Fool Me Once (Codie Snow #1): A Romantic Suspense Series by Jade C. Jamison

she knew Slade’s draw was always less powerful when she was out of his orbit.  And she needed that.  She needed to evaluate Slade from a distance to determine reality and if they were really meant for each other or if they needed to stay split for good.
    “Codie?  Do I need to tuck you in too?”
    She lifted her head, noticing that it felt heavier now.  “What the hell did you put in the wine?  You’re driving like a pro, and Matthew and I are acting like teens who found the key to dad’s liquor cabinet.”
    Slade slid a hand under her elbow to help her stand.  He smiled at her and said, “I stopped after two glasses.  The two of you?  Not so much.”  Once she was on her feet, he added, “Responsible drinking.  Somebody had to drive.”
    “Oh, so Matthew and I are kids.”
    “I didn’t say that.  I knew I was going to be the designated driver before we even started.  Besides, you know I drink wine regularly enough that it doesn’t affect me the same way it does you two.”
    Hmm.  Sounded pretty fishy to her, but she wasn’t going to argue.  She liked the sound and tone of his voice as he gently led her toward her bedroom, and it almost felt like old times.  He was being really sweet.
    And that made him irresistible once more.  Just inside her bedroom, she said, “Slade?”
    “Yeah, honey?”
    Oh.   And that too.  “Why can’t we ever make it work?”
    He smirked.  “I have my theories about that.”
    “And they are?”
    “Perhaps a discussion topic for another day.  You’re far too light-headed and vulnerable.”
    Before she fell onto the bed, she grabbed his lapel.  “Kiss me, Slade.”
    His lips were still curled in a maddening, sexy smirk.  “Maybe tomorrow.”
    Codie was too drunk to feel as angry as she wanted to.  “You’re just afraid I’ll keep you up.”
    Slade’s grin grew cockier but it didn’t fade.  “Yeah, that’s it.  I don’t want you to keep me up.  Now…night-night, Codie.  Sweet dreams.”
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Thirteen
     
     
    CODIE AWOKE WITH a hell of a headache, but sweet, thoughtful (and—yes—anal) Slade had set her alarm before leaving their apartment, so she managed to make it to work on time.
    God, she hated working as a nursing assistant and couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually enjoyed the job.  Right now, she worked in one of the local nursing homes.  She’d considered working for the pricks at the hospital, but she was afraid of getting lazy and complacent and waking up one morning past forty, wondering why the hell she’d worked there half of her entire life, wasting her youth away doing something she hated.  That had been a huge part of her motivation for going with Pete on the ride-along.  She wanted to do something exciting, challenging, and halfway fun.  After shadowing Pete, though, she wasn’t sure being a cop was what she wanted.  She knew she’d have to try it another time or two to find out for sure.
    But she did know CNA work was not what she wanted.  Not by a long shot.
    Ugh.  Codie felt sorry for the people she helped—many of them weren’t even wanted by their families, but some of them were just too difficult to care for at home.  Some of them needed extra care, because—for instance—they needed to be changed several times a day…and it wasn’t like changing a helpless baby’s diaper.  Quite a few of the residents could be mean and hateful—not that Codie could blame them.  She fucking hated being here, so why wouldn’t they?  At least she got to leave every day.
    Worse than the work, though, was the nurses she worked for.  What a bunch of nasty bitches.
    Elaine, the worst of them, was the charge nurse during Codie’s shift.  When Elaine was running the show, everyone was grouchy, because the woman tried to make them all feel like they couldn’t do anything right.  As usual, though, Codie just tried to ignore her, even when a fellow CNA tried to coax her into gossiping and