Darla’s eyes widened. “Do tell, cowboy.”
Chapter Fourteen
The linoleum shone like glass. Cody envisioned a
huge buffer and some old man trying to keep it under
control as he waxed the floors at the hospital. The
smell of disinfectant was everywhere.
Cody gave a few nods to the nurses and other
staff on duty. He could hear low rumblings and some
laughter coming from behind closed doors. He
wasn’t sure what there was to be so jovial about. He
hated hospitals.
Darla stopped at the nursing station and asked for
directions. She thanked the nurse and then took Cody
by the hand as she led the way to Bryan’s room.
“This is it,” she said, stopping in front of a blue
door.
Cody let out a deep breath he hadn’t realized he
was holding. He motioned for her to go through the
door first. He was her support.
Darla lightly tapped on the door and then without
waiting, opened it up and walked in. Cody followed
directly after her, softly closing the door behind
them.
The room was large, and several beds lined the
walls. Darla made a beeline straight to Bryan. Cody
hardly recognized him.
“Brother, how are you?” Darla said, hugging
Bryan as he sat on his bed near the window.
“I brought a friend with me,” she cooed.
Darla stepped aside.
Cody and Bryan locked gazes. A small smile
quirked Bryan’s mouth. Cody stepped forward and
put out his hand. “Bryan. Man. It’s been a long time.
How the hell are you?” Cody asked, grasping onto
his hand.
Bryan’s eyes darted to Darla then back to Cody.
“Pull up a chair,” he directed them.
Cody searched the room and saw a couple of gray
folding chairs. He brought them back and opened one
for Darla and then one for himself. The silence in the
room was eerie.
“What’s going on here?” Bryan blurted.
Darla wiggled in her chair. “Well … I went to
Dallas.”
“And?” he prompted.
“I met Cody. And now we’re here visiting you,”
she said.
“Sounds like a lot of in between story is being
left out,” Bryan said frowning.
Cody cleared his throat. “Darla came to me
because Gabe suggested she visit me. See how she
liked Dallas,” Cody said, telling a little white lie.
Bryan nodded. “I see.”
Cody brushed his hand through his hair. This was
harder than he expected. “To make a long story short,
old buddy your sister and me … well … we’re
dating.”
Bryan’s eyes lit up. “Dating? As in a couple?
Really? That’s cool,” he said pursing his lips.
“So you’re okay with it?” Darla asked.
“Cody is good people. I put my life in his hands,
and I’d do it again. So yes, I’m okay with it,” he said
smiling.
“So what’s the plan for you guys now?” Bryan
asked looking at Cody.
“Well. We thought you’d like to come to Dallas
with us. I was going to offer you a job in my
restaurant,” Cody said, lowering his voice.
Bryan scrunched up his face. “Was?”
“While we were on our road trip, there was a fire.
Extensive damage to Cody’s Steakhouse, I’m
afraid.”
Darla reached over and took Cody’s hand into
hers. She laced her fingers in his. A soft smile
formed on her mouth. He gently squeezed her hand.
“But …” Darla started. “We have new ideas once
we open the place back up, and we’d love for you to
join us in our new adventure.”
Bryan grunted as he lifted himself off the bed and
lowered himself into the nearby wheelchair. “How
about we get out of here for a while? We can talk
more freely outside.”
Cody jumped up and rushed to the door, opening
brought up the rear. Bryan seemed to know exactly
where he was headed. Soon they were in an elevator
and after that they were outside with meandering
sidewalks and gardens. They found a nice bench and
took a seat.
“It gets so stuffy inside,” Bryan said, taking a
deep breath. “I feel so cooped up sometimes,” he
added.
“I totally get that. I can’t wait to get back to my
ranch,” Cody said.
“You have a ranch? Wow. That’s awesome,
dude!”
“Come with us. I have plenty of room. Wide
open spaces. I could use some help. I have so many
ideas for that place.”
“Look at me, man. What kind of help do you
think I can be?” Bryan said.
Cody quickly looked to Darla for help.
“Bryan. Don’t be so rude. Cody is just trying to
help.”
Cody leaned in closer to Bryan. “Listen. I’m not
going to pretend that I know what it’s like to be an
amputee. But I have my crosses to bear, too. I suffer
from PTSD. I’m getting help, and with Darla’s love,
I’ll survive. With our love,” he said, motioning to
Darla, “we’ll all make it. Just think about it. What do
you have to lose?” Cody asked.
Bryan lowered his head. When he raised it, he
looked off into the distance, deep in thought. He
moistened his lips. “Okay. I’ll do it,” he said.
Darla smiled. She grabbed Cody’s hands and
raised them in the air. “Yay! We’re going to be a
family.” She started dancing around.
Bryan and Cody looked on.
“Dallas has one of the best VA hospitals. You’ll
have lots of support.”
“I’ll need it. I have flashbacks, nightmares, night
sweats, and the list goes on and on.”
“That’s why I think it’s important you come with
us. We can get some horses, Darla can do organic
gardening,” Cody said, winking at Darla. “I have a
dog, his name is Tracker. He’s great therapy for me,
so I know he will be for you, too.”
Bryan laughed. “All right already. You’ve sold
me on it. Now, we just gotta get the docs to sign off
on it.”
“Who do we have to talk to?” Cody asked.
“My doc comes in at about three o’clock every
afternoon for a pep talk.”
Cody furrowed his brows.
“Just to make sure I know how important my life
is. That kind of stuff,” Bryan added.
“Your life is important, Bryan. You’re the only
family I have left,” Darla said.
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll let you know
what the plan is. I may not be able to come back with
you guys, but I can fly out when I’m discharged.”
Darla’s smile widened. She hugged Cody. “Okay.
See you tomorrow.” She leaned in and kissed Bryan
on the cheek.
* * *
Cody and Darla rode in silence to the hotel they
w
ere staying at. It was near Walter Reed. They
grabbed some Thai food to go and watched an old
movie starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and
Goldie Hawn.
Darla took a bite of the spicy tofu dish and
chewed it slowly. She let out a small laugh. “You
know what?” she asked Cody.
“No. What?”
“I think I’m gonna get another tattoo.”
Cody quirked a slow smile. “Oh really? What and
where?” He gently knocked her shoulder with his.
“A cactus flower.”
“I suppose that idea just came to you while
watching the movie?”
She nodded her head a few times, glad he got the
connection.
“Well, I guess you do remind me a little of
Goldie Hawn. So that makes sense. Where are you
going to put it?”
She snuggled in and whispered in his ear. He
leaned back and let out a small laugh. He leaned back
in and kissed her softly on the lips. “You never did
show me where that other tattoo was.”
Darla laid the fork on the Styrofoam container
and set them down on the coffee table. She turned
toward Cody. He immediately focused on her mouth.
Her perfectly shaped mouth. She rose off of the
couch holding his hand as she did. She pulled at him
slightly, urging him to get up. She led him to the bed
which was just mere steps away. She pulled her
clothes off as she kissed him. She released his mouth
and turned slightly, plopping down on the soft bed.
Cody’s eyes focused on her inner thigh. His eyes lit
up.
“I told you. A place where only welcoming eyes
are invited.” Then she wrapped her arms around his
neck and pulled him in.
* * *
After a full day of consultations, Bryan got the
good news he’d be released. He agreed to travel with
Cody and Darla to Texas. Cody hadn’t seen Darla
this happy in a long time. Well. Almost. He seemed
to put a smile on her face when they were making
love. Heck. It put a smile on his face, too.
Chapter Fifteen
Back at the hotel, Cody and Darla were lying on
the couch, their legs wrapped around each other. The
television was on in the background, but neither one
of them could tell you what was playing. Cody
played with Darla’s golden locks, smiling as he did
so. Darla was smiling, too.
“Baby,” Cody called to her softly.
“Uh huh?”
“When you first saw me. At the restaurant that
night. Did you think anything about me?”
Darla turned over and was now lying in between
his legs and looking up at him.
“I thought to myself: That’s one gorgeous man,”
she said as she smiled.
“I thought there was something really different
about you as well. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but
I’m so glad I decided to take you to that other
restaurant.” He ran his hand up and down her arm.
Darla pulled herself up toward his chest more.
She angled her head so that he knew she wanted a
kiss. He obliged, leaning down and planting a warm,
wet kiss on her mouth. She let out a soft moan. He
gently released her and looked into her eyes.
“And what about those cards. Was that for real,
or did you fake that?”
Darla frowned. “The Tarot cards? I never fake
that, Cody. That was for real.”
He nodded.
She slid her hand inside his shirt and rubbed his
chest. He reached for her, pulling her up so now she
was on top of him and she could feel the hardness
under his clothes. She reached up and clasped her
hands around his neck, pulling him toward her. She
nuzzled his neck and lightly sucked, causing a small
red mark. She giggled.
“You didn’t give me a hickey did you?” he
asked, rubbing the area with his hand.
“Just a little itty bitty one,” she said, looking at
him in a way he had a hard time resisting.
He rolled her off of him and rose from the couch,
taking her hand into his as he did. She had a puzzled
look on her face as he led her to the bedroom. She
stopped walking and yanked him back toward her.
“What was wrong with the couch?”
“Nothing. I just wanted room,” he said pulling
her toward him.
“Oh. Are you saying we’re going to get wild?”
Darla whispered.
The look in his eyes told her the answer.
Darla let out a low sexy whimper. She pushed her
hand into the waistband of his shorts. She slowly
moved them almost reaching his hardness. She licked
her lips. His eyes burning with desire, he quickened
their pace toward the bedroom. He closed the door
with his foot and walked her backwards to the bed.
Darla plopped back on the bed and scooted toward
the headboard, her breath caught in her throat, her
eyes intense with desire. Cody reached for her body,
and Darla gasped. His thoughts were swimming,
making it nearly impossible to breathe. Cody claimed
her lips and a deep, sensual, tongue-thrusting kiss
ensued. He kissed her like she’d never been kissed
before. He moved his hands over the back of her
neck. He could feel her body shudder with every
touch. Darla arched her back, her arousal almost too
much to bear. He gently lowered himself between her
legs, steadying his body on two hands—push up
style. She groaned. She tossed her head back and
forth on the pillow. He couldn’t take his eyes off of
her. He lost control at the same time she did, swept
away by a warm wave of pleasure.
Delirious with heated passion, Cody and Darla
were fulfilled beyond belief. He rolled over on one
side, propping himself on one arm. He leaned over
and kissed her on her nose. She still had her eyes
closed. She let out a sigh. She stirred lightly,
bringing the sheets up to cover her. Cody leaned over
and dropped a quick kiss on her forehead.
“Wow. Wow. Wow. I totally saw stars,
butterflies, bolts of lightning … you name it, I saw
it,” she said smiling.
He leaned forward and found her mouth with his.
He stole yet another kiss.
Cody put his arm around Darla and pulled her
close. They both watched as the ceiling fan blades
turned, a low whine keeping time with the rotation of
the blades.
“Did you ever think for one moment we’d be
doing this?” Cody asked.
Darla nodded.
Cody scrunched up his face and turned toward
her. She was not taking her eyes off the ceiling fan.
“You knew that someday we’d be in bed
together?”
“The cards said it, remember?”
Cody gently ran his fingers up and down her
shoulder. “I love you,” he whispered.
Darla perked up. “What did you just say?”
“I said, I love you.” He look
ed down at her small
face with the perfectly shaped mouth.
“I’m scared, Cody. What if it doesn’t work out?
We’ve both been hurt before.”
“We won’t know if we don’t take a chance.
We’re different—there’s no denying that. We’re like
oil and vinegar. You’re my yin and I’m your yang. I
think it will work just fine. Don’t be scared. Have
faith. If we don’t have faith we don’t have anything,”
he said softly.
Darla reached over and kissed him softly on the
lips. He could feel his desire for her harden. He
gently rolled her over onto her back and looked
longingly in her deep blue eyes. He reached up and
removed a stray tendril of golden locks from her face
and gently tucked it behind her ear. He rested his
hand on her soft peach colored cheek, letting out a
sigh as he did.
I’ll keep you safe, you keep me wild,” he said.
Then he claimed her mouth with his.
Epilogue
The road trip back to Dallas was filled with fun
and would make great memories for the three. On the
way back they avoided Bates Motel and although
Darla didn’t let anyone know, she chanted a prayer
that most likely was the reason for their uneventful
trip.
Once back in Dallas, Cody and Bryan started in
on getting the barn and pastures ready for horses.
The doctor felt it would be great therapy for Bryan.
Cody couldn’t agree more. He was looking forward
to a dose of the therapy for himself.
Cody and Bryan built several raised garden beds
for Darla’s organic garden. She whistled while she
planted, and yes, even chanted. Cody was beginning
to like the rhythmic vocalization of the chants.
Bryan got himself a dog. An Australian sheepdog
that required a lot of exercise. It was the perfect dog
for a ranch. Tracker had to learn to be nice and share,
but soon the two were bosom buddies.
Gabe and the gang visited Dallas regularly, and
the group could often be seen riding horses on