As far as she was concerned, he was just about perfect. Her heart squeezed. She would miss him when she was gone. Unwilling to let anything harm their beautiful morning together, she turned and put her arms around his waist, laying her cheek on his chest. “You couldn’t convince me of that.”
“Something wrong?” Cody sounded concerned, the eggs forgotten.
“No, I just needed a hug.”
He squeezed her tight for a second then released her. “I’d better get these eggs on.”
Stacey moved to stand close to him, leaning against the counter. “Did your mother teach you to cook?”
“No, I learned out of necessity. Taking two young children out to dinner every night turned out to be a bigger fiasco than me trying to prepare a meal. Plus I didn’t want to raise them on fast food.”
Like she had been.
“I was determined to learn how to make at least a few solid meals. I still have disasters every now and then, but basically I can put together a nutritious meal in a fairly short time.”
“Once again you’re an amazing man. Everyone should be so lucky to have you as a daddy.” Cody was the type of father she wished she’d had. This morning would be one of those precious memories she would take with her when she left.
* * *
It was around noon when there was a knock on Cody’s clinic office door. He called, “Come in.
Stacey strolled in with a smile on her face. He liked that look much better than the one that had been there the entire week before. His preference really was the expression of bliss Stacey had when she found her pleasure beneath him.
“Hey, I wanted to talk to you about the senator’s son, if you have a few minutes.”
“I always have a minute for you.” Even to his own ears he sounded like Alex when Maggie was around. Surely he wasn’t that lovesick. Love? He and Stacey had both agreed in not so many words that emotions weren’t part of their arrangement. If they weren’t, he was afraid he’d taken a large step over the line. She’d made it clear she wouldn’t be staying for any reason.
“That’s nice to hear.” She started around the desk.
“Stop right there.”
She jerked to a stop. Her brows rose and she gave him a questioning look.
“I just want to make it clear before we start talking that I’m going to stay over here, keeping this desk between us, because I don’t think I can get through the conversation otherwise.”
Stacey gave him a wicked grin. “Got the hots for me, do ya?”
“Yeah, that would be an understatement.” He was already thinking about having her again. About kissing that spot behind her neck that made her squirm.
She didn’t blink when she said, “Sounds good to me.”
Would she ever stop surprising him?
Taking one of the chairs in front of his desk, she crossed her legs and gave him a self-satisfied smile. “No comeback, Doc?”
He had one but it wasn’t something he should be doing at the clinic in the middle of the day. “You’d better watch that mouth. I keep telling you it’s going to get you into trouble.”
Her voice went low and seductive. “What kind of punishment did you have in mind?”
He gripped the edge of the desk to keep himself from hurling himself over it and grabbing her. “You come to my place tonight for dinner and I’ll show you.”
“Will I be expected to participate?” Stacey leisurely swung her foot. She was enjoying this.
“Oh, you can count on that.”
“Then I wouldn’t miss it. What time?”
“Seven?” He needed time to do some special grocery shopping.
Stacey nodded. “I can’t wait.” Then she actually winked at him.
When was the last time he’d traded bedroom talk with a woman? And not in the bedroom. He’d never done so. What was happening to him?
She straightened in her seat and her look turned serious. “I think Salty is getting the best out of the senator’s son. He’s doing all of his therapy without complaint now.”
“I hear a but coming.”
Stacey’s lips pursed and she nodded. “He’s still seriously grappling with the idea of a limp for the rest of his life. I’m worried about his emotional stability more than anything.”
“I’ll have Rick look in on him. He worked wonders with Fleur. Maybe it’ll work again.”
Stacey stood. “Then I guess that’s it. I’ve got a hot date to get ready for so I’ll see you later.” She gave him a grin and a little wave over her shoulder on the way out.
* * *
A few hours later Cody was putting the final touches on the small table on the porch where he planned they would eat their meal. His romance skills were so rusty he was nervous about the evening.