Cash pulled up in front of 5381 Harriford Road and sat for a minute, studying the home where Becky lived; it was far grander than he had expected. The house was an old ranch house that had been completely renovated, and stood as a monument to a bygone era. The front yard was meticulously manicured and beautifully landscaped, with an array of flowering shrubs and a fountain in the center. Round brick steps led to the front porch, with pathways that branched off, appearing to lead to nowhere. It was a child’s garden, and he could imagine Becky playing there as a little girl. The house was one of the nicest he’d seen since entering the small town, and peering past the house to the back pastures, he could see horses happily grazing. Becky’s unassuming nature and quiet modesty did not reflect the prosperity the property suggested.
As he headed up the steps, the front door opened. He paused, looking up, and there stood the girl who had served him in the diner, appearing even prettier than he remembered. A touch of mascara highlighted her sapphire eyes, and light pink gloss shone across lips that were completely irresistible.
Becky could feel her heart threatening to jump out of her chest. Cody was casually dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt, and his perfectly toned, muscled body was inviting her to lean against him. She wanted his arms to engulf her, she wanted to lose herself in him, to feel his kiss, to-
“Hello, Becky,” he smiled, breaking into her daydream.
“Hello, Cody,” she managed, returning his smile.
An electric current sizzled across the few feet between them. Time, for just a moment, ceased to exist, and they both instinctively knew they were living a memory that would stay with them forever.
“You have a lovely home.” he remarked, walking towards her.
He had forced his legs to move, though he would have been happy to stand there and just gaze at her, her blonde hair shining in the light of the sun, framing her angelic face.
“Thank you,” she replied, thinking her voice sounded shaky. “Come on in. I have some fresh coffee for you.”
“That sounds great,” he answered, not wanting to take his eyes off her.
Cody didn’t know what it meant to be nervous around women, and his racing pulse was an alien sensation. The confident, charismatic rock star was suddenly a 17-year-old-boy visiting his first love, and he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.
In his study, David Turner could hear the nervous exchange. He had brought his daughter to the warm, gentle town, determined to give her the stable life he’d had growing up, never imagining she would meet a traveling musician and fall in love. He didn’t have to watch their interaction to know that’s exactly what had happened. He could hear it, and he had already seen the sparkle in her eyes.
Sighing deeply, wanting happiness for his only child, hoping the young man was worthy, and not knowing what he would do if the boy wasn’t, he decided to give them a little more time before making his appearance.
David Turner was once a Master Chef, had published several best-selling cook books, had been a regular guest chef on national television shows, and had been well on his way to full celebrity status when tragedy had struck. His wife had been mugged and murdered in Central Park by a couple of kids high on drugs. They had smashed a rock into the back of her head, chasing whatever money and credit cards might be in her purse.
Becky had been just three years old, and it was his love for her that had kept him sane through the painful months that followed. The tragedy was what prompted him to take the wealth he’d accumulated and return to his home town, a place of safety and quiet, where a little girl could grow up playing in the front yard, surrounded by nature and kind caring people, and most importantly, away from the dangers lurking in a big city. As he listened to the happy voices floating in from the kitchen, he truly hoped he would like Cody Cox.
Roy was out of the picture now, he had made sure of that. The boy had been on a path to hell and someone needed to step in and wake him up. His plan had come off without a hitch, mostly because of the assistance of a stranger who had helped the drunk Roy out of the club, then shockingly, had delivered him into his truck. The stranger had carried out part one of David’s plan.
When the coast had cleared, David had jumped in the truck himself, driven a short distance down the road, and plowed the truck into a tree. He knew precisely when Sheriff Hollister would drive by, and the timing was nothing short of extraordinary. As he’d jogged back to his car, he’d felt as if fate had stepped in with a helping hand.
He glanced at his watch. Five more minutes and he’d wander casually into the kitchen and meet the man who had stolen the heart of his precious little girl. Seated at the table with Becky, Cody was just finishing a slice of a blueberry crumble, washing it down with the last of his coffee. Though the electricity between them had not abated, they had fallen into an easy conversation about Becky’s horses.
“I’d love to take you out back and introduce you,” she suggested, “unless you want more pie and coffee.”
“Becky, there is absolutely nothing I want more than to meet your horses, but I could say the same about more pie and coffee. It’s a tough choice,” he grinned, “but let’s do the horses.”
“Okay, and when we come back dad will probably come out of hiding. He’s really anxious to meet you,” she said enthusiastically.
You idiot. Her father! Cody abruptly realized. She may not know you’re Cash Colt, but there’s every chance her father will know exactly who you are. Why didn’t you think of this?
“Do you have carrots?” he asked, standing up quickly.
“Of course,” she answered, surprised by the alacrity with which he had jumped up from the table, and opening the refrigerator, pulled out a plastic bag already filled with a dozen or so.
“Great. Lead the way,” he smiled, hoping they could get out of the kitchen before her father made his grand entry. He had to tell her who he was right away, and he felt foolishly unprepared.
“Follow me,” she replied, pirouetting on one foot and heading to the back door.
Walking behind her, he was completely captivated by her perfect posterior, flawlessly visible in her tight jeans. Everything about her was feminine and sweet, the kind of girl he’d always dreamed of meeting, and he prayed that she would understand why he had kept his identity a secret. She abruptly stopped and turned, smiling happily, waiting for him to catch up. It was just a few steps, but the thoughtfulness of the small act touched him.
“You’re a sweetheart,” he said impulsively, and reaching out, wrapped his fingers around hers.
“I am? Thank you,” she blushed.
His hand was soft and warm and protective, and she felt an uplifting wave of elation, a fulfilling happiness that found her catching her breath.
“This place is remarkable,” he declared, looking up at the nearby hills and across the open, green fields.
“That’s our herb garden,” she announced proudly, pointing to a fenced-off area with rows of small bushes and shrubs. “Dad grows all the herbs he uses in his cooking.”
“And I’ll bet his food tastes that much better because of it,” Cody remarked, and as he continued to scan his surroundings, he added, “Everything’s so green,”
“It’s green because it rains a lot,” she commented, “but I really like the rain. Washes everything clean and smells so good.”
They were almost at the fence line, and as they approached the horses looked up, ears pricked, and began to amble towards them.
“Sandman will try to push Itsy Bitsy away,” she told him, opening the bag and handing him some carrots, “and the other two, Harry and Hannah, will just stand back a bit and wait for me to throw the carrots over to them.”
“So, they’re the smart ones,” he observed.
“I think so,” she giggled. “Harry belongs to Dad, and Hannah is owned by Auntie Joan. She’s not really my aunt but kind of raised me when we moved here. She’s my best friend, and dad’s too.”
“And Sandman and Itsy Bitsy are yours?” he asked, feeding Sandman, while Becky did the same with her mare, tossing every other carrot across their backs to the other two horses.
“Yep. Sandman is Mr. Reliable and Itsy Bitsy is fast and fun,” she smiled.
“They made short work of those,” Cody chuckled, feeding his last one. “Just like my guys. Seems you can never bring enough.”
“I know, right?” Becky laughed. “Do you want to go back to the house and meet my dad?”
“Uh, no. There’s something I need to talk to you about first. Can we go to the bus? It’s important.”
“Sure, it’s just over there,” she replied, pointing across to the neighboring field.
Cody squinted in the direction of her gesture, and saw the sleek vehicle parked under a grove of trees, partially hidden by shadows from the canopy of branches above.
“Perfect. Do you have the keys?”
“I do, right here,” she replied, pulling them out of her pocket.
“Then let’s go,” he announced.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“I’ll know the answer to that question,” he said somberly, “very soon.”
Intrigued but worried, she was comforted when his hand slipped back around hers, and together they marched across the grass to the bus.
David, watching from the kitchen window, sighed heavily. It seemed meeting the young man would have to wait. He certainly wasn’t going to follow them over to the bus and knock on the door. It could wait. They’d be back to the house soon enough.
The walk across the field only took a few minutes, and when they entered the bus, Becky was surprised at how comfortable Cody was in the luxury it offered, the opulence not phasing him at all. He didn’t given it a second glance, and she had the sense it was not just what he had expected, but what he was used to.
“My turn to ask you, would you like a drink? I’m sure whatever you want will be here some place,” he declared.
“No, thank you. I just want to know what’s so important.”
He sat down on the cream leather sofa, gently pulling her sit next to him.
“Before I tell you, I have a request,” he said softly.
“What’s that?” she frowned.
“I absolutely, positively, must kiss you.”
“Yes, please,” she breathed, thinking there was nothing more she wanted in the whole world, than to feel his full, soft mouth against hers.
He stared into her luminous blue eyes, and leaning in, lightly touched his lips to her eyelids. She let out an almost imperceptible moan, instantly sending life to his cock, and as he traveled his mouth across her face, planting tiny kisses on her cheeks and nose, the energy pulsed through his loins, gripping him in its hold.
His lips reached hers, brushed lightly, then pressed. Lifting his free hand he clutched her hair, enveloping her mouth, kissing her as he wished, with passion and fervor, his hot, coursing need expressed without reservation.
Becky was sure she was about to faint. It wasn’t just that her heart was hammering, or that she couldn’t breath, or that his kiss was unlike any kiss she’d ever felt, it was the sudden, searing heat between her legs, fueling her growing wetness, and the overwhelming desire to have his arms utterly engulf her, and never, ever, let her go.
As if reading her mind, he broke their kiss and circled his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. He could hear her panting, and he closed his eyes, breathing in her soft, fresh fragrance as he felt her body melt into his.
“Becky, you are absolutely divine,” he murmured.
“Cody,” she sighed. “I feel as if I know you. I mean, really know you.”
“God,” he breathed, lifting his head and opening his eyes, “of all the things you could have said…”
“What is it?” she asked sitting up, “Did I say something wrong?”
“Just the opposite. You feel as if you know me,” he sighed.
“But I do.”
“Yes, you do, you know me, Cody Cox, and it’s, well, that’s what I wanted, for you to know me.”
“I don’t understand,” she frowned. “What are you trying to say?”
“I think you need to prepare yourself for a bit of a shock,” he said carefully.
“My name is Cody Cox. That is true, but-”
“But what? You’re scaring me.”
“You don’t need to be scared. The thing is, I am a musician, just as I told you. I’m a professional singer and a songwriter,” he began.
“I knew it. You’re with that big star, right? You work with Cash Colt?”
“You could say that,” he replied, then taking a deep breath he added, “the thing is Becky, I am Cash Colt.”