Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2) (10 page)

"Wait a minute--how did you know I like pepperoni and
mushroom?"

He laughed. "Holly. When she first called to say you
were coming down she mentioned several things about you. She said you liked
coffee, and pizza and told me what kind, and said you'd need an internet
connection. Speaking of which, have you been online since you got here?"

"No, I'm still avoiding my email. I'm afraid there
might be emails from work. I don't want them to need me, and at the same time I
wonder at how useful I was if they get along fine without me."

"If you haven't even tried to go online yet, sounds to
me like you really don't want to know either way."

"You're probably right."

They arrived at the house and Frank met them with cold
beers. As they sat down to feast on pizza, he said to Julia, "Thanks again
for the computer work. Alice came in and began working this afternoon. She says
it runs like a dream."

"You fixed Dad's computer?" Cody asked, feeling
surprised.

"Turns out she's some kind of computer genius,"
Frank said.

Julia hurriedly swallowed a bit of pizza. "Not a
genius, I just have a knack for computers. I can usually fix them. I was a
total geek as a teenager."

"Somehow I can't quite picture that."

"Think of me at the gawky awkward adolescent stage,
taller than most of the boys, and totally into computers instead of fashion. I
have no pictures of those years in my life, thank goodness."

"I know a guy who comes into the shop who was
complaining about his onboard computer. Do you think you could fix a computer
on a boat?"

"As long as it's not during a storm. Computers are
really pretty straightforward."

"For you maybe," Frank said. "Not for most of
us."

"Great pizza," Julia said, sipping her beer.
"By the way, Frank, I'm going to spend the night at the beach house
tonight. Cody's staying with me, so I think I'll be fine."

Frank's drink went down the wrong way as he gulped in
surprise and he ended up choking for a moment.

Cody patted his father on the back. "You okay, Dad?
I'll just be there to make it feel safer for her this first night." He saw
the look in his father's eyes and gave a tiny head shake. He knew what his
father was asking with the questioning look. No way would he take advantage of Julia
in this situation--or any situation for that matter.

Julia said, "Do either of you know the yarn shop lady,
Violet?"

"Yes," they both chorused.

Frank said, "In her younger days, some people said
Violet was a witch. I never believed it myself. She's one of Maelynne's sources
for gossip. Sweet lady but a little strange."

"It's the fumes from her dyes. You know she dyes all the
yarn herself," Cody offered. "But I'm curious. You mentioned her
earlier, when you said she got the truth out of you about being here. How did
you meet her, anyway?"

Julia colored up. The rosy blush looked delightful on her
pale skin, Cody thought. Then told himself to stop looking at her.

"I used to crochet and I'm taking it up again. I bought
some yarn to start a project."

"Crochet--my mother used to crochet," Frank said.
"Made some beautiful blankets."

Cody said, "Crochet? You?"

"What? Why not me?" she asked defensively.

"Nothing, I mean, of course you. It's just--I can't
quite picture you doing something so old fashioned." Cody floundered.
"Of course, I'm sure anything you put your mind to, you would do well."

"Hmph. I don't see what you've got against
crocheting."

"I have nothing against it, seriously. You caught me
off guard is all."

Frank stepped in. "Are you guys finished with this
pizza?" He began clearing the boxes off the table.

"Yeah, I'm done, Dad."

"Me, too. I'll go get my things from Holly's
room." Julia sprang up and left the room.

Cody was unaware he was staring after her until his father
cleared his throat.

"Son, what are you doing?"

"Doing?"

"You aren't going after her like those other girls of
yours, are you?"

"Of course not! Dad...she's different. That's all I can
say at this point."

Frank sighed. "Well, good luck, for what it's
worth."

Cody couldn't explain to his father what he was feeling
about Julia. He wasn't totally sure in his own mind and heart, yet. But, she
was definitely making her place there.

Chapter 4

Julia walked back into the beach house with more confidence.
Having Cody with her made a big difference, and she realized her bout of
cleaning earlier had helped as well. Cody walked past her and headed down the
side hall.

"I'll just put my things in the guest bedroom," he
said.

Julia nodded and dumped her things in her room as well. When
she came out into the living room, Cody was sitting on the couch. She suddenly
remembered being next to him on the couch before and the room felt a bit
smaller, more intimate as he sat there quietly. She sank down into the big
leather chair facing him, thinking.

"So," he said.

"So. What now?"

"If we were at the loft apartment I'd be asking you if
you played the HALO video game. I sometimes play to pass the time."

"And I'd tell you, I played HALO from the very
beginning. I bet I could still beat you, even though I haven't played in a
couple years."

He laughed. "How about cards instead? Gin rummy."

"Ah, old fashioned games. The Monopoly and Scrabble
games are still here and you owe me a rematch."

"I figured since you were a fan of crochet...you know,
old fashioned would be right up your alley."

"You think you're too far away from me right now for me
to retaliate, but you're wrong." She jumped up and took two steps to the
sofa, laughing as she began to tickle him.

"You're tickling me?" He started laughing
helplessly.

"I'm good at it."

"I give! Stop, no more!"

She moved back, laughing with him. "Okay, gin rummy it
is then. You want a beer? I picked some up the other day."

"Sounds good. I know I've seen a deck of cards around
here," Cody said as he opened cabinets. "Now where would Anna have
put--Aha! Found them."

"You didn't want a glass did you?"

"Nope, the bottle is good."

They decided to play at the dinette set. Within half an hour,
Julia was beating him badly. "I don't understand this," Cody said.
"I never lose this badly."

"Well, I suppose I could stop cheating."

He stared at her blankly. "What did you say?"

She giggled, a little apprehensively. "I said I could
stop cheating."

"You've been cheating--this whole time?" He stood
up and came around the table.

"Now--now, Cody, you don't want to do anything
drastic." She scooted her chair back. When she hit the wall she stood up,
right as he reached her. He was suddenly tickling her.

"Nooo! Oh, no, I'm too ticklish," she managed to
say between bouts of giggling. "I promise--I promise to stop cheating.
Really."

He let up and stood there with his hands on her waist.
"You're sure? No more cheating?"

"Yes--move your hands. I don't trust you," she
said with a nervous laugh.

He moved his hands away, palms up facing her. "Okay. I
can't believe you were cheating!"

Julia moved her chair back to the table and sat down.
"It's from boarding school. We played every card game there is, and how
well you cheated was a big part of the game. It was a very competitive
school."

"So, you lived away from home when you were a
kid?"

"Yes, for most of my school years. Mother and Dad were
too busy with business."

There was a pause. "Your deal," Cody said.
"And, I'll be watching your every move. No funny stuff."

She dealt and was glad Cody had dropped the topic of
schools. They weren't her fondest memories. He always seemed to know when to
stop talking about something.

They played for two hours more, and the score was closer,
although she still beat him. By the time they'd had another beer each, Julia
was yawning. "Wow, that beer hit me hard. I think I need to go to
bed."

"Yeah, me too. Good game. Even if I'm still suspicious
of you."

She gave him her best innocent look. "Me?"

"Ha! Yes you," he said with a grin.

He took their beer bottles into the kitchen, while Julia
checked the front door lock again. Then, she checked the sliding glass door
lock. Sighing, she decided to go on to bed and try to forget about door locks.

Cody turned out all the lights except for one on a side
table in the living room. "I'll leave this on in case I get up in the
night."

She knew he was leaving it on for her as well, but said
nothing.

They parted in the hallway. "Good night, Cody, sleep
well."

"Night to you too. Sweet dreams."

"Let's hope." She walked on down the hall to her
room.

It was about three hours later that she woke up, with a jolt
and a cry in the night.

* * * *

The cry from Julia's room had him up and running down the
hall before he was actually awake. Flicking on the light by the bed, he found
her sitting up, tears in her eyes. "Julia, it's all right. You're
safe."

"Cody--it was the worst dream. She kept stabbing
me."

"What can I do to help?"

"Nothing, I think. I just need to get back to sleep and
forget about it."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah," she said, both hands brushing her hair
back. "Man, bad dreams really suck."

"Yes, they do," he replied with feeling.

"You too?"

"Not as bad as yours sounds."

He was shirtless and dressed only in pajama bottoms with a
drawstring tie, and he was suddenly aware of her looking at him. A blush
covered her cheeks.

"Sorry to get you out of bed. But, thanks for coming in
here so quickly. I'll get a drink of water and be okay."

"All right, then. Good night, again."

"Night."

He walked back down the hall to his room. Turning restlessly
in bed, he heard her get up and the water running. He decided the excitement
was over for tonight and told himself to fall asleep. Then he heard footsteps.

"Cody," she whispered in the doorway. "Are
you asleep?"

"Not yet," he said, intrigued.

"Can you just hold me? I can't stop being afraid."

"Come here," he flipped the covers back and she got
into the bed with him. Within a minute she was comfortably in his arms, her
head resting on his chest.

"Thanks," she said in a soft voice. "I feel
like I'm being dumb about this."

"No, it's fine. You're safe now, that's what
matters."

"Safe," she sighed.

He made himself relax even though every nerve ending in his
body seemed to be waking up. Did she have any idea of the effect she was
having? He hoped not. He would never take advantage of her. No matter how
attracted to her he felt, no matter how arousing the situation. Giving a little
sigh himself, he automatically stroked her back and let himself fall back
asleep.

* * * *

Julia woke up in his arms, warm and relaxed next to him,
until she realized she was in bed with Cody. Then she became wide awake, remembering
fast. Why on earth had she felt compelled to be with him after her moment of
fear? And asking him to hold her?
Best to sneak on out of here before he wakes
up,
she thought.
Before I have to look at how my feelings for him are
changing.

"Good morning, Julia," a husky voice said.

"Uh, morning. I was just getting up."

"Well, if you must," he said and gave a little
laugh.

She slid out of the bed and stood up. Her black nightgown
was long and silky and probably wildly inappropriate for the occasion. "Yeah,
well, thanks for last night. I mean--that didn't come out quite right."

He gave a full laugh. "Relax. If you start coffee I'll
see about making breakfast, okay?"

She gave him a small smile. "Okay. And Cody...thanks."
Turning quickly, she left the room and practically ran to hers to grab her
robe. It was a big flannel robe, a man's robe she'd had for years and years.
With the belt wrapped around her, she was fully covered, neck to feet. By the
time Cody came out, barefoot but dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, she had coffee
going. Julia had found some chocolate donuts she'd brought from the bakery and
was nibbling on one. They had become a favorite of hers.

"I'm still fixing you a healthy breakfast, even if you
eat that donut," he said, opening the fridge.

"And I'll probably still eat that breakfast, even if I
eat this donut. So, there."

He laughed.

"Do I have time to go change clothes?"

"Yes," he said. "Plenty of time."

"Okay, be right back." She dug out some black
jeans and a deep blue sweater, and began to brush her hair. By the time she'd
put on her make-up and returned to the kitchen, Cody had finished cooking the
Irish oatmeal and was chopping dried fruit into it. He tossed some walnuts in,
and handed her a bowl.

"Looks good. Hearty." She got some coffee and
moaned with her first sip. "I think coffee is some kind of miracle drink.
One hit, and my brain comes awake."

"Yeah, tea in the morning just isn't the same."

"You've been a tea drinker instead of coffee?"

"A woman I knew was into tea. She never had coffee at
her place, and I had to make do with tea."

"Were you with her long?"

"A couple of months. She was sweet. She went back to
college and got a degree in counseling. I heard she married a professor at the
university. Bit of a scandal."

They sat at the counter and ate breakfast, not saying much.
Cody claimed the other chocolate donut as his dessert. Julia insisted you
couldn't have dessert at breakfast.

"I'm telling you, you can too. I proved it years ago by
eating candy as breakfast dessert after Halloween."