Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“There are my lovely dates for the evening.”
I felt the reverberation of Cody’s voice right between my legs. Yep. It happened every time he spoke. Nana stopped walking and looked up, and her eyes widened behind her glasses. “What is this?” She looked behind us to make sure of who he was addressing.
Before us was Cody, who held two giant bouquets of flowers. They were what took him the extra time. Flowers.
I’d never been given flowers before, and the look on Nana’s face told me that they were a treat at any age.
Damn, he was trying hard. He really must be serious about this.
About me.
I mentally gave my dad the middle finger at putting doubts in my head.
“These are for you, sugar.” Cody presented me with a fragrant bouquet of big white Casablanca lilies and white roses as he bent to give me a peck on the lips in front of Nana and Sarah, who’d followed behind him, probably to lead him to the game room. Both gaped in shock. “And these are for you, Mrs. Abbott.” He handed Nana a smaller, but not any less gorgeous, bouquet of purple flowers.
“Cody McIntire, what is going on here?” Nana asked, as if he was a toddler instead of a grown man. “You’re seeing my granddaughter?” She took the flowers and craned her neck to look up at him.
Now that his hands were free, Cody took off his hat, then nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Nana turned her surprised gaze my way. I was sure my face was as pink as the roses interspersed in her bouquet. “How long has this been going on?”
I hesitated, and Cody spoke for me. Us. “Long enough for me to be sure that she’s the woman for me.”
Nana thrust her flowers at me, let go of my arm, and took Cody’s instead. “Well, it’s about time.” She looked at Sarah, as if for validation. “I have the prettiest granddaughter in town, and she hasn’t had a single boyfriend until now.”
Sarah grinned, looking as pleased as my grandmother.
“Nana,” I groaned, rolling my eyes.
Cody began walking her slowly toward the dining room. “That’s because she was waiting for a real man.” He winked at me over his shoulder.
I smiled into the flowers. Damn him and his cowboy charm. I was going to fall head over heels whether I could help it or not. “I’m going to put these in your room, Nana.”
“Nonsense.” She waved her hand through the air. “Bring those to the dining hall, so everyone can see what a thoughtful young man you have.”
Cody chuckled. “I appreciate you calling me young.”
Nana huffed. “Well, you might be a bit older than Riley, but that’s good. She was always yearning to grow up fast.”
I blinked and stared at Nana.
Wow. Really? My throat constricted at how well she knew me. After Dad’s reaction this morning, I thought everyone would hate this relationship… whatever this was with Cody. It came as a huge relief that my nana was at least keeping an open mind. Sarah didn’t seem all that judgy either. Only thrilled.
Nah, not just open mind, but all in. She was on Team Cody from the very first sentence. Hell, from the flowers.
If Dad could only be so easily swayed.
We arrived in the dining room, and Nana picked a table by the window. The retirement community was set on the south edge of town, so all of the views from the back of the building faced open prairie and mountains.
Cody held out her chair as Nana settled. “Meanwhile, my son tries to keep her sheltered.” She glanced up at him. “That’s why I wouldn’t let him sell my house. Riley needed some independence. You been to my house yet?”
Cody’s lips quirked. “Yes, ma’am. It’s a great place.”
Nana laughed. I blushed and redirected.
“You sit here, and we’ll go through the buffet line,” I told her. They had servers for the people who couldn’t manage their own food trays, but I preferred to wait on Nana when I was there.
“How was Riley ever going to have a little fun with her dad and that badge of his intimidating every boy who came around?” Why did she keep going on and on and on about this? Cody knew I was a virgin, but Nana made me sound like a nun, cloistered away from the world.
I groaned again, trying to tug Cody with me to the buffet line.
“Well, he’s ready to put a bullet in me, that’s for sure,” Cody said with a quick grin. “But I’ll win him over, eventually.”
“That’s my son. He’ll come around,” Nana agreed with a nod. “Eventually. Two protective men wanting what’s best for my girl. This old woman couldn’t be happier.”
“He wants to sell your house because of this,” I told her, trying to get across just how angry Dad was.