Free Who You Least Expect by Lydia Rowan

don’t know why he ever left, especially not to come here,” she said.
    “If he hadn’t left, he would never have found you,” Blakely said.
    “You’re right, so I guess it was worth it in the end,” she said, a smile still lighting her face. And then her expression shifted to that mischievous look that made Blakely nervous.
    “What?” Blakely said, narrowing her eyes.
    “That was an amazingly sweet sentiment. Too amazing, especially for the Blakely Bishop I know and love. Has something—or someone”—she said ominously—“gotten to you? Broken through the hard shell to find the gooey center?” Verna waggled her eyebrows.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said stiffly. So what that Cody had been attached to her hip all evening. And so what that she hadn’t minded. That didn’t mean anything. Nothing at all.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Oh, and she’s repeating herself,” Verna said to an imaginary audience. “I think I’m definitely on the right track.” She leveled an even, expectant stare at Blakely, managing to keep the amusement out of her face, though Blakely knew Verna well enough to know that it was there.
    “Aren’t I the one who has the face that makes people confess?” Blakely said, trying to rebuff Verna’s intrusion.
    “You do,” Verna said.
    “Well, you’re doing a damn good impersonation right now,” Blakely grumbled.
    Verna gave that innocent, who-me face that Blakely knew full well was a front. “I’m just asking. I mean, the way you and Cody were sparking off each other makes me wonder if you’re in the market for some hot SEAL action yourself, which, for what it’s worth, I highly recommend.“
    Blakely almost choked on her wine, and after she’d regained her breath, she started to speak but lost the words in a fit of giggles.
    “Is Verna behaving?” Joe asked as he entered.
    “Never,” Blakely said.
    Verna glanced over at Joe and then back to Blakely. “Saved by the bell,” she stated, “but don’t think this conversation is over.”
    “This conversation isn’t starting, Verna.”
    She set down her glass and stood. Verna did as well, and then the much-taller woman gave Blakely a quick hug. “Thanks for having me over. You too, Joe,” she said, waving at him. “I’ll see you guys around.”
    “Not going to say good-bye to the other guests?” Verna said, smiling brightly, that devilish glimmer in her eye.
    “Bye, Verna,” she said, rushing toward the front door.
    Her friend’s laughter chased her out the door, and Blakely quickly got into her car. Verna had gotten far too close for comfort but on the other hand, it was great to have an excuse to make an escape without running into Cody, that kiss and her desire for him leaving her unable to trust herself, even when in the company of others. But, despite the rather hairy last few minutes, Blakely had enjoyed herself and if she was being truthful, the flirtation with Cody had been pleasurable as well. It had been subtle, something that had surprised her coming from Cody. Despite his cockiness, he struck her as a straight shooter, direct, but this evening, he’d been on his best behavior, no hint of the passionate kiss that they’d shared, or the fact that she’d asked him for sex twice, or the fact he’d turned her down twice apparent in his behavior.
    She didn’t care what Verna said; Cody hadn’t given anything away. And she hadn’t either. Except that before dinner, during, and as they’d sat on the balcony talking, she’d let her gaze wander to him, and found his blue eyes on her, shifting from causal to scorching and back in less than a blink of the eye. So quick, she’d first thought she was imagining it, that maybe her own desire was tricking her, making her see things that weren’t there. But just before she’d gone inside with Verna, she’d glimpsed him again and known she hadn’t imagined it. And lamented that there was nothing she