by SJ McCoy
She swallowed. That sounded like he was saying that he wanted to live with her—that he wanted her to live with him, in this house he was thinking about buying. Nah. She was just getting carried away.
He glanced over at her, but she just smiled. What could she say? When his eyebrows knit together instead of smiling back at her, she knew she needed to say something.
“Well, if you manage to get this place,” she waved the brochure, “you’ll definitely have one of the best houses in town.”
“You like it?”
“I love it. I thought about buying it, but it’s a bit of a reach for me with all my other commitments, and then the Marshall place came up for sale. It’s a better fit for me.”
“You’re moving?”
She laughed. “No. I’ll rent it out.”
“Ah, I see. You’re quite the businesswoman.”
“Yep.” She knew she shouldn’t feel defensive, but she couldn’t help it. Steve had always given her a hard time about the way she scraped and schemed, as he’d called it. She preferred to think of it as saving and investing.
Cal blew out a sigh and she turned to look at him. “I feel as though I’m screwing up here. First the pistol, then … I’ve upset you somehow, but I don’t even know how. Forgive me?”
She leaned across the console and landed a kiss on his cheek. “You haven’t messed up at all. I’m the one who should be apologizing, I get a little touchy, I guess, about the properties. It’s … Steve was … Oh, you know what? Forget that. The gun isn’t a problem. I was just surprised, that’s all. And I love the house. I hope that you’ll love living there,” she smiled, “and that you’ll invite me over sometimes.”
“More than sometimes.”
She loved the way he said that. “Well, I’ll come whenever you invite me to.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “I should warn you; I plan to invite you later.”
She laughed, loving that he was being more playful. “Ooh. And I have no doubt that I will.”
“I plan to make sure of it.”
A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine.
He pulled off East Shore Road onto Lakeside Drive and drove all the way to the end. Dallas’s Jeep was already parked in the driveway when they reached the house.
~ ~ ~
“Hey, Mrs. Clarke, Mr. Callahan.” Dallas greeted them with a smile. “I’ve opened everywhere up for you. All the lights are on. I can wait out here till you have any questions if you like?”
Cal nodded. That suited him much better than having Dallas traipse around inside with them. “That’s great, thanks.” He turned to Teresa and gestured for her to go ahead of him.
She smiled at Dallas. “Play your cards right and you’ll get a sale out of this no matter what.”
She laughed when they both gave her puzzled looks. “I’m already in love! Even if Cal doesn’t want it, I’ll take it.”
Cal’s heart thudded to a halt. It took him a moment to process the rest of what she’d said. She was talking about the house. Not about him. What was he thinking? She was hardly going to tell Dallas that she was in love with him before she’d even told him. He needed to slow down. She was hardly going to say it at all when the thought had probably never even crossed her mind. He met her gaze. Or maybe it had? She looked as though she realized what she’d said, but she didn’t look horrified. She looked … apprehensive? Did she think she’d given too much away?
He didn’t know, but he planned to find out just as soon as he could, and he couldn’t do it standing on the front steps with Dallas watching them.
“I want it,” he said, hoping that she might understand that he wasn’t just talking about the house. She turned to open the front door, leaving him wondering if she had any clue what he was getting at or if he’d simply imagined the whole thing. Was he reading too much into her words because he wanted to?
He took a deep breath as he followed her inside. No. He wasn’t and he knew it. He might be out of his depth when it came to women and relationships, but he knew how to read people. He’d spent his whole career doing it. It was one of his strengths and he wasn’t going to start questioning himself now. If he had to bet on it—and he was planning to bet his whole future—he’d say that she was feeling the same way he was, and the thought made him happier than he’d ever been.
“Oh, my God!”
He hurried after her to where she stood in front of the wall of windows.
“This is amazing! It feels like we’re on the water. Like, in a boat, not just next to the water.” She turned back and looked around. “And the inside is just as good as the view outside. It’s so clean and modern and …” She grinned at him. “Okay. You win. It’s very you, isn’t it? It’s all straight lines and right angles and clean cut, no-nonsense.”
He chuckled. “Is that how you see me?”
She came to him and slid her arms around his waist. He closed his around her as if it were the most natural thing in the world—which over the last few weeks, it had become. He dropped a kiss on her lips.
“I do see you that way.” She shrugged. “You’re straightforward and strong, no frills.”
He leaned back so he could see into her eyes. “Is that a good thing?”
She laughed. “No frills? Yeah, that’s a good thing, for a guy especially. What you see is what you get.” She ran her hand up his arm. “And I like what I see.”
He laughed with her. “That’s good, because I intend to make sure you get it.”
“Ooh.” She looked around. “It’s a pity it’s not furnished. We could christen the place.”
He held her closer, needing her to know the effect she had on him. “Want to go explore upstairs? I don’t need a bed, there are walls.”
Her eyes widened and she grinned at him. “You’re more adventurous than I was giving you credit for, Mr. Callahan.”
He swatted her backside as he followed her up the stairs. “You have no idea, Ms. Clarke.”
She looked back over her shoulder and waggled her eyebrows. “It would seem not. But I look forward to finding out.”
He took her hand when they reached the landing and she looked up at him.
“I was only kidding, you know. I don’t think … Not with Dallas down there waiting.”
He laughed. “Relax. So was I. We can come back and christen it after the sale goes through.”
“You’re going to make an offer then?”
“I’m going to buy it.”
She laughed. “Of course, you are. None of this make an offer and see what happens for you, right?”
“That’s right. I want it. My decision is made. Now, I’ll do whatever it takes to get it.” He squeezed her hand, hoping again that she’d pick up on all the ways he meant that. Her eyes told him she did, but she didn’t comment.
Instead, she tugged his hand, and led him into the master bedroom. “Oh, wow! The view’s even better from up here.”
“Isn’t it? I’ll share it with you as often as you want, since you like it so much.”
She smiled up at him. “Thanks. I think I’ll take you up on that.” She let go of his hand and started opening doors. “Oh, look at this closet! I bet it’ll be wasted on you, won’t it?”
“Maybe.” The closet was enormous. All the clothes he owned would only fill the rail along one wall. But he couldn’t help hoping that she might fill the rest of it with her things. Was he crazy? It didn’t feel crazy. It felt right. He was glad he’d asked her to come over with him. He didn’t want this to be his home—he wanted it to be their home. All he had to do now was bide his time and hope that she might come to want that, too.
~ ~ ~
“So, Manny says you might be our neighbor?” Nina asked Cal.
Teresa turned to him to see what he’d say. They’d gone straight back to the office with Dallas after they looked at the house on Thursday and he’d written up the offer. She knew Cal was in a hurry, but he’d told Dallas t
o take his time and go over everything with Austin before he submitted it.
He smiled and nodded. “That’s right. It should be soon, too.” He took hold of her hand under the table and squeezed it. She squeezed right back.
They’d come to the Boathouse with everyone tonight and she was having a great time. She hadn’t been sure how he’d be. She’d been fascinated to see him with Ted and Diego as well as Manny and Ryan. Apparently, they were all friends of old. He laughed and joked with them all; they were clearly all good friends, and, in some ways, it seemed like he was the leader of the group which kind of surprised her, but at the same time it didn’t.
This was the first time they’d been out with everyone and she hadn’t known how he’d want to handle it. He’d surprised her with how openly affectionate he’d been. He certainly wasn’t trying to hide that they were here together. If anything, it felt like he was trying to let people know that they were a couple—and she was loving it.
“Don’t be in too much of a hurry,” said Manny. “Not if our experience is anything to go by. We just had another delay on closing.”
Nina made a face at Teresa. “Yeah. I didn’t tell you, but the sellers have asked us to delay again so they can have more time to move out.”
“Oh, no.” Teresa felt bad for her. She’d been all packed up and ready to go for a while now.
“We’re lucky, in that respect, with the place being empty,” said Cal. “Dallas is checking into possession before closing, but Austin had already said he didn’t think it’d be a problem.”
Teresa glanced up at him wondering if he knew what he’d just said. She’d guess from the way Manny’s expression changed that he’d picked up on it. It wasn’t just her then. He’d said We. He didn’t look at her, but he squeezed her hand again. He’d said a few things now that had felt like he was hinting at her staying there with him. She kept convincing herself that she was just getting carried away. But she looked at Manny. He was thinking the same thing she was; she could tell.
Nina tapped her arm. “Want to do the girly thing and come to the ladies’ room with me?”
“Sure.” It made her wonder if Nina had picked up on it as well. She got to her feet, and Cal winked at her before she left. Maybe she’d have to ask him when she got him by himself. She’d drive herself nuts otherwise.
Then again, maybe she needed to take the time to figure out if it was what she wanted first. She smiled. Who was she kidding? Not herself, that was for sure. She’d love to!
As soon as they were away from the table, Nina grinned at her. “And just when did you plan to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you’re moving in with him?”
“I’m not!”
“But he just said …”
Teresa nodded. “I know. I heard him, too. And it was as much of a surprise to me as it was to you.”
“Oh.” Nina looked so disappointed it was almost comical. “I thought you were going to tell me that he’d asked, and you’d said yes and … but he hasn’t?”
She shook her head.
“Would you want to, if he did?”
“Honestly?” She blew out a sigh. “I was thinking that I needed a minute. That perhaps this little trip to the ladies’ room with you might help me work out my answer. But that’s not true.”
“No?”
She grinned. “No. My mind might want a minute to catch up, but my heart already knows that if he asked, I’d say yes.”
“Oh, Terry! That’s wonderful! I’m so happy. He’s lovely! He seems a bit scary at first, but he’s a sweetie, isn’t he?”
“He is.” Teresa’s smile faded. “But don’t get too carried away just yet, will you?”
“Why not? Is there a problem?”
She laughed. “Just the minor detail that he hasn’t asked me—and he might not.”
Nina waved a hand at her. “He will. I know it. Manny’s been telling me these last few weeks that he’s just waiting for Cal to crack open. He’s never seen him like this before. He says Cal doesn’t know how to handle it yet, but that when he does, he’ll be all in like he is on everything he ever does.”
Teresa had to smile. “I hope so.”
“You should tell him that.”
“No. I feel as though I’ve set the pace with everything that’s happened between us. And I don’t mind that. You know me. I’m not shy. I don’t wait around for what I want, I go out and get it. But this …” She shook her head. “I want it, I’d love to think that he might ask me to move in with him. But I’m hardly going to invite myself into his life, you know? I want him to want it because he wants it. I don’t want to lead him there.”
“I can see that. You need him to be the man.”
She laughed. “As if he could ever be anything else.”
Nina laughed with her. “I didn’t like to say, but you know what I mean.”
“I do. You get it. If that’s where he’s going, he’ll get there in his own time.”
As she followed Nina back across the restaurant to their table, she hoped that he might get there soon. He was standing beside the table now, talking to a bunch of younger guys. She recognized Audrey’s son, Brayden, who worked for Dan. They must be the tech guys by the looks of them. They might be twenty years younger than Cal, but he was undoubtedly fitter and stronger than all of them. He looked like a man surrounded by boys. She smiled as she got closer; he was her man.
Nina turned back to her with a grin. “Listen! Are you coming to dance?”
The band had just started onto their final set which they usually kicked off with a bunch of very danceable songs. Teresa pursed her lips. Normally, there’d be no question—she’d be the one dragging Nina up there but … She glanced at Cal. He was busy talking to Brayden and the others … Donovan, she knew one of their names. He worked with Leanne.
“Come on, they’re talking shop.” Nina tugged her on her arm.
When they reached the dancefloor, she glanced back at Cal. He met her gaze and gave her a forlorn look that made her laugh. She hadn’t abandoned him—he was busy. He did it again, so she waved for him to come over.
She had to laugh at the look of horror on his face and the way he shook his head rapidly.
Nina laughed with her. “I’m guessing he’s not a dancer. That’s a shame.”
Teresa nodded. It was. She loved to dance.
“And sorry, but I’d guess Manny’s about to join us.”
Now, Manny was a dancer. Teresa pursed her lips as she watched him break away from the group of guys. Diego joined him, tugging Izzy along in his wake. Teresa rolled her eyes. It must be the Colombian thing; those guys never had a problem getting up to dance.
She looked back at Cal. He was watching the others, then he looked back at her. The look of resignation on his face as he nodded made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. She loved that he’d come out here for her, but it made her sad that he really didn’t want to.
His pained expression when he reached her, had her taking his hand. She couldn’t do it to him.
“Come on, we can go and sit down.”
“No.” He didn’t move, instead tugging her hand and bringing her back to him. When she was close enough, he closed his arms around her.
“I don’t dance.”
She chuckled. “I gathered. That’s why I said we should go and—”
He put his finger to her lips and started to sway from side to side, holding her close against him, so that she moved with him. “You don’t want to sit down. You want to dance.”
She looked up at him, and he raised an eyebrow. “Will this do? I’ll take lessons.” The expression on his face said he’d probably be more enthusiastic about taking arsenic.
She had to laugh as she relaxed and wrapped her arms around him. “This will do just fine. It’s perfect. You don’t need to take lessons. You don’t have to dance at all if you don’t want.”
He droppe
d a kiss on her lips and continued to shuffle his feet and move her from side to side while people danced all around them. “You love to dance, don’t you?”
She nodded. She’d always loved to dance. She wasn’t going to deny it.
“Then I’ll learn. I want to be able to share the things you love with you.” He pulled her closer and lowered his mouth to her ear. “I want to become one of them.”
She froze as she ran the words through her mind a couple more times to make sure she understood what he was saying. She leaned back so she could see his face.
“You want to become …”
He nodded. “One of the things you love.”
She cocked her head to one side. “What … ?”
He closed his fingers around the back of her neck. “I thought I should wait, give you more time. And you can have all the time you need. But I can’t wait anymore to tell you.” His expression was so stern, so serious. But she knew him now. There was nothing intimidating about him, not to her. She knew him well enough that she understood that the fiercer he looked, the more vulnerable he felt.
She ran her hand over his back, wanting to help him relax, to let him know it was okay. She thought she knew what was coming, but she wasn’t going to go there first. “Tell me what?”
“That I love you.”
Even though she’d half expected it, she felt as though fireworks were exploding in her chest. His stern expression transformed into his killer smile as he watched her face—which she could feel was beaming back at him.
“You don’t mind?”
She shook her head.
“Not too soon?”
She shook it again.
He lowered his lips to hers and the dancefloor and the Boathouse, everything that wasn’t just the two of them melted away.
When he finally let her come up for air, he was smiling. He looked down into her eyes. “Now that I’ve told you, I might overdo it.”
“Overdo it?”
He chuckled. “I feel like the floodgates might open. There’s so much more I want to tell you, to ask you, to … but I can wait. I can be patient.” His eyes looked more serious now. “And I can hope.”