Page 6 of Cody (Maine Silver Foxes)

A lina

The man was too much! My gaze followed his retreating back as he headed for the door.

I couldn’t move for a minute. My knees were trembling, and I was so turned on I couldn’t catch my breath.

My heart raced. His arrogance was astounding.

But the size of the cock I’d felt throbbing against me was magnificent.

My ex, Eddie, had been well-endowed, but Cody’s appendage was big enough to cause pain.

I was proud of myself for returning his self-confidence with a few choice words.

I was a modern woman, and I’d had a couple of one-night stands, so his declaration that he was not a one-woman man hadn’t exactly shocked me or put me off, but I couldn’t explain the disappointment I’d felt.

Sure, I’d been attracted to him from the start, but it was a different kind of attraction that I couldn’t explain.

Something with more depth beyond the physical.

I wanted to feel special enough that he wouldn’t want anyone else.

I recognized that this was an idiotic thing to think, given the fact that we didn’t know each other.

Instant attraction between two strangers was nothing unique, and acting on it was exciting.

But thinking beyond that was a little frightening.

Eddie was the last man I’d wanted more with, but I recalled how our first meeting had gone, and it had been tame compared to my meeting with Cody.

Eddie had had to work to get into my pants.

Of course, I’d been younger then and less experienced.

The sound of voices nearing the screen door revealed that Mom and Cody were coming inside.

I moved away from the wall and disappeared into my room.

I couldn’t face Cody again right now. If Mom hadn’t come home, we would be fucking against the wall right now, because I’d been that close in giving in to his filthy demands.

I knew I should unpack my car, but suddenly I just wanted to get out of the house.

I was eager to get my coffee shop up and running, and I had some possible locations to look at.

I hit the bathroom and went through my morning routine, then threw on some jeans and a tee before slipping into my Crocs.

Like a coward, I listened at the door, and when I didn’t hear voices anymore, I assumed that Cody was gone and the coast was clear.

You know what they say about assuming. Cody and Mom were sitting at the dining room table when I walked out, discussing the porch.

I just managed to stop myself from coming to a screeching halt.

Cody glanced up when I entered the room and gave me the once over.

Slowly. Letting his gaze linger on my breasts until my traitorous nipples hardened.

Damn him! I tried to ignore him, but it was hard when the man was so easy on the eyes.

A sexy smirk spread across his face, and the dark look filling those all-seeing orbs spoke volumes at what he’d like to be doing.

To me.

Of course, the image made me moan inside and my panties wet.

He was teasing me with the promise of what I knew he could deliver while challenging me at the same time. The man had no shame.

Well, he’d soon learn that I could give as good as I took. I made sure Mom wasn’t looking when I licked my lips and then gave him an air kiss. His eyes rounded slightly, and then his face broke out in a full, sexy grin that I took it to mean challenge accepted.

Shit!

What the hell was I doing flirting with a man who looked like he always got his way?

“Mom, I’m heading down to Main Street. I’ll be back later.” I grimaced at the slight breathlessness in my tone.

“Good luck finding a spot for your coffee shop.” We’d talked about it the night before, and we had both agreed that Main Street was the best location.

“Thanks.” My purse was hanging on the hook by the door. I reached for it. “Want me to bring anything back?” At the door I paused long enough to glance back at her, proud of myself for ignoring Cody.

“If you want to bring home something for dessert tonight, that would be nice.”

“Got it.” I left the house without saying a word to Cody, pleased with myself for not showing him how nervous—or horny—he made me feel. I got the impression the man was good at reading people.

As I drove slowly down the little Main Street of Coldwater, my gaze searched over the shops and restaurants that lined both sides of the street.

I was glad to see that the town hadn’t let the area get run down.

The buildings were old but solid, and the business fronts with their clean window displays and fancy signage drew the eye and made you want to stop and go inside.

I loved the historic vibe that the antique shops, family-owned hardware store, art gallery, and bookstores gave off. It was something that I hadn’t appreciated when I’d been growing up there.

I spotted an open parking spot in front of the florist shop and pulled in. The realtor I’d contacted before returning to Coldwater had said there were three vacant stores, and I wanted to check them out.

I bypassed the first place I came to because it bumped right up to a bakery.

A little further down the road, next to the hardware store, was a larger place.

According to the lettering on the window, it had once been a cigar shop.

I scrunched up my nose as I peered inside and noticed the smoking lounge off to the side.

Cigar smoke didn’t bother me, but any lingering odors that hung around might annoy other people.

A fresh coat of paint could only do so much.

Across the street and down the end of the strip plaza was the third available store. The first thing that I liked about the location was that there was additional parking on the side of the building. The small lot was half-full, as there were limited parking spaces in front of each store.

The second thing I liked was that the place was completely empty, so there wouldn’t be much clean up to do. It was a nice size for a coffee shop, and I could visualize in my mind what the setup would look like.

Excitement began to move through me. I dug out my phone and sent off a quick text to the realtor stating that I was interested in the shop and asking when we could meet to discuss the terms. Then I decided to kill some time waiting for her response by making my way back to the bakery, certain I’d find something there for dessert that night.

As it was nearing lunchtime I wasn’t surprised to find that the bakery was busy.

Some people—me included—occasionally liked to have dessert for a meal.

I found nothing wrong with having a big slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top for lunch.

As soon as I stepped into the place, I got an instant high from all the warm, sugary goodness that was thick in the air.

“Hello!”

My gaze went to the woman behind the glass-encased baked goods. Returning her smile, I walked toward the counter. “Hi,” I returned her warm greeting, my gaze moving back and forth between her and the array of desserts on display. “I think I put on ten pounds just by looking,” I joked.

She laughed. “You don’t recognize me, do you.”

I took a second, longer look at her, gauging her to be around my age, maybe a little younger. Blue eyes, blond hair, curvy, and very pregnant. There was something familiar about her. I thought for a minute but just couldn’t place her.

“I’m sorry—”

The smile never left her pretty face. “It’s okay. It’s not a test. And I was gone for twenty years. Maybe you remember my cousin, Sammy?”

As soon as she said Sammy’s name, I knew who she was. The two girls had been like sisters growing up. Always together. “Mia!”

She seemed pleased that I’d remembered without her providing any further hints.

“Gosh, it has been a long time. I just recently returned home after being gone, too.”

She nodded. “Yup. That seems to be the norm for us small-town folks.”

I laughed, agreeing with her. “Home is where the heart is, they say.” My gaze took in her baby bump. “When are you due?”

Her hand smoothed over her belly. “Two months. This baby was a surprise. I have two grown sons from my first marriage.”

I automatically glanced at the beautiful ring sparkling on her finger.

“Never thought I’d be going through this again.”

“It looks good on you.” It was true. Mia was glowing and clearly happy about being pregnant. “Do you know what you’re having?”

“Another boy,” she admitted. “Which makes King happy, since he already has a daughter. So what about you?”

At the mention of King’s name, I recollected the tall, husky boy from high school that all the girls had had a crush on, including me. Lucky catch for Mia.

I shook my head. “No, no kids.” I didn’t feel like going into detail about why I didn’t want them. “Just an ex.”

Mia picked up on my reluctance to talk about it. “Listen, let’s get together soon to catch up.”

Twenty years’ worth, I thought to myself. But I was looking forward to it. “I’d like that.”

“So are you here for a dessert, or just shopping around?”

“Well, kind of both. I’m interested in opening a coffee shop. I’m waiting for the realtor to get back to me about the empty spot at the end of the street.”

“The lawyer’s office?”

I nodded.

“That’s a convenient location with the parking lot right next to it. And you can probably get it cheap. It’s been vacant for quite a while now.”

Good to know, I thought, glancing back down at the desserts in the case in front of me. “They all look so good,” I mumbled to myself. “What can you recommend?”

Mia laughed. “ All of them! Seriously, you can’t go wrong. They’re all baked fresh from scratch by some of our locals.” She leaned over the counter as far as her protruding belly would allow and whispered, “I’ll give you my discount.”

“Thanks! In that case I’ll take two. Apple pie—” because it went with everything, “—and the raspberry tart.”

Mia stepped back so she could reach in for the pie. “Piece or whole?”

“Whole, please.” As Mia boxed them up, I glanced over the menu on the wall behind her.

Coffee was on the list, but I assumed it was just a regular brew because there wasn’t a list of flavors.

Besides a wide selection of desserts, they also offered candies, smoothies, and fruits covered in chocolate and caramel.

I thought about the Chinese and Italian restaurants that were on Main Street, and immediately came up with the kinds of deli items I could offer that wouldn’t compete with their businesses.

Grab and go breakfast sandwiches would be a good idea.

Something customers could have with their coffee on the way to work.

Mia set two boxes on the counter in front of me. “I just thought of something.” There was excitement in her voice. “We’re having a cookout this Saturday, and you’re invited. It will give you a chance to reconnect with some of the locals and meet new people.”

“Well, thank you.” I wondered if Cody would be there, but I wasn’t going to ask her. I didn’t need to start a rumor that I was interested in him. There were ears all around us. “That sounds great.”

“I’ll write my address down on the back of the receipt.” She was writing as she said it. “Come around one.”

She handed me the receipt, and I stepped over to the register to pay.

It was better to keep that man out of my head.

Even if I wanted him in my bed.