Cody snorted. “Not well. He ran out this morning.”
Toni’s eyes went wide, then she burst out laughing. “What did you do?”
“TJ is your ex. You sure you want to be talking about him with me?” Cody smiled and watched Toni nod her head. “Really?” Leaning on the table, he whispered, “Once I figured everything out in my life, I came back for him.”
“You did?” Toni hummed, glanced outside, then back at Cody. “I love TJ. Not the way we did when we first got married and for a while I wasn’t sure if I could even like him, but that lasted a couple of weeks, if that. I know TJ. I know how hard it would have been for him to sit me down and tell me how he felt. He would never intentionally hurt anyone. He isn’t like that. He always puts others before himself. Look how he set up my blind date with Carter. He wanted me to be happy and loved, and he found someone who would do that. TJ is special, but he doesn’t see himself that way. He puts me and Carter and the boys before himself. Even Macy, who isn’t his. He treats her the same way he treats Arthur and Lincoln, and Macy adores him.”
“I’ve seen her bedroom. The unicorns scared me.”
Toni laughed and nodded. “The boys want another sister, but she wants a baby unicorn.”
“That would be interesting.”
Toni grinned, then gripped Cody’s hand between hers. “I’m so glad you’ve come home. I’ve missed you. If you need someone in your corner, I’m in. Now tell me about this ranch.”
Cody squeezed Toni’s hand and told her all about Mama and Jed.
Chapter Fourteen
TJ
TJ still hadn’t decided what to do about Cody. No, he had, then he hadn’t. He flip-flopped constantly about him. Worse, he couldn’t stop thinking about Cody and how he had reacted to him. The way he kissed, so sure and dominant, taking control in a way that TJ hadn’t been prepared for. He’d liked it, but when Cody had dropped to his knees in front of him… fuck, he’d been so hard, and he hadn’t been like that in years. Even his ex hadn’t made TJ want to strip naked and fuck the way Cody had.
It actually scared TJ, the way he’d responded. Cody. Young Cody, who wasn’t young anymore. Only he was, but not the way TJ remembered, and he struggled to move past that simple truth. Cody had gone through so much in a short period of time. The boy had gone and now a man stood in his place. TJ shouldn’t behave the way he did around Cody and the fact he hadn’t realized his attraction to him—
“TJ. Time to go, boss. You’ve been here all day.”
TJ waved a hand over his near empty desk. “When was the last time you saw my desk this clear?”
Miles leaned against the doorframe and whistled. “Sure helps now that Taylor is back. I like not seeing mounds of paperwork on my desk.”
“He won’t be happy by the end of the week.” TJ stood and stretched. “He’ll regret coming back.”
“I may have heard the odd grumble earlier, but that could be because he was going over my forms.” Miles smiled. “He knows your pain now.”
“He’ll be asking me for a pay raise just for handling your stuff.” TJ grinned. “We all know how much you love the paperwork side of the job.”
“Why do we need so much? A form for this and a form for that. Did I fart or take a shit before I left the station? What color are my boxers? Did I have a blue or black pen or was I extra naughty and had a red one?”
TJ burst out laughing and pointed his finger at Miles. “They’re not quite that bad.”
“Not yet but give it a year or so and they’ll be asking us what we ate before we came to work.” Miles walked with TJ as he left his office. “Any plans?”
“Not really. Go home, eat, and then sleep.”
“I meant for tomorrow.”
“Huh?” TJ slowed and looked at Miles. “Is something happening tomorrow I don’t know about?”
“You have a day off?” Miles shook his head and clapped TJ on the back. “I think you need it, too. When are you having the boys and Macy?”
“This weekend.” This weekend when Cody was living with him. TJ didn’t want to answer questions about Cody and their living arrangements, because they didn’t have any. Cody needed to face Cass, and the sooner, the better. Whatever issues Cody hadwith Cass wouldn’t be dealt with if he stayed at TJ’s house. He needed to face them head on and deal with them.
The issue of Cody and his mouth had TJ sucking in a lungful of air. He didn’t know how long he could deal with his growing attachment to Cody. Young Cody. Very young Cody. How long could he use the age difference as an excuse?
Cody had to leave. TJ would tell him when he arrived home, that he had until Friday. It was Wednesday now, so two days. Would that be long enough? Yes, it would because Cody had family he could go to. His own family who loved him in their own way. By sending him to a conversion camp. Shit.
“TJ!”
