Free Keys To Her Heart (Brookfield) by Lacey Wolfe Page B

with conversation, but Cody spoke to Gunther like he was a friend, and he’d always known him.
    “Thanks for letting me share an ice cream with you.” He stared at her and she could see a longing in his eyes.
    She licked her lips, knowing it drove him crazy. “It was pleasant.”
    “I’ll call you later?”
    “Sounds good.”
    “I’ll see ya around, Gunther.” Cody nodded at her son.
    Gunther returned the gesture. Lily placed an arm around her son’s shoulder then gave Cody a slight wave as they walked toward her car. She couldn’t wait until they were at the point they kissed each other good bye. She’d been fantasizing about their one kiss ever since it happened. Soon she’d have to find some alone time with that man, and when she did find herself with just him, she hoped she could control herself.
    * * * *
    Never in his life had Cody made sure he looked good to do yard work. Usually he went outside in ratty clothes and got the work done. Bo was coming to help, but it definitely wasn’t Bo he was trying to impress. It was Lily. Apparently the woman loved to do yard work and begged for the chance to come over. Cody had his suspicions she just wanted to see him, and he couldn’t blame her. Her son was coming, too, which was probably good. It would give him more time to get to know her emotionally, and not the physical way that woke him up at night with a need to touch and explore.
    The doorbell rang. Cody walked across his clean house—which was for Lily as well—to the door to find Bo.
    “Hey, man. I’m glad you made it.” He stepped onto the front porch and watched as the car drove off that had dropped him off. “How’s the shelter?”
    Seth had found a place right outside of town that took Bo in. Usually they only took in battered women, but Seth had been able to pull some strings.
    “It’s a place to sleep, and they’ve given me some good info.” Bo looked less tired and smelled a heck of a lot better.
    “Good.” Cody was happy for the guy. Hopefully he’d get his life straightened out and settle down. Perhaps he’d even stick around Brookfield.
    “So, uh, what do you need me to do?”
    “I think we’ll start trimming the bushes. Come on out back and we’ll get the stuff we need out of the shed.” He closed the door and led the way down the steps.
    They started toward the back yard when Lily’s old sedan pulled up.  He waved and kept his path toward the shed. “That’s Lily and her son. She works at the diner.”
    “Is she coming to make sure I do the work?” Bo asked nervously.
    Cody chuckled. “No. We’re seeing one another. Don’t worry, they aren’t going to press charges unless you do it again.”
    Cody unlocked the shed and grabbed the lawn equipment needed, handing some to Bo to help carry. As he came down the ramp, Gunther and Lily were walking their way. Even in a T-shirt and jeans she looked like Ms. America.
    “Hey.” She stopped just short of him, her floral scent welcoming him.
    God, he wanted to kiss her, but it wouldn’t be appropriate in front of her son. Cody had no idea how all that worked, but he supposed when things got serious, she’d tell her son they were seeing one another. Then the kissing all the time could begin.
    “Thank you, both, for coming to help. This place is a wreck, as you can tell. Do you like yard work, Gunther?”
    The boy shrugged. “I wanted to stay home with Nana and Uncle Brent.”
    He couldn’t blame the kid. He always loved when his grandparents visited. “Yeah? Are they visiting?”
    “No. We live with Nana, but Uncle Brent came to visit with her. Guess he’s worried about her forgetting things.”
    “Nanas seem to do that.”
    “Not like mine.” Gunther rolled his eyes. “She’s always looking for my papa.”
    “Gunther.” Lily gave him a stern look, then glanced at Bo and Cody. “Where would you like us to start?”
    Cody sensed Lily didn’t want to discuss her mom, and her worried expression confirmed it.