by Barbara Gee
Vince wanted to assure her everything would be okay—he wanted to make it so. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t do anything to help, really. There was a good chance he wouldn’t even be here when the man she loved so much passed away, because when you signed a contract and got paid the big bucks to play a sport for a living, the game came first. It had to, for obvious reasons, but that didn’t stop him from feeling a twinge of regret.
She gave him a curious look. “Wow. What is it about you that makes me talk about things I usually don’t? I don’t know that I’ve ever talked about my feelings toward my father, or how scared I am of losing Grandpa. Not even to Pastor Keller or the girls. I tend to be a ‘hold it in and try to deny it’ kind of girl.”
“My guess is you’re used to being the one who gives comfort, rather than the one who needs it.” He raised a brow in her direction. “Am I right?”
She turned her horse back toward the barn and motioned for him to follow before she answered.
“I’ve never really thought about it, but there’s probably some truth to that.”
“You’re good at it. The giving comfort thing.”
She tilted her head. “How do you know?”
“Because of how you were yesterday when I was sharing what I went through last summer with you. You went out of your way to assure me I was never the loser I thought I was at the time.”
“You’ve never been a loser,” she said emphatically.
“See?” he said with a smile. “Your first instinct is to comfort and encourage. Not judge and run. That’s a very rare quality, at least in my world. I hope you never change.”
“That’s a nice thing to say,” she murmured, looking self-conscious, but maybe a little pleased, too.
They rode without speaking for a while, then she glanced over at him, her lips curving into a mischievous smile.
“I’d ask if you want to race, but neither you nor Edison are quite up to that. We can at least gallop the rest of the way to the barn though, if you think you can handle it.”
By way of an answer he dug his heels into Edison’s sides, surprising the horse into movement so quickly, he almost fell off. He heard Callie’s bubbling laughter, then the pounding of Leo’s hooves as he quickly caught up and passed them. So much for his head start.
“If that’s the way you’re gonna be, I’ll meet you at the barn,” Callie called over her shoulder.
Vince didn’t mind her leaving him in the dust. She’d patiently stayed with him the whole time, and he was sure she’d been itching to turn Leo loose. This was her chance to let the horse blow off some steam.
Edison wasn’t speedy, but he had an easy, steady gait. Vince felt himself settling into the rhythm of the horse’s strides, and he decided he was getting the hang of this riding stuff. Callie must have thought so too, otherwise she’d have never left him alone.
When he rode up to the barn, she was walking Leo in a circle to cool him down.
“Be careful when you dismount,” she said as he pulled Edison to a stop. “Your legs are going to be really weak. I probably shouldn’t have let you ride so far.”
“I’m glad you did. I enjoyed it.”
She chuckled. “I want you to remember you said that when your alarm goes off tomorrow morning.”
He slid off the horse and tested his legs. They were shakier than yesterday, but he wasn’t in danger of falling over, and after a circle around the outside ring he felt fine.
He and Callie chatted easily as they cooled the animals down, then brushed them. By the time they finished, it was almost dark.
“Shall I stop in and say hi to Jeremiah, or is it too late?”
“He’s probably snoozing in his chair,” Callie said, “and sometimes he’s a little disoriented when he wakes up. So maybe not this time.”
Vince nodded. He was disappointed his time with her was over, but he understood. “Tell him I said hi.”
Callie stopped beside her Gator. “You’re welcome to come ride with me in the mornings if you want the practice.”
He grimaced. “That might be a little hard to do. Boone’s planning for us to work out every morning before the rink opens.”
“Gotcha. Well, I can maybe do another evening ride at some point, depending on how Grandpa is feeling. I’ll let you know.” She looked up at him, her smile shy. “I mean, if you want to.”
“Oh, I want to,” Vince said, his voice going low and a little rough. He shoved his hands into his pockets—it was either that or he was going to reach for her, and he didn’t dare do that. Not yet.
“Okay, um, I guess I’ll be in touch then. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
He smiled. “I’ll try, but I’m pretty sure the best part is already over. Good night, Callie.” He backed away from her a few steps, searing her beautiful face in his mind, then turned and went to his car.
CHAPTER 14
Callie collapsed onto the driver’s seat of the Gator and just sat there, her feet still on the ground, staring at Vince’s receding tail lights. She felt like she’d just lived through some kind of dream. Some kind of good dream.
She’d been fascinated by Vince from the very first glance—a mixture of awe due to who he was, and also an intense physical attraction she’d been helpless to deny. Meeting him had been both exhilarating and confusing, but when she rode away from him that first morning, she’d thought it a one-time event. She hadn’t anticipated ever being face-to-face with him again, although she’d hoped to see him in action at the retreat center ice rink.
She had certainly never guessed—not in a million years—she’d be spending time with him at the Double Nickel, riding and cooking breakfast and talking about personal things neither of them normally shared.
Now she had feelings to figure out—and big decisions to make. What came next? Did she want to form a friendship with Vince Abbot? Did she want more than friendship?
She sighed and rubbed her eyes, feeling weary and confused. It would be so much easier to answer the question about what came next if she knew how he was feeling. He’d told her more than once he wanted to get to know her, but what exactly did that mean?
A few times this evening she’d caught him looking at her like he might be pondering the same questions she was—like he was wondering what this might turn into. Then again, it was possible he formed quick bonds with people wherever he went, and this was nothing new or especially intriguing to him. For all she knew, Vince saw her as no more than a riding teacher and new friend to help pass the time.
Just because her heart was already getting involved didn’t mean his was.
Callie sighed and swung her legs up into the Gator. It would have been so much less complicated if Vince had turned out to be the arrogant, condescending jerk she’d expected. That man would have never been interested in spending time with a small-town girl like her, and she’d still be going about life as usual, not giving much thought to the fact that Vince Abbot was living at the retreat center.
Instead, he’d turned out to be a smart, caring, thoughtful man. A totally amazing man who listened, encouraged, and made her laugh, and was happy to spend time with her sick grandfather.
She gritted her teeth. The list of “pros” was growing again.
That thought didn’t stop her mind from going back over the conversations she and Vince had had in the short time they’d known each other. They’d been personal, but also surprisingly comfortable. Callie had felt like she was talking to a good friend—one she’d known for more than mere days.
That comfortable feeling had been shaken up only once this evening, and it had happened just before Vince left. When she’d mentioned the possibility of an evening ride sometime and he said he wanted her to let him know when she could make it work, his voice had been low, almost a growl. The light from beside the barn door had illuminated his face enough for her to see something flash in his eyes that was definitely more than just friendly interest. Callie suspected her own eyes had reflected the same thing, but thankf
ully her face had been in the shadows.
She closed her eyes and blew out a long, slow breath. So many questions swirled in her head. What did he want? Was she crazy to think she had a chance at more than a summer with him?
Oh yeah, that definitely sounded crazy. But there was something between them. Something she was responding to body and soul. The question was whether this was normal operating procedure for Vince, or something special.
She wanted it to be special.
She groaned and dropped her forehead against the steering wheel for a moment. It would be all too easy to feel overwhelmed by all the unknowns in her life right now. Grandpa. Vince. Life after Grandpa. Life after Vince….or maybe, if all the stars aligned, life with Vince.
Ugh. She had to stop thinking about that. All this contemplation was only giving her a headache. She sat up and gave herself a hard mental shake before driving swiftly toward the house.
Enough speculating and going around in circles for tonight. She’d go help Jeremiah get settled into bed, then get some work done.
Anything to take her mind off Vince Abbot.
***
Boone’s expression was one of disbelief. “You actually got the horse up to a gallop? And stayed on?”
Vince looked to Jolene for support. “Would I lie to you guys? Why would I lie?”
Jolene laughed. “I think the rotten side of Boone was just hoping to hear you fell off in front of Callie. It would give him something to razz you about for years to come.”
“He’d better hope I don’t fall off. Someone’s gotta score goals next year. He and Jax are getting up there in age, you know.”
“And we can still skate circles around half the team,” Boone declared.
Vince gave him that. “Not around me, but yeah, half is about right.”
Boone leaned back in his chair and took a big bite of the dessert he’d been generous enough to share. Rather than spending the rest of the evening alone in his cabin, Vince had stopped in at their place after leaving the Double Nickel. Boone and Jolene had been watching a movie, and Jolene also had a pan of peach cobbler in the oven. When it was done, they’d all gone out to the back deck to eat it and enjoy the beautiful night.
“You’re going to make me fat, sweetheart,” Boone said contentedly. “I’m going to have to double my workout time if you keep cooking like this.”
“You need to learn to pace yourself,” Jolene chided. She looked at Vince. “I actually don’t make him desserts very often. On Sunday evenings I tend spoil him.”
Vince grinned. “Sounds like a great tradition. Maybe I’ll be able to convince my wife to do that one day.”
Boone raised a brow. “You still picturing Callie in that role?”
Vince ate another bite before he answered. Two days ago, he’d been pretty sure Callie Green was a girl he could fall for in a way he never had before. Now, after two riding lessons, breakfast, and a couple of good talks, he was positive of that fact.
He looked Boone in the eye, wanting his friend to know how serious he was about her.
“I know I’ve been joking about her being the one ever since I met her, but I’m telling you, there’s something there. I like her more every time I’m with her. I’m comfortable, you know? Like we’ve known each other so much longer than four days. I’ve even talked to her about what I went through last summer and she was great about it. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been with a girl who cares more about the man than the athlete, but I think that’s the kind of girl Callie is.”
Jolene licked ice cream off her spoon. “I like the sound of that. You need someone who sees you as more than just a hot, rich, hockey player, otherwise it’s too easy for you to hide behind that persona and not let the true Vince Abbot show. If Callie’s already bringing out the real you, you’re off to a great start.”
“I like to think so. She’s really smart and mature, and her heart is just so big. I can’t help but feel she’s what I’ve been missing all this time.”
Boone pushed his empty bowl away. “Just be careful with her. She’s a lot different than the girls who only want your money, body, and fame.”
He looked at Vince with a brow raised, as if he expected a smart-alecky comeback. Most times, Vince would have one ready, given a set-up like that, but he wanted to hear more of what Boone was getting at, so he remained silent and waited for him to go on.
After a moment, he did. “I was talking to Tanner this afternoon, and I mentioned you’ve seen Callie a few times. Tanner knows her because he’s really into horses and he and Callie take turns filling in when Bob at the barn is gone. Which is a lot, because he has two ailing parents in Missouri. Anyway, Tanner and Callie consult about the horses, and they’ve become friendly.”
“Let me guess, he feels a little protective of her?” Vince asked. “I completely understand that, because I feel the same way. She brings that out in a guy. Not because she’s weak, because she’s not at all, but she’s so sweet and sensitive, and so broken up about her grandfather. It just makes me want to take care of her, to help her somehow.”
“Tanner said she’s not a girl who’s looking for a casual fling. He’s pretty sure she’d only get involved with a man if she thought there was a future in it.”
“So you need to decide, Vince,” Jolene said. “Is Callie a long-term possibility? Because if you don’t see a future with her, and I’m talking about more than just this summer, you need to back off before she gets hurt.”
Vince nodded earnestly. “I know what you’re saying, and you’re exactly right. I don’t want to hurt her—or get hurt myself for that matter. But like I said, she’s special. If there’s a chance it could work out, I want to try to get there. Get where you guys are.” He looked at them both. “I realize living in two different states is going to complicate things, not to mention having a job that takes me away a lot.”
Boone reached for Jolene’s hand. “Complicated might be an understatement. It’s not easy to find a girl who can put up with our schedules. Even if Callie’s as interested as you are, it’s going to be a challenge. Even more so considering she has a ranch to run here.”
“Yeah, I realize that,” Vince said, frustration seeping into his voice. “But it’s taken me twenty-eight years to find a girl who makes me feel the way she does. I can’t see giving up before we even try. That’s not how I’m wired.”
“So, you’re definitely not just looking for a summer romance to help pass the time?” Jolene asked.
He frowned, a little hurt she’d even asked him that. “No. Callie’s definitely not a summer fling. I won’t lead her on. It’ll be all or nothing from my end.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say,” Jolene said approvingly. “Just wanted to make sure you’ve thought it through.”
“Don’t take too long to decide which it is,” Boone drawled. “That whole all or nothing part, I mean. Nothing screws with a man’s game more than girl problems.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Vince said, smiling wryly as he stood up. “I should go. I want to make sure I get enough sleep to function during the registration rush tomorrow.” He held up his empty bowl. “I’ll drop this in the kitchen on my way out.”
“Thanks for popping in. You’re welcome here any time, you know,” Jolene told him as she snuggled up to Boone. “Bring Callie if things get to that point.”
“I can only hope.”
Vince left their happy, cozy home, once again thoughtful as he drove back to the ranch and his cabin. Was he being selfish by pursuing Callie? The poor girl was already overwhelmed by Jeremiah’s situation—was it unfair to throw himself into the equation, giving her one more thing to worry about?
Hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do. Maybe it would be best to pull back before their hearts got too involved—but he simply couldn’t imagine not seeing her again. He was already counting the hours, and he didn’t even know when it was going to happen yet.
His jaw clenched. He wanted to do what was right by
Callie, and if he became convinced he wasn’t good for her, he hoped he’d be strong enough to walk away.
That’s not where he was at now, though. He believed they could have something incredible, and he wanted to fight for their chance. He would take Jolene’s gentle warning to heart and be as careful with Callie as he could possibly be, but he wasn’t going to give up. Not yet. Not before he knew for sure what was there.
Truth was, he already had it real bad for Miss Callie Green, and he was pretty sure it was only going to get worse.
CHAPTER 15
Callie made herself wait to contact Vince. She had decided after he left on Sunday that she needed to prove to herself she could wait—that she could go a few days without seeing him, or even thinking about him too much.
It was a self-preservation thing, because she knew she was falling for the man. A little distance would be best. She needed to keep weighing those pros and cons. Needed to decide whether to put a stop to things right now, or go into it with her eyes wide open, knowing she was most likely going to end up getting hurt. If she chose the latter option, it would only be because she felt there was a chance—admittedly tiny—of having more than a summer with Vince.
Now, after two days of not seeing him, even that tiny chance seemed worth the risk. Callie’s original plan had been to wait until Wednesday to contact him, but by Monday evening, she’d already known she wasn’t going to make it that long. In spite of doing her best to keep busy, Vince had been on her mind almost constantly, and it was pitiful how badly she wanted to see him again.
She’d caught herself daydreaming frequently throughout the day. She thought about the way he looked and moved. His easy smile and twinkling eyes. The way he laughed, the way he listened. The way he cared.
She no longer tried to deny her attraction to him, but she didn’t like feeling so needy, either. Wanting to see him was one thing, feeling like she needed to was another. So, she compromised. She wouldn’t contact him on Monday night, but she wouldn’t wait until Wednesday either.