she gave up pretending.
Three years ago, Shelby had come to Tucker’s Crossing, desperate for a safe place to regroup and rediscover the woman she had once been. Cody’s dad had given her that, and a place to call home. Then he’d died and she’d buried him, grieved for him, all the while preparing for Cody’s return.
As expected, he never showed up. She finally had to resign herself, once again, to the idea that she might never get the chance to make things right for herself, for Cody—for her family.
Shelby fumbled with the zipper of her dress. This was bad. Really bad. Because when she had stepped out of the shower and saw him, looking exactly like she remembered, her heart started racing just the way it used to. And Shelby was terrified.
Not because she’d had a gun pointed at her. No, Shelby felt like her chest was about to split open because the one man she needed on her side had finally come home—and she’d somehow managed to piss him off. And she was afraid he was two seconds away from hightailing it out of there, away from Tucker’s Crossing, away from Sweet Plains, and away from her, only to disappear for another decade.
Cody yanked his bedroom door shut and threw his bag down. Was this some kind of a sick joke? His old man’s last laugh? It had to be.
Coming back was bad enough. But walking into his mom’s room and seeing Shelby, all of Shelby, with her wet, lush curves bared for his viewing, was enough to drive a man over the edge.
“Christ!” Cody kicked the bed frame, expelling some of the rage that had been building since the reading of the will.
Why was she here? What was she after? She’d dumped him. Betrayed him in every way possible. Hell, she’d married his best friend. But all the betrayal in the world didn’t stop his need. Those blue eyes and that smart mouth still turned him on.
Cody dropped his head and rubbed at the knot that was starting to form at the base of his skull. He looked down at his crotch, caught sight of his raging hard-on and groaned. Why did she have to look so damn good?
The truth was—he’d blown it as only a Tucker could do. Oh, she must not have been too upset over the breakup, the same one that had reshaped every aspect of his adult life—because she’d moved on, right into his business partner’s bed.
But if Cody were being honest, he’d damn well scared her into it. Not that his friend’s bank account and family name were a bad consolation prize.
No matter the reason, they were over. He wasn’t here to reminisce with his first love about their past regardless of how badly he wanted her. He’d come to Tucker’s Crossing with a single purpose—securing his and his brothers’ legacy. And no one was going to get in his way. So until he knew more, knew why Shelby was here, he’d keep the details of his father’s will and his plans for The Crossing to himself.
Not that she’d be around long enough to get in his way. Cody planned to get his answers and then send her and her tight little ass packing.
Shelby stacked the remaining lunch dishes into the dishwasher. Though half an hour had passed, her efforts to distract herself fell short of their desired effect.
Cody was back. And he wanted her gone.
With a practiced flick of the wrist, she twisted her hair up, and placed a damp towel on the back of her exposed neck, her body as queasy as it had been when she’d looked up at her intruder and seen Cody looking back. Despite all of her planning, Shelby was about as prepared to see him as he was to see her. And she wondered sadly if they would ever be any different.
“Shelby Lynn?” Cody’s voice came from behind, wrapping itself around her and grabbing hold. Her fingers loosened, the hair slipping and spilling down to the middle of her back.
Shelby Lynn. Cody had called her that a thousand times before. But hearing it now, falling from his lips so casually, created a yearning deep within her. It was as if the life she’d been living these past ten years had never existed.
Setting the cloth on the counter, Shelby smoothed her hands down the fabric of her dress. Going for calm and collected, she held her position by the sink and prayed for some witty remark. One that would show him how unaffected she was, how strong she’d become.
But Lord help her, she’d missed everything about this man. And except for his hair, which formed unruly curls at his neck, everything about Cody crackled with control and order. The small scar on his chin, the smell of musky cologne mixed with soap, even the way he wore his—slacks?
“Are you wearing loafers?”
He blinked, looking baffled. Join the club, buddy. Since when did Cody Tucker—cowboy, rough-and-tumble cattle wrangler, and all-around sexy Texan—start dressing like a city boy?
“What’s wrong with loafers?”
“You’re on a ranch. In the middle of Texas. Wearing softer hide than the cows.”
“Visited a lot of cattle ranches in San Francisco, did you? Between all your dinner parties and Save the Arts soirées, I’m surprised you found the time.”
He sounded so—mean. Shelby crossed her arms, to show him she could be mean too, and to hide her cute and totally inappropriate summer dress. Thankfully, she’d left her equally unsuitable city-girl shoes upstairs.
Cody stepped closer with that easy gait of his, which was more of a stroll than a strut. Stopping right in front of her, he left just enough space to keep them a world apart.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
Now that she was clothed, she wasn’t sure if she should go for the hey-now-that-you-don’t-have-a-gun-pointed-at-me-it’s-great-to-see-you attitude or hide under the table. Since cowering in front of an intimidating man was something she’d sworn never to do again, she gave him what she hoped was a hard look. “That I was hot and needed a shower. Didn’t expect Jesse James to come riding through.”
“Yeah, well, you could have gotten yourself shot.” He sounded furious, which she’d take any day over controlled and unaffected.
“You wouldn’t have shot me. You engaged the safety the minute you saw it was me.”
“That’s just because I’m good. Someone else might not have bothered to ask questions first.” His tone softened, and his hand came up to cup her face. His touch was reverent and gentle, almost as if he needed real, tangible proof that she was really there.
Heat gathered along the path his fingers took. Not prepared for the overwhelming electricity that surged between them, and knowing how easy it would be to lose herself to him, Shelby turned her head.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what, Shelby Lynn?”
“Don’t you try to sweet-talk your way out of busting into a lady’s bathroom. What if Ms. Luella had been in there? Lord, Cody, you scared me half to death. And do you apologize for your behavior? No. You scold me like I am some misbehaving child who—”
“You’re still scared.”
“I am not.”
“Then why are you rambling?”
“I’m
