Cassie stared wide-eyed at him and bit her bottom lip. “Will you be leaving? I don’t want to lose you again.”
“I have no plans to go now. I’m finally getting somewhere with him.” Cody checked his phone and stood. “I have to go. Want me to walk you to the bus, or are you getting picked up?”
“Emily will come and get me. Can’t have her precious daughter on public transport.”
Snorting, Cody muttered, “Of course not.”
They left the shop and Cody hugged Cassie, then walked away but stood some distance back to make sure she was collected. Once she had gone, Cody walked home and had a shower. At some point, TJ returned and joined him in the shower. Codydidn’t say much, but he showed his emotions through his actions, kissing TJ and making him gasp and moan.
When they tumbled into bed, Cody slipped inside, still kissing and touching TJ, still making him cry out in pleasure. Watching TJ come always punched Cody in the chest that he finally had his man. That he hadn’t been too late.
Later, when they’d relaxed and Cody had his head on TJ's chest, TJ murmured, “How was your day?”
“I met Cassie after therapy. We had a drink in some coffee shop on Main. People know about us.” He felt TJ stiffen beneath him and lifted his head. “Too soon?”
TJ’s chest deflated. “I knew it would come out. I’m not looking forward to the comments.”
“Get Toni onto them. Most will shut up then.” Cody lay his head back on TJ’s chest and ran his fingers over the skin. “She isn’t happy there.”
“Cassie?” Cody nodded. “She plays the part well, but I’ve seen the looks she’s given them.”
“She said it’s an open secret and everyone knows.”
TJ chuckled, jostling Cody’s head. “I guess it is, but I don’t think they will ever listen to her.”
“Then they lose two kids instead of one.”
“Will it be difficult for you to live in Robinson with Cass and Emily?”
“No, because I have you.”
“I wish I could have been as certain about what I wanted at your age, but I didn’t go through what you did. I’m glad you came home.”
“My home is with you.” Cody kissed TJ’s chest. “It’s the only place I’ve ever wanted to be. As soon as I met you, you felt like home. You smiled, and I knew. It made me question everything about who I was. I’d been raised to be some straight conservativekid and then you walked in the house, and I wanted to spend time alone with you. You are my constant.”
“You say these things and I don’t know how to react.”
“Then don’t. I don’t want empty words. I only want you. You have no idea how happy I am to be here with you now. Just accept it, TJ.”
TJ held him tight, then kissed his head. “I’m glad you came home.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
TJ
TJ stood in his office, staring at the papers on his desk. The judge had signed off on them and they’d been gathering information, monitoring monetary transfers, and over the past month they had found enough evidence to implicate Angelo and Cass. Santino Conti had been a great help in digging into all the accounts, and had turned up quite a lot of evidence. TJ didn’t give a fuck about Angelo and what he’d done over the years, but Cass was another matter.
He’d known Cass for years. Ever since Toni and Carter had married, and to think that the whole time Cass had been breaking the law. Had he and Angelo had a good laugh at TJ’s expense? The dumb sheriff, not knowing what they were up to? How they were taking money and lying about it? Worse was knowing every time he went to Cass’ home, Cass had been friendly to him while robbing the town. Probably laughing at how easy it was to lie to the sheriff and get away with it.
Sitting, TJ dropped his head into his hands and closed his eyes. He heard the knock on his door and ignored it, then growled when the door opened and closed. He glared at the person who’d entered the room, then let the look drop when he saw Cody standing in front of him.
Cody shoved his hands in his jeans and rocked on his feet. “Said hi to the guys. Some were surprised to see me alive.” His eyes moved over the papers that littered TJ’s desk. “Any of that about Cass?”
“You have impeccable timing,” TJ murmured. In a louder voice, he said, “Yeah, it is.” TJ blew out his breath. “Cass is in deep. There’s no way for me to help him.”
“Why would you? He did it to himself and he must have had a good laugh having you over on the weekends, knowing he was breaking the law.”
“I just thought the same thing.” TJ picked up one of the sheets, scanned the numbers, then dropped it. “You can’t be here.”
