AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The packing can wait until I talk to Jase,” he said, his voice calm. Reassuring. “Go concentrate on your work. Nothing’s going to happen in the daylight. Threats usually come at night.
“If we do leave today, it will be in the evening. Fewer cars on the road. Easier to see if someone’s following us.” He studied her for a long moment. “And we won’t leave the farm unprotected. You’ll be watching the security app on my phone while I drive. If anything pops up, you’ll call the sheriff immediately.”
Sierra’s shoulders relaxed. They could be back in Evanston tonight. “Thank you, Cody,” she said. She wanted to reach for him. To throw her arms around him and hold him close in her relief. But that wasn’t part of their deal.
No touching was their deal.
So she turned and headed up the stairs. Walked into her room and shut the door. Slumped against it.
Cody was right. She should try to work. Take her mind off Jack, and whatever was going on with him in Evanston. But the possibility that she’d put her brother in danger made it impossible to concentrate on anything.
She’d wear a rut in the floor if she spent her time pacing the room. So she sat down and opened her computer. Started the way she always began her workday -- checking her email, then playing Solitaire. And eventually, she was able to shove her fear for Jack to the back of her mind and get some actual work done.
She lifted her head when Cody knocked at her door. “Sierra?” he said. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She glanced at her phone, shocked to see that four hours had passed. She’d dived into their new client David Streuven’s case and familiarized herself with some of the details. “Come on in,” she said, pushing away from the small desk.
He opened the door to her room but didn’t step inside. “You getting some work done?” he asked, leaning against the door jamb.
“Surprisingly, yes.” She studied his eyes and saw no fear. No tension. Nothing but concern. So he probably wasn’t bringing bad news. “It took a lot of Solitaire, but I was able to concentrate on a new client’s case. So I’m good.”
“That’s great,” he said, pushing away from the door. “You ready for lunch?”
“Lunch?” She thought for a moment, then stood up. “Yeah. I just realized I’m hungry.”
Cody smiled. “So youdoshare that laser focus with your brother.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe I do.”
“You didn’t even know what time it was,” he teased. Cody didn’t smile very often. But when he did, his face lit up. His blue eyes brightened.
Swallowing the pull of attraction that rose up inside her, she said, “Didn’t need to keep track of time. Nowhere to go but the farm.” She closed her computer and stepped closer to him. Close enough to feel the heat of his body. “Now that we’re talking about food, I’m starving.”
He headed down the stairs, and she followed him, remembering his smile. Her gaze drifted to the way his jeans hugged his ass, and a bolt of lust rushed through her. Swallowing, she stared at the back of Cody’s head. Wanted to run her fingers through the wavy dark hair that curled around his ears. The scent of his neck, all fresh and outdoorsy, rose in her memory, and she wanted to bury her face there again.
Closing her eyes briefly, she focused on the stairs instead of Cody. Pushed the memories of their night in the safe room out of her head.
When they reached the first floor, the scent of tomatoes, peppers and spices floated out of the kitchen. “That smells amazing! What is it?”
“Soup. Made by Laila, so I know it’s good,” he added. “Have a seat and I’ll serve it up.”
He set two bowls of the fragrant soup on the table and set a slice of toast covered in melted cheese beside each of them. Her stomach had been tied in knots since she’d talked to Jack, but the soup was perfect. Minestrone, she was pretty sure.
As she ate, she watched Cody as her attraction to him bubbled. He’d curved his hand around the soup bowl, almost as if he were protecting it. She knew nothing about his life, she realized. Had he been hungry as a child? Where had he grown up? How had he become a bodyguard?
Those questions were on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to know more about him. But she was pretty sure that part of his life was off limits.
So instead of asking him personal questions, she said brightly, “This soup is really good. The toast, too.” She scooped up the last spoonful of soup and set the spoon in the empty bowl. Finished the last bit of her toast and leaned back in her chair.
“I take no credit for Laila’s creations,” Cody said, standing up. “You want more soup? More cheese toast?”
“No thanks,” she said. “I’m good.”
He nodded as he loaded the dishes into the dishwasher. “Then go get more work done. I’m waiting on a call back from Jase. Once I know where they are, we can make our own plans.”
She pushed away from the table and turned to leave. Instead, she turned around to face him. “Thanks, Cody,” she said quietly. “For figuring out how to get me back to Evanston. I appreciate it.”
He shrugged. “I talked to Mel again. Suggested sending another operative to guard your brother. But Blackhawk Security is stretched too thin right now. Mel needs to hire more people, but she hasn’t had a chance. One case after another has sucked up all her time and energy. Under the circumstances, she agrees with me that going back to Evanston is the best idea, as long as we can get into the city without being made. Does Jack’s place have a garage?”
