Stacey couldn’t respond to that. It was no surprise. She’d not been wanted enough before.
“I’ll go get some shoes on and take you home,” Cody muttered.
Before she knew it, he’d left the room.
* * *
On Saturday, nearly a week later, Cody searched the Founder’s Day event area for the girls. They had been running from tent to tent excited to finally be attending. He couldn’t help but be pleased with the turnout. It was the largest event of the year and people from the mainland had come over to join in the fun. The vendors ranged from face painters to arts and crafts to local food, all centered on maple syrup. Everyone appeared as if they were enjoying themselves. The committee had planned long and in detail to make the occasion a success. Cody was proud of their efforts.
During the past week he’d had to make a couple of last-minute meetings to handle specifics and issues. In the end every aspect of the weekend was going off smoothly and he hoped it would continue that way through to Sunday evening. The weather had even co-operated by being spectacular.
He couldn’t say the same about his relationship with Stacey. She’d been conspicuously absent from his life outside the OR and the daily rounds to see patients. By appearing at the last possible moment then slipping away the second the job was complete, she had curtailed any chance to talk other than on medical-related issues. Cody couldn’t blame her. He didn’t like knowing he’d hurt her, no matter how justified the reason. What he should say he was well aware of, but what he wanted to say he wasn’t so sure of.
That night she’d stayed at his house he’d climbed the stairs alone. All he’d been able to think about had been Stacey in his home and the what-ifs. What if he kissed her? What if she let him cup her breast? What if he asked her to join him in bed? He’d taken a shower. A cold one. Having Stacey so close had played havoc with his libido.
As was his habit, he’d gone downstairs to secure the house for the night and passed the living room. Stacey had been sound asleep. Her fear of the storm must have zapped her adrenaline, taking all her energy. She’d pulled his pillow to her chest and had been under the blanket. He’d had to move on, fighting himself not to wake her and make sure she slept in his bed. With him.
Now he was longing for her. For what could have been. When his pillow had been returned it had smelled of peaches. His T-shirt hadn’t fared any better. He’d made more than one move to wash them but couldn’t bring himself to do so.
He been doing the right thing by not getting too involved with Stacey. That statement had been on audio repeat all week, echoing inside his head. His mind might understand but his body wasn’t agreeing.
He only had to hold out for a little while longer. She would be leaving soon but he missed their talks, even her teasing remarks. More than once he’d tried to convince himself his concerns stemmed from his girls’ constant questions about her but he knew better. He wanted Stacey with a driving need that almost overwhelmed him.
She’d been so sassy and happy during their breakfast together last Sunday morning. It hadn’t been until he’d touched her that things had started to get out of control. He knew when a woman wanted him and her eyes had said that clearly. For a minute he’d taken advantage of that, almost kissing her but stopped himself. He knew hurt, deep hurt, and wasn’t setting himself up for that again. His girls deserved to have someone who wanted them more than anything else. He did too. Stacey had made it clear she couldn’t offer them permanency—moving on to the next exciting place was what she wanted more.
It wouldn’t have mattered so much if he hadn’t recognized there was something extraordinary between them. He couldn’t put a name to it but he did know his entire being simmered whenever he was near her. Stacey had to feel it too. Knowing her time there was short didn’t change his desire to get to know her better, touch her, kiss her. In fact, it intensified it. At the same time, he needed to protect his girls. He and they were a package deal. Being an adult, he could deal with the void Stacey would create in his life when she left, but he wouldn’t put Jean and Lizzy through that kind of loss again.
“Don’t the girls need to be getting to the stage soon?” his mother asked.
“We have a few more minutes,” he assured her. His parents had arrived the day before.
“Have you thought any more about letting them go with us up to Maine for a few days?” his father asked as they continued along the crowded aisle between the rows of tents.
“You need some time to yourself,” his mother commented. “You haven’t really let those girls out of your sight in years. It’s time to let go a little.”