Callan's Proposition

by Barbara Mccauley

  The phone rang, and Lucian picked it up, then grinned at Callan.

  Abby, Callan thought, and though his pulse did jump, he felt a certain smug satisfaction that she would call so soon. In the entire year that he’d known her, they’d never had any kind of argument before. She’d probably been crying all morning and was finally ready to talk reason.

  He took the phone and with his brothers watching, said casually into the phone, “Yeah?”

  It wasn’t Abby.

  “We’re sorry to bother you, dear.” Aunt Emerald sat on Abby’s sofa, her leg propped up comfortably on top of a pillow on the coffee table. “But after Abby explained everything, how you’d pretended to be engaged so we wouldn’t be so concerned about her, well, we just felt that we should apologize to you in person for putting you through all that nonsense. If she had just said something to us, we could have saved you both so much trouble.”

  It had taken Callan less than twenty minutes to get back to Abby’s house from the site after Ruby’s phone call. Bubbling with energy and dressed in a loose-fitting fluorescent-orange pantsuit, she’d met him at the door and led him in, then flounced off to the kitchen to make him a cup of tea.

  He glanced toward the door leading to the bedrooms, wondered if Abby was back there. After the way he’d left this morning, well, maybe he could understand that she might not want to see him for a while. He just needed to get her alone, talk with her.

  It was all he could do to listen to Emerald speaking to him, but he forced his attention back to her.

  “Abby must be very special to you.” Emerald had both hands on the top of her cane. “On a professional level, I mean. For you to go to such lengths to keep her in your office, well, she must be extremely proficient.”

  “Ah, well, yes, she is very…special.” He looked at the hall doorway again. Dammit, why wouldn’t she come out?

  “I have to tell you,” Ruby said as she came back into the room with a steaming mug in her hands, “you certainly had us fooled. Heavens, just looking at you and Abby together, I was absolutely convinced you two were deeply in love. You can imagine Emerald’s and my surprise to learn you and Abby don’t have any romantic affection for each other at all.”

  But he did have affection for Abby. Tremendous affection. And of course it was romantic, he thought, though the realization made a knot form in his throat. He glanced toward the bedrooms again. He had to see her.

  He jerked his gaze back to Ruby. “Ah, could you ask Abby if it would be all right if I came back and spoke with her a minute?”

  “Abby?” Ruby wrinkled her forehead. “Abby’s not here.”

  “She’s not here?”

  Ruby and Emerald glanced at each other, then looked dolefully at him. “Oh, dear.” Ruby touched her hand to her chest. “We assumed she called you while she was packing her suitcase.”

  “Suitcase?” Callan felt the knot in his throat tighten. “Why was she packing her suitcase?”

  “Well, since Emerald and I couldn’t go on our cruise, we gave Abby one of our tickets. We thought a getaway to the Caribbean would be good for her before she moved to Boston.”

  Moved? To Boston? His heart slammed against his ribs. Caribbean cruise? How could she leave without telling him? Without even speaking to him first? She was supposed to be in love with him, dammit!

  He drew in a slow, deep breath to keep himself from yelling. It felt as if his skull had shrunk and was pressing in on his brain. He opened his mouth, but his throat had closed up.

  She couldn’t leave, he thought wildly. He wouldn’t let her. He wanted her here, with him, he needed her, he…

  Oh, God. He loved her.

  “Are you all right, dear?” Ruby asked. “You look a little pale.”

  He’d never felt this way before. He didn’t know what to do about it. What to do with it. Too weak to stand, he sank back down on the chair.

  “Fine,” he mumbled. “I’m fine.”

  He loved her. He wanted to be with her. Only her. He wanted that damn house and dog and mortgage. Little Sinclairs.

  His throat went dry.

  He realized that he’d expected her to stay, to work for him, to be with him, but he hadn’t offered her what she’d really wanted, what she needed. He’d expected her to settle for good enough, just as she’d done her entire life. Abby deserved more than good enough.

  And now she was gone.

  Dammit, she’d told him that she loved him. I love you, too. That’s what she’d said.

  But she hadn’t even been awake. What if she hadn’t meant it? What if she’d just been murmuring in her sleep? What if she really didn’t love him, now that he’d realized that he was in love with her?

  “She did leave a letter.” Ruby reached for an envelope on the coffee table and handed it to him. “I was supposed to deliver it on Monday morning, but since you’re here, I don’t see any reason not to give it to you now.”

  Callan didn’t even care that he nearly ripped the envelope to shreds in order to get it open, then yanked out the letter inside.

  And instantly became a speed reader.

  Dear Callan,

  Once again I apologize to you for leaving so suddenly. As I told you before, I have enjoyed my past year at Sinclair Construction. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work for you.

  On a personal level, I want you to know how much I appreciate what you did in order to help me out of the foolish situation I placed myself in. I have explained everything to Aunt Emerald and Aunt Ruby, and they were remarkably understanding, even amused. I’m sure that one day both you and I will also laugh when we look back on this time.

  Callan ground his teeth together. Laugh? Like hell he would.

  Mrs. Green will be an extremely competent replacement for me and addition to Sinclair Construction. I am sorry I will not be there Monday on her first day of work, but with her experience, she needs no training or instruction. I am confident you will be very satisfied with her performance.

  Since my aunts will be having my things sent to Boston while I’m away, I do not expect we will see each other again. But please know that I will always remember you fondly.

  Abigail

  She would remember him fondly?

  He sat there, frozen in his chair, with the crumpled edges of the letter between his stiff, cold fingers.

  Emerald leaned forward on her cane. “Is something wrong, Callan?”

  He blinked, then glanced up. “When did she leave?” he asked tightly.

  “Oh, dear, well, let’s see.” Emerald stared at her thin gold wristwatch for what felt like hours, muttering and counting to herself. “She left the house maybe two hours ago, but her plane to Miami leaves in ten minutes.”

  Ten minutes! Dammit! He’d never make it to the airport to stop her. “How can I get in touch with her?”

  Ruby and Emerald looked at each other, then Ruby shook her head. “I’m afraid you can’t. We don’t even know where she’s staying tonight, and the ship leaves tomorrow morning.”

  He was out of his chair like a rocket, dragging a hand through his hair. “What time?”

  “I have that information right here on the ticket we’re not using.” Ruby picked up the travel packet sitting on the coffee table and started to fumble through it. “I suppose we should have just turned this ticket in, or at least called the cruise company, but we do have cancellation insurance. Now where is that itinerary?”

  “May I?” His hands itched to snatch the packet from her hands.

  “Oh, yes, of course.” Ruby handed him the thick envelope. “In fact, why don’t you just take it? There might be something in there that can help you. You can bring it back later, when you’re done. Would you like a warm-up on your tea, dear?”

  “No, thank you. I have to go.” He was already heading for the door when he turned abruptly. “Don’t move anything of Abby’s,” he said roughly. “Not one thing.”

  Brows raised, they both looked at him.

  “But, Calla
n—”

  “Not one blessed thing. Promise.”

  “Well,” Emerald said hesitantly. “I suppose a couple of days wouldn’t really matter.”

  He stalked back into the room, kissed a startled Emerald and Ruby on the cheek, then flew out of the house.

  Emerald and Ruby stared at the closed door for one long, quiet minute, then Ruby rose and moved into the kitchen. Humming softly, she returned to the living room with a bottle of champagne that she and Emerald had brought back from Miami.

  Ruby opened the champagne and poured two glasses.

  The Miami air was warm and balmy, the sky deep-blue. A breeze whispered through the open bedroom cabin window, carrying with it the scent of salt and ocean water. The sound of reggae music and people laughing drifted up from the deck below.

  They’d set sail only moments before, and the cruise liner swayed lightly as they made their way out of port. The ship was beautiful, Abby thought. Huge, sleek and shiny with polished brass and gleaming woods. She’d been lost in a maze of hallways and staircases after she’d managed to wade through luggage and ticket check-in, and now, standing here in the luxurious suite her aunts had reserved, she felt more lost than ever.

  She still wasn’t sure what she was doing here. One minute she’d been apologizing to them for lying about her engagement to Callan, told them that she was considering moving to Boston, and the next minute they were stuffing clothes into a suitcase for her and shoving her out the door to a waiting taxi.

  Aunt Emerald had insisted that if she and Ruby couldn’t go, then their own precious niece and dear sister’s daughter most certainly would. If she hadn’t been in such a muddled state of mind, Abby knew she would have dug her heels in and stayed home.

  But the more she’d thought about it, the more the idea had appealed to her. Maybe she did need to get away, have a little fun. Stop thinking about Callan every second.

  She didn’t want to remember him the way he’d left her yesterday morning, angry and cold and distant. She only wanted to remember his all-consuming smile, the sound of his deep laugh, the way he narrowed his dark eyes when he was deep in thought. Just thinking about the texture of his large, rough hands on her skin, the press of his mouth on her lips, his strong, muscled body moving over hers made her tingle all the way down to her toes. No one had ever made her feel like that before. She was certain no one ever would again.

  She glanced at the king-size bed, the bucket of champagne and basket of fruit that the travel agent had sent, and she was certain she could feel her heart shattering into even tinier pieces than it already had.

  Well, enough of feeling sorry for herself, she decided. She’d have a good time if it killed her. She intended to mingle and dance and even have one of those Bahama mama drinks that the waiters carried around on trays. Maybe she’d even have two.

  A man’s voice came over the ship’s speaker system advising everyone to put on their life jackets for a drill on the outside decks. She found the bright-orange jacket inside a closet and slipped the bulky vest over the pale-yellow sundress she had on, then stared at herself in the full-length mirror on the outside of the closet. Laughing at how silly she looked, she started to turn away, then slowly turned back and stared at herself.

  This was the new Abigail Thomas, she thought, and squared her shoulders, hardly recognizing the woman staring back at her with startled green eyes and flushed cheeks. No more hiding behind those frumpy suits and spinster hairstyles, no more waiting around for something to happen to her. The new Abby made things happen. She was a mover and a shaker. A confident, secure woman who knew what she wanted and went after it.

  As much as she loved him, as much as it hurt, she would have to learn to live without Callan Sinclair. It would be the hardest thing she would ever have to do, but she would. She would survive, and though it was hard to believe at the moment, she was certain she would be stronger.

  Outside she could hear the porters knocking on doors, checking cabins and instructing passengers which deck to go to for the safety drill. No exceptions, all passengers must attend.

  When the knock came at her own cabin, she sighed, then opened the door.

  And thought she was hallucinating.

  Wearing a bright-blue Hawaiian-print shirt and faded blue jeans, Callan filled the doorway. Sunglasses dangled from his shirt pocket.

  “I’m here for the lifesaving drill,” he said calmly, then stepped into the cabin and closed the door behind him.

  She couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe. And when he dragged her into his arms and kissed her, she couldn’t even think.

  His mouth was hard against hers, demanding, and she felt her bones melt with the kiss. Before the last thread of reason snapped, she pressed her palms against his chest and yanked her lips from his.

  “What are you doing here?” she gasped. “How did you get here?”

  “It wasn’t easy. The first flight I could catch out of Philadelphia barely made it here in time, then I had to give the taxi driver an extra hundred to get me here before the ship sailed.”

  He was real, she realized, feeling the strong ripple of muscle under her palms, the hard, rapid beat of his heart. “I don’t understand.”

  “All I is can say is that your aunts’ travel agent is a miracle worker. She has all our business from now own.”

  Our business? She shook her head, trying to clear the fog that seemed to have settled in her brain. “Callan, what are you talking about?”

  “You’re not moving to Boston.”

  “I’m not?”

  “You’re not. You’re staying in Bloomfield. With me.”

  She was glad he was still holding her because her legs had turned to the consistency of warm rubber. His hands tightened on her shoulders, and she watched him swallow hard.

  “I love you,” he said firmly, then more gently, “I love you, Abby.”

  She blinked, certain she’d heard him wrong. “You…love…me?”

  He nodded. “And I know you love me, too. You told me.”

  “I told you I loved you?”

  “I don’t care if you were half-asleep when you said it, the fact is you did say it, and I’m holding you to it.”

  Her eyes widened. She’d told him that she loved him in her sleep? And what did he mean, he was holding her to it?

  “Callan—”

  “We’re getting married. We can do it here, on the ship, or when we get back. Whatever you want, as long as you say yes.”

  Married? He wanted to marry her?

  When he reached into his pocket and pulled out the engagement ring she’d returned, then slipped it on her finger, she felt the moisture gather in her eyes. She was glad she had a life preserver on because she suddenly felt as if she were drowning.

  Overcome by the swell of emotions inside her, all Abby could do was stare at the ring. She was hallucinating. She had some strange kind of cruise-ship fever. What else could explain what was happening?

  When she didn’t answer right away, Callan’s eyes narrowed with determination. “For the past year you’ve been a quiet, calming breeze in my life that I’d counted on, but taken for granted. Then suddenly you were gone and there was a tornado where that breeze had been. I’ve been crazy ever since. Crazy about you, Abby. Crazy about the way your forehead furrows when you’re typing and the way your glasses slip down that cute little nose of yours. I love how your cheeks turn rosy-pink when you blush and your chin goes up a notch when you set your mind to something. I’m even crazy about Stanley, that silly bird you give peanuts to.”

  Stanley? He liked Stanley? Heavens, he does look a little crazed, Abby thought, and nearly laughed with the wonder of it all.

  He pulled her closer to him. “It’s not just sex, Abby, but I’d be a liar to tell you that making love with you isn’t the most incredible, the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. I love you, dammit. Everything about you. Even that silly vest you’re wearing.”

  Her laugh was cut short when he dragged he
r into his arms and kissed her again. She leaned into him, her mind spinning, then suddenly he yanked his mouth from hers.

  “Say you love me,” he insisted. “That you’ll marry me.”

  “I love you.” Breathless, she touched his cheeks with her hands. “I’ll marry you.”

  He hugged her fiercely, lifted her off the ground and spun her while his mouth covered hers. “Take this thing off,” he rasped, pulling at the ties on her vest.

  “There’s a lifesaving drill,” she murmured against his lips. “We have to go.”

  “You’ve already saved my life, Abby. Don’t you know that?” He backed her toward the bedroom.

  Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Do you have the feeling that Aunt Emerald and Aunt Ruby orchestrated this?”

  “No question about it.” He closed the bedroom door and locked it. “We definitely have to remember to thank them when we get back.”

  “Oh, yes,” she whispered, and sucked in a breath as he lowered her to the bed. “Yes, yes, yes.”

  SILHOUETTE BOOKS

  ISBN: 978-1-4603-1116-5

  CALLAN’S PROPOSITION

  Copyright © 2000 by Barbara Joel All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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