Page 33 of Hot For You

She also made a phone call to a co-worker who said he’d get software she needed to do her job overnighted to her again so that she could get it installed ASAP. He was a hacker, too and was also sending her tracer software on the side.

When they reached the ranch Carilyn did listen to Cody and laid down on the bed in the guestroom and took a nap. She woke in the early evening and found that she was feeling better. Her head hurt less and even though she felt bruised and battered from the spill she’d taken, she felt stronger.

Still, the e-mailer who called himself Firebug had her feeling uneasy and jumpy. The man, at least she assumed it was a man, had not only sent her a threatening email, but had probably been the one to tear apart Leigh’s house. The thought of that violation caused anger to burn beneath her skin.

After she had brushed her hair and washed her face, she headed into the kitchen. A note that Cody had written was on the kitchen island, telling her he was outside taking care of chores and would be back shortly.

Her stomach growled. It had been awhile since they’d eaten at a fast food place while they’d gone shopping. She didn’t consider herself to be much of a cook, but she figured there had to be something to throw together that would be easy and palatable.

She searched through the pantry and saw that he had a couple of boxes of spaghetti and a jar of red sauce. In the freezer she found frozen vegetables—a man after her own heart. Whenever she bought fresh vegetables they inevitably went bad because of how little she cooked. She located hamburger in the freezer, too. She also found a bag of salad, along with a bottle of Thousand Island dressing as well as a bottle of ranch.

It wasn’t long before she’d made meatballs. The spaghetti sauce bubbled in a small pot on the stove, and she added the baked meatballs to it when it was time. She then put the dry spaghetti into water she had boiling in a stockpot she’d found in one of the cabinets. Veggies simmered on a back burner and the salad was in a large bowl on the counter.

“Something smells good.” Cody’s deep voice had Carilyn whirling around to face him.

“Spaghetti and meatballs,” she said. “I assume you like spaghetti since it was in the pantry.”

The corner of his mouth curved up in a smile. “You assume right.” His expression turned concerned. “How are you feeling?”

“Much, much better.” She picked up a pair of potholders she’d discovered in a drawer. She started to put them on to lift the pot and pour the spaghetti into the colander she’d set in the sink.

“Let me.” He took the potholders from her, put them on, carried the stockpot to the sink, and poured the spaghetti into the colander. “I don’t think you should be carrying anything this heavy.”

She shook her head. “I think you’re worrying too much about me.”

“I’m entitled.” He set the empty stockpot on a trivet then shook the colander to get most of the water out. “I watched you take a hell of a spill.”

“Well, I’m doing lots better.” She turned off the burners that were beneath the veggies and sauce.

In a matter of moments, they had everything on the table and were seated. Dinner was enjoyable and she was glad he didn’t bring up “Firebug” or anything else that had happened. When they’d finished dinner, they cleaned up. He said he’d offer her a glass of wine but that she should stay away from alcohol until she was fully healed from the concussion or it could delay her healing.

Carilyn was surprised at how easily she had settled in to staying with Cody despite the fact that they’d only met a few days ago. She found she trusted him and was comfortable with him.

After dinner, she asked Cody to play his guitar. He got it out and sang as he played a few tunes for her. He had a great singing voice and she loved listening to him. As far as she was concerned, he finished too soon—she could listen to him all night long and not get tired of it.

Once he’d put away his guitar, he suggested watching a pay-per-view movie on cable. They picked out the latest superhero movie when they discovered they each liked Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Ironman, and any other number of superhero movies. When she sat on the couch, he sat on it too, close but not so close that she might feel he was going to try to be intimate. She wasn’t ready for that. She still had a headache, not to mention she didn’t plan on getting involved with him since she was here for such a short amount of time.

The movie was fun but at the end she found herself sleepy. “Ready for bed?” he asked when she yawned.

“Sorry.” She held back another yawn. “I think the day is getting to me.”

He shifted on the couch. “Do you have everything you need in the guestroom?”

She nodded. “Now that I have my clothes and toiletries, I’m all set. Tomorrow I should be okay to go back to Leigh’s.”

His forehead wrinkled as he frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you going back to Leigh’s after the place was just ransacked, and when you’re getting threatening emails.”

“Maybe I’ll book a room in a hotel.” She sighed. “I can’t just stay here with you. I think I’m wearing out my welcome.”

He reached out and put his hand over hers. His touch was warm, comforting. “Carilyn, you are welcome here as long as you need. I’d rather see you here where I can keep an eye on you. I have to admit I’d be damned worried if you were out there alone.”

She smiled and surprised herself as she turned her hand up and clasped his. “Don’t worry so much.”

“Can’t help it.” He studied her for a long moment, looking as though he wanted to say something. Instead he leaned closer and her belly flipped as she thought he was going to kiss her, but he pressed his lips to her forehead then drew back. “Now let’s get you to bed.”

Chapter 12

Early the next morning, Monday, Cody headed outside to take care of chores. He frowned as he thought about the person who called himself Firebug, the threatening email to Carilyn, and someone trashing Leigh’s house.

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