Free Pretty Face by Sable Hunter Page B

you do?”
    “Honestly, I debated whether to get on a slow boat to China or face the music.” She ran a finger around the rim of the cup. “I faced the music. I went to the airport ready to meet him. I thought he’d halfway recognize me because I did send him some old photos from college. Of course, they were before my stepbrother redesigned my face.”
    “Oh, girl, we’re so sorry.” Marnie got on her knees and hugged Cody. “What happened?”
    “He walked right by me, even pushed me aside when I tried to talk to him.” At their affronted looks, she defended him. “It wasn’t his fault. He was intent on finding the woman of his dreams and I didn’t fit the bill.”
    “Sounds like an ass,” Trinity mumbled.
    “No.” Cody shook her head. “That’s not the way it was. Remember, this is all my fault, he’s innocent.” The other two looked skeptical, but they let her talk. “I chickened out at the airport and ran, just left him there. He called on my Sage phone, and I told him it was all a mistake, that I couldn’t see him.”
    “Well, how did he get here?” Marnie gestured toward the kitchen. “In your house?”
    “Hunter told me he wasn’t leaving till we met. He’s a carpenter and I had put up a help-wanted sign. Believe me, when he called on my landline and I recognized his voice—I almost died.”
    Trinity bugged her eyes out. “I guess so. I’m sorry, Cody. This sounds like fate to me. The man just lands on your doorstep. I think it’s a sign from above that you’re supposed to keep him.”
    Cody grabbed a sofa pillow, laid it in her lap and buried her head in it. “You can’t keep someone who doesn’t want to be kept.” Her words were muffled. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head. “It’s been weird, being with him during the day and talking to him as Sage at night. And worst of all…” She slid down on the couch, putting her feet on the coffee table. “Sage gave him the idea she was going to work something out, some way to meet him.”
    “What did Sage tell Hunter was the reason she wouldn’t meet him? I know you didn’t tell him about the scar.”
    “God, no. It’s bad enough that he has to look at it on Cody…although...” She got quiet.
    “What?” Marnie demanded.
    “Hunter’s been nice about…everything.” She ran her fingers over the raised ridge as was her habit. “We’ve really connected. He even almost nearly kissed me, I think.”
    Trinity busted out laughing. “Even almost nearly, you think?”
    “Hush.” Cody laughed. “Sage didn’t give Hunter a reason that she couldn’t see him other than she just couldn’t, and that she’d been lying to him. He asked if she was married and I almost said yes, but I didn’t. I have to find some way of telling him the truth and asking his forgiveness. I know our relationship won’t survive on any level, but he’s meant too much to me not to try and make amends, let him know that I never meant for this to go on so long or end up in such a mess.”
    “You still want him, don’t you?”
    Cody looked at Marnie like she was crazy. “I want him more now than ever. I’ve been near him, talked to him, he’s more wonderful than I’d ever imagined.” Wrinkling her nose, she admitted, “Although, he can be a toot. But I like that part of him too.”
    “Sounds like you need to do something drastic,” Trinity spoke, deep in thought.
    “Yea, but what? Sage has promised to meet him. But Cody can’t just show up out of the blue. So, what am I going to do? I have to tell him the truth, but I can’t just march in the kitchen and announce that I’m Sage, the big fat liar.”
    “Well, you could.” Marnie drew out the last word. “But I know you want to do this gently and preferably with some mind-blowing sex mixed in somewhere, something to remember him by.”
    “Oh, yea, I think I can pull that off.” Cody blew her nose. “I’ve rehearsed it in my mind. Put a bag over my head, screw his brains out and