Page 14 of May's Bad Boy: Kody

It doesn't take long to trace Miss Ada's loan. The lender? A predatory company with ties to a developer that's been gobbling up land all over the region. They hide behind shell companies and bait elderly homeowners with vague threats and one-day-only offers.

"He's not building a resort," I mutter. "He's buying a town."

Kody steps closer, eyes scanning the screen. "You sure?"

I click open a few documents. "Positive. Look here at this clause. It jumps the interest rate after twelve months. And this one? Waives the homeowner's right to dispute the terms."

"That's illegal, right?"

"Shady, at the very least. But if we can prove this is a pattern, we might be able to stop it."

That evening, we sit out on the porch after we get Sadie to bed. The sun is dipping low, painting the sky with oranges and golds, and a warm breeze carries the scent of pine and distant grilling meat. I show Kody everything I've found, flipping through tabs and notes on my screen. His eyes stay on me more than the laptop.

"You're amazing," he says suddenly.

I freeze. "What?"

"Watching you do this. The way you see through the bullshit, how focused you are. You don't look like someone who's not just surviving anymore."

I glance at him, heart thudding. "No?"

He leans forward with a smile. "You look like someone taking her life back."

It hits me in the chest. Not just the words, but the way he says them—like he means every damn syllable. Like he sees me in a way no one else has in a long, long time.

I feel my breath hitch, emotions rising faster than I can push them down. "I don't know what I'm doing half the time," I admit. "But I do know this town and these people deserve better."

Kody nods, his gaze softening. "They're lucky to have you."

"And what about you?" I ask before I can stop myself.

His brow furrows. "What do you mean?"

"Are you glad you did this?" I whisper. "Married me?"

He hesitates for a beat. Then, "Yeah. I am."

The truth in his voice, the raw honesty of it, is overwhelming.

And I don't know what possesses me next. Maybe it's the weight of everything, or maybe it's the fact that he sees me... really sees me.

I kiss him.

It's soft and cautious at first. A brush of lips that could still be passed off as a mistake if we needed it to be.

But he doesn't pull away. His hand comes up warm against my cheek, anchoring me there like I belong. The kiss deepens, but we don't rush it. When we finally break apart, I'm breathless. A little dizzy. A lot changed.

"Well," I say, voice shaking. "That was probably not part of the contract."

He smiles, that slow, quiet kind of smile that makes my knees weak. "No. It wasn't."

We don't say anything more. We don't need to.

Later that night, we're in the living room. I've spread out papers across the coffee table: printouts of Ada's records, lender information, notes scribbled on sticky notes. Kody helps me organize them, his eyes serious. Every time our fingers brush, something buzzes through me like a low current. With each touch and glance, it feels like the world is shifting slightly on its axis.

We talk about how to approach Ada. Carefully, without scaring her. I want to bring Ruby in too. And Orville—he's got roots in this town deeper than anyone. With him being the mayor, he needs to be aware of this. If we can show them the pattern, get their backing, we can build a real case.

"I'll drive you to the records office in the morning," Kody offers. His voice is steady, sure. Like it's not even a question.

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