Read Keys To Her Heart (Brookfield) for Free Online

shrugged. “I still might bring you some anyway. Your mood has been so glum. Seth said you haven’t been yourself in days.”
    It was good to know he was their usual dinner conversation—not.
    “Ava.” Seth pulled her tight. “Let the man be. If he says he’s fine, he’s fine. Men don’t need to talk about everything.”
    She glared at her husband, and Cody swore he saw fire behind her eyes. “Fine.”
    Cody stepped back, not wanting to be there when she finally released her fury on Seth. Ava was not a woman to be messed with. She was feisty, and had no trouble speaking what was on her mind to anyone who wanted to listen.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Cody gave a slight nod then headed back to his desk to gather his things.
    *
    Leaving work early seemed like a good idea at the time, but now Cody was home alone. His mind screamed at him with images of Lily. It couldn’t hurt to call her. Her son getting in a fight was the perfect excuse. However, if a woman says it’s not a good time to date, did that mean she really didn’t have time? Maybe he was the only one who thought the date had gone well.
    He hated to do it, but there was only one person to ask for advice. Diane. He knew he didn’t want to get into a phone conversation with her. If luck was with him, she’d be busy and a text would work.
    Cody fished his phone from his pocket and sent her a message. If a woman says this is not a good time in her life to date, does she mean it?
    Now to hope she responded with just a text. He took a sip from his glass of tea just as the screen lit up on his phone and it vibrated. Damn it, she was calling.
    “Hey, sis.”
    “How did she say it?” Again, his sist er needed to know how it was said. “Did you ask her out and she said this wasn’t a good time. If so, she’s not interested in you.”
    He chuckled. “No, it wasn’t like that. We’d already gone out once, but something happened with her son, which in turn had her telling me she couldn’t date right now. She’s a single mom.”
    Diane took a deep breath. “Well.” She paused and Cody could hear Patrick laughing and banging something in the background. “Have you seen her since?”
    “No.”
    “Called?”
    “Nope.”
    “I don’t know.”
    Wow, Diane didn’t know? This was new. “I guess I’m still at square one.”
    She giggled. “Call her.”
    “You think?” He was so confused.
    “She’s busy if it’s just her raising her kid. Lord, I’m not single and I’m busy. I can only imagine what her life is like working and having a child. If you like her, show her. Maybe she’s worried you’re just looking for a fuck.”
    “ Diane! ” He shook his head in disbelief. His sister hadn’t just said that.
    “I’m just saying, if she decides to date you, she’s not looking to fool around. So if you don’t have good intentions, don’t call.”
    Cody let out the breath he’d been holding. This whole dating game sucked. Perhaps the parents that arranged marriages when their kids were just babies knew what they were doing. At least then the kids didn’t have to play these games and struggle to figure out if the other person liked them or not.
    “Okay, I’ll call.”
    Patrick let out a piercing scream. “I’ve got to go. The kitten Matt insisted on getting Patrick just scratched him.”
    “Oh no. Why?”
    “Damn kid keeps pulling its tail.”
    Cody grinned silently, since he couldn’t exactly laugh without his sister giving him an earful. “Go take care of him.”
    “All right. Later.”
    He set the phone on his lap. So he should call. According to his sister, he needed to show Lily he was in this for the long haul and not just a fuck . Cody liked Lily, and wanted more than getting her between the sheets, but marriage? All he could do was take his feelings one day at a time. If Lily even decided to date him.
    * * * *
    “Today wasn’t good.” Margaret frowned and Lily’s gut dropped. “I’m sorry. I’ve left her in her room