever had before. When she gasped, he plunged his tongue into her mouth and kissed her with everything he had. His hands tangled tight in her hair, as his tongue dominated her mouth. When her hands dove into his hair and she held on tight, he knew he was screwed. Her soft whimpers had his cock rock hard, and his hips thrust forward against her on their own. His entire body was holding her against his car, with not a bit of space between them, when he finally pulled away, leaving them both panting and gasping for air.
“I should go,” he said, and Julie nodded, but she didn't move.
It took everything Cody had in him to take a step back, and the moment he did, he watched her mood deflate. Without ever looking back at him, Julie walked toward her apartment. Cody got in his car and drove away, hoping he wasn't making the biggest mistake of his life by going with her, but also knowing there was no damn way he'd let her go without him, and not just because of her father.
“Please don't let this blow up in my face,” he said into the empty air surrounding him, as he headed home, knowing he was going to be working half of the night just so he could take the time off to go with her the next day.
Chapter 18
Julie
Julie barely slept at all that night. Between the email that had come through just as she'd walked out the door and into Cody, thoughts of asking him to go with her, their kiss by his car, and what was going to happen when she showed up at her parents' house with him, she was a mess.
She hadn't planned to invite Cody, but seeing him bring dinner unexpectedly and also his reaction when she'd said she was leaving, had her unable to stop the words from flying out of her mouth. Then it got complicated, and Jessie didn't help the situation one bit. It seemed like Cody was going to turn her down, but by the time the conversation was over, he was going, and Julie felt like she no longer had a choice in the matter.
When she walked him out, which she did often, he kissed her like he never had before, and she felt things she didn't know were possible. A warm feeling ran through her body, but there was more than that there too, so much more. It took all she had not to jump up and wrap her legs around him. When he thrust his hips forward and she felt his hardness beneath his jeans, she wanted to touch him. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. Then he pulled back to leave. He'd rejected her.
Julie walked up the walk, embarrassed by the thoughts that had been running through her mind and sad knowing that he didn't want her. She didn't look back. There was no way she could. When the first tear fell from her eye, she told herself she was being ridiculous. They weren't a couple. They'd never said they were. For the first time in her life, she wanted more, and it was biting her in the ass.
She wiped the tears from her eyes as she headed for her room, but Jessie stopped her.
“What's wrong?” Jessie asked.
“He doesn't want me,” Julie said, as she reached for the knob on her door.
Jessie put her hand over her sister's, and she quickly leaned down to look up into her eyes.
“Oh, he does,” Jessie said.
“No,” Julie said, as she shook her head.
“That's bullshit,” Jessie snapped. “That man wants you just as much as you want him.”
Julie shook her head again, and Jessie laughed.
“Did you see his face when I mentioned Jason?” Jessie asked. “Shit! Did you hear the noise that came from deep inside of him. He was about to go caveman on your ass. That man was jealous.”
“No,” Julie said. “You misunderstood.”
“The hell I did,” Jessie said. “That man has it bad for you. Are you going to try and tell me you don't have it bad for him too.”
“I'm not,” Julie said. “When he kissed me out there, I honestly wanted to beg him not to let me go.”
“Then why are you fighting it?” Jessie asked.
“Because of dad,” Julie answered honestly.
“Fuck dad,” Jessie snapped.
“Jessie,” Julie snapped back, as she pulled her hand from under her sister's and shoved her door open.
“Do not Jessie me,” Je
ssie said sternly, as she followed Julie into her room. “You will not let him run your life. Do you hear me? You practically begged to be part of his company, and he picked Gavin. That sucks. I know it does. You know what? That's on him. You have a job you enjoy. I see it every single time you talk about it. You have a man that you really like, maybe love.”
“I don't love him,” Julie said, as she turned toward her sister.
“Whatever,” Jessie said. “You can't help it that he's our father's biggest competition. He's into the same thing you are. There is nothing wrong with that. You will not push him away because of dad. I won't let you, Julie. You have to go for it.”
“You're just saying that because you won't be there when dad finds out,” Julie said.
“I don't give a shit,” Jessie said. “You will give this a chance, Julie. You owe it to yourself, and you owe it to Cody. Do not let dad ruin this for you.”
“What made you team Cody all of a sudden?” Julie asked.
“He's a nice guy, Julie,” Jessie answered. “Don't waste your time with him worrying about dad. Before you know it, that time will be gone, and you'll be alone, unable to go back and reclaim what you lost. I am begging you to give this thing a chance.”
“Whatever,” Julie said. “I've got to get to bed.”
“You'll give it a chance?” Jessie asked. “A real shot.”
“I guess,” Julie said.
“Promise me,” Jessie said, with sadness in her words.
“I promise,” Julie said. “If this blows up in my face.”
“I'll kick his ass,” Jessie said, cutting off her sister's words.
Even though Julie barely slept thinking about it and knew it was a bad idea, she was going to follow her sister's advice. She was going to give things a chance.
As soon as her last class was over the next day, she hurried home and threw the last few things she'd need into her bag.
Cody showed up on time, and he insisted on driving. Give him a chance, she thought to herself, as she got into his car, feeling more nervous than she ever had in her life.
They were only on the road a few minutes, and she could already feel the tension in the air.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Fine,” he answered.
She couldn't do it. Her sister was wrong.
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