Love At First Fight

1 Cody Powell knocked on his best friend, Dillon Young’s, front door once before opening it and letting himself in. He and Dillon had been friends since sixth grade when Dillon told Cody all about his big family. Cody was mesmerized. He didn’t know families like Dillon’s existed outside of TV. From that day on, Cody made it his mission to entangle himself in the family. He loved his parents, but being an only child was lonely at times. His house never had the subtle excitement that was always present at Dillon’s. Over the years, Cody felt like he actually was a part of the family he grew up with, especially on Sundays when the extended Richliano family got together. “Hey Code,” Dillon said from the kitchen. Cody waved and headed straight for the fridge. He knew Dillon would have a Mountain Dew, and Cody ran out that morning. Like most Saturday nights, Cody had trouble getting enough sleep knowing he’d see Dillon’s sister, Andie, the next day. A little extra kick would get him going. “Do you want some coffee?” Dillon asked. Cody shook his head. “You know I hate that s**t. What’s going on? It looks like you had a frat party last night.” Cody looked around the room at the beer and wine bottles on every flat surface in the kitchen and plates of food all over the living room, as though someone broke in and trashed the place. Dillon shook his head. “Nah. Andie, Sean, and Leo were here last night after the wedding. We drank way too much and raided the fridge. Andie was a little weird, and Leo and Sean walked back with us. Between all the work we’ve all put in the last few months and Emily, it was nice to just hang out again.” Cody nodded, although he couldn’t relate. He knew Dillon was close to his siblings growing up, but when Sean got married then quickly became a single dad, he wasn’t around much. And the hours they’d all put in since the aunts announced they were retiring left even less time. Cody himself hadn’t seen much of Dillon lately. He thought he would’ve had a chance to at Jake and Alyssa’s wedding, but Cody left early. As much as he loved the Richliano family, he also struggled to be around them. Well, one of them. “Is Andie okay?” Cody asked, hoping he masked his concern. Uh, nope. Dillon shot him a look that said he knew exactly what Cody was thinking. “Honestly, dude, I have no idea. She didn’t say much last night. Just drank. And instead of getting more talkative and crazy, she got quieter. It was almost a little scary.” Cody nodded but worry filled his gut. Andie had always been a fireball, even when they were kids. It was one of the things Cody liked the most about her. She was confident and wild and fun. All the things Cody wished he was but never felt like he could be. He was thirty-seven years old, ran his father’s business, and had plenty of women who wanted him, but he still felt like he’d never be enough for Andie. The one woman he couldn’t have. “Anyway,” Dillon continued, “the guys went home about two this morning, and Andie crashed in the other room. She’s still passed out.” “How much did she drink?” Dillon shrugged and gestured around. “We were all drinking. And we drank at the wedding. There’s no telling.” “Have you talked to Jake?” Cody asked, desperate to change the subject from Andie. He tried not to talk about her with Dillon. Dillon knew Cody was in love with his sister, but they agreed years ago to not talk about it. Dillon shook his head. “I thought for sure I’d have a text this morning saying they weren’t leaving the bed. He’s a better man than I am wanting to have a brunch today.” “At least it isn’t the whole town though.” Dillon nodded. “True. I think everyone had enough of the crowd and work yesterday. Of course, Zach is cooking, but he said he didn’t mind.” “I get that.” Dillon grinned. “It’s why you keep doing work around here. You love what you do.” Cody shook his head. “You know I enjoy being here, too.” Dillon nodded, understanding in his eyes. He glanced at the door Andie was behind then headed toward his room. “I gotta jump in the shower. Wake up Andie, will ya? She’s a heavy sleeper so turn on the light, open the curtains, and yank the covers off her.” He was gone before Cody could respond. Wake up Andie? That was not a simple request. Cody nodded in the empty room, unable to speak at the moment. He heard the click of Dillon’s door closing then the sound of the shower turning on. He’d never turned Dillon down when he asked for something, but Cody wasn’t sure he could deliver on this one. Andie. Sleeping. In bed. Rumpled. Sexy. Fuck. Cody knew he was screwed. He was already getting hard at the thought of what he might see when he walked into the room. Andie had been starring in his fantasies for years, but he simply stayed away from her. He couldn’t afford to get close to her. He took a deep breath and decided he would go in, do as Dillon asked, and get out, leaving Andie to get herself out of bed. He wouldn’t look at her, or her rumpled sexiness. He would just wake her up and get out. And pray he had enough time to calm down before Dillon came back. Cody turned the knob on the door and pushed it open. It squeaked ever so slightly, but she didn’t stir. Cody flipped the light switch next to the door and saw Andie’s endless amber hair running across the bed like a river. He could smell her in the room, the soft and sweet scent of peaches mixed with something that seemed to be unique to her. Even though she’d only been there one night she’d permeated the entire room. It was intoxicating and made Cody that much harder. He quickly crossed the room and grabbed the string to pull open the room darkening shades. With a tug, the room flooded with light and Andie groaned. Cody turned toward her and grabbed the edge of the blankets tucked around her shoulders. He yanked the covers off her and froze. Andie was completely n***d. She was on her side, facing the opposite direction, but there wasn’t much he couldn’t see. Her toes were painted a bright coral color that looked like they were glowing. Her shapely legs were smooth and seemed to go on forever without anything to stop his view. Her hip, curved up off the bed and adorned with a colorful sunflower tattoo, highlighted the sexiest a*s he’d ever seen. Her body narrowed at her waist, but not too much. Her soft, slightly rounded belly was evidence of how much she enjoyed food and wine and life. Her arm was tucked under the pillow her head was resting on leaving the edge of one succulent breast exposed for him to enjoy. The amber curtain of her hair covered her neck and left him feeling crazed and drunk. He wanted to see more of her, see all of her, but the glimpse he’d gotten cemented his feet to the floor. Cody knew he’d never see a more beautiful woman than his best friend’s little sister. “Holy f**k,” Cody mumbled, unable to turn away from her perfection. Andie jumped up when she heard Cody’s voice, trying to find something to cover up with but not finding anything since the edge of the covers was still grasped in Cody’s hand. He watched her as if in a trance, aware of what she was doing but unable to stop himself from just watching. When she jumped up she flashed her stunning breasts at him, full and heavy with perfect pink n*****s standing alert as if they could help find covers. Andie clamped her hands over her breasts and crossed her legs to hide the sweetest parts of her and glared at Cody. “What are you doing in here?” she screeched. Her voice snapped something in his mind. His eyes made a slow scan down to his hand where the covers were clasped. He immediately dropped them, practically throwing them in her face, then bolted for the door, slamming it behind himself, with her safely on the other side. “f**k,” he whispered to himself as he headed for the door. He had to get out of there. Andie Young sat there, stunned, as Cody fled the room. She knew she wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t expect him to run the way he did. Especially after the way he was ogling her, blatantly, as she cowered on the bed n***d. Andie was well versed in the way a man looked when he wanted her. And there was no mistaking the desire in Cody’s eyes. She shook off the shock of Cody finding her n***d and pushed out of bed. Sunlight streamed through the open curtains, showcasing the vineyard outside her brother’s windows. Andie was safe there. It was her home. She’d never ventured far from Amavita Estates, and she never wanted to. She barely left the state, happy to be close to home. Andie saw Cody walk away from Dillon’s house, moving toward the path that led into the vines. She hid behind the curtain, not wanting him to see her watching him. His mouth moved like he was talking to himself. She wished she could hear what he was saying, but Cody never spoke to her. Andie remembered when Cody first started coming to their house with Dillon. The boys were only eleven, but Cody looked much older. Andie gazed up at the boy who stood even taller than her big brother and was mesmerized. Not that she was attracted to him, no, she was only six at the time, but it was the first time Dillon had brought a friend home. Andie was fascinated. But the man who just ran from her was different. Over the years Cody had spent less and less time around her. The last time she’d had a conversation with him was the summer before her senior year of high school. She remembered it only because Alyssa had just left for college and Andie was feeling particularly alone. Cody sat down with her and talked to her. She’d thought at the time that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to get to know Cody, but he barely spoke to her after that day. Andie brushed it off, even the night before when her cousin, Alyssa, said Cody liked her. But now? No one had ever looked at her the way Cody did. Cody came back into view, heading toward Dillon’s house again. He glanced toward where Andie hid behind the curtains, and she darted away before he saw her watching him. She hoped. With a deep breath, Andie stalked across the room, straight for the bathroom. A shower would clear the fog in her head and give her a chance to think more clearly. She scowled at the dresser pushed against the wall opposite the bed. She had some old clothes in there, but nothing nice. Her lounge clothes. The clothes she wore around her family and no one else. Her only other option was the dress she’d worn the night before to Alyssa and Jake’s wedding, and that wasn’t much better. Andie sighed and headed for the shower, knowing she would have to run home before she went to the wedding brunch. She refused to be seen without her costume on. After a way too short shower, Andie wrapped herself in one of the fluffy, nearly new towels Dillon kept in the spare room for her. She towel dried her hair then pulled back on her clothes from the night before. She peered into the mirror and sighed. Her eyes were dull and lifeless without her normal eyeliner and mascara that made them pop. Her lips blended into her olive skin without lipstick, or even gloss. She caught sight of her purse in the corner and grinned. “Supplies,” she whispered as she snatched the bag and dumped it onto the bed. Mascara. Lipgloss. Ha! Even eyeliner and shadow. Five minutes later she looked like herself. Of course, she also looked like she was doing the walk of shame, a thought that made her grin. Andie walked into the living room tying her hair into a loose ponytail on top of her head. She enjoyed the cooler fall weather they were having, but having a mountain of hair made her hot year round. Every time she went to the hairdresser she threatened to cut it off but never had the guts. Cody was in the kitchen with Dillon when she saw him. She studied him before he looked at her. He was attractive, incredibly so if she were honest. Dark hair, just enough stubble on his jaw to give him a casual look, tall and broad and built. She didn’t know why she never really gave him a second thought before, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t thinking about him a lot at the moment. He finally turned her way and gave her a pleading look. She nodded once so he knew she wouldn’t say anything to Dillon about what happened. His shoulders visibly relaxed and Andie shook her head. It was a mistake. He didn’t want her. He wasn’t mesmerized by her. He just liked seeing a n***d woman. “What can I do?” she asked Dillon, keeping her distance from Cody. She didn’t trust herself not to use her infamous temper on him, especially after he looked ready to jump her a few minutes ago then flipped the switch back to being mute around her. “I think we’re good. Cody loaded everything into the Explorer while you showered. Mom already called and asked where we were.” “s**t. I need to run home and change.” Dillon’s eyes scanned her before he snorted. “Yeah, the walk of shame isn’t hot when you’re coming from here.” He paused and shook his head. “Scratch that. You’re my little sister. It’s never hot.” Andie rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Dillon. Stall Mom for me. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Well, maybe thirty in these shoes.” Andie glanced down at her high heels and knew she’d have a hell of a time crossing to her house. The ground had started to soften, and she would be lucky to go faster than an old man with a walker dressed like she was. “Cody’ll take you home,” Dillon said as though it solved everything. Andie risked a glance at Cody and saw him frozen in place. “Uh, no. I’ll be fine.” “Come on Andie, Mom’s having a fit already. She wants us all there early, and she’ll have my a*s if she knows you spent the night here and I didn’t get you up in time to be there. She said Aunt Marie is trying to help since no one else is there.” Andie thought about it for about ten seconds, glaring at Cody the whole time. He avoided her gaze, making her even more certain that he had no interest in her. She didn’t want to be alone with him, in his truck, in her home, anywhere. The longer she was near him, the more her body said she wanted him. Having him so close to her while she was n***d… She’d felt his gaze on her like a caress, but it was clear standing there that he didn’t want her. Try telling her body that. She was on high alert, ready for the slightest touch from him, any indication that he wanted her half as much as she wanted him in that moment. I’m an i***t. Finally Andie agreed and growled, “Fine. Let’s go,” as she passed Cody on her way out the door. He followed behind her, climbed into the driver’s seat of his well-worn pickup truck, and waited for Dillon to leave before turning the opposite direction toward Andie’s house. It didn’t take long to get to her house, but she was on edge the whole time. She didn’t know if she should say something and if so, what? He saw her n***d, but she felt like she was supposed to apologize to him, especially after the way he ran from her. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t know you’d be… you know,” Cody gritted out. “n***d?” Andie supplied with an irritated tone she didn’t bother trying to mask. “Yeah, I didn’t think anyone would see me. I guess I was more drunk than I thought last night when I went to bed and forgot I wasn’t home.” Cody swallowed hard, his knuckles turning white with his tightening grip on the steering wheel. “You always sleep n***d?” he asked. “No,” she blurted. Andie sucked in a breath then tried again. “I didn’t expect anyone to see me. And this dress isn’t exactly comfortable to sleep in. Neither is all the stuff I’m wearing under it.” “Stuff?” Cody groaned. Andie shrugged. He was like one of her brothers. Always had been. She could tell him. “b*a and Spanx. It’s hot and Dillon refused to put on the air conditioning. I got creative.” She could practically hear his teeth grinding together as he drove the rest of the way in silence. When he pulled up in front of her house, he put the truck in park but kept staring straight ahead. “I’ll wait here,” he growled. Andie rolled her eyes and slammed the door, storming inside. She wanted to take her time and find an outfit that would drive Cody crazy, but she had neither the time nor the desire. She toyed with men for sport, but Cody was her brother’s best friend. Plus, he was going to be redoing her house starting the following day. She didn’t need to make things awkward. Andie slid on her favorite pair of jeans, ones that hugged her curves and made her feel attractive. A mossy green sweater draped her breasts elegantly and hung off one shoulder, showing the thin strap of her white tank top beneath. She threaded her fingers through her damp hair so loose curls fell softly around her shoulders. She double checked her make-up then ran back downstairs. Andie pulled on a pair of brown high-heeled boots that hugged her calves almost up to her knees and was ready to go. Cody was still sitting in the truck, looking like he was about to be sick, when Andie climbed back in. Without a word he pulled away from her house and went toward the inn. Andie adored growing up on Amavita. It was home and she couldn’t ever imagine living anywhere else. When her mom and aunts dropped the news on her, her siblings, and her cousins a few months earlier that they were retiring and leaving the vineyards to the nine of them, they had a few problems. Andie was certain at the time everything would fall apart, especially since one of the conditions was that all nine of them had to live on the property for a full year. At the time, Alyssa was the only one not a permanent resident of Amavita. Andie knew her Aunt Marie had worked the deal to bring Alyssa, Aunt Marie’s only child, back home. None of them thought she would stay, but she married the vineyard’s handyman and her first love, Jake, and they weren’t going anywhere. Cody drove while Andie thought about Alyssa and Jake. The vineyards were where Alyssa and Jake fell in love, working their magic as they had for generations, according to Nonna. Nonna told Andie the vineyards held a special kind of magic. Andie’s parents met there and fell in love, not that she wanted a relationship like theirs, and she grew up thinking the same would be true for her. But magic was the furthest thing from reality in Andie’s life. All the men she’d dated had left more than a little something to be desired. She knew the man of her dreams was out there. Somewhere. The lines of grapes slowly passed by Andie’s window as Cody drove. She could see Cayuga Lake at the edge of the property with some of the other cottages dotting the landscape. The vineyard was big enough that she could feel alone when she wanted but always knew someone was close by. Alyssa loved the big tree near the lake, but Andie had always been partial to the house she was lucky enough to call home. When she needed to think, she always ended up on the porch of the house on the hill. The need to run back home clung to her as she sat in Cody’s vehicle trying not to think about what happened between them earlier. “I’m sorry about earlier. Dillon asked me to wake you up and I just froze when I saw you. I should have left.” “It’s fine, Cody. You already apologized to me.” Cody took a breath. “Yeah, but I’m still sorry.” “I get it, okay. It’s like seeing your sister n***d. If you had one. I should be grateful you didn’t run out screaming, you just ran.” Andie’s joke fell flat. She glanced at Cody and saw his jaw clenching and unclenching. “It’s not like that, Andie.” She rolled her eyes. “You don’t talk to me, Cody. You’ve avoided me for years. I have no idea what happened, but this is the longest conversation we’ve had in fifteen years. And it’s only because my brother forced you to drive me.” They pulled up to the inn, and Andie reached for the door handle. “Your obligation is fulfilled. Thank you, and I’ll make sure we don’t have the same issue while you’re working on my house.” Andie jumped out before he turned the truck off. She blew her hair out of her face and ran toward the inn, knowing it was going to be a long afternoon.