all like that? We have bad people, we have bad
situations. Look what happened to us back in
creeepsville!”
Darla gazed into his eyes. “I know that place was
less than ideal, and I for one didn’t want to stay there
one more minute than we had to. But … I was with
you, we had food, we had a roof over our head, and
more importantly we had a plan. I’m a survivalist,
Cody. To survive as I have, I have to see the positive
in all things, or I would have shriveled up and died in
a corner in some worn-out apartment building, or
maybe even worse, along the road somewhere.”
Cody furrowed his brows and paused before
speaking. His mouth felt dry and sticky. Ice cream
did that to him. All he could think about right now
was a tall cold glass of water. But he wanted to
address what Darla had mentioned.
“I think we need to talk about some of your past.
I need to know what I’m dealing with. It sounds like
both of us have been in a war.”
Darla’s eyes watered. She nodded. She clenched
his hand tightly and pulled it into her lap. She gazed
out at the vast blue ocean, and as she watched the
waves, her mind went to a place that she didn’t visit
very often lately.
“His name was Pierre. I met him when I was
going to interior design school.”
Cody quickly turned his head. “That’s right. You
did say something about that.”
Darla nodded. “Yep. I didn’t always tell
fortunes,” she laughed.
“Go on,” he said softly.
“He was the love of my life. I’ve never loved
anyone completely as I loved him, until …”
Cody squeezed her hand.
“Anyway, it’s a long story, and it would take
much too long to tell you, but suffice it to say that he
broke my heart and since then I’ve found myself in
the arms of men who were easy to be with because I
didn’t feel anything for them.” A tear dribbled down
her face.
Cody locked his gaze on one wave as it rolled in.
His heart was beating fast, and he knew he was about
to hear more of Darla’s past life than maybe he was
prepared for. He didn’t expect her to tell him
everything, but he wanted to know what made her
who she was.
Darla moistened her mouth. “Anyway, bad guys,
a little too much alcohol, and soon I didn’t give a
damn about anything or anyone—especially myself.
“That’s why I choose to see happiness and all
things positive—because it wasn’t always that way
for me. Then there is Bryan. That’s a whole other
story. I needed help, but he wasn’t in any shape to
offer me support. Hell—he had his own issues. So I
went on the run—again. And … well … you know
how that ends.”
Cody let out a breath he’d been holding for a
long time. “My momma used to say it’s not where
you’ve been but where you’re going that is
important. If you’re ready to put the past in the past,
then I’d say you’ve come a long way, baby,” he said,
smiling at her.
“Cody, I’m broken. Do you really want a broken
person in your life?”
Cody put his arm around her. “Broken? You’re
not any more broken than me. Are you ready for my
story?”
Darla locked onto his eyes. She nodded.
“I joined the Marines after 9/11. I wanted to
make a difference in the world. I had an idea what
my life was going to be like, yet I didn’t have a clue
what I would see and do. Does that make sense?”
Darla scooted closer to Cody, their thighs
touching. “Yes,” she said softly.
“After my second deployment, I decided to get
out. You know the rest.”
Darla furrowed her brows. “No, I don’t.”
“I bought the restaurant,” Cody said.
“What about in between? Didn’t you have any
relationships?”
Cody lowered his head. He rose to see her staring
at him. He raised his eyebrows. “I’ve dated
heart, too.”
Darla waited in anticipation of what Cody was
about to say. Her breathing was heavy and labored.
What would he reveal?
“Her name was Christine. We’d dated off and on
for about a year when I asked her to move in with
me. Things were going great, but I was having
nightmares and other troubles all related to my tour
with the Marines. One night while I had a bad dream
I accidently reached out and hit her—right in the
face. I bruised her lip and gave her a black eye. I felt
awful. I immediately enrolled in a support group and
got medical attention for my post-traumatic stress
disorder, but it was too late for us. She didn’t want to
stick around and see if I was helped. One day I came
home, and she was gone.”
“Do you feel that you’ve been helped?” Darla
whispered.
“I do. But I still go to the support groups, and I
still go to my VA doctor appointments. It will be part
of my life forever. Just as it will be a part of
Bryan’s.”
Cody looked deeply into Darla’s eyes. “If you’ll
have me, broken and all, I will have you, broken and
all.”
Darla’s eyes watered. “Oh, Cody. Of course, I’ll
have you. You’re a great guy. I think with time, we’ll
be happy as clams,” she squeezed his hand.
“Okay. So that’s the positive spin, and our plan,”
Cody said, smiling.
Darla stood up from the bench, pulling Cody up
with her. “Yep. Let’s head back to the mansion and
wait for Gabe and the gang.”
Chapter Thirteen
Cody wrapped his arms around Gabe and gave
him a manly hug. “Man, it’s good to see you again.”
Cody eased back from the hug.
Gabe reached out and shook his hand. “How long
has it been? I guess it was when I brought Ryan by to
meet you?”
Cody nodded. “Yes. And his wines are doing …
were doing well in the restaurant.”
“We’ll have the restaurant up and open before
you can say …” Gabe trailed off.
“In no time at all, sir,” Cooper said.
Cody looked over his shoulder and saw that
Darla, Ronnie, and Camie were all chatting, and he
smiled. He was happy they seemed to be hitting it off
okay.
“Care for a drink?” Cody asked, as he made his
way into the living area.
He stopped suddenly and whirled around. “This
is awkward. This is your house.”
Gabe smiled. “You’re my guest. I’m glad you
found where the good stuff was hidden,” he said.
Cooper hurried ahead of the two men and went to
the bar, placing glasses on the marble top and eyeing
the bottles. “Scotch?” he piped.
&nbs
p; Cooper poured the amber colored drink into the
glasses. The men each took a glass and plopped
down on the comfy sofa and chairs.
Gabe held up his glass. “To friends.”
“Friends,” Cooper and Cody bellowed.
“I know a great seafood restaurant. The best
shrimp and grits ever,” Gabe said. He licked his lips
after taking a sip of scotch. “This is good stuff.”
Cody frowned. “Hmm, seafood …”
Cooper flashed a quick look at Gabe then to
Cody. “Sir? Don’t you like seafood? I’m sure they
have other things on the menu.” Cooper looked over
at Gabe for reassurance.
“Oh yeah, man. They have steaks, chicken, and
all of that. But the shrimp and grits are to die for,
right, Cooper?”
Cody swallowed hard. “Darla is a vegan.”
Cooper flashed a smile. “A vegetarian, sir?”
Cody nodded.
Gabe looked at Cooper then abruptly started
laughing. Soon Cooper was laughing loudly too, and
Cody couldn’t figure out what was so funny.
Cody reached over and set his glass down on the
coffee table. “What’s so funny?”
Gabe tried to speak in between laughs. “She’s a
vegan … and you … you own a steakhouse.”
Cooper roared. Gabe grabbed his stomach, he
was laughing so hard. Gabe brushed his hand across
his mouth and then downed his drink. “I’d say this
calls for another round.”
Cooper jumped up, gathered the glasses, and
headed for the bar.
Cody crossed his leg over the other. “Yeah, it
does kind of sound funny. But she’s made me some
tofu recipes that were rather good.”
Gabe’s eyes widened. He listened on.
“We even introduced a veggie burger on the
menu and a few other things at her suggestion. And I
might add, did very well,” Cody said, puffing out his
chest slightly.
Cooper handed the guys their drinks and sat
down next to Cody.
“Sir, I think it’s admirable that you chose to take
the high road and experience these new food
choices.” Cooper nodded toward Gabe.
Gabe swallowed. “Yes. Cooper is right. That’s
what relationships are all about.
“On a serious note, though. Darla will find
something she can eat at this restaurant. They have
great salads, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Chef
Peters has a vegan dish on the menu,” Gabe said,
softening his eyes.
Cody looked over toward the hallway that
adjoined the living room with the kitchen. He could
hear the ladies laughing, and it brought a smile to his
face. He was so grateful for Gabe’s and Cooper’s
friendships, and although they lived in different
states, they knew they could always count on one
another.
“When I sent Darla to your restaurant, I had no
idea she was a vegan. I wonder why she chose your
establishment? I gave her plenty of other choices,”
Gabe said.
“She said the fact that both you and Bryan
echoed your sentiments of me is what made her come
out to Texas. That and she’d never been to Dallas
before.”
“How is Bryan?” Gabe asked.
Cooper listened as the two guys talked about
Bryan.
“We’re on our way to see him. That was until we
got in an accident and ended up at the Bates Hotel.”
Gabe narrowed his eyes. “Yeah about your
truck—it should be arriving here in two days. That
guy drove a hard deal. He wouldn’t release the truck
until we paid him ten thousand dollars.”
Cody widened his eyes. He tossed his drink back
and placed the glass on the table with a thud. “That’s
highway robbery. I’m gonna …”
“It’s done. I’ve paid him, and you’ll get your
truck. And, if it’s not in tip-top shape, I’ll be making
a visit,” Gabe winked.
Cooper crossed his legs. “Yeah. We’ll send out
our crew to have a little talk with that bugger,”
Cooper laughed.
The ladies bounced into the living room, each
one with a wine glass in her hand.
“So that’s what all the giddiness was about—
wine,” Cooper said.
Darla plopped down on the other side of Cooper.
She laid her hand on his leg. “I just love your British
accent.”
“Why thank you, madam.” He took her hand into
his and lightly gave it a kiss.
Darla giggled. “And what a gentleman.”
Cody pursed his lips. “You mean what a suck
up.”
The entire group erupted in laughter.
Ronnie sat down on Gabe’s lap and whispered
something in his ear.
Gabe cleared his throat. “We’ll take our luggage
up to our rooms and get ready for dinner. Then we
can watch the fireworks. I know the perfect place.”
Darla jumped up. “Groovy,” she said, twisting
and turning with delight.
Camie walked around the table and took Cooper's
hand. She was keeping her eyes on Darla. She was a
little bit too frisky with her boyfriend.
Darla reached out and gently put her hand on
Camie’s arm. “You’re one lucky lady. You and
Cooper are perfect for each other.”
Camie softened her stance. “Thanks, Darla.”
Camie softly tugged at Cooper’s arm to get him to
follow her. “Let’s go upstairs and get ready, darling.”
“With pleasure, my lady,” Cooper said.
Darla and Cody watched as the foursome headed
up toward the mahogany and marble stairway.
“I hope they won’t mind we took the master,”
Cody said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
* * *
After a magnificent dinner, the three couples
headed to the Charleston Marriott rooftop bar. Gabe
knew the manager and was able to get everyone in on
such a busy night. They’d have the best view for the
firework display.
After two or three rounds of cocktails, the first
wave of colorful display filled the sky. Cody held
Darla tight as they watched. The pride he felt for his
country was overwhelming and the patriotic holiday
all ablaze with beautiful sounds and colors brought it
home for Cody. He leaned down and whispered
something in Darla’s ear. Her smile widened and a
small tear formed on her bottom lid. It slowly made
its way down her cheek, nearing the corner of her
mouth. She caught the salty liquid with her tongue. It
was tears of happiness.
* * *
With one foot, Cody shut the door behind them.
Darla was fiercely holding onto his neck and kissing
him all over. He walked her back toward the bed,
carefully trying to focus on the hot and steamy kisses
as he did. They both fell onto the bed, neither one
letting go. Finally Darla let go of her grasp and
scooted herself up toward the headboard. She opened
her arms fo
r him. Cody eased his body on top,
shoving his hands into her tousled locks that framed
the pillow. She let out a soft moan. She arched her
back and Cody could feel her desire building beneath
his hard body. He studied her eyes, and every inch of
her face. Her eyes glazed with need. He lowered his
face and met her open mouth, devouring her with
sweeping strokes of his tongue. Her body moved
beneath his. She ran her fingers down his chest and
soon began unbuttoning his shirt. He followed her
lead and soon they were flesh to flesh. Cody and
Darla were one. Darla burrowed her head in his neck,
pulling him deep, gasping and moaning as she did.
Cody never took his eyes off of her. She clung to his
broad shoulders feeling his hard chest against her
bare breasts. She could feel the steady beat of his
heart, it thumped like a piston. He moved with such
ease but it was powerful, too. She wrapped her legs
around him as they continued the slow and steady
motion.
With Darla lying in his arms, Cody listened as
she breathed softly. He gently ran his hands up and
down her arms. She pressed her body into his. He
looked down at her angelical face.
She put one hand on his chest. She could still feel
his heart beating heavily. So this is how it felt. It had
been a long time since she felt this way. She opened
her eyes and studied his face. “Did you mean what
you said?” she softly asked.
He lowered his head and softly kissed her
forehead. “Every word of it.”
Her smile widened. “I love you, too.”
Their lips met, and he tenderly kissed her. He
rolled back over on the pillow. “I hope we weren’t
too loud,” he chuckled.
“I tried to keep it under wraps, but boy you sure
know how to bring the O out in me!” She propped
herself up on one elbow, staring at his chiseled face,
eventually gazing at his powerful hands. The
powerful hands that just moments ago explored every
inch of her body.
“On to D.C., right?” she asked.
“Yep. I had an idea.”