by SJ McCoy
She laughed. “I’ll look forward to that. That smile …!”
He had to laugh with her. At first, he’d thought that she was teasing him about his smile, but he’d since figured out that whenever he used it, she was happy—and that was all he wanted. “I’ll see you later. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Bye.”
Chapter Twenty
Cal was surprised to see Ben behind the bar when he walked into the Boathouse. He liked the guy, and he was easier company than Kenzie. He liked Kenzie, but her forthright manner threw him off. He was never sure how to handle it.
Ben greeted him with a smile. “Good to see you, Cal. How’s it going?”
“Great thanks. How about you?”
“Doing well.” Ben smiled. “Kenzie and Chase are closing on their house this afternoon. So, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
Cal chuckled. “That’s good—for them and for me.”
Ben laughed. “I hope she hasn’t—?”
Cal shook his head quickly. “That wasn’t a complaint. She’s awesome. Just a bit …”
Ben laughed again. “It’s okay. I know. She’s a straight-shooter and she has no filters whatsoever, but she has a heart of gold and she’s the best bartender I’ve ever had.”
“I can see that.”
“What can I get you? Are the rest of the guys coming? I wouldn’t have expected you to be the first to leave the office. I heard that you’re like me.”
Cal raised an eyebrow.
“A workaholic.”
“Ah. Yeah. I’m working on that. I’ve actually been at home today.”
“At your new place?”
“Yeah. Finishing up with painting and getting everything how we want it.”
Ben smiled but didn’t comment.
“What? You have something to say—say it.”
“When you said we. That’s what made me smile. Is it official then; you and Teresa? I think she’s awesome. I’ve known her my whole life. She’s one of the best people in this town. She deserves to be with someone who makes her happy.”
Cal smiled. It seemed that everyone knew her, and everyone loved her. He’d told her he didn’t think it was luck, but he did feel lucky that he’d found her, and that she loved him the way she did. “It’s almost official. I’m working on it. Ask me again after next weekend.”
Ben grinned. “Are we talking the kind of official where she’ll be changing her address or the kind where she’ll be changing her name?”
“Both if I get my way.” Cal’s smile faded. “I never thought about it before, but is Clarke her name?”
“Yeah.” Ben looked puzzled by the question.
“I mean, is it her maiden name?” The thought that she might still be using the asshole’s name bothered him all of a sudden.
“Oh! Yes. It is.” Ben made a face. “Her ex. Steve. His name’s Crandall.”
Cal nodded. He wanted to ask what Ben thought of him, but he didn’t think he should.
Ben leaned on the bar. “I don’t mind telling you that Teresa wasn’t the only one glad to see the back of him when he left town.”
That made Cal smile, he couldn’t help it.
“I heard he was coming this weekend.”
“Yeah. He was supposed to, but he changed his mind.”
“That sounds about right with him. I never liked him.”
“I’ve never even met him, but …”
“You wouldn’t be inclined to like him even before you heard the stories, though, would you?”
“What stories?” he asked too quickly, and he knew it. He finally understood first-hand why some of the higher-ups at the agency only took single guys into their teams. It seemed that love took the edge off a guy’s skills.
Ben made a face. “Sorry. I assumed you knew. I shouldn’t be the one to tell you.”
Cal scowled. “I know you shouldn’t, but will you? I’m asking.”
Ben shook his head. “I can’t. If she wants you to know, she’ll tell you when she’s ready. I’m sorry.”
Cal blew out a sigh. “That’s okay. You’re right. I’ll have to ask her. But tell me one thing?”
“What?”
“I already dislike the guy. I hate the way he treats Terry and Elle. If I heard these stories would I hate him even more?”
Ben rubbed his hands over his face and blew out a sigh of his own. “Part of the reason I don’t want to tell you is because I feel like it might make me an accessory to murder.”
Cal could hear his pulse pounding in his temples. “Did he hit her?”
Ben shrugged, but the answer was written all over his face.
Cal spun around when a hand came down on his shoulder. Manny and Ryan both stepped back.
“Whoa! What’s up boss?” asked Ryan.
Manny caught his gaze. “What happened? What do we need to do?”
Cal managed to get a grip. He took a deep breath to steady himself. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Yeah, right,” said Ryan. “And I’m the man on the freaking moon. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I … I just heard something about Terry’s ex that …” He glared at Manny. Did he know?
“What did you hear, and what did I do?”
Manny’s expression told him that he didn’t have a clue. He wouldn’t be able to hide that kind of knowledge—he’d be as angry as Cal was.
“I thought you might already know, but you don’t. And I heard …” He knew they’d feel the same way he did if he told them. But he wasn’t sure that he should. It was Terry’s business, not his to share. He shook his head. “I heard something that makes me glad he’s not coming this weekend.”
Ryan gave him a wary look. “And the look on your face says that if he did come, he wouldn’t be leaving again—except in a coffin.”
Cal shrugged. “I’ll calm down.” He wasn’t sure that was true, and the others didn’t look like they believed it either.
“So, if he’s not coming this weekend, does he plan to come next weekend? And will that affect your plans?” asked Manny.
“Apparently, he says he’s coming. But there is no way I’m going to let him affect my plans. I’ve waited longer than I wanted to already. No way am I going to delay asking her because of him.”
“That’s right.” Ryan smiled. “You should just forget all about him. He can’t affect you. He can’t mess them around anymore. Elle can tell him she’s busy moving and that she’s coming to your housewarming.”
Cal nodded. “I know that. But it doesn’t feel right to make her choose, you know?”
To his surprise, Ryan laughed. “She’s already chosen. She wants to see her mom happy; you make her mom happy. She wants to know that someone has her back when she can’t handle everything by herself; she knows you have her back.”
Cal frowned. “How do you know all that? You don’t even know her.”
Ryan shrugged and looked at Manny, who put his hand on Cal’s shoulder. “You look like you’re about to explode anyway. I’m not sure you need—”
Cal scowled at Ryan. “Donovan? She told Donovan all that?”
Ryan shrugged again. “It’s not like he’s been telling everyone her secrets. He came to me to ask for advice—because I know you, and she’s worried about her dad spoiling your big weekend.”
Cal blew out a sigh. “Jesus! Life as a loner is so much fucking easier!”
Manny smiled and grasped his shoulder. “Easier, maybe. But much less enjoyable and you know it. This is the stuff that comes with being with a woman, being part of a family. You’ll get used to it.”
Cal let out a short laugh. “I’ll try, but it’d be so much easier if I could eliminate this Steve.”
Ryan gave him a stern look. “We’re not allowed to do that anymore, remember?”
Cal laughed. “I meant from the equation, not …” He shook his head.
“Yeah. Sure, you did, boss.”
“Come on,” said Manny. “You need something stronger than water by the look of you. Let’s get you a beer, at least.”
“I have to drive back to Four Mile later.”
“We’ll put you in a taxi if we need to.”
“Okay.” Cal let them get the drinks and lead him over to a booth. He had a lot to process before Terry arrived.
~ ~ ~
Teresa smiled when she pulled up in the square at the resort and spotted Nina coming in just behind her. She waited for her and grinned when she caught up. “This is a nice surprise, isn’t it?”
“It is! Manny said that Cal was off work today, so I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Teresa held the door open for Nina to go in ahead of her when they reached the restaurant. “Is Leanne coming, too?” she asked.
“Manny said she might come later. It sounds as though she’s been working all the hours God sends since she arrived. I like her, she’s a tough cookie, but she’s a sweetheart underneath the hard outer shell.” Nina grinned. “Which sounds a lot like someone else we know.”
Teresa smiled as she followed Nina’s gaze to where Cal was sitting with Manny and Ryan in a booth. “Don’t let all those muscles fool you; he’s a big softy.”
Nina laughed. “He is when it comes to you and the girls. It doesn’t sound like he’s soft on the guys, though.”
“No, probably not.”
“And God help Steve if he ever meets him.”
Teresa blew out a sigh. “That might happen next weekend.”
Nina stopped dead. “Next weekend? No! He can’t come then!”
“I know. We’re helping Elle move into the house at Four Mile and Cal’s determined that Steve’s not going to mess that up. But I’ve been thinking I might … oh, I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.”
Nina patted her arm. “Next weekend is too important to let him mess it up for you.”
Teresa wasn’t sure it was such a big deal as Nina and Cal both seemed to think. But she just shrugged. She was too tired tonight to figure it all out. She’d just have to cross that puddle when it rained.
She smiled at Cal as they reached the table. He got to his feet and greeted her with a hug, but his killer smile was noticeably absent. She didn’t want him to still be mad about Steve. She wanted to relax and have fun with their friends. She reached up and pressed a kiss to his lips, then turned to greet the others. “Hey, guys. It’s good to see you. Are we eating or are we waiting for Leanne?”
Ryan and Manny both looked shifty, to say the least. “Sorry,” said Manny. “Change of plan. We need to go.” He took hold of Nina’s hand. She looked puzzled but not upset. She shrugged at Teresa. “See you soon, I guess.”
Teresa nodded and watched them go while Ryan shook Cal’s hand. Then to her surprise, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “See you soon, Terry.”
She looked up at Cal as he walked away. “What’s going on?”
He shrugged and put his hand on the small of her back as he guided her out of there. “It just turned out this way.”
She blew out a sigh. She’d been looking forward to chatting with everyone, but she was hardly going to complain about a night in relaxing—and not painting—with Cal.
His index finger traced a circle on her back as they walked. It reminded her of the first night she’d met him. She smiled when he stopped to open the door for her. “Do we get a peaceful night in then?”
He nodded, but tension rolled off him in waves.
“What’s wrong?”
He shrugged again and kept walking until they reached his Suburban. He opened the door for her, but she didn’t get in.
“Would you please talk to me? If you’re not going to talk, I might as well drive my car home.”
The corner of his lips quirked up making her feel a little better. But she needed to know what was going on. “I’m not joking, Cal. I’m not getting in until you tell me what’s going on.”
He slid his arms around her waist and pressed her back against the side of the SUV. He surprised the hell of her when he leaned his weight against her and rested his forehead against hers to look into her eyes.
“I love you, Terry.”
“I love you, too. But you said you weren’t going to be Mr. Grouch and you haven’t smiled once since I arrived.”
He rewarded her with one of his smiles, but it wasn’t a convincing one.
“Tell me.”
“You know I’m wound up about Steve.”
“I do, but I’m disappointed that you’d let that spoil our evening.”
“I’m not! Okay, so I am spoiling our evening, and that’s the last thing I want to do. But it’s not about this weekend, or even next weekend.”
“What then? It feels like you’re angry. It almost feels like you’re angry at me.” Her shoulders sagged. “And that makes me uncomfortable.”
A little growl escaped from his lips, but he lowered his head to kiss her before she could question it.
She smiled when he leaned back, hoping she could lighten things up. “I love the public display of caveman, but I really need you to tell me what you’re angry about.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m screwing this up because I don’t know how to handle it.”
“Try telling me!”
“Okay! Does me being angry scare you?”
“No.” She ran her hands up his arms. “It probably should. I mean if you wanted to …” She looked up at him. “What are you getting at?”
“I’m getting at the fact that I believe no man should ever hurt a woman.”
Her heart sank. She had no idea how he knew, but somehow, he did. “I’d have to agree with you.” She glared at him.
“Are you going to tell me?” he asked.
“Doesn’t seem like I need to. Are you going to tell me?”
“I can’t because I don’t know. I just have an idea. And if that bastard ever laid a finger on you—”
She put a finger to his lips to stop him. She didn’t want to hear it. “Stop. Stop it now. It’s the past. It’s gone and done. I’m not some weak little thing who needs you to … to anything, okay? I wasn’t a weak little thing back then either. Yeah, he pushed me around a couple times near the end. He hit me once, and if it helps, I punched him right back.” She stopped and swallowed. Nina was the only person on Earth she’d admitted that to until now.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because why would I? Why should I? It’s the past, like I said. Have you told me everything that ever happened in your previous relationships? Would you want me to know? Or are there things that happened that hurt you, that you’re not proud of and that you’d rather just let lie?” She glared up at him. He might mean well, but …
He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s okay. I understand your reaction. A part of me even appreciates it. But while it’s new information to you and you need to process it, for me it’s ancient history and I don’t particularly want to revisit it.”
He hugged her to him, and she burrowed her face into his warm chest.
“I’m sorry.”
She chuckled. “You keep saying that.”
“I don’t know what else to say.”
“So, say you’ll take me home now and that we can stop at the plaza for something to eat? I’m starving.”
When they got in the car, he reached across and took hold of her hand, bringing it up to his lips to kiss it. “I love you, Terry. I love you with all my heart and soul. That’s not an excuse. I just want you to understand.”
“I do. And I love you for it. But …”
“I know. You’ve dealt with it in your own way and you don’t need me dragging you back there while I deal with it.”
“Exactly.” She smiled at him. “Even when you’re acting like a caveman, you’re very reasonable and understanding.”
He chuckled
. “At least, in front of you I am.”
She gave him a stern look. “Then I’m guessing I’d better keep you in front of me at all times if Steve ever does come to town.”
His scowl was very real—and very intimidating—as he nodded. “Yeah. I can’t even joke about that. If he does show up next weekend, you’d probably better not leave my side. Because I can’t make any promises.”
She blew out a sigh. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“About sticking by my side?”
“About putting him off.”
“That’d probably be for the best.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“I can’t believe another week’s rolled by,” said Manny as they made their way out of the office on Friday afternoon.
Cal nodded. “It’s been a busy one, too.”
“It has for you,” said Ryan. “You’ve been bouncing back and forth around the lake like a crazy man. Have you taken care of all your deliveries now?”
He smiled. “All except the outdoor furniture. And we’ll go for that on Sunday.”
Manny grinned at him. “And you will keep me informed of your progress all morning and call when you’re twenty minutes out.”
Ryan laughed. “Yeah, and God help you if you don’t have everyone at the house and on time. I’m glad you’re in charge of that. I wouldn’t want to screw up.”
“It’s okay. It’ll all work out. Even if everyone’s not there when we get back, we can act like it’s just a housewarming thing until they arrive.”
“True. You don’t have to ask her the minute you get there,” said Ryan. “And the ring? You have the ring in a safe place?”
Cal tried to hide his smile as he took the box out of his pocket.
They both laughed. “I thought you were going to keep it in the safe?”
“So did I. But I like having it with me.” He shrugged.
They’d reached Manny’s car now and all stopped. Cal was going straight to Teresa’s house since she and Elle were closing the salon early to finish packing Elle’s things. He wanted to get going, but he decided he needed to get over himself and ask the guys a question that had been bothering him all week.
“Can I ask you something? Something personal?”