Destiny Unknown Read online

  "And how do you know we're opposites?" The challenge was in his eyes, turning them a rich, alluring chocolate. "All you know about me is what you've judged from my appearance."

  "And from what you've said. You like dogs; I don't. You don't care how you look; I do. You—"

  Bernadette stopped. Coming toward their booth was none other than Frank Pierce, president of the True Fidelity Bank and Trust, one of the largest and most important banks in Grand Rapids. The man was on every influential committee in the city, and he and his wife had invited her to a select dinner party they were holding that weekend. If Cody had hoped to embarrass her, he was about to succeed. Having Frank see her in the company of a man who looked like a street bum was truly embarrassing.

  She smiled as he neared and tried to think of a way to explain her being with Cody. Frank returned her smile and gave a polite nod. Then he looked at Cody, and her stomach tightened into a knot. She could imagine what Frank was thinking.

  "I thought I saw you come in," he said warmly.

  To her surprise, he was speaking to Cody.

  Cody looked up, grinned and stood. Instead of a handshake, the two men clasped each other's arms, and Bern watched, dumbfounded. Only after an exchange of pleasantries did Cody sit back down, and Frank again acknowledged her presence.

  "So where did you meet this no good roustabout?" he asked.

  Cody answered. "At the vet's office. Where else? Thor did it again. Cut his leg, this time."

  "That dog." Frank's laugh said he knew the problems Thor had encountered. He grinned her way. "Of course, Cody's not much better. Watch out, Bern, that he doesn't trip over a chair when you leave, or trip you up."

  "Thanks, old buddy," Cody said, little real sarcasm to his words. "Build me up in the eyes of the lady."

  "Trying to impress you, is he?" Frank said. "Talk to Marian. Cody drives her crazy. Yet she loves him. You should have heard them when he was working on our place. Bicker?" He shook his head. "It was comical."

  "Cody worked on your house?" That explained their knowing each other.

  "Basically did everything from designing it to pounding the final nail." Frank laughed. "He even helped us move in."

  "Quite the man." She stared at Cody, seeing him in a new light. He'd let her think he was an unemployed construction worker, had played to her expectations. Played her for a fool. "So you're an architect?"

  "No," he said. "My stepfather and stepbrothers are the architects. I never became one."

  Frank broke in. "Maybe not, but you're the one with the ideas. Which reminds me. How's the new development coming along?"

  "It's coming." Cody kept his gaze on her, not Frank. "I was checking out the property Monday."

  "And will this new project be as successful as Devon Estates?" Frank asked.

  "I hope so."

  Once again, Frank looked at Bernadette. "Hang on to your hat, gal. With Cody, you'll never know what to expect. The man's a genius. Totally unconventional, but a genius. You've got to see my new house."

  "I will." Bernadette looked up at Frank. "I'll see it Friday night. Marian invited me to a dinner party you're having."

  "Good." He nodded and took a step back. "Well, I guess I'd better get back to my table, let you two talk. Cody, why don't you stop by the bank sometime soon? I'd like to put a little money into this new development of yours."

  Cody smiled up at Frank. "Always glad to take your money."

  Bernadette waited until Frank had left before she faced Cody. His grin was as satisfied as the Cheshire cat's. She wanted to stuff a sock in his mouth. "You loved that, didn't you?"

  Innocently, he cocked his head. "Loved what?"

  "Having Frank tell me you were rich and successful when you knew I thought you were some poor construction worker who couldn't afford a decent pair of jeans and needed a job."

  "Frank never said I was rich and successful."

  "Maybe not outright, but from what I've heard about Frank, he wouldn't be investing in your company if you weren't successful. You're the one who developed Devon Estates?" She knew the area. Some of the store's wealthiest customers lived there.

  "It's one of the projects I've worked on," he admitted.

  "Worked on?" It seemed he was a man of understatement. "Like you 'worked' for Parker? 'I hammered a few nails.' That's what you said in the vet's office." She shook her head. "What did you really do for him?"

  "Hammered a few nails. Cut a few boards." Cody's eyes carried his grin. "I'm a developer. I take a project from start to finish, put together all the elements."

  "In other words, you built his apartment building." A building she'd fallen in love with the moment she saw it. "But Parker said some company called DJ built his apartments."

  Cody smiled. "That's the name of my company."

  "DJ?"

  "Dumb John."

  "Of course." She got the message. Grabbing her purse, she pushed her chair back and stood.

  Cody frowned up at her. "Where are you going?"

  "Back to the store. I seem to have lost my appetite."

  "Don't be silly," he said, but also stood.

  She was already headed for the door. Cody threw some money on the table and hurried after her. He caught up with her before she'd stepped outside. She glared at him when he held the door for her, and once on the sidewalk, she said nothing, just started for the store. He caught her arm. "We need to talk."

  "About what?" The ice blue of her eyes would have frozen most men.

  He wished it would cool his interest. "About us."

  "Us?" She scoffed. "There is no us. You like playing games, embarrassing people. I don't."

  "I wasn't trying to embarrass you."

  "Weren't you?" She looked down at the hand he had on the sleeve of her coat. "Are you going to let me go?"

  "If you insist." He released his hold.

  He expected her to take off. She stood where she was, glaring at him. "Why?" she demanded. "Why dress like a bum? Act like a common labor?"

  "I don't dress like a bum, I dress for comfort. And I am a common labor." They were skirting the issue. "Look, I apologize. You made an assumption about me. I decided to let you think what you wanted."

  She looked back toward the restaurant they'd just left. "You enjoyed every minute of that, didn't you?"

  He wished he could deny it. He couldn't. "Frank's timing couldn't have been better."

  "So are you happy now? Now that you've humiliated me?"

  The pain in her voice cut deep. He shook his head. "Humiliating you was never my purpose. All I wanted was for you to see what is inside a person is more important than what's outside."

  She let out her breath, the air turning to a misty cloud in the cold. With a sigh, she started toward the store. He fell into step beside her. "You're a beautiful woman. I can see where it would be difficult for you to understand how it feels to have people make fun of you because you're not pretty or smart or graceful."

  Bernadette shot him a glance. "You have no idea what problems I've faced or how I feel."

  "No, I guess I don't." He touched the gold chain around his neck. Had he forgotten the reason he wore it, forgotten the lessons of his childhood? "So let's get to know each other better."

  Stopping, she faced him. "Why? So you can humiliate me some more? You're right, you know. I do judge people on appearances. I would save the man in the suit. Are you going to start wearing a suit?"

  "Suits don't last very long at construction sites."

  "I don't imagine they do."

  He lifted a hand, touching the side of her face with the backs of his fingers. Her skin was velvety soft. She shivered. "Cold?" he asked.

  "A little."

  "Come on, let's finish this conversation where it's warm." He slipped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close, and walked with her toward the store.

  Bernadette didn't want to finish the conversation. All she wanted was for Cody to go away. Disappear. He confused her. Disturbed her. He played games
with her mind and with her emotions.

  She walked by his side, praying he wouldn't guess the shaking was from nerves, not the cold, and her knees were threatening to buckle. So close to his body, the scent of him became a part of her, imprinting itself on her mind in a way she knew she would never forget. She wanted to hold onto her anger, to wipe him from her thoughts, but she knew neither was possible. How could she be angry with the truth? She'd judged him on first impressions, had snubbed her nose at him, and he'd played her for the fool she was.

  She preferred walking away from a relationship, it gave her the control she'd never had as a child. She couldn't stop her father from going off and leaving her, not when she was growing up and not even now, but she could protect herself against those feelings of desolation when it came to men. She had to protect herself now. In three brief contacts, Cody had affected her in ways she didn't like. Feelings she'd thought she could control had gotten out of control. Nothing was working out as it should.

  He stayed close to her, warming her, confusing her, and exciting her until they stepped through the doors to the store. Once inside, with warm air being blown down on them by the vents above, he stopped and turned her to face him. "So this is good-bye?"

  It had to be, for her sake, though for some crazy reason, she didn't want it to be. "Meeting you has been . . ." She groped for the right word. "Interesting."

  He grinned. "Very interesting."

  "I—" She licked her lips, her gaze locked on his eyes. Those tempting chocolate eyes.

  She watched as his head came closer, and this time when his lips touched hers, she was prepared. This time his mouth lingered, playing over hers, tempting her and giving her a chance to feel the heat of his passion. This time, she reached out, taking hold and capturing the heat. She gripped the leather of his jacket, her mouth moving against his. Control was forgotten. Good idea or not, she participated in this kiss. Wanted it. Needed it.

  She was the one who resisted when he drew his head back. Only when a customer walked by, opening the outside door and letting in a blast of cold air, did Bernadette remember where she was. Quickly, she released her hold on Cody's jacket.

  "I've— We've—" She stammered for control.

  He touched a fingertip to her lips. "Good-bye, Princess."

  Chapter Four

  Bernadette figured it would be easy to forget Cody. He'd popped into her life. Now he could just pop out. Except, it wasn't that easy. He kept popping up. In her thoughts, in her dreams, and in her daily conversations.

  Over the next two days, three people mentioned Devon Estates and the man who'd developed this innovative community. He was called unusual, iconoclastic, and dogmatic. Those he'd butted heads with grumbled their comments, but all agreed, Cody Taylor, also known as DJ Development, built spectacular homes.

  Knowing Cody had designed Marian and Frank Pierce's house, Bernadette was even more curious to see it. On Friday night, she followed the directions Marian had given her, turned onto their paved drive, and took in a breath. Strategically situated on a knoll in Forest Hills, the house reigned over a frozen pond and snow covered lawns, and reflected both the clean, orderly lines a banker would appreciate, and a subtle elegance. The house also radiated a warmth that was repeated when Marian Pierce greeted Bernadette.

  "I'm so glad you could come," she said, taking Bernadette's hands in hers. "I believe you already know some of our guests, but I'll introduce you around."

  Marian was slightly shorter than Bernadette, but Bern had looked up to her from their first meeting. Here was the woman she wanted to be. Elegant, sophisticated, and wealthy. Marian's silk chemise, purchased at Morgan's, was a limited edition, stylish and subdued, its teal color a perfect complement for eyes as bright as sapphires and hair as rich as honey. Although it was common knowledge that the woman was pushing sixty, she didn't show the years. A personal trainer, good plastic surgeon, hair stylist, and expensive cosmetics—also purchased at Morgan's—saw to that.

  She led Bernadette into a spacious living room where guests were standing and sitting in small groups. At a wet bar in the corner, a bartender prepared drinks, while a woman in a white blouse and black skirt wandered through the room offering hors d'oeuvres. Bernadette recognized several of the couples. It was a stuffy crowd, all influential in the local business community; all reeking of money. Conversations were subdued, the atmosphere dignified.

  Frank stood near a massive fireplace, talking to a middle-aged couple. He glanced her way, smiled and nodded, then went back to the discussion. Marian guided Bernadette toward the group.

  Before they reached the fireplace, however, they were stopped by a man in his late thirties. He pushed himself up from the brocade chair flanking the sofa, a drink held in his right hand, and his suit jacket unbuttoned. He positioned himself directly in front of them, blocking their progress. "Marian," he said, his gaze on Bernadette. "You certainly weren't going to parade this beautiful woman past me without an introduction, were you?"

  Marian hesitated a moment, then smiled politely. "Of course not, Drew. Bernadette, I'd like you to meet Drew Bartlett. He's the market analyst for Dorff Finance. Drew—Bernadette Sanders. She's the—"

  "General Manager at Morgan's," Drew finished for her and held out his hand. "I've heard about you."

  He wasn't a bad looking man, perhaps a little overweight and probably not more than an inch or two taller than she was in heels. His fingers were limp and soft against hers and cool from the drink he'd held only moments before. His gaze, however, was intense and slid down her body like heated oil. Immediately she didn't like him.

  "You're here by yourself?" he asked.

  Marian answered. "She's meeting someone."

  It was news to Bernadette. "I am?"

  "You are." Marian smiled. "And here he comes now." Her gaze moved to a point behind Bernadette's left shoulder. "We were just talking about you, Cody."

  "Were you?"

  The sound of his voice switched every nerve cell in Bernadette's body onto alert. In a flash, she remembered back to each of their meetings. The kisses they'd shared had been far too intimate, and an unbidden flush of color rushed to her cheeks. Keeping her expression neutral, she slowly turned to face him. "Imagine meeting you here."

  He came up beside her. "Imagine."

  On the surface, she could control her emotions, but not inside. Cody's cock-sure smile stirred butterflies in her stomach, the look in his eyes sending a tingling sensation even lower. Fighting the giddy feelings, she focused on his unconventional black suit. The cut was like nothing they carried at Morgan's. Slouchy, yet trim, the lapels on the jacket were almost nonexistent, the double stitching so minute it barely showed. The pants softly hugged his hips, gently tapering to break over black dress boots. Under the open jacket, he wore a brown striped vest and a natural colored shirt with a banded collar. The fabrics were quality—the suit cashmere and the shirt linen—and she had to admit, the cut was perfect on him. In some circles, his attire would be called fashionable, including the gold earrings, the gold chain and the lack of a tie. In a room full of conservative business suits, he was the misfit.

  "Ah, the Fitzpatricks have arrived," Marian said and stepped away. "If you'll excuse me for just a minute, I have to relay a message from their babysitter."

  Marian started toward the foyer, where a young couple had just been let in by the maid. Bernadette watched her leave, feeling abandoned.

  "You're turning green on me again," Cody said, his gaze on Bernadette. "Interesting."

  If she'd known he was going to be there, she never would have worn the hunter green sheath. "What are you doing here?"

  "I was invited."

  "Or invited yourself." It made sense. He'd known from her conversation with Frank at the restaurant that she would be here tonight. Cody had undoubtedly called Marian after that. Which explained why Marian thought she was meeting him here.

  He didn't deny her accusation, simply glanced Drew's way. "You'll have to excuse us. We
're old friends."

  "Old friends?" Bernadette heard her voice raise a notch. She could think of many words to describe their relationship. Friends was not one. "We've known each other a week. Less than a week."

  "With some people, there's an instant rapport."

  "I'd hardly call what we have a rapport."

  "Well, whatever." His smile grew wider.

  "If you'll excuse me." Drew took a step back, his gaze darting between them.

  Although Drew Bartlett was not a man who appealed to her, Bernadette wasn't about to let him leave her alone with Cody. "Actually, I'd like to talk to you, Mr. Bartlett . . . Drew." She stepped forward, smiling warmly as she slipped an arm through his. "What exactly does a market analyst do?"

  "What do I do?" He glanced down at her arm, then back up at her face.

  "How would you like to buy me a drink?" She nodded toward the wet bar in the corner of the room. "Then we can discuss the market here in Grand Rapids."

  "Sounds good to me."

  Drew tossed back a triumphant smile, and Cody watched them walk away. He knew what Bernadette was doing, but if she thought he cared who she went off with, she was wrong. Ever since leaving her at the entrance to Morgan's, he'd been lecturing himself on the stupidity of being attracted to her. It was great that she was going off with another man. Eliminated temptation.

  So what if she looked absolutely drop-dead gorgeous or that she was dressed in green. She wasn't the enchanted princess from the fairy tale his sister used to tell him. She wasn't a princess at all, unless it was an ice princess.

  He had to remember that.

  "You let her get away?"

  Cody turned at the sound of Marian's voice. She'd returned to his side and was watching Drew Bartlett get Bernadette a drink.

  "What are you up to, Marian?"

  She smiled Cody's way. "Nothing, my dear. Absolutely nothing at all."

  "You want to explain why you invited me?"