AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cody hadn’t wanted to let her go. She hugged that knowledge to herself with a secret smile. He’d resisted her first attempt to free herself, not realizing why she was trying to put distance between them. And then...when she was finally free, his face had momentarily told her all the things she wanted him to say before he shut himself down the same way she’d done. But she still wanted him. Even though she’d regained control over her treacherous body’s actions, the need Cody had engendered in her was still achingly alive.
The stew was hot; Keira turned off the flame and checked the cabinet for dishes. She found a couple of mismatched plates, three chipped bowls and a half dozen coffee mugs. She smiled. Someone must love coffee. It was a little thing, but she added it to her store of knowledge of Cody, which was growing hourly.
She already knew a lot about him, for a man she’d only met for the first time a week ago. Some of what she knew she owed to Trace. She’d tried to word her questions as they’d driven together in the wee hours of this morning so he would think she was only interested in learning what she could about the New World Militia, but she hadn’t fooled him. Her partner knew her too well, and he had been unexpectedly forthcoming.
Trace hadn’t asked, and she hadn’t volunteered, why she also wanted to know whatever he could tell her about Cody from a personal perspective. Now she listed the things she knew about him in her head.
He was thirty-seven. Trace had given her that little tidbit along with the information that Cody had gone to work for the DEA after leaving Black Rock. That was a thankless job, she knew. Like trying to empty an ocean with a thimble. A couple of her friends from the Marine Corps had gone to work for the DEA when they got out. Neither man had lasted a year. She wondered how long Cody had lasted there. Trace hadn’t known and couldn’t tell her.
He’d been in the Marine Corps, too, like her brothers, like her partner. And like her. Semper Fidelis. People who hadn’t been in the Corps didn’t realize the bond it created—“Corps and Country” wasn’t a meaningless phrase. Not to a marine. Dedication and loyalty meant something.
He carried a knife in addition to his service weapon. She’d seen him use it that first night to pry open the warped window. He didn’t get that from the Corps. As she had the first night, after she’d realized he was an agent, she wondered if he wore the knife everywhere or just when he was on assignment.
He had a good sense of humor and could laugh at himself. That was always a good sign. And he refused to take credit for someone else’s accomplishments, even minimizing his own contributions. Hadn’t D’Arcy said Cody was involved in bringing down the New World Militia, along with Callahan? And hadn’t Cody dismissed his part as relatively unimportant? But Trace had told her enough this morning to know Callahan couldn’t have done the job on his own—Cody had played a crucial role.
He also had a very strict moral code and held himself to a higher standard than most men. Despite everything she said, he still blamed himself for hurting her the night he’d rescued her. And at the same time he’d sacrificed his covert op—who knew how many hours had been invested in it—to save her, a stranger. That was part of his moral code, too, special rule seven notwithstanding.
And he had almost died six years ago. He made light of it, even joked about it with Mandy. But Trace had been there that night, after the fact, and in the truck he’d told her it had been a very near thing for the onetime sheriff.
Yes, Keira told herself with a smile she couldn’t repress, I know a lot about Cody already.
Cody and Callahan walked in the back door just then, and Keira quickly heaped the two plates with the combination stew and filled one of the bowls for herself.
“You’ve got to be starving,” she said, laying a spoon on each plate.
Callahan took a plate. “Yeah,” he said. “Looks good. Thanks.”
Cody took the other plate and told Keira, “There are only two chairs. You and Callahan can sit at the table. I’ll stand.”
“I don’t mind,” she said quickly.
“My cabin, my rules.” He smiled to take away the sting.
