Luck Be A Lady (Destiny Bay Romances-The Ranchers Book 5) by Helen Conrad Page B

Not without her parents’ permission. But when she told Cody that, he was going to think things she didn’t want him to. On impulse she reached out and touched the girl’s shoulder. “Penny... that was a nice hit you had. And Cody is right. It wasn’t your fault.”
    Penny nodded, but didn’t look her in the face. Kelly turned and looked up into Cody’s unreadable eyes. She wanted to tell him what she thought of what he’d just done. There was a glow in her heart. Funny how he kept surprising her.
    “I... That was...” Kelly shrugged helplessly. The words stuck in her throat.
    Cody watched her, not saying a thing.
    She made a new attempt, but before she got another word out, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that someone was approaching.
    “Hi,” said a young, gangly youth in a torn t-shirt, with a baseball cap on backwards. “I’m Jerry, Penny’s brother. I came to pick her up. Is it okay if I go ahead and take her home?”
    Penny was suddenly all smiles. “Jerry. I didn’t think you were going to make it.”
    He shook his head, looking at her with a slight smile. “I made it alright. Just in time to see you finally getting a hit.”
    “Yeah.” She smiled again. “I did, didn’t I?”
    “Yeah.”  
    She turned to go with him and Jerry gave Kelly and Cody a wink from behind her back. “Good stuff, girl. Now we just need to teach you what happens next.”
    “Okay,” she said. Turning, she waved back. “Thanks Coach. And Mr. Cody. See you at practice.”
    Kelly watched them disappear into the parking area, relieved to have that settled and turned back to look at Cody.
    “You…you did a nice thing here,” she said stiffly, staring at the top button on his shirt.
    “So unlike me,” he murmured, his eyes narrowed, his head thrown back. “There must be a full moon on the rise.”
    Glancing up, she glared into his eyes. “I’m trying to give you a compliment!” she said.
    “It’s better to give than to receive,” he shot back, his eyes cold. “So why don’t you just keep it for yourself?”
    The man was impossible. When she’d first seen him across the softball playing field, her heart had leaped in her throat. She’d been longing to see him again for the last two weeks. Memories of the three short times they’d had together had haunted her by the hour. When she closed her eyes, she could feel his touch on her skin, sense his breath against her neck. But he’d left her house so abruptly the other night, she’d been sure he wasn’t interested. Then he’d turned up here at the game and she’d allowed herself to hope, just a lit tle.
    But he wasn’t interested in her. He was from a dif ferent world. Coldness gripped her heart. She didn’t want anything to do with him.
    “Sorry I bothered you,” Kelly retorted, whirling and striding away. Her first instincts had been right. She should have stuck to them.
    She sensed him behind her just before he spoke. “Wait a minute!” He hooked her arm and spun her around to face him again. His fingers closed on the sensitive skin of her inner arm. His gaze held hers. She wished she could read what was going on in his mind and heart in those eyes. His thoughts always seemed to be hidden by a cynical shield of sarcasm or humor. She stared at him, yearning to see the real Cody Marin in there somewhere. Why wouldn’t he let her in?
    Yet he did bend a bit. “I’m the one who’s sorry,” he said softly. “I shouldn’t have said that.” His mouth twisted, almost a smile. “Thanks for the compliment.”
    He was still holding her and Kelly wanted to curl herself into his arms. Just that much of a softening on his part and she was ready to melt. The urge took her breath away. Was she crazy? She felt light-headed, dizzy.
    “That’s all right,” she said, almost whispering. “I’ve said some things I regret, too.”
    He didn’t speak, and he was still touching her, looking down as though he wasn’t quite sure what to do with her.