Everything inside him centered on Brooke.
She was his future.
He stared at Brooke through the small crowd. She smiled and hit Cody on the chest as he kissed her on the head.
In that moment, he knew what he had to do.
He needed to be more like his father. Confident. Strong-willed. Take-charge.
How many times had his father said, “No one will hand you anything. You need to take what you want.”
Maybe it was time he took his father’s advice.
He’d let another guy take her away.
He shook his head, disgusted with himself.
He wouldn’t let it happen again.
Thanks to Brooke, he had a purpose.
He’d transform himself into the man Brooke needed him to be.
And then, he would take what he wanted most. Brooke Banks.
Chapter Eighteen
Brooke focused on the man who always stole her attention. “Nice, Cody. The guys just wanted to catch up. You didn’t have to intimidate them.”
Cody glared at the three of them sitting on the veranda eating dessert. “They’re not for you. You’d walk all over them and crush their poor soft hearts.”
She smacked his chest. “I would not.”
Cody captured her hand against his chest and held it there, his warmth seeping into her skin. The arm banded around her waist held her close. His familiar spicy aftershave made her inhale and savor this sweet moment. “No, you wouldn’t. You’d never hurt anyone. You’ve got a soft heart, too.”
She did. And she’d abused her poor heart enough by beating it against the locks on Cody’s heart. He didn’t want to let her in, and she was tired of making her heart bleed.
She slowly extricated herself from his side and stood next to him, a respectable distance from his hard, toned body.
She tried to hide her longing and forced herself to be an adult and respect his space and relationship with Kristi. Even if Kristi was all wrong for him.
It sucked being an adult and good.
Her mother had neglected to tell her that some growing pains were emotional as well as physical.
“It’s a great party, Cody.” She steered the conversation toward normal, everyday things.
“Yeah. It makes me miss my dad even more. I have you to thank for making me remember family, friends, and traditions matter.”
“I miss him, too.” She wanted to reach out and touch him but refrained.
He frowned, his gaze noting the distance between them.
She tried to cover. “Dad taught me how to dance. I’d stand on his feet, and he’d take me around the dance floor.”
Cody’s eyes filled with nostalgia. “You stood on my feet a time or two,” he reminded her, taking her by the shoulders and kissing her on the head. He stared down at her for a long moment, then released her and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
She wondered about his odd behavior. Especially since Kristi seethed across the room.
