Page 6 of Mountain Dreams

Cody chuckled. “High school was a long time ago. I’m sure most of them have moved on since then.”

“But you haven’t.”

He shrugged. “Like I said, I’ve been busy. Maintaining a resort takes up a lot of my time.”

When Cody’s parents had died in a horrible car accident a few years ago, she and Wyatt had attended the funeral, along with dozens of other people in the close-knit community of Townsend, Tennessee. Cody and his siblings had been devastated, and their boisterous, loving family of five had been reduced to three in the blink of an eye. Cody and his older brother, Jax, had taken over managing the resort, while their sister, Dakota, had remained in Knoxville, where she lived and worked.

“Anyway, I’m happy being single, and I don’t lack for female company when I want it.”

She smiled. “You never did.” She didn’t fault him for it, though, and he wasn’t being cocky, just honest. She admired him for being unapologetically who he was, even if some might label him a “player.”

“If and when I decide to settle down, you’ll be the first to know,” he teased.

“I won’t hold my breath.” Still, whoever managed to steal his heart and keep it would be one lucky lady. Despite his flirtatious, fun-loving nature, he was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. She had no doubt the same would apply to the woman he settled down with, if that ever happened.

She glanced at her watch again. “I really have to go.”

“I’ll drive you back to the resort office.”

He retrieved her coat and purse from the closet, and they prepared to leave.

“I like your cabin. It’s really cozy.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I expected it to be more—”

“Like a messy bachelor pad?”

She laughed. “Yeah.”

“My sister helped me decorate.”

“Ah. That explains it, then.”

“Honestly, I was a little worried I left my skivvies lying around, but luckily, I didn’t.”

She giggled, though an image of Cody in his underwear came to mind unbidden. She’d seen him in swim trucks before, and that was bad enough. He was all lean muscles, long legs, and tight buns, and he still looked like he was in great shape.

They went outside to the truck, and this time, he insisted on helping her into the passenger seat. As he went around to the driver’s side, it struck her that Wyatt didn’t open doors for her anymore. It was a little thing, but something she hadn’t realized until now.

They were quiet as Cody drove her back to the resort office. He parked next to her Fiat, which looked exceptionally small next to his big truck, and then turned to look at her.

“I’ll call Wyatt this weekend and try to set something up.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

“Seeing you smile again will be thanks enough.”

She smiled right then, wider than she had in days. “This is why women love you. You always know the right thing to say.”

“I’d like to think they love me for more than that.” He wriggled his brows.

“Okay, Casanova. I’m leaving now, but thanks again.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me, Maddie. You’re my friend, and this is what friends do.”

There was so much in that statement to analyze, including his use of her nickname. He hadn’t called her that in a long time, and she’d missed it. After she and Wyatt had gotten engaged, Cody had seemed more distant and formal around her. Some might claim he was just being respectful, but she’d missed their easy camaraderie.