Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 132962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Now all these hours later, Cody knew, he likely would have had sex with Mitch last night. The decision would have come after a lengthy internal struggle to justify his actions—because he had an inner battle with just about everything that had to do with his casual sexual needs—but no question in his mind, he’d have gone through with that one-night stand if given the opportunity.
He suspected that sexual encounter would pretty much have rocked his world, but what intrigued him more was that phone call Mitch had gotten. That call had stopped everything and sounded official. For those few seconds that he’d stood outside the car, listening to the conversation, Mitch went from the persistent, excessive flirt to a formal, hard-toned deputy marshal. It made him realize Mitch was truly badass at his job, and that was everything Cody ever wanted to be.
As he veered off the highway, taking the back roads to his family’s farm, he wished he’d had the balls to ask for Mitch’s phone number. At the time, he’d blamed his lack of courage on not being sophisticated enough to play the one-night stand game. Giving phone numbers meant involvement, and he didn’t see Mitch as relationship material. He’d watched Mitch long enough last night to know he’d come there looking for sex. Cody easily put Mitch in the category of being the type to have a guy in every port. But now, as he lamented his missed opportunity, he recognized that fear had somewhat held him back. He had a mighty strong attraction to the guy, and it was going to take a long time to get past the appeal Mitch held. He also knew he had to up his game and get back to his priorities.
He was a twenty-six-year-old gay man who had chosen his career. He needed to stop wasting time on trying to nail party boys down to monogamous partners and start looking for something more attainable. Someone who fit him better and understood his life.
He figured that was the lesson he needed to have learned from last night. Eventually, he’d meet some professional men in law enforcement. He needed to be open to them, not shy away like he tended to do. He’d closed himself up too tight, trying to balance stereotypes, protect himself and keep the career goals of his profession.
With those thoughts, he took the long dirt road to his parents’ house. He wondered what Mitch would think about weekly church services and lunch with his family. More than likely someone as badass as Mitch Knox had probably extricated himself from his family a long time ago. He couldn’t see Mitch sitting inside a church, even the Cowboy Church they all attended. He even laughed at that thought. No, he couldn’t see Mitch sitting in his family’s pew, right up front, listening to a sermon. He wondered what Mitch would think about his father and oldest brother, Mason, being deacons of that church? That thought made him laugh out loud as he pulled up to the house.
As he suspected, all his brothers and sisters were parked right out front. What he hadn’t expected was the giant banner running across the front porch that said very clearly, Congratulations, Cody! That had him smiling. He’d given himself all night and this entire trip back home to think about Mitch, but he’d dwelled on his missed opportunity long enough. He had people here who loved him, and in the words of his oldest sister, he needed to keep moving forward, and the past was most definitely behind him.
As he put his truck in park, the smile stayed on his face as his oldest niece, Sarah, who was seven, launched herself off the porch, running toward his truck. The rest of the brood followed. His sister-in-law caught the youngest one, Talon, as the little tyke tried to run after the others off the front porch steps. That would have been a face plant for sure since the little guy barely walked yet. Cody had decided a long time ago that his siblings were a breeding bunch.
“Uncle Cody! Congratulations!” Sarah said, hugging him tight before he’d even made it all the way out of the truck. Tucker who was six was on his other side, mimicking Sarah’s hold. When four-year-old Kylie finally reached him, her little arms extended, ready for him to haul her up. He did and got a big wet kiss on his lips. He loved them all, no question, but Kylie held a special place in his heart.
“Uncle Cody, you didn’t go with me to church this morning,” she said as he bent over, hugging Sarah, and then patting Tucker on the head. Tanner had finally made the distance. He was a little past two and a half, and Cody hauled him up, placing him on the other hip.
“Nana made your favorite cake for Sunday lunch,” Tucker declared as the group of them made their way toward the front porch. By then, the rest of his family stood outside waiting for him.
“Shhh, it was supposed to be a surprise,” Sarah whispered.
“Congratulations, Son,” his mom praised again as he handed Tanner over to his brother, because at the moment, Kylie had a death grip on his shirt. His mom was five-two, so he had to angle himself to keep Kylie in his arms as he bent to hug her.
“Thanks for all this,” he said, accepting her kiss.
“We’re so proud of you, Son.” His dad was up next, giving him a tight hug, but his little nephew, Talon, wanted in on the action. He maneuvered himself from his sister-in-law’s arms to where he had the same death grip on Cody that Kylie had. The congratulations continued from all his brothers and sisters as he slowly made his way inside. Even his dog, Chester, was right there, ready to greet him too.
“Was he good?” Cody asked Kylie who was finally ready to let go, once he kneeled down to pet Chester.
“No, he pooped in the dining room. Mom got mad at him,” she corrected.