Page 43 of Rescued By Midnight

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, but his fingers linger there, stroking my neck. I risk a look at his face again and see him staring at me, his eyes half-lidded.

Am I really doing this again? I learned my lesson with Landon.

I shake my head and turn away from him, pretending that the french toast needs flipping even though it’s too early.

The spell is broken. My body doesn’t seem to get the message—every nerve is crying out for Cody’s touch.

“Too bad.” Cody grabs a couple more pieces of bacon and some fruit. He sits at one of the barstools in front of the kitchen island. I can feel his gaze on me as I work. It’s unnerving in the best kind of way. Like I’m worthy of his attention, his focus.

It’s incredible how fast he went from seduction to easy acceptance. Maybe I’m a game to him. That thought is unnerving in the worst kind of way. Like he didn’t want me at all; he just wanted to see if he could get me.

Landon wanders in next, thankfully oblivious to what just happened. “It smells like heaven in here, goddamn. Wonderland, never leave us.”

“It’s only breakfast,” I say with a little laugh.

He loads up a plate. I finish cooking the last of the french toast and fill a plate of my own, joining the guys at the island. I’ve just taken my first bite when my phone buzzes on the counter in front of me.

Brayden’s calling.

I sigh and flip the phone over, but it continues buzzing.

“Is that Brayden?” Cody’s eyes narrow.

“Yeah. He’ll call back.” But I give the phone a nervous look.

“If you want to take the call, you can,” Landon says softly.

I just want to eat in peace. “Ugh. I’ll find out what he wants.”

I slide off my stool and take my phone into the living room. The buzzing stops, which means he must have been sent to voicemail, but it doesn’t matter because he’s already calling again.

“Hi,” I answer.

“Alice, I’ve been trying to call you—why aren’t you picking up?”

“I just did.” I keep my voice even. I don’t want to fight. I want to find out what he wants so I can return to my breakfast with the guys. “What’s up?”

“I’m texting you a photo. Hang on.”

I wait until an image pops up on my screen. “It’s an empty box?”

“It’s your dresser. I gave Jericha all her clothes back. I’m making the changes you asked for, so you can come home.”

“I’m—I’m not ready yet.”

“Alice. You gave me that list.”

I think fast, trying to come up with an excuse. “I haven’t had a chance to look at the Church laws. Have you?”

“I’ve done everything.” His voice is hard. “How about you go over them today, and we can meet this evening to discuss everything over dinner. You don’t have to come home tonight, but you might want to. I’m behaving for you, Alice. You’re the only one who can make me better. I love you. You’re my wife.”

I’m married. It’s something I want to forget as I stay with Landon and Cody, playing house, pretending that this is my new life.

“So, dinner?” Brayden asks. “We can eat at the deli.”

My favorite sandwich place. He never wanted to go there once he found out I used to frequent it with Landon and Cody.

“Fine. Woodstock’s Deli. What time?”