Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies (An Adams Grove Novel) (20 page)

“He’s never going to want to leave,” she said. “Where did you find that bed? It’s got to be one of a kind.”

“My dad was a farmer. He made that bed for me.”

“Are those tractor tires for the headboard and footboard?”

“Yep. My dad was pretty creative. And obviously a huge John Deere fan.”

“Obviously.”

“My dad made that dresser too. He was handy. No way could I ever get rid of the things he’d made, so my Mom kind of helped me re-create a room here with some of my old stuff. I guess it probably sounds kind of corny, but I like having a bit of my childhood around. It’ll be cool to see it through Jake’s eyes.”

“How old were you when your dad died?”

“Ten, but we made a lifetime of memories while he was alive. I’ll never forget him. For a long time I kept this stuff thinking I’d have a kid of my own—then when I got this place with all these rooms I figured I’d just get it out of storage. That’s my old bike. I chipped my tooth as Dad was teaching me to ride that thing. I rode it right into a tree.”

“Ouch. I’ve never noticed a chipped tooth.”

“Arty had me get that fixed for my first album cover.”

“Ahhh. You do have a nice Hollywood smile.”

“Thank you. You make me smile.” He paused for just a moment. “The real kind of smile.”

She remembered Jake coaching Cody on the real smile technique.

“And this,” Cody continued. “This room always makes me smile.”

“I hope Jake will never forget Nick.”

“He won’t.” Cody placed his hand over his heart and patted it. “It’s in our hearts. Even when the pictures fade a little, the smiles inside don’t. To tell you the truth the guy in my head may not look a thing like Dad looked back then, but it’s my image. My memory.”

She blinked back tears.

He moved in and pulled her into his arms. “Trust me, he’ll remember his dad without your help. You don’t have to do a thing to make that happen. Those memories Nick made with Jake are imprinted in his mind and in his heart.”

He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her palm.

She felt his warmth all the way to her core, and before she could even swallow, he’d pulled her closer. In his arms her whole body tensed, then relaxed into the allure of his touch. Eager, but tender.

His mouth closed over hers. In no hurry, he pulled in a breath and every ounce of resistance she had fell away with it.

Her heart pounded so hard she wondered if he might even hear it as he cupped her face and his tongue teased her into responding in ways she hadn’t prepared herself for.

His lips caught hers again, and then he tipped his forehead to hers. “Don’t worry. My promises are good.”

She blinked, wishing he hadn’t pulled away. Her mouth felt clumsy as she tried to form the words. “Thank you.” She scooched away, needing a little distance between him and the feelings heating up.
It’s no time to lose control now. Get your wits about you, Kasey.
“You don’t know what a relief it is to hear you talk about your dad like that. I worry all the time that he’ll forget and if he does, that it would be my fault.”
And what’s scarier is the way you make me feel. Not only the kisses, but I feel safe with you.

“Don’t worry. It’ll work out.”

“I guess what we ought to be worrying about is this thing with Arty. Any more details?”

“No, but I suspect we’ll hear something soon,” he said. “Until we get sucked into that, let’s go get Jake and I’ll show you around outside and then take you down to the studio.”

“You do your studio work here on the property too?”

“Now with everything digital, it’s way overkill, but when I bought the place it was already here. We all do our pieces one at a time. The technology is so different now, but it was pretty state-of-the-art stuff when it was originally designed.”

“The guys don’t stay up here in the house?”

“No, they stay down at the studio. I need my downtime, quiet time. We spend more time together on the road than some couples do in a regular year.”

“Are you turning into an old fuddy-duddy?”

“Life on the road is fun, you know that, but it can be hard too. And not just mentally.” He rolled his shoulders as if reliving some of that physical pain. “Sometimes I do feel
like an old man, like I’d better think about the things I haven’t done yet in my life before it’s too late. Things that’ll make a difference.”

“We all want to make a difference in our own way. Sometimes it’s the little things that end up making the biggest difference.”
Maybe that’s the answer to my changing career needs too. Maybe I’m looking at this from the wrong perspective.

C
ody led Kasey downstairs. Even before they got to the kitchen the mouthwatering smells made her stomach growl.

“It smells good in here,” Kasey said.

“Tori is an awesome cook. She’s making macaroni and cheese and her famous baked beans. They’re my favorite and I figured it would be a good combination with the hot dogs later. Tori makes the best macaroni and cheese ever.”

As they walked into the kitchen, Tori flung a dish towel over her shoulder. “Only ’cause your momma taught me all of her secrets.”

“Don’t tell her, but you’ve improved that recipe.” Cody ducked playfully behind Tori like he was making sure his momma wasn’t in shouting distance.

Tori’s mouth dropped wide. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare tell her that.”

“I’m good at secrets too,” Jake said.

“We’re going to take a little ride down to the studio,” Cody said. “Tori, will you take Shutterbug down and let her visit with Gibson and Rose?”

“Your dogs?” Kasey asked.

“Yeah. They’re well socialized with other dogs. They’ll be pooped out before it’s time to go to bed.”

“Perfect.” Kasey turned to Tori. “Shutterbug knows all her commands, so don’t let her play dumb on you.”

“No worries. She and I have already become BFFs.”

Tori called Shutterbug and walked out the back door. Cody, Jake, and Kasey went out the front. But instead of taking the red truck, Cody pushed a button on a panel and door number two of the garage slid up to reveal a John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle.

“Mom! It’s a John Deere truck!”

“I had the same expression on my face the first time I saw it,” Cody said.

Kasey shook her head. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

Cody turned to Jake. “More like a souped-up golf cart than a truck, but it sure is fun and goes fast too.”

She helped Jake into the seat and slid in next to him.

“Ready?”

“Yes!” Jake leaned back in the seat and Kasey put her arm across him from her side and Cody did the same. Their eyes locked as they realized their arms had landed, one on top of the other, in the unplanned gesture. She felt a swirl of anticipation at his touch.

I must look like a better playmate for her son than for her at this point. All I’ve done is show her my toys.

He wanted to gun it and he knew Jake would have fun if he did, but caution crept into his mind. He didn’t want to scare her off completely by acting like another kid, so he puttered along at a leisurely pace.

“There’s a fishing pond down at the bottom of the property. Do you like to fish, Jake?”

“Yes, sir. I know how to put a live worm on my hook too.” His face grew serious. “You have to be careful because if you hook your finger you sometimes have to get stitches and a shot. That hurts.”

“Voice of experience?” Cody asked.

“Little incident,” Kasey said. “Probably won’t happen again, though.”

“Not on my watch. I promise I’m more responsible than I look.”

“I’m not worried.”

He sure hoped she meant that.

“We’ll stop here before we go down to the pond.” Cody got out and they followed behind him. “This is the studio.” He opened the door and let them in. A wide soundproof glass window looked into the recording studio from the huge living room.

Jake ran toward the glass and lifted up on tippy-toes to look. “It’s like at the zoo, Mom.”

Kasey laughed. “Yes. I guess it kind of is like that. Only there aren’t animals on the other side of that one.”

“Here you go, buddy.” Cody walked over and lifted him up. “That’s where I make music that goes on the radio.”

“You sing in there?”

“Sure do.”

“And play guitar?” Jake asked.

“Yes. Sometimes piano too.”

“You play piano?” Kasey looked surprised.

“I played piano before I ever played a guitar.”

“I had no idea.”

“I’m full of surprises.”

“Where are the guys?” Kasey poked her head down the hall.

“They’re probably out back on the basketball court. I was hoping they’d be in here laying down some tracks so you could see, but I guess they’re chilling. They need some downtime too. I’ll show you that later.”

They followed Cody back out to the Gator and he drove down a path through a treed area to the pond.

“This is my favorite spot on the property.” Cody surveyed the terrain. The only thing that would be better would be sharing it with her. “When I need time alone, I come here.”

They walked out on the floating dock shaped like a guitar.

“I saw a big one jump.” Jake grabbed his mom’s hand. “Did you see it, Mom?”

“I didn’t, but I heard it splash.”

Jake looked up at Cody. “Can we go fishing?”

“Sure, but if we catch him are we going to release him, or cook him up?”

Jake put his hands on his hips. “We’re going to fry him up.”

“My kind of guy,” Cody said. “We’d better head back up so you two have some time to settle in before dinnertime.” They got back in the Gator and Cody drove back the same way they’d come. “My mom invited us down to her house for dessert after dinner if you’re up to it.”

“I’m never too tired for dessert,” Jake said.

“He gets that from me,” she said. “That sounds nice. I can’t wait to meet her.”

Cody stopped in the kitchen on the way back. Tori had already left for the day but she had everything ready to go
on a wheeled cart for him to take to the outdoor kitchen by the pool. Just as he finished unloading the cart, the guys came cruising up on golf carts.

“Now you show up. I just finished toting everything out.”

Pete bailed out of the cart. “We’re known for our good timing.”

“Right,” Cody said. “I think you’re known for good times, not timing.”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s it,” Pete said.

Kasey helped Cody put everything out on the table, then took it upon herself to start setting up a little assembly line for everyone to make their plates.

Cody carried the pot with the hot dogs and a handful of long wooden-handled skewers so they could roast the dogs over the fire pit. “I think we make a pretty good team at this.”

“Me too,” she said.

“Come here, Jake. Let me help you get your hot dog going.” Cody helped Jake get a good skew on the dog. “See there?”

“It’s like putting a worm on a hook,” Jake said. “Except they aren’t wiggly.”

“Never thought of it that way, my man.” Cody looked up at Kasey. “After that thought, I might need extra chili on mine.”

“Yeah, me too.” Her mouth puckered like she’d just eaten a handful of worms.

After a casual poolside dinner with the whole band, Cody loaded Kasey and Jake up in the truck and they rode down to his mom’s house.

The street lights had already come on and even in the shadow of the cab, Kasey looked nervous. He felt a little excited about it himself.

He pulled up in front of his mom’s house and jumped out of the truck. “Hope y’all like homemade peach ice cream, because it’s one of Mom’s specialties.”

“I love ice cream,” Jake said.

Cody knocked twice as he opened the door and hollered, “We’re here.” He led them to the kitchen.

“Hi, Mom.” He walked over and gave her hug. “Good to be home.” He turned and stepped back. “Mom. This is my dear friend, Kasey Phillips, and her little boy, Jake. Kasey and Jake, this is my mom, Denise.”

She tipped her head and smiled wide. “Oh, you two. I feel like I already know you from everything Cody told me about you.”

“Thanks for having us. It’s really nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine. Jake, do you like horses?”

Jake nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ve got the best barn full of horses in the state. I’d love for you to come help me while you’re here. I mean, if you want to.”

“Okay. I can do that. Right, Mom?”

“Sure. It sounds like fun.”

“Do you ride, either of you?”

Kasey nodded. “I do, but Jake hasn’t really been on a horse in a couple of years now. Not since my husband passed. It would be good for him to get back on again.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll definitely do that this week. How long are you going to be with us?”

“I’ll be heading back before next weekend so Jake doesn’t miss too much kindergarten.”

His mom smiled. “If we don’t do it this time, I promise we will the next time. Who’d like some ice cream?”

“Me,” Jake chimed in.

“Ice cream all the way around.” Cody walked to the other side of the kitchen and got down bowls from a cupboard. “I’ll help you, Mom.”

Kasey watched as Cody helped his mother serve up the ice cream. “What can I do to help?”

His mom gave her shoulder a pat as she walked by and reached around Cody. “Not a thing. I hope you enjoy it though. The peaches are fresh from the trees right here in my backyard.” Cody’s mom snuck a spoonful out of the bowl. “I just love this stuff. It’s Cody’s favorite too.”

He and his mother performed the task of scooping with ease. They barely needed to talk to get the job done. As he scooped ice cream, she set a small bowl of water next to him. Without a word between them, he dunked his scooper into it and tamped the excess water before making the next scoop.

The technique yielded a perfect sphere in a peach color so soft that Kasey wished she had a nightgown that color.
Where did that thought come from? I’m not even the silky nightgown kind of girl.

Cody looked up and smiled at her like he’d read her mind. It was easy to see now where he got his good looks. His mother was a beautiful woman.
He has her smile and eyes.