Page 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

S EEING HER MOM and dad standing there in the humid morning air took the strength from Callie’s knees. Bracing herself, she wheezed in a big breath that, admittedly, sounded more like a horrified gasp.

In complete silence, her thoughts going everywhere all at once with a tinge of panic, she gaped at them.

Grinning hugely, her dad stepped in and enfolded her in a big, warm hug. “Sweetheart, you had us worried.”

“Worried,” she squeaked, supremely aware of big, bold, shirtless Tanner standing right behind her.

“Your mother texted and called repeatedly, but you didn’t answer.”

She’d forgotten all about her phone! “Oh, um…” He set her back, his congenial smile still in place as his gaze moved over her. “Look at you. My little country girl,” he teased. “You look cute as hell.”

At least her dad seemed happy to see her.

Tanner remained silent.

The sound her mother made, exasperated and impatient to be invited in, brought Callie back to reality with a snap and she started rambling. “We had a big storm last night. I lost power. My phone was ready to die when I went to bed, but I couldn’t recharge it and I guess I slept late, then didn’t give my phone a thought because I needed coffee so badly. Luckily, the power had come back on—as you can see. I mean, I do have coffee now.” Forcing herself to stop , she opened the door wider and stepped aside to welcome them. More calmly, she said, “I’m sorry that I worried you.”

Staring past her, her mother zeroed in on Tanner. “Who is your undressed guest, Callie? And why is he carrying muddy boots?”

Liz McCallahan didn’t exactly say it in accusation, more like curious confusion. She, too, gave Callie a brief hug, very brief, in fact, using only one arm, because her gaze stayed glued to Tanner.

Not that Callie blamed her. A woman at any age would appreciate the sight of him. Most guys, too. No way around it, Tanner was impressive.

But how in the world should she introduce him? Oh, hey, this is the hot guy next door who just rocked my world. I learned things about sex I’d never suspected. Naturally, I want more .

No, definitely not. “Um, Tanner, is a neighbor.”

Her mother’s perfectly arched eyebrows lifted in a respectful demand for more detail.

Tanner, thankfully, covered for her. “Tanner Patrick.” He held out his free hand to her father, and then her mother. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. McCallahan. I remember you both from my school days.”

His smile was perfectly polite, but not very warm—at least, not to Callie, who’d seen him genuinely amused. Her parents seemed to buy it, though.

“Oh?” Frank McCallahan said. “You’re from here?”

“I’ve never lived anywhere else. As Callie said, I’m in the house next door.”

“The tree farm?” Liz asked.

“Yes, ma’am. It’s been years, I know, but you might remember how many houses lose power during a storm. Since Callie is new here, I checked on her. With all the rain, though, my boots got muddy walking over.”

Glancing at the porch behind her, Liz asked, “You didn’t just leave them on the porch?”

“Came to the back door, ma’am. There’s a path that cuts through both properties.” Tanner glanced at Callie. “I was just leaving though.”

Damn it, she didn’t want him to leave like this.

“Through the front door now?” her mother asked with a small provoking smile.

Callie finally recouped enough to say, “Mother! Stop badgering him.” She could have explained the true situation to her parents, but she didn’t want to involve Tanner in family drama—and she was fairly certain there would be drama aplenty. “He walked to the front door with me because you knocked.”

Not the least bit deterred, Liz said, “Just sorting it out, Callie. We’re here to talk about Sutter, after all, so finding a near naked man was a bit of a surprise.”

Callie’s mouth fell open, but she took a second too long to find words.

“And,” her mother smoothly continued, “since you didn’t do a proper introduction, I’ll tell Mr. Patrick that I’m Liz McCallahan, and my husband is Frank.”

He nodded. “Feel free to call me Tanner.”

Smiling, her father said, “Nice to meet you, Tanner. Hope we didn’t interrupt?”

“Frank,” her mother chided. “She’s engaged.”

Blanching, Callie corrected, “No. I’m most definitely not.”

“Well, that will get sorted out during our visit, I’m sure.” Liz wandered in, dismissing Tanner. “I haven’t been here in years. I’d nearly forgotten Reggie’s house, though it hasn’t actually changed much.”

Yes, Callie wanted to say, it has. Because now I live here . But she’d just acknowledged to herself in the kitchen that other than being clean, nothing had changed all that much.

Disturbed by that thought, she instead focused on Tanner. “Thank you again. I’d have been lost without you.” Sleepless too. And still edgy, though he’d taken care of all of that and now she felt almost liquid with satisfaction.

Or rather, she would have if she knew where they were going with this and if she didn’t have her parents and their unexpected visit to contend with.

Tanner gave her a very neighborly nod. “Any problems, just let me know.”

Such a lackluster goodbye. Frustration mounting, she said, “I’ll walk you out.” She could steal one minute more with him—

“No need.” He nodded at her parents again. “I’ll let you get back to your visit.” He stepped out, shoved his feet into his boots and walked away.

Pretty sure he just took her heart with him. Who knew a heart could get attached that quickly? It never had before. She wasn’t the type to get clingy. Except with Tanner, she was discovering new things about herself. She wasn’t at all sure she liked this new, encompassing need. Or maybe she liked it too much.

Closing her door, she turned back to her parents. Only they weren’t there.

Dear heavens, if they went through the house they’d see the discarded clothes in the bathroom, the messy bed…

From the kitchen, her mother said, “We’re helping ourselves to coffee.”

Oh, thank God! “Go ahead, Mom. I’ll be right there.”

Darting for the bathroom, Callie decided she’d put her house to rights before she joined her parents. That would also give her a little time to gear up for whatever they had planned.

First, she gathered up an armload of clothes and stuffed them into the hamper. With Tanner’s jeans included, they barely fit. Hmm. She could wash them, then return them with Addie’s dishes. That would give her an excuse to…

No, no making excuses to see him. The next move would be his.

So why did that decision feel so awful?

She knew why. There were no guarantees with Tanner. She could see him tonight, or weeks could go by without a word. So far, nothing with him had been predictable.

Even the sex had taken her by surprise.

But liking him? Laughing with him, enjoying him? Yes, far, far too easy.

Growling at herself, she went to her bedroom and quickly tidied up the room. She even fluffed the pillows and spread out the comforter. There. No one would know they’d slept together—in any context.

Except that the room still held Tanner’s scent, and it made her want to crawl back into the bed, press her nose to the pillow and think about…

Pivoting away from temptation, she strode through the hall and to the kitchen. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Her father stood on the back porch, breathing deeply of the morning air, but her mother was braced against a counter, her expression thoughtful as she stared at the mugs on the table.

Let her stare, Callie decided. So she’d enjoyed a mug of coffee with her neighbor? Big deal. She was allowed. “I’ll need to head out to take care of the goats and chickens.”

Her mother ignored that to say, “Sutter is coming by, too. I thought we’d all talk.”

Figuratively, maybe literally too, Callie staggered. “You invited him here ? Without asking me?”

“There’s more at stake than you realize.” Calm personified, her mother sipped her drink. “We need to settle some things.”

Shrill and unable to level her tone, Callie said, “ It’s settled . Sutter and I are over .”

Her mother frowned. “Is that what you’re wearing today?”

Frustration imploded. “ Yes , this is what I’m wearing,” she reiterated sharply through her teeth. “I have animals to tend and chores to do.”

Sticking his head in the door, her father gave her a commiserating smile. “Come on, honey. I’ll help you.”

“Frank,” Liz said. “You’ll ruin your shoes.”

“I’m sure Callie has a hose. I’ll clean them off later.” He reached out a hand to her, waggling his fingers to get her moving.

With a slow, deliberate inhale, Callie stepped forward. She picked up her own muddy boots and stepped out on the back stoop, then took a seat on the top step. While her dad closed the door behind them, she tugged on the boots with more force than necessary, silently fuming.

“Don’t let your mother rile you.” He took a seat beside her. “I remember this place well. Reggie and I grew up tending animals, did you remember that?”

Callie wanted to hold on to her annoyance, she really did. But the pleasure in her father’s tone, the wistful way he looked around, drained away some of her irritation. “You’d both told me. Reggie said that you, as the oldest brother, caught the brunt of the workload.”

“True enough, but it didn’t do him any favors being the baby.” He grinned and confided, “He hated when I called him that.”

The affection was clear, prompting Callie to say, “Reggie loved you a lot, you know that, right? Even more than that, he was proud of you. Always.”

Looking out at the yard, her dad nodded. “Your mother and I grew up around here. My childhood home was similar to this, maybe smaller. Reggie and I always shared a room.”

“I bet that was fun,” she said facetiously.

He snorted. “It had its moments.” As if remembering his wife, he glanced warily at the door, then stood and offered her his hand. “Let’s talk while we work.”

Conspiring with him, Callie whispered, “You mean away from here so Mom can’t listen.”

“Exactly.”

Even as she smiled, Callie wondered what her dad had to discuss that was private. Overall, he tended to side with her mom on anything—including cutting off his brother at a time when, from what she’d learned, Reggie had needed them all the most.

The sun came out with a vengeance, turning the soggy yard into a sauna. The goats didn’t seem to mind. Callie was relieved to see they were all walking just fine, even the renegade who’d gotten into the woods. She didn’t say much, because then her dad might want to hear the whole story and no way was she sharing those details.

The chickens were thrilled with the amount of worms and bugs they could now find, thanks to the overnight storms. For a while, she and her dad worked in companionable silence, feeding, cleaning, and refilling water stations, and ensuring their shelters were still dry. She saw that he was still a pro, doing the chores without direction from her.

While she collected eggs, he walked the property, commenting on how nice it looked and what a great job she was doing on the upkeep. It was like throwing a shovelful of guilt onto her head, because a goat had gotten out, possibly injured, and she’d acted like a fool. Not a great job, at all.

“Dad,” she said, to give herself something to concentrate on other than the previous night, “Why are you and Mom here?”

“I’m here because Liz is here.”

Typical answer for her dad. “And Mom insisted?”

“Afraid so.” He drew her toward the garage. “You can’t tell your mother this, but I sent money to Reggie. Every month, in fact. He always sent it back. Didn’t matter how I cajoled, he told me it wasn’t money he wanted from me.” A grimace of remorse tightened his jaw. “I should have come to see him. Nothing should be allowed to interfere with family.”

Callie agreed but didn’t say so. “I feel so horrible that I stopped visiting.”

“You had a busy life,” her dad said. “Reggie understood that.”

She wished she could excuse her actions so easily.

“I still talked with him often.”

“On the sly?” Callie asked.

“It was the only way. He loved getting updates on you.” With a shake of his head, her dad said, “He continued to adore Liz. Said she was a wonderful woman and only wanted the best for her family. He understood her drive.”

Callie cuddled into his side, loving him even more in that moment. “You never gave up on him.”

“He was my brother,” he said simply. “For the sake of my marriage and because Reggie really could be a royal pain in the ass, I bowed to Liz’s wishes. Her memories of childhood aren’t as fondly remembered as mine. Liz was ambitious when I met her and that hasn’t changed.”

No, it hadn’t. “I’m not reuniting with Sutter, Dad.”

“I want you to be happy.” They stepped into the shady interior of the garage. “No matter what, remember that, okay?”

Callie tipped her head as she stripped off her work gloves. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“Liz is going to tell you all about it, but the truth is, the alliance would have saved us.”

Dazed, Callie stared at him without a single blink. “Saved us?”

“We’re overextended.” He waved a hand. “Suffered a few losses and all that. I don’t mind so much. I could happily sell off half of what we own and never miss it.” Picking up a hoe, then swinging it like a golf club, he said, “I could even move back here to Hoker and be happy with a simpler life. But your mother… She knows there will be talk and her reputation means everything to her.”

More than her daughter’s happiness? “I don’t understand.”

“I screwed up. That’s the long and short of it. I got a little too comfortable with the life of leisure. Lost my edge—and my hunger.” His mouth tightened with shame. “I didn’t supervise the accountant closely enough, took foolish financial advice, and made too many bad decisions.” Carefully, with precision, he replaced the hoe in its designated spot. Looking at his hands, now dirty, he said, “I speculated on travel to places where no one wants to vacation. With the economic downturn, we’re strapped. Uniting our family business with the Griffin family business through marriage with you and Sutter… The association and their investments might have given us new life, or at least kept the wolves at bay long enough for us to shuffle a few things, redirect and recover.”

“Dad.” Having never suspected, Callie felt sick with dread. She naturally stepped into her dad’s waiting arms. “I’m sorry. I never guessed.”

“No reason you should have. And no reason for you to marry to fix it. That’s what I wanted you to know. Your mother is going to bluster and explain, and she’ll try to convince you. That’s just how she is.” He held Callie back and gave her a ridiculous grin that didn’t do a thing to hide his agitation. “That’s how she shows her love.”

Callie snorted, but it was more with humor than disagreement. She thought of her own investments, the profits she’d made the last few years. She couldn’t think of a better way to use them. “Dad, I have some money of my own that I would happily give—”

“No.” He shook his head. “I would never do that.”

“But—”

“It wouldn’t help, anyway. No, this is a lifestyle problem butting up to a changing market. A loan, or even a gift, wouldn’t help. It’s big, but I have faith in your mother. She’ll come around.”

“You really think so?”

“I’ve learned the hard way after living five decades that family is what matters. Nothing else is as important.”

And her family needed her. Such a depressing thought.

“Callie,” he chastened. “Don’t misunderstand. I’ve loved your mother from the day I met her. The two of you have been the world to me. I want you to have that same kind of love. Nothing less.”

His little speech humbled her. “Thank you, Dad.”

“Just remember, no matter what I say—or don’t say—during your mother’s arguments, I want you to be happy. If it’s not happening with Sutter, then that’s the end of it.”

After everything her father had just confided, it hurt Callie to speak the truth, but he deserved that much. “Not Sutter.” She couldn’t, especially now that Tanner had showed her what she’d been missing. “Not ever.”

He gave her a bright smile. “Then that’s that.”

Her stomach twisted. “Couldn’t you and the Griffins work out something else?”

Shaking his head, he explained, “You know their entire hotel business is run by family. They’re old--fashioned and not very trusting of outsiders.”

Yet their son was a flagrant cheater. “Are they aware that you’ve had a financial downturn?”

“No. God, no. And I’m hoping they don’t find out. So far, both sides have only concentrated on how mutually beneficial it would be to combine efforts. Sort of a legacy for any offspring you’d have together.”

Eww. She did not want to have Sutter’s children. Someday, sure, she’d love to have kids—but not yet and not with Sutter.

So many plans had been made around her. If only she’d been paying attention.

“I’ll figure out something else,” her dad promised. “But I won’t have a chance to do that if they find out about our situation. They’d kill all business with us and the end of the company would come even sooner.”

Feeling like she carried a lead weight in her chest where her heart should be, Callie nodded. “I see.”

He caught her shoulders. “It’s important to me that you not pay for my mistakes. Understand? This isn’t on you.” He tugged her in for a hug. “I’d be a failure as a dad as well as a businessman if I let that happen.”

“You’re not a failure,” she stated with firm conviction. “You’ve run a successful business for years, and you’re a wonderful dad.”

“You’re a wonderful daughter, so you make it easy. I’m so proud of you, Callie. Never forget that.” He hugged her one more time, his hold tight, a little desperate, before he straightened again. “Let’s not keep your mother waiting any longer. She’s liable to start going through your things.”

Alarmed by that possibility, Callie agreed. She needed to deal with her mother, but she also needed breakfast and time to sort out this new mess before Liam or Nell arrived.

Most of all, she needed to be free.

The odds of attaining that were starting to look pretty slim.

* * *

A FTER A FEW hours spent helping clients, Tanner was muddy, sweaty, irascible, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Callie. In his head, he could still picture her under him, her beautiful face twisted in pleasure, the way her body had cradled his, the sounds she’d made, the scent of her skin and hair…

More than anything, he’d like to spend a week in bed with her, until finally she didn’t plague his brain any longer.

But then, the idea of not wanting her was bothersome, too. He liked the way Callie put his senses on alert. Around her, he felt like the best version of himself.

Judging how the morning had gone so far, with the unwelcome intrusion of her parents, it didn’t seem likely that he’d get to visit with her again anytime soon. And maybe that was for the best.

He was headed back home now, and with any luck her parents would have finished their visit. She could be at his house when he pulled up, having the excuse to return Addie’s dishes.

When she wanted to see him, she’d reach out. Until then, he didn’t want to pressure her. She had more than enough going on.

Blu rode in the back seat of his truck, his snout and tongue stuck out the partially open window. The unseasonably hot spring weather had returned, with a thick blanket of humidity.

It had nothing on Tanner’s mood.

He couldn’t stop thinking how Callie had accepted the introduction of him as only a neighbor, and that should have suited him just fine. What had he expected? For her to introduce him as something…more?

He’d felt like more, at least for a few hours.

When he was forced to stop at the railroad tracks, waiting for a train to pass, he spotted a fancy car in the lot of a sandwich shop nearby. Because the car reminded him of the slick BMW Callie’s folks had left parked in her driveway, he gave it a second look.

And there was her ex, Sutter Griffin, standing by the hood.

Even more surprising was seeing the Garmet brothers talking with him.

What. The. Everlasting. Fuck.

If there’d been any room for him to maneuver, he’d have turned around and backtracked to the shop. Nothing set him off like the brothers, but seeing them with Callie’s cheating ex? Yeah, that tipped the scales.

Blu had spotted them too, and his tongue was now back in his mouth, ears forward and body tensed.

“Sorry, bud,” Tanner murmured, still watching the men through his side-view mirror. “We can’t check it out today.”

Blu tilted his head to listen, but as the men separated and Sutter got back behind the wheel, the dog went alert again.

“What do you want to bet he’s heading to Callie’s?”

Another whine. Sure sounded like agreement to Tanner.

Since Sutter pulled into the line of cars waiting for the train tracks to clear, it made sense that he was headed that way. “Her parents want them back together.” Why did they want her to tie herself to the jerk?

Finally, the caboose went past and moments later, the gate arms lifted. Tanner finished the drive with his common sense warring against his basic urges. Realistically, he knew he couldn’t pull up to Callie’s house and wait for Sutter to arrive, just to tell the prick to leave.

For one thing, Callie could be embarrassed with the scene he’d cause, especially if her parents were still around to witness it.

For another, she’d be severely pissed. He’d figured that out this morning when he’d started to answer the door for her. Good thing she’d stepped past him too, since it was her parents knocking.

Her father, Frank, had barely changed from what Tanner remembered a decade ago. Maybe he had a little silver in his hair now, but the man was still tall, lean, friendly to everyone he encountered. Seemed to Tanner that her father had summed up the situation in a single glance. Oddly, Mr. McCallahan had been more amused than affronted by Tanner’s presence so early in the morning, and wearing no more than jeans.

At least he’d buttoned up and zipped at that point.

Tanner half grinned with cynicism, recalling the expression on Mrs. McCallahan’s face when her gaze had landed on him. Not that she’d been rude. She was too much the polished businesswoman to ever lower herself to outright rudeness.

In some ways, she reminded him of Callie, especially in her coloring. Her hair, similar to a shade of Callie’s but lightened with salon effects, was shorter and framed her face in a fancy style. Her tailored clothes looked crisp and uncomfortable to him. Her astute gaze missed nothing.

In a single glance, she’d made note of him standing there, no shirt or socks. Not for a second did Tanner believe she’d been fooled with the “neighbor checking on neighbor” story he’d pulled out of thin air, but finding him there hadn’t fit her agenda so she’d dismissed him as unimportant.

In the end, would Callie do the same?

He just didn’t know. Until they settled a few things—if there was anything to settle—Tanner decided he’d be cautious.

Instead of pulling down his driveway, he paused in front, his right forearm resting over the steering wheel as he watched the side mirror. Blu leaned over the seat to snuffle his ear, requiring him to lift a shoulder and laugh. “Hold on, buddy. I just want to see what happens. I’ll let you out in a sec.”

Less than half a minute later, Sutter went past and pulled into Callie’s driveway. Tanner was weighing what he wanted to do with what he knew he should do when Liam pulled up beside him in the older Buick.

Rolling down the window, Tanner asked, “Boss didn’t need you today?” He worried endlessly that Liam might somehow lose the job he loved to someone more experienced.

“It was too muddy to do much on the site, so he let me off early,” Liam said. “Since I had free time, I figured I’d come by to see if Callie had any damage.”

A perfect solution. “I’m sure she can use you.” He glanced back to Callie’s now full driveway. “Park on the street. She has company.”

Liam frowned. “Maybe I should’ve checked with her first.”

“No, you made the right call. Just give her the option to see what she thinks.” He was betting Callie would keep him around. “If she doesn’t need you, let me know.”

“You need a hand with something?” Liam immediately asked. “I’m always willing. I owe you.”

“No, you don’t.” He and Liam had been through this many times. “But I appreciate the offer.” Mostly, he wanted to grill Liam to see how things were going. “Her parents dropped in on her and now her ex is here. She could probably use a friendly face right about now.”

One brow lifted, making Liam appear far more mature than his nineteen years. “A friendly face other than yours?”

“Exactly.” Then he thought to add, “Though if you think she needs me, send me a text.”

Liam cracked a grin. “Will do.” With a quick wave, he pulled up to Callie’s and parked at the curb.

Tanner wanted to linger, but he was layered in sweat and Blu was restless. It was time to put Callie from his mind—or at least, to function properly while thinking of her nonstop.

* * *

W HILE HER MOTHER droned on and on, Callie silently counted things she’d rather be doing. She was up to about a hundred. Clean out the gutters again? Sure. Play with the goats? Definitely. Sweat off a few pounds weeding the garden? Right now, even that tree she’d climbed was starting to sound like heaven.

With a glance to the window, she wondered what Tanner was up to.

“Callie! Are you even listening to me?”

No. “I’m sorry, Mom,” Callie said for the tenth time. “I really am.”

Her mother gave her a look that was both fond and exasperated. “Just not sorry enough?”

Callie snorted. “Tell me something I can do to help—other than marry Sutter—and I’ll try my best, I promise.”

“Let up, Liz,” her dad said, which was his very passive, very rare method of going against his wife. “You can see she already has her hands full.”

Dramatically, her mother took in the shape of the living room. “This is the same furniture Reggie had the last time I saw him.”

“Not so,” her father countered. “That was a two-cushion olive-green couch.”

Callie glanced at the dingy three-cushion beige corduroy couch that took up part of the room now. It was clear which seat Reggie had preferred, because that cushion was smashed, with a clear indent where he’d sat. Parts were worn thin, edges frayed. At least it isn’t olive green .

“I suppose you’re right.” Her mother pinned her with another look. “You’ll need a little time to absorb everything I’ve told you.”

She’d absorbed it already. The situation wasn’t good. Her mother had pointed out that if they started selling houses, people would assume they were in a financial crisis. And at the core of it, they were. If they lost one contract because of rumors, others would follow and that could lead to the domino effect.

Her dad tried to brighten the situation. “I wouldn’t mind retiring early.”

Appalled, her mother frowned at him. “We’re only in our midfifties!”

“So?” He drew her in, and then danced her across the floor. “More time for us to enjoy our lives.”

Fussing at him, her mother pulled away. “We won’t have a life if we don’t figure this out.” Once again, her gaze landed on Callie.

And so it continued.

The first hour had been the worst, fending off repeated mentions of how she should do the right thing, how the family needed her, how she’d been raised better than to go backward when she should be going forward—backward being Reggie’s house in their old neighborhood.

Forward, apparently, meant marrying Sutter.

It had her throat tight, thinking of the possible financial ruin of her parents’ business.

Thinking about marrying Sutter was worse. Far , far worse.

Now, especially.

Realizing that she’d never loved him had been bad enough. Accepting that she’d gone along for all the wrong reasons had made her question her character.

But now, after knowing Tanner, after experiencing what intimacy should be between a man and woman? No way would she settle for Sutter, not ever, not for any reason.

Whether things progressed with Tanner or not, it didn’t matter. She would not involve herself with Sutter. Just the opposite. She wanted to cut all ties with him beyond professional courtesy.

Now if her mother would just put her brain on finding another workable solution, they could, possibly, salvage this visit. Or her parents could leave, disappointed in her—as usual—and she could forge on with her plans, flimsy as they seemed to be.

Trying to gain another topic, Callie asked, “Where is Glory, anyway? Why didn’t she come with you?” Or return yet, as she’d promised?

Flitting her fingers in the air, her mother said, “I sent her off on a little trip.”

Suspicion stirred. “A trip where?”

“Research, really.”

“That’s not her job,” Callie pressed. “What kind of research?”

With a delicate huff, her mother gave in. “I wanted her away from you. She’s been negatively influencing you, encouraging you in all this…” The wave of her hand encompassed everything. “Nonsense.”

Gritting her teeth, Callie replied, “She’s not a lackey, Mother. She’s your niece, and she’s like a sister to me.”

“Don’t worry about her. She’ll return soon enough.”

“When is she due back from her trip?”

Her mother glanced at her father. “Currently undecided.”

Meaning Glory would be kept away indefinitely with whatever nonsense her mother had cooked up?

Callie was gearing up for an explosion when yet another knock sounded on her door. Later, she decided, she’d get hold of Glory and find out what was going on. Until then…

Popping to her feet, her mother smiled in relief. “That must be Sutter.” She grabbed Callie’s hand and pulled her up from her seat. “For heaven’s sake, smooth your hair.” Her mother did that for her until Callie brushed her hands away.

“Stop it.”

Not in the least bothered, her mother smiled. “Try to be nice .”

To the man who had cheated on her? Unbelievable. Callie was just cross enough to say, “Ha!” right before she swung the door open.

And there was Sutter, hands in his pants pockets, expression sheepish. “Callie,” he said softly. “God, it’s good to see you again.”

Before she could snort, her mother interceded. “Sutter, hello. Since you’re here, would you do me a favor? We brought Callie a gift, but it’s in the back of the car.” Sotto voce, she added, “I didn’t want Frank to strain himself. His age, you know.”

“Ah.” Sutter nodded. “We don’t want him to have any undue stress.”

The two of them conspired to make it sound like her dad was old and frail. Callie made a point of staring at him and caught his grin. Her dad was healthy as a horse, in shape from golfing and tennis, and he was as handsome as ever. “Dad,” she warned.

He winked at her. “It’s a giant plant, Callie. Massive. Might need a forklift to get the thing in here. Sutter can handle it though, I’m sure.”

Sutter balked. “It’s that big?”

“Already in a heavy clay pot. The dirt alone must weight fifty pounds.”

Callie almost laughed at her dad’s shenanigans. Sutter, though in shape, was not a physical man. He didn’t lift heavy things.

He didn’t use chain saws.

Or play with dogs.

He had no interest in helping at-risk kids…or rescuing a neighbor when she got herself stuck in a tree.

Folding her arms, Callie waited. It’d be interesting to see what Sutter might do. Would he go along with her mother’s scheme to make him look manly, or would he balk as she expected?

Before she could find out, Liam stuck his head in the door. “Wow, you have a full house. Should I come back another time?”

“No!” Callie said, thrilled to see him.

Her mother, however, was not as welcoming. “Who are you?”

Country charm personified, Liam said, “I’m just the hired help, ma’am.”

“And a friend,” Callie corrected. She could use an ally who didn’t want to sacrifice her to Sutter.

Sutter, forever an ass, got out his wallet and handed Liam a twenty. “Get the plant out of the car, okay?” He looked to Callie. “Where did you want it, sweetheart?”

“Not your sweetheart,” she corrected smoothly as she stepped past him to join Liam. “Let’s see the plant and then I can decide.”

“Sure.” Liam handed the money back to Sutter with a smile. “I work for her, but thanks.”

As the two of them stepped away, Callie said under her breath, “Well done.”

Liam nodded at the car. “Sweet ride.”

Yes, it was. Her parents had always had expensive taste in vehicles. Her red Escape was one more thing her mother had frowned over. Apparently, McCallahans should buy black cars. Liz deemed the color elegant.

In the next second, Liam said, “Your cherry red Ford is cool, too.” He elbowed her. “And I’m loving my Buick.”

Callie laughed. “Are you a little car crazy?”

“No way. The things I want…they aren’t that easy.”

No, they weren’t. On impulse, she squeezed his shoulder. “You’re getting there.”

“One step at a time.” He opened the hatch and they both took in the enormous size of the plant. Liam lifted a brow. “That’s a tree.”

“It’s tall enough to be.” Five feet of leafy plant filled the back of her parents’ SUV at a tilt, with some leaves spilled over to the front seat. “I love it, but it does look like it weighs a ton.”

Grinning, Liam lifted the entire awkward thing out, and then, holding it like it was nothing, he asked, “Where do you want it?”

She laughed again. From the time of her parents’ arrival, she’d been in an awful funk, but already Liam had lightened her mood.

“You make it look so easy.” She hustled ahead of him to the porch. “For now, let’s leave it outside by the door.” Plans were forming in her head, and she wanted time to think them through.

Unfortunately, the second they stepped inside, Sutter drew her in for a tight hug. Didn’t matter that she kept her arms stiff at her sides, or that she leaned away as much as she could.

Her parents had disappeared, probably back into the kitchen, but Liam was still right there, and as she glanced at him over Sutter’s shoulder, she saw him cross his arms and lean on the wall.

Clearly, he wasn’t budging unless she asked him to. God love the young man, she owed him something special for his loyalty. Maybe, if Tanner gave her a chance, she’d talk to him to figure out something good. He knew Liam better than she did, and he’d probably have some great ideas for a surprise.