by SJ McCoy
“I like you, too, Cal.”
He smiled. “I was hoping.”
She reached up and traced her finger over his lips. “With that smile, you don’t need to hope, you can know. I like you a lot.”
He lowered his lips to hers and was soon lost in one of her sweet kisses. Her arms came up around his shoulders and she pressed herself against him as her tongue met his eagerly. He held her closer to his chest and had to hope that she wouldn’t mind knowing—feeling—just how much he liked her, and how eager he was to get to know her better.
Chapter Nine
Teresa looked up when Nina came into the salon. “Hi, I’ll be with you in a few. We’re almost done here.” She smiled down at Mrs. Etheridge who was sitting in her chair. The old lady barely had enough hair left to style, but she’d been keeping this Wednesday afternoon appointment for a blow-dry since before Teresa had bought the place.
Mrs. Etheridge smiled back up at her. “I think we are done.” She patted her hair and peered at the mirror. “I know you’ve done a good job, even if I can barely see myself. I just don’t ever want to become that scary old bat with a shock of white hair standing on end who all the kids are afraid of.”
“You could never be that Mrs. E,” called Elle from where she was sweeping around her chair. “All the kids love you and always have. You’ve been the favorite Halloween house and the favorite Christmas decorations house ever since I was little.”
Mrs. Etheridge laughed. “And I know you think that’s a long time, Elle. But believe me, when you get to my age the last thirty years seem like the blink of an eye. You have to remember that when you were born, I was older than your mom is now.”
She winked at Teresa, and they both laughed at the stunned look on Elle’s face.
“It’s true. And you might want to remember that. Whenever things look bad or feel like they’re going wrong, more than likely it’s only a blip in the grand scheme of things. When you’re having a tough time, it might feel like you’re in a bad chapter of your life. When you get to my age and look back, you’ll see it wasn’t even a chapter, it was barely a couple of pages.”
Teresa rested her hand on the old lady’s shoulder. She wanted to thank her for trying to help Elle see her troubles in a new way, but she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t need to. Mrs. Etheridge reached up and squeezed her hand. “And you, Teresa. You’d do well to think about it. Elle was born thirty years ago.”
Teresa laughed. “That just makes me feel old.”
“That’s my point. You’re not. You’re only at the beginning of the next thirty years. You’re not old, you’re at the beginning of a new chapter.” She winked again. “If I were you, I’d make the most of it.” The twinkle in her eye gave her away.
“Are you trying to tell me something?”
“I am, but I’ll spell it out for you if you like. You’re the talk of the town girl, you and that handsome young fella, Callahan. You’re the talk of the town and the envy of half its women. You’ve been by yourself a long time. Like I said, it’s time for a new chapter.”
Teresa rolled her eyes. “I’ve been out with the man twice.”
Elle laughed. “No, you’ve only been out with him once. The second time he came over.”
Mrs. Etheridge waggled her eyebrows. “I heard that, too, but I wasn’t sure if I should believe it.”
“It’s true that he came over. But you shouldn’t believe the rest. There’s no truth to what I can only imagine people are saying.”
“And you,” she made a face at Elle, “can vouch for that, young lady.”
“Yeah. Okay. I’m only teasing.”
Teresa helped Mrs. Etheridge up from the chair and led her over to the front desk to write out her appointment card for next week. She didn’t need it, but it was part of the ritual they went through every week. After she’d handed it over, she came around the front desk to give her a hug.
“Is Kevin out there?”
Teresa peered out through the window and saw the cab sitting outside as it always was. “He is.”
Elle came hurrying over and looped her arm through the old lady’s. I’ll walk you out, Mrs. E.”
When the door closed behind them, Nina grinned at her. “So, there’s no truth to the rumors then?”
“No!” Teresa blew out a sigh. “But I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that I hope to have to admit they’re right at some point soon.”
“You like him then?”
“Like is such a little word.”
“Especially for such a big man.”
Teresa laughed. “I didn’t like to mention that.”
“Ooh! So, you’d know?”
She rolled her eyes. “I mean, I didn’t want to start rattling on about how tall he is and his big arms and all his muscles and …” She couldn’t help laughing. “His huge hands!”
“But you don’t know if they’re an indication of …?”
“If I had to guess, I’d say that absolutely they are.”
“But you don’t have to guess … you know?”
“No, not … directly. Like I said. The rumors aren’t true, yet. But we did kiss, and he held me to him and … well … Let’s say he was so pleased about that, that I got the impression that he’s …” she tried to find the right words but couldn’t. She laughed when it came to her. “That he’s a big boy.”
Nina laughed with her. “And when are you seeing him again?”
“Not until the weekend. He’s all in on his new job. By the sounds of it he’s going in early and staying till late.”
“Yeah, Manny said that Dan’s already worried about him working full-time when he’s only supposed to be part-time.”
“He said it’s only until he sets everything up the way he wants it, that he has to get all his systems in place so that when they open for business everything will run as he wants it to.”
Nina smiled. “You sound defensive on his behalf.”
“No! I … I do, don’t I? It’s just that he told me about it. He said they all think that he’s a workaholic and he used to be. But that he doesn’t plan to be that way here. That he’s looking for balance. His job used to be his life but now he wants to have a life and a job.”
“And does he want you to be part of his life?”
“I don’t know. It’s too soon to even think about that. We’ve only been out … once.”
“Yeah, and stayed in once. You wouldn’t have shared your Skye time with him if you didn’t like him a lot.”
“I know. I just … I don’t know where it’s going, and it doesn’t have to go anywhere, does it?”
“I guess not. Anyway, are we going or are we going to stand around here talking all night?”
“We’re going. Come on through to the back while I get my purse.”
Nina sat down while Teresa straightened the back room a little. She didn’t normally bother but the way Cal had cleaned her kitchen on Saturday night had left her wondering if she was perhaps a little too disorganized.
“What are you doing with him at the weekend?” asked Nina.
“Well, he’s going to come over again on Friday night. We’re going to watch Skye so Elle can go out.” She glanced at the door that led back to the salon. “I’m so thrilled, Nina. She said she had a good time, and they’d asked if she wanted to go again. I’m hoping that she’s finding her feet and will want to end up staying.”
“I’m hoping right along with you. Abbie said it was great to have her back and that she got along with everyone—all the new kids.”
“Yeah. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Though there is one downside to it.”
“What?”
“Apparently, Steve’s talking about coming up to see her and Skye.”
“Ugh.” Nina’s face summed up the way she felt about Teresa’s ex-husband more eloquently than she could have put into words.
“Yeah. My sentiments exactly.”
; “We could go out of town when he comes—whenever it is.”
“Thanks, Nina. But I’m not going to run and hide. You know what he’s like. He makes out that I’m the one with the problem. I don’t care. He doesn’t bother me. I just don’t like how he tried to turn Elle against me. And I don’t like the way—” She stopped abruptly when Elle stuck her head around the door.
“What are you still doing here? I thought you were going for dinner with all the girls?”
“We are. We did it again, though. We got to talking.”
“Well, take your talking over to the Boathouse so you can have a good chinwag with all your cronies!”
“Elle! You make us sound like old witches!”
“I said no such thing,” Elle grinned at them, “but if the shoe fits!”
Teresa grabbed for one of the brooms. “More like if the broom’s handy, I’ll chase you with it.”
She chased Elle back into the salon, and Nina followed, the three of them laughing, until the door opened, and they all stopped at the sight of Cal standing there.
Teresa sucked in a deep breath. He was like that. He made you stop and stare. He stole her breath.
He folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No!” cried Elle and ran to him, ducking behind him and peeking out around his side. “You’re just in time to rescue me.”
He chuckled and gave Teresa a puzzled look. “You were about to beat your daughter with a broom?”
She laughed and set it down. “I guess you’ll never know.”
Elle came out from behind him. “Thanks, Cal. You saved me.” She went to Nina and slipped her arm through hers. “Come with me while I get you those things for Abbie.”
Teresa was aware of them going into the back and closing the door behind them only because Cal watched them and visibly relaxed when the door clicked shut.
“I hope it’s okay to just drop by like this?”
“It’s more than okay. It’s wonderful.” She’d been disappointed when he’d asked if she wanted to see him again on Friday. She’d said yes, of course she did. But she wasn’t thrilled at having to wait a whole week before she could.
He still had his arms folded across his chest. She loved the way he did that, it showed off his forearms—complete with tattoo that she had yet to ask him about. He looked serious again. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he had a problem. But she did know better. At least, she hoped she did. The intimidating stance and seemingly shuttered face had so far proved to be merely cover for uncertainty. He wasn’t mad at her; he was unsure about something.
She knew how to put him at ease. And if she was wrong? Well, even if she were wrong it’d be worth it.
She went to him and slipped her arms around his waist and reached up to press a little kiss to the corner of his mouth.
For a moment, she thought she’d misjudged him. He tensed, frozen for a second like a statue, but then he relaxed, and his arms closed around her and he pecked her lips.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” he murmured.
She looked up at him. “Does that mean you don’t want …” She started to take a step back, but his arms tightened around her waist.
“No. I said I wasn’t expecting it, not that I don’t like it, or didn’t want it. I expected to have to earn it”
It was her turn to relax. “You already have.”
He looked down into her eyes. “How?”
“Just by being you.” She pressed another kiss to his lips. She couldn’t help it. “But I’ll probably have to let you go in a minute.” She glanced back at the door to the breakroom. “That was sweet of them, but I doubt they’ll stay in there long.”
Cal pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I can’t stay long anyway. I’m going back to work. I’m almost done with everything I wanted to get set up. Which means …”
“What?”
He looked doubtful now, as if he’d come here with something on his mind but was about to change it.
“Tell me what it means, Cal. Don’t back out on me now.”
He laughed. “Okay. I wondered if you wanted to go out tomorrow night … as well as Friday. I’m looking forward to Friday. I’m not saying tomorrow instead. I’m asking for tomorrow as well … if you’d like?”
She grinned. “I’d like. I’d like very much. What do you want to do?”
“I thought we could go over to Four Mile.”
“I’d love to.”
“Great. I’ll call you tomorrow then about coming to get you. Does around seven work?”
“That’ll be great.”
“Okay. He glanced at the breakroom door over her shoulder. “I should go.”
She laughed. “You probably should. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
~ ~ ~
When Cal got back to the office, he sat down and waited for his computer to fire up. He’d been wondering all day if he should ask Teresa out tomorrow night. Now that he had—and she’d said yes—he wondered why he’d waited so long.
He smiled as he entered his password. He only had a couple more hours to put in and then he’d be happy that his systems were as good as they could be for now. Of course, he’d have to adjust on the fly once they were tested in the real world. But he knew he’d set the organization up with a solid foundation.
“You’re back?”
He looked up to see Ryan standing in the doorway.
“I am.”
“I thought you left for the night. You know Dan’s starting to wonder about you.”
“What about me?” Cal frowned. He liked Dan. He’d thought they were establishing a good working relationship.
“Don’t look like that. He’s wondering if we’re going to be able to afford you. This was only supposed to be a part time gig, remember? You’ve put in more hours in the first couple weeks than we budgeted for the entire month.”
“That’s not a problem. I know what my official hours are and I’m not expecting to be paid for going over them. It’s just …” He shrugged. “You know how it is; we’ve never worked in an environment where you keep track of your hours. We do what it takes to get the job done. At the beginning of an op, it takes a bit more to get set up, that’s all.”
Ryan smiled and came into the office. “I know. I get it and I’ve tried to explain it to Dan, but he’s concerned. He doesn’t want to take advantage.”
Cal raised an eyebrow, and Ryan laughed.
“I know, I did try to tell him that no one takes advantage of Blake Callahan. But you know what he’s like. He’s from a different world than we are.”
“Yeah. Thanks for the heads up. I should be able to set his mind at ease now anyway. I’m only back tonight to run through everything one last time. Barring any unexpected glitches, I’ll be able to stick to my scheduled hours from now on.”
Ryan smiled. “There’s no need to sound so formal. This isn’t me delivering a directive from above. I’m just letting you know that you’re appreciated—and that no one wants you overdoing it.”
Call narrowed his eyes. “That’s not some veiled dig, is it? Am I supposed to hear the unspoken at my age?”
Ryan laughed. “Hell, no! My self-preservation instincts are still strong. There’s no way I’d give you the kind of shit I give Manny.”
Cal held his gaze as he considered that. “Why, though?”
Ryan’s smile faded. “What do you mean?”
“Why’s it okay for you to give Manny shit, but not me?” He frowned. “Am I no fun?”
Ryan gave him a puzzled look and came to sit down across the desk from him. “What brought that on? Of course you’re fun. You think we would have survived on the inside for as long as we did without all the laughs?”
“No.” Cal regretted asking now. “Forget it.”
“Nah, come on. Tell me what’s eating you?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. I’m probably just … I don�
��t know … feeling old maybe.”
“I call bullshit.”
Cal met his gaze. “I hate to break it to you kid, but all joking aside, I am getting older.”
“Brush it off if you want. But I’m going to tell you what I think.”
Cal waited. He doubted Ryan would have any clue what he was really thinking.
“I think it’s Teresa who’s got you questioning yourself.”
“No! She … she’s not …”
Ryan held his hand up. “I don’t mean in a bad way. I mean being around her. She’s all upbeat and out for the laughs, right? You like her. She likes you, but you haven’t found your feet yet, so you’re questioning if you might be a bit too … formal for her?” He raised an eyebrow.
Cal stared at him for a few moments before blowing out a sigh. “Pretty much.”
Ryan grinned. “Well, don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t sweat it. Don’t second guess yourself. Get over any doubts you’re having.”
Cal chuckled. “What, just like that, because you say so?”
“Yeah. And if that’s not enough. Then because according to Leanne—who got her hair done yesterday—Teresa is besotted with you.”
“She told Leanne that?”
“Not in so many words, no. But while Lee was in there, her daughter kept teasing her about you and she didn’t deny a thing. She even looked embarrassed, which according to Lee is something that Teresa doesn’t do very often.”
Cal mulled that over, not sure what to think.
“Relax, boss. I’m trying to reassure you here. She’s into you. So, what are you going to do about it? Want me to help you come up with a plan of attack?”
Cal smiled. “Thanks, but I don’t need one. I just stopped into the salon to see her—and asked her to have dinner with me tomorrow.”
Ryan grinned. “And she said yes?”
“She did.”
“Good for you. See, I told you; you don’t need to worry about whether you’re fun enough.”
“I guess not.”
Ryan got to his feet. “I need to get going. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yep. Say hi to Leanne for me.”