Page 30 of Codi
Despite all the cursing I’m currently doing in my head, I manage a sheepish smile. “Oh yeah. It’s been such a crazy couple of weeks.”
“He’s really excited. I’ve told him all about you.”
The timing could not be worse. If this were two weeks ago, before my St. Paddy’s date with Becca, I’d probably be all over the man and finally break this dry spell I’ve cast over myself. I already planned on sleeping with this guy the moment I saw his portrait. A man from London, with an accent and everything? Hell, when they can talk pretty, it doesn’t even matter how they do in the bedroom. Their voices alone are the sex.
Nicholas is a good-looking guy. Top notch. A ten out of ten. Old Denise would’ve hit it and quit it without a callback number. But now, Codi’s in the mix, and it’s his face and his smile taking over my every thought and every inch of me like a fucking fever dream.
I don’t want Nicholas. I want Codi.Fuck!
“Are you sure about this?” I ask her cautiously. “I mean, international romances sound amazing, but with Lucas and all... ”
“You don’t have to marry him tonight, you know.” Nancy chuckles. “And don’t worry, he loves kids.”
With how excited Nancy is, there’s no way I can cancel this. Not unless I want to burn bridges with her. Our friendship is new, and I like her a lot. She’s fun and easygoing, and she’s gone through so much trouble to set this date up for me, all because I was complaining about my noticeable lack of Prince Charmings—namely the rich heir to some noble, foreign land type. You know, the one who would let me quit my day job and actually live that fantasy lifestyle of sitting on my ass, eating bonbons, and watching reality shows all day.
Little did I know my new pal actually knows one of those Prince Charmings. He’s a family friend, no less.What a bitch.
“Well, that’s good.” My hands are tied now, and I smile away my hesitation. Time to just suck it up and deal with it. It’s just a date, after all. It’s not like I actually have to sleep with this guy. “We were gonna meet at Blackhaus Tavern at six thirty, right? Do I need to make a reservation?”
“Oh, not at all! He’s already got that taken care of. What’ll you be wearing?”
Oh hell. Too sexy may give him the wrong idea. Too conservative makes me feel like a nun. “I’m not sure yet.” I have a pretty cocktail dress that covers me up to my knees, though. “Do you want to just give him my number?” Might as well woman up and take over from here. Nancy’s busy enough without having to play my secretary.
“Sure!” Nancy types a message up for me on her phone and sends it off. "There. Sent. Have fun tonight!"
“I will.”Maybe. Maybe this is what I need.
Maybe Codi doesn’t desire me that way, and I read into those signals I thought he was sending me—because he’s an android. Their signals might be different from man-signals. I don’t know.
A handsome stranger from England may be exactly what I need to get my head on straight. After all, if Codi isn’t interested, what better way to call this a crush and get it over with?
* * *
After my second shower for the day, I dry, curl, and style my hair for my date tonight. I go all out on makeup, opting for soft browns and matte colors that won’t make me look like a raccoon in the tavern’s low-lit atmosphere. Just because I’m not going to sleep with him doesn’t mean I can’t pull out all the stops and look like the most beautiful American bombshell he’s ever going to see.
I wiggle into my shimmery champagne cocktail dress and give myself a quick once-over in the mirror. It accentuates my hips and rear just right. I have no doubt the plunging neckline is going to be a hit. I grab my favorite pair of nude pumps and slip my feet into them, taking one last look.
I have my days where I feel more like a troll hiding under a bridge than a woman, but tonight I’m feeling myself, and I am an absolute knockout.
I wonder if Codi agrees. Okay, maybe I have some ulterior motives for going this hard. After all, what better way to see if there’s a hot-blooded man beneath that sexy, synthetic exterior?
Wait. Do androids have blood? Eh. Whatever.
I sashay into the living room. Lucas sits at the kitchen counter on his stool, finishing up his meal of buttery grilled salmon and garlic toast and trying to maneuver a stalk of asparagus into his mouth. That makes me proud. I may suck at keeping a clean house myself, but at least my little boy eats his vegetables. A mom has to celebrate her victories where she can.
“Wow!” Lucas exclaims with big eyes, beaming at me. “Mommy, your dress is pretty!”
“Thank you, baby.” I press a kiss to his brow. “Is your dinner good?”
“Yeah.”
Codi stands in front of the stove. Slowly, he turns to look at me while tending to the pan that’s frying another slice of toast. His long sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and he wears an apron over a superhero logo shirt and a pair of jeans.
Oh, no. Abort mission.Codi in jeans is my weakness.
He lowers his hands to wipe them with his apron. “Denise, you look... ”
I wait expectantly for an answer, smiling at him. He stares back at me, mouth slackened. Internally I’m practically dancing inside. “I look... ”
