HEATHER: Yes
ME: Headed your way, darlin’.
I move to my bike.
“Guess I don’t need to ask where you’re goin’,” TJ remarks with a smirk.
“Guess you don’t.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“There’s not a lot you wouldn’t do, TJ.”
He chuckles. “True. Guess you got a really nice birthday gift, huh? By the way, you’re welcome.”
“Thanks for the celebration last night.”
“You better be thankin’ me. If it weren’t for me and the boys, you wouldn’t be headed across town right now.”
“I’m in your debt, then.”
“Damn straight you are.”
I lift my chin to him and roar off the clubhouse property.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Cody—
When I come off the elevator holding a paper bag, Heather is standing in the doorway of the apartment at the end of the hall.
She’s wearing jeans and a tank top that hugs her curves. Nothing on display but her fantastic figure. The only skin is a bit of cleavage and her toned arms.
“Hey,” I say, grinning, and press a soft kiss to her lips when I reach her.
She steps back and lets me in, then closes the door.
Her son in laying on his stomach on the floor in front of the TV.
“Tucker, this is Cody. Come say hello.”
He scrambles up and comes over, but shyly stands partially behind his mother’s legs.
Her hand automatically strokes his hair.
“Hi,” he squeaks, his voice barely there.
I drop to a squat and hold out my hand. “Hi, Tucker. I knew your dad. We were in the military together.”
That perks him up. “You did?”
“Yep. He was so excited that his son was going to be born. I sure wish you could have met him, buddy. He would have been the best dad in the whole world.”
He gives me a shaky smile, and his eyes get glassy.
“You know, we used to throw the ball around when we had free time. I used to play baseball in high school. Do you like baseball, Tucker?”
His shoulders lift and fall, and Heather answers for him, stroking his hair.
