I smile when I read her second message. For now I’m in the clear. I just have to stay home for a few days to avoid being seen. The town is too small for me to assume she won’t run into me. I can’t take chances.
Around seven I throw a steak on the grill with some corn. I no sooner finish cooking when I hear the bell ringing on my front door. It only takes me a couple seconds to make it inside from the opened deck and venture toward the entrance of the home. There’s no sense of peeking out the small hole in the door to see who might be on the opposite side. I have a good idea already, so when I open it and find Callie I let out a sigh. I should have known she wouldn’t trust me. “Callie, what’re you doing here?”
“I had to see for myself if you were telling me the truth. Where is she?” She asks.
“What? Who?”
“The other woman you invited over instead of me.”
Now I’m laughing. “That’s what you think? You believe I have a slew of woman at my fingertips? You think I canceled our plans to be with another female?”
“Or male. I obviously don’t know all your secrets,” she says in a flippant way.
I’m trying not to chuckle. Nothing about this is funny, but the fact that she assumes it’s another woman entertains me. “There’s no one else coming over.”
When she turns to look at me I can tell she seems hurt. “Why then? Did you suddenly decide I wasn’t worth your time?”
“It’s not about you.”
Her hands are waving around. “Oh, wow. It’s not me it’s you. Do people still say that?”
“No seriously, it’s more complicated.”
“Explain it to me, because I’m tired of being the last person to know the truth. You have no idea what I’ve been through this year, why I’ve moved away from my family. You can’t begin to know how it feels to be betrayed by the people you care about. Now this.” She pauses for a second and smiles, but not because she’s happy. I think in some ways she might be having a nervous breakdown. “Lys told me to be careful. She said you were bad for me. I guess she knew you couldn’t be honest with me. We had sex. That’s all this was, right? I’ve read too much into it, like I always do.”
I try to take her hands, but she pulls them away. “Callie, what you’re saying might have been the truth a long time ago. You’re wrong though, at least where you’re concerned. Look, I have no idea what you’ve been through. That much is true. What I do know is that I want to see you again. I wish I didn’t, because this would be so much easier, but I can’t deny it, not when you’re this distraught.” I give a second attempt at capturing her hands, and this time she allows it. “Your family. I can’t continue to see you because they’d never approve.”
“I don’t understand.”
Of course she wouldn’t. “Callie, I hate to tell you this, but the reason I’m here is because the state wants to put a road through part of your uncle’s ranch. I didn’t know you were related until I had to take you home this morning. Like I said before, I’d like to get to know you better, but I’m afraid your opinion of me is going to change in the near future.”
“Build it somewhere else,” she suggests. “There has to be a secondary plan.”
I shrug. “The paperwork is submitted with the government. There will be an official hearing for the town people to address their concerns. Your uncle has already contacted his attorney.”
“How much of his land?” She asks. “How bad is it?”
I’m quiet as I answer. “It’s about forty acres. He’ll be compensated accordingly, but only if he signs off on the plans.”
“How many other farmers will this affect?”
“Thirteen individually owned properties. Most have already taken the monetary offers.”
“My uncle Colt won’t give up the land.”
“He has plenty. What will forty acres hurt? It’s on the furthest part of his property.”
“That land was owned by his father. I’m telling you right now, he’d rather die than let the government come in and build on it.” She walks away from me and covers her face with her hands. “This can’t be happening.”
“I wanted to tell you this morning, but we were both coming down from such a great time. I thought I’d be able to make it work without you finding out, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“I appreciate that you’re telling me now.”
“If the circumstances were different I’d want to see you again, Callie. There’s no one else I’d rather spend my time with in this town.”
She nods as she turns to face me. “It’s just a job right? You didn’t go after my uncle because of a vendetta. You’re only doing your job.”
“Yeah. What are you getting at?”
“Do you still want to see me, Cob? If you had a choice, would you want to get to know me?”
“I would.” It’s not a trick question. If she has me this hard up already I know she’ll be worth the effort. “I’ve yet to come across another woman who captures my interest the way you do.”
“Then it’s settled. I came to Kentucky to start over, and somehow I found you instead. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but if it isn’t, if there’s a chance this is the direction I need to take, I’m not about to let your job get in the way. I like you. I’m telling you this because I have nothing to lose when it comes to my dignity. I’ve slept with you, not on one occasion, but twice. I enjoy your company, and would like to get to know you. If you don’t find me just as interesting I’ll walk back out that door and stand by my family as they fight to keep their land. I’m tired of watching everyone else find happiness while I sit on the sidelines. If I want to be friends with someone it should be my choice. You can’t make that determination for me in a text message.”
I offer her a seat on the couch and take the space across from her on a chair. “You’re right. I only did it because I refuse to come between you and your family, and I know they’d never approve. People don’t see that I’m a normal person. I’m the enemy, because I deliver the bad news. The messenger is always the enemy.”
“We don’t know each other.” She announces. “That much is true. Let me fill you in on something. I’m a family person. I was raised that blood is more important than anything else in this life. For my entire life that’s been drilled into my mind. Last year I fell in love with a man, and soon after I discovered that he was in love with my sister. This wasn’t a stranger. It was someone I’ve known my entire life. The people I’ve been taught to stand behind have betrayed me. Now, I’m not saying my family here will do that to me again, but I’m tired of people dictating what I can and can’t do. If I want to be mad, I’ll be mad. If I want to hate someone, I don’t need someone telling me it’s wrong. If I want to spend the night with a man who I find interesting, I’m going to do it. I’m not a child. My daddy doesn’t have a say in my life anymore.”
I don’t know what to say. She’s summed it up nicely. While rubbing the thighs of my pants I ask one question. “How do you like your steak cooked?”
“Medium rare,” she replies with a smile.
I stand and extend my hand for her to take. When she does, I pull her into my arms. “You’re determination is so fucking sexy.”
“Apologize,” she orders.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what,” she inquires.
“For telling you a lie. For assuming it was better if I walked away.”
“What my family doesn’t know won’t hurt them. Let’s make that clear right now. I want to be selfish for once.”
“I’m okay with you being selfish if it leads you back to my bed.”
She snickers and bites down on her lip. “That depends on how good you can cook a steak.”
Chapter 16
Callie
There’s one thing I can’t stand. It’s when people make decisions for me, because they think they know what’s best.
Cob made the same mistake, but I was quick to correct him.
After showing up at his hous
e just to reassure myself that he wasn’t lying, I’ve discovered a bigger problem. Cob’s current assignment threatens the Mitchell ranch, and I’m not sure he can do anything to prevent the inevitable from happening. My uncle is a popular man in his town. He donates to community organizations, has friends within the government, and shares his faith at his local church. He’s a powerful man, though I doubt he’s ever had to deal with something this threatening to his family.
In a lot of ways Cob is right. He has thousands of acres of land, some he’s only acquired in recent years, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s worked his ass off to ensure his family is taken care of for years to come. The fact that people are coming in and threatening to take some of that away has to be difficult.
I now understand what he and Noah had been arguing about when I first arrived. It’s better if I stay out of it and go about my life. Cob is the first guy to make me feel wanted. I’m not about to give that up because of his occupation.
We sit at his small kitchen table eating steaks and corn. After we’ve finished we remain and spend several hours talking about life and our past. I learn more about his family, and even some interesting facts about how to run a hotel. He tells me about college experiences, some of which I’m shocked he admits to. We laugh a lot, and when we start to tire he insists on leaving the dishes until morning.
I suspect Cob wants to take me to bed like the previous night, but instead leads me into the living room where we cuddle up together and watch a movie. He holds my hand and keeps me close, every once in a while taking a break from the screen to kiss me. I can feel my eyes getting heavy, but fight to remain awake. It’s been a rough evening, and stress has left me undeniably exhausted, not to mention the night before where we stayed up half the night having sex.
Before I know it I awake in the arms of Cob. He’s carrying me to his bed and placing me gently down on his soft mattress. He brings his lips down and presses them over mine. “Get some rest.”
“I’m sorry,” I offer.
“Don’t be. I’m about to join you. Wake me up later if you get an itch that you can’t scratch alone. I’ll be sure to take care of it for you.”
I manage a smile before everything goes black.
It’s still dark when I open my eyes and realize where I am and who is next to me. Instead of dwelling on our little disagreement, I choose to nestle my body over his and appreciate that we’re becoming closer.
I suppose some would say I’m doing this because I’m desperate to have even a hint of what my sister does. Maybe they’re right. I do envy her life, but my interest in Cob has changed. Two days ago I would have said he was an asshole I hoped I’d never see again. Now I’m fighting to keep dating him, because he makes me forget that I’ve left home. I’m comfortable with him, and it scares me, because I know I’ll let my guard down and fall victim to my inability to move slow.
I have a terrible track record with men, albeit Cob has the same with women. Maybe we’re doomed to fail. Maybe this is just a temporary fix we both need to get through a tough part of our life. He can be my anchor, while I provide him with the company he longs to have. Whatever the case, I feel I’m where I want to be.
I make the decision to pretend I don’t know about the proposed road. It’s better if I keep my distance from my uncle’s business and focus on my new life, including a blooming relationship with Cob.
We have sex in the middle of the night. Cob takes his time, as if he isn’t tired at all. He makes it a point to use protection, and falls back asleep soon after we’ve finished. Since I’m not used to spending the night with a man, I find it soothing to hear his light snoring. For a while I lay and listen, wondering if my mother finds the same comfort. Does she miss it when he’s not in bed with her? Is it something she’s gotten used to with time?
Thinking about her makes me feel guilty. She’s worried about me, and it’s not fair. She doesn’t deserve to hurt. I know most children are expected to leave once they turn adults, but I’ve never felt like they wanted me to. Even my dad seemed distant after I announced I’d be moving away.
Silent tears begin to fall down my cheeks. It’s been a couple of days and I’m already homesick. I’m afraid I’m not making good choices already.
My sniffling awakens Cob. He sits up and turns on the lamp next to his bed. “Callie, you all right?”
I wipe my eyes to prevent him from seeing the tears I really won’t be able to hide. “Yeah, just having a moment.”
“Of regret?”
“No. It’s not about you.”
“Earlier when you told me about your sister and how you made the decision to leave, I gathered you were still upset. Are you homesick?”
I nod. “It’s crazy. I used to come here to Kentucky in the summers for weeks at a time and never thought about going home. What’s wrong with me?”
“You know this isn’t a visit. Before you knew you could go home, that you would eventually go there. It’s different now. You’ve made a decision to move here permanently. Those feelings could pass with time. I know I hated when I first moved away. I wanted to be strong, but it sucked. I started partying, just so I wouldn’t miss them. I slept with random chicks, because the idea of being alone was terrifying. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed every minute of it, but it wasn’t a wise choice.”
I appreciate that he’s trying to comfort me, so I manage a smile. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
He strokes my hair. “It’s fine. It’s nice to be reminded that you showed up on my door tonight demanding an explanation, that led us back to this bed.”
I rest my head against his chest and cry like a baby, and not once does he try to push me away. We’re still unfamiliar, yet I feel close to him. Our undeniable connection allows me to open up to him; to feel comfortable confessing my worries. He’s giving me more reason to want to be near him, and I wonder if it’s some kind of desperate plea for me to reevaluate my current predicament.
Cob rubs my back until I’m able to calm down. He places soft kisses on my forehead and waits until I’m collected to speak to me. “You’re going to be okay.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Date me.”
I giggle. “What?”
“Date me. Be my girlfriend. Spend time with me.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
He smiles. “Yeah, but let’s do this the right way instead of assbackwards. It’s been a while since I asked this of anyone. I don’t even know if this is what the cool kids are calling it these days, but I’d like to date you.”
“You understand that would require us to go places other than your house. We’d have to be seen in public together, and you’d be taking the chance of my family discovering who I’m involved with.”
He rubs the leftover tears from my cheeks. “I don’t want to see you cry anymore, Callie.”
“If I agree to date you, what will it entail?”
“We’ll be exclusive for starters. I know that’s important to you.”
“Well, yeah. I’m not into multiple partners.”
He clicks his fingers. “Damn, I was hoping for an orgy or at the least a threesome.”
I shove him playfully. “Shut up. You were not.”
“Okay, I wasn’t. Been there, done that. It was fun.”
“Let me make this perfectly clear. There are certain things about your past that I may never want to know.”
He’s cackling. “Good point.”
I kiss him quickly on the lips. “I’ll date you.”
“So what do normal new couples do?”
“Sleep when it’s night, I think.”
He yawns. “But I’m not tired.”
I reach over and turn off the lamp, coming back down to rest my head over his bare chest. I run my fingers across the small patch of hair in the center. “Have you ever been in a committed relationship?”
“Not since high school.”
“So you’re capable?” I assume.
“I don’t want to let my guard down and end up hurt. I hope you can appreciate that and understand that I have issues with trust.”
“Oh really, I hadn’t noticed when you practically beat down my door to prove I had another woman over in your place.”
I smack him lightly. “Okay, that was a little compulsive. I admit it wasn’t the right move, but you can’t complain about where we ended up tonight.”
“I think it’s morning, actually. I mean, the frogs have stopped and the birds are singing. That usually means the sun is about to rise.”
“No matter the time, I’m in your bed, agreeing to date you.”
“Yeah, you certainly are. And you’re naked. That’s always a plus.”
Cob seems harmless, unlike the predator my friend has made him out to be. I’m trying to be defensive, but every time he says something witty, or does something charming, I fall victim to his persuasion, forgetting all about the warnings I’ve been given.
The idea of being involved with a man is exciting. I feel renewed, but a little leery. I’m afraid. It’s easy to agree to a relationship, but difficult to keep the fire burning long term. My fear is that Cob will get bored, while I begin to feel settled. What will happen then? Am I thinking too far ahead? Should I take one day at a time and be thankful that a man actually wants to spend time with me? Maybe I should be more appreciative, considering I have absolutely nothing left to lose.
Right before we fall back asleep I say what’s on my mind. “If you hurt me I’ll rip off your dick and feed it to the hogs at my uncle’s ranch.”
“That seems fair,” he replies. “Shall I sleep with one eye open?”
We kiss again. “Probably.”
He laughs against my lips. “You’re pretty damn awesome. I’m glad you hunted me down tonight and forced me to date you.”
“Forced you?” He thinks he’s funny.
His arms hold me tighter. “Before I saw you in that bar I was ready to quit my job and move back to Pennsylvania.”
Callie Healy Page 11