"Promise,mijo." Then she stretched to kiss my cheek. "And we can't hear anything from that side of the house."
I groaned, feeling my fool face heating up. "Mama!"
She just shooed me off, but yeah, I went. The room she called mine was over the garage. Everyone else's were on the other side, with the living room and kitchen separating things. Mama always said it was so she didn't have to dust as often, but I had a feeling this was her way of making sure I'd come home every so often.
I didn't wanna vape in front of Isabella. That secondhand cannabis smoke thing might get her in trouble. I wouldn't drink around my mama, because it made her real worried. Usually, when I came home, I spent my time doing a whole lot of sleeping and healing, so the space meant nothing woke me up.
This time was different.
I slipped into the massive room to hear the shower going. For a moment I was confused, because if that was Cody, then she had to be shaving everything. Not that I minded, but she didn't need to do that neither. But when I saw movement out on the balcony, I realized it had to be Tanner in the shower because my rookie was looking out at the view, wearing my robe, and brushing out her wet hair.
For a moment, I stood there and just watched. Damn, but she was beautiful. Too good for me too, but I wouldn't bitch about that. Oddly, her looks weren't the thing I loved most about her. Nope, that was her spine. The way she would pull in a breath to brace against the worst things - then do them anyway. The strength it took to fight time and time again, refusing to give up.
Fuck, but I loved her. It was a feeling so strong it made my chest hurt - and not because of the nearly-healed ribs. No, this was different. Better. The best part was how she wasn't the only one who made me feel like this, and it was ok for me to have them both.
That was when she turned, flinching when she spotted me standing in the dim room, staring at her. "J.D.?"
"Sorry." I made my feet start working again as I headed over to her. "I think I just had my breath taken away."
She rolled her eyes.
So I caught her chin, then leaned in for a quick peck. "I mean it, Cody. You look real good in my world."
She gave me a little smile, then turned back to the view. "It's pretty here. I didn't expect Tennessee to look like this. It's more open than Missouri, and yet it's not flat."
"Nope," I agreed, moving to brace my hands on the railing on either side of her hips, holding her back up against my chest as I saw the property in a whole new way. "I like the hills. I love the grass, but I think I want some trees too. Maybe a couple horses?"
And the woman of my dreams leaned back, letting me hold her up. "I've always wanted a horse. Dad had to sell Mom's to pay for the bills. I think it'd be fun to learn how to chase cans."
I hadn't expected that. "Barrel racing?"
"Not competitive," she assured me. "I'm thinking like some playdays. Maybe a local rodeo. Nothing big."
"Girl, I'd barrel race with you."
That made her glance back with the biggest smile. "And Tanner will need a horse too."
"Uh, yeah," I agreed. "Fuck, he'll smoke our asses, proving boys can do it better."
Playfully, she smacked at my arm. "So you'll be a rodeo queen with me?"
"Shit," I drawled. "Cody, when I come out at Nashville? That's not something people will forget. You know that, right? We might not be real welcome."
"Don't care."
I let go of the railing to slide my hands around her waist and press closer. "But I'm not going to hide this. Never again. You two make me too happy, and it's been a real long time since I've felt like this."
"In love?" she asked, but her eyes were on the trees again, almost like she was fighting the urge to look back.
"Well, that too," I agreed. "I meant happy, but being in love with you and Tanner? Yeah, I think it's what makes it so easy to be happy. Even with all the shit they keep throwing at us, I'm stillso fucking happy, Cody, because I wake up with you beside me, or him - or both."
And in my arms, she relaxed a bit. "So you love Tanner?"
"Mhm..." I leaned in to kiss the side of her neck. "And you."
Slowly, Cody turned in my arms to face me. Reaching up, she cupped the side of my face, sliding her thumb across the edge of my beard. "Me too. I don't know when it happened, but I think I fell for him when he held your hand in the hospital. Or maybe it was a slow thing? I don't really know..." She paused, biting her lips together. "But I know when I fell for you."
My heart was doing some stupid shit in my chest. "Yeah? When?"
