Read Keys To Her Heart (Brookfield) for Free Online Page B

was.”
    “Really?” That was odd. Why would he call about her son?
    “Yeah, you said he’d been in a fight last I saw you.”
    “Oh, yeah.” She’d already forgotten about that. “He’s having a hard time making friends, and he seems to have a…” She didn’t need to tell this to Cody.
    “A what?”
    She sighed. She couldn’t not tell him now. “A bully.”
    “Is this school doing something about it?” His tone laced with concern.
    “Yeah. Gunther wasn’t crazy about being bossed around, so he punched the kid.”
    Cody chuckled. “Good for him.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Violence doesn’t solve problems.” She cleared her throat, realizing she was taking her bad day out on Cody. “Sorry. I’ve just had a long day, and I’ve still got dinner to cook.”
    “I won’t keep you. I just wanted to check on Gunther.”
    Butterflies formed in her stomach and fluttered around in fast circles. It was sweet he cared enough to call. “Thank you, that’s sweet.”
    They were both quiet. Lily needed to end the conversation and get back to her life, but she also liked having him on the other end of the phone. For some reason he cared about her and her son. If only she could open herself up to him.
    “I’d like to see you again, but I understand if this isn’t a good time. Maybe I can be there as a friend.”
    Cody could never be just a friend; she wanted to hop on him and ride her way to ecstasy. “I’d like to see you, too, but I just don’t know how to do it. My life is complicated.”
    “We can take it slow.”
    That sounded almost perfect; however, it would be dead slow. “I…”
    “I’m not going to push you,” he said.
    “Mom, I need help with this game,” Gunther called from the kitchen doorway. “I can’t get it to play.”
    And life called. “I’ve got to go, Cody. I’m sorry. We’ll talk soon.” She pressed the end button, not giving him a chance to respond.
    She needed to tell Cody no. This really wasn’t the right time in her life to start a relationship, but she didn’t have the heart. Or more like, her heart didn’t want her to. He tugged on the strings in a way she didn’t expect. She barely knew him, but falling for him would be easy. The question was, could she make time in her already hectic life for Cody?
     

    Chapter Five
     
    Cody took a deep breath and opened the door to the Swift Water Café. His gaze darted around, but he didn’t see Lily. He slowly let out the breath he’d been holding.
    “Hey, Officer Duncan,” Kathy greeted him with her usual cheerful face. “Let me guess, you’re coming in for our pork chop special today.”
    He smiled. “Of course.” It wasn’t a complete lie. This place made the best pork chops.
    “Come on in.” She rolled her arms, motioning him in.
    Cody sat down at his usual booth in the back corner of the diner.
    Placing a hand on her wide hip, she asked, “What can I get you to drink?”
    “Coffee.”
    “All right, and the pork chop special.”
    Cody nodded. “Yup. So, where is Lily?”
    Kathy smirked. “She’s easy on the eyes, that’s for sure. She’s not here today; her son was having some problems at school again. Poor kid. He seems to have found himself in a pickle. Not making friends and getting picked on.”
    He balled his hand into a fist, hating that this kid was having such a hard time. “I hate to hear that.”
    She must’ve noticed his tension and hurried to end that conversation. “I’ll be back with your coffee.”
    Cody didn’t know Gunther, but he did know the child didn’t deserve to be picked on. It was tough enough being in a new place not knowing anyone. He couldn’t believe kids could be so mean at such a young age.
    “Here you go.” Kathy slid the mug onto the table. “Holler if you need me before the food’s ready.”
    Kathy had been working at the Swift Water Café for years. Cody couldn’t remember a time he’d been here when she wasn’t.  She was a feisty and engaging woman,