Page 2

CHAPTER TWO

A S STANDOFFISH AS Tanner was, Addie was welcoming. Once she heard an abbreviated version of Callie’s plight, she insisted on going along with Tanner to fetch Glory, saying, “You have to see the inside of the house before you make any decisions.”

That scared Callie. What exactly was she going to find?

Kam tried to go along too, but with one look, Tanner nixed that idea. Kam had just arrived home from a welding job, which explained why he’d had his keys in his hand. Maybe for that reason, he gave up gracefully, saying, “Fine. I need a shower and food, anyway.”

“So do I,” Tanner said. “Don’t use all the hot water, and leave some mashed potatoes for me.”

Addie smiled indulgently at them both. “I made plenty.” She confided to Callie, “I always do. But once, back when the boys were younger, Kam devoured all the potatoes and Tanner has yet to forgive him.”

Tanner put an arm over Addie’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Your potatoes are worth a tussle.”

“Are you hungry?” she asked Callie.

No way would she enter the fray over the potatoes, so Callie shook her head. “Just tired, actually. I think I’ll make an early night of it.” Far as hints went, that wasn’t the most subtle, but it did get everyone in the car—including Blu. He sat in the back seat, leaning comfortably against Addie’s shoulder.

Tanner said, “One second,” and dashed inside the house through the garage, returning with a shirt that he pulled on over his head as he walked to the driver’s side. Shame to cover up that fine chest. When Callie realized she was staring at him again, with Addie taking note, she quickly got in the passenger seat.

The SUV was Kam’s, he said, and they used it because Tanner’s truck was currently full.

Apparently, Tanner was a very hard worker. With his lean, hard body, she believed it.

When the headlights of the SUV cut into her driveway only a few minutes later, they all saw Glory sitting huddled on the hood of Callie’s red Ford Escape. She looked petrified.

“Oh, no.” Thinking only of her cousin, Callie quickly got out of the car. “Glory?”

Glory nearly fell off the car in her relief. She rushed to Callie, grabbed her in a smothering hug and said, “Thank God you’re here!”

“What’s wrong?” Tanner asked, already glancing around.

Blu didn’t seem worried. He merely tilted his head at Glory.

Addie said, “Poor girl is terrified. What is it, honey?”

“There’s something out there.” Glory looked at Tanner with distrust, then at Addie with confusion. “Something horrible.”

Just then, Callie heard it too and the hair rose on the back of her neck. It sounded like a cross between a demonic cry and a broken wail, the sounds layering over each other in the eeriest way imaginable. “What in the world?”

Tanner cracked a grin.

“That’s just the goats.” Addie was also amused. “Nothing to worry about.”

“Goats?” Glory clearly didn’t believe them.

Callie gave her another hug, then released her. “I have chickens, four goats, and a horse.”

Glory’s eyes widened even more.

To Callie, it seemed like the perfect time to make introductions, and as she did so she explained that Tanner had very nicely taken care of the animals. Hopefully, Glory would catch her drift and be polite.

Addie helped to smooth things over, both praising Tanner as a wonderful “boy” and saying that as neighbors, they were happy to help in any way they could.

“You’ve been wonderful,” Callie said. “Thank you for getting me this far.” She even smiled at Tanner. “I know you’re ready for your dinner. You should go before Kam eats it all.” The joke didn’t quite get the reaction she’d hoped for. “It’s been a long day for you, I’m sure. I can handle it from here.”

He shook his head. “The place has been empty for too long.” He looked up at the dark porch. “Addie and I can walk you in, make sure everything is working and that no critters have set up house.”

“Critters?” Glory asked, giving the house another fearful glance.

“Raccoons, rats, birds, snakes.”

“It’s probably fine,” Addie said quickly. “But Reggie wasn’t much of a housekeeper and I’m not sure what kind of shape he left it in.”

“Let’s go look, okay?” Tanner patted his thigh for Blu to follow.

It was interesting that the dog wasn’t on a leash and didn’t wander off. “I have the keys.” Callie unhooked them from the belt loop on her jeans and took the lead.

“Careful,” Tanner said. “The porch boards might be rotted.”

When she hesitated, Glory bumped into her back, then stuck close with one hand knotted in her shirt. Since it was already torn at the shoulder, it ripped a little more.

“Why don’t we let Tanner get things opened up?” Addie suggested.

To Callie, that seemed like a great idea, but she didn’t want to admit it. She squinted at the entrance. “Are you more familiar with the lock?”

“I am.” He held out a hand. “Should be a light switch just inside if you want to wait here for a sec.”

Giving up, Callie nodded and gave him the keys. With Addie nearby, he was far more gracious.

The evening seemed even eerier now, with the goats still making their weird noises from somewhere on the property, insects of some kind clicking in the darkness, and an overall sense of impending doom bearing down on her. Glory didn’t help, clutching at her the way she did.

Belatedly, Callie realized she should have started her car and turned on the headlights to better light their way.

There was a creak of boards, a metallic clink, and then the groan of a door opening on rusty hinges. Callie held her breath, and a second later lights flicked on inside, immediately followed by the low yellow glow of a porch lamp beside the door.

It was not a pleasant sight. Or smell.

Together, silently, they all stepped in. The house was incredibly stale.

Tanner gave a low curse. “Rotted food. I should have thought of that.”

Callie followed his gaze and saw a pizza box, with a bunch of moldy stuff, on the coffee table, as well as other, less identifiable items.

“I dread to know what’s in the kitchen,” Addie said.

Glory wrinkled her nose. “When you get past the rotten smell, you get hit with the old man smell.”

“Glory!” There was a very real chance that Callie might strangle her cousin.

Addie laughed. “She’s not wrong. Given Reggie’s age and habits, I’m not surprised. He liked to drink and he was a regular chimney. Always smoking. Never saw the man without a cigarette.”

“Callie,” Glory pleaded. “Please tell me we’re not staying here. Not tonight. Not without having it cleaned first.”

Weary to the bone, Callie agreed. This independence stuff was hard, especially with a hunk of manhood watching her critically, waiting for her to falter. She drummed up a smile and said decisively, “We’ll find a hotel for the night and then I can start fresh tomorrow.”

“Nonsense.” Addie smiled at both of them. “The nearest hotel is an hour away. We have plenty of room. Just grab what you need for the night. You can get some sleep and tomorrow we can air the place out and see what’s what.”

“We?” Tanner asked, but he sounded resigned, as if he’d already known what Addie would do.

“I can at least help get her started. That’s what neighbors are for.”

Tanner went annoyingly silent and Callie felt perverse enough to happily accept Addie’s offer. “Thank you so much, Addie. You’re a blessing.”

* * *

T HANK G OD BOTH women had declined to eat. It was bad enough knowing Callie was in the house and that she’d be sleeping nearby. Just thinking it made Tanner edgy and almost guaranteed that he’d have a restless night.

Seeing inside Reggie’s house should have been enough to send her home. Instead, she’d gleefully soldiered on, determination in every curvy line of her body—a body he’d imagined naked many times over the years.

A body that he still badly wanted to explore.

He drew a slow breath, knowing it wouldn’t help, and headed into the kitchen. The shower had refreshed him, but he remained hot around his neck.

Addie immediately put a plate of meat loaf, potatoes, and an ear of corn on the table. “Here you go, honey. All warmed up.”

“Thanks, but I could have gotten it.” She didn’t need to wait on him. Far as he was concerned, Addie already did far too much—for him, for Kam, and now she’d be helping with neighbors.

“Ha! So you could skip giving me all the juicy details?” She pulled out a chair across from him. “Not on your life. You can eat, but also talk.”

With a shrug, he dug into the food, then had to groan in pleasure. “No one cooks like you, Addie.”

“You know I love it.”

Kam, every bit as nosy as Addie, came in and sat beside her. “Let’s give him two minutes to eat. He looks starved.”

That was something Addie always used to say. “Honey, you look starved. Here, let me get you something to eat.” In the beginning, when he wasn’t too responsive to acts of affection, that had been her way to show she cared.

To a hungry boy, it was a great start.

For years now, Addie had been keeping both him and Kam well fed. Neither of them would ever take her for granted. She was their living, breathing angel, the woman who had delivered them from hell and showed them what life could and should be.

Kam nudged Addie. “He’s reminiscing.”

“About food,” Tanner said.

“And the woman.” Folding his arms on the table and grinning, Kam asked, “She’s the one, isn’t she?”

Tanner went still. Damn, figured Kam would remember.

Addie sat forward. “Wait, the girl from high school? The one who broke your heart?”

“I knew her in high school, yes, but she never knew me.” Still didn’t, in fact. “And my heart was never involved. To her, I’m a stranger.”

“Impossible.” Addie asked Kam, “Isn’t he a handsome young man?”

“Oh, definitely,” Kam said, playing along.

“And isn’t he tall and well-built?”

Tanner felt his ears getting hot. “Addie, that’s enough.”

“He’s downright dreamy,” Kam said, more than happy to keep her going. “No woman could resist him.”

“She has no idea we went to school together, which isn’t a surprise. It was a long time ago and she was a grade below me.” Seeing her still hit him like a gut punch. He remembered everything. The cute little skirts she’d worn. Who she’d dated and for how long. The way the princess had smiled at everyone, all the time, as if she hadn’t a care in the world.

Except she’d never smiled at him. She’d never even noticed him.

Tanner shook that off. “More than anything, she was a pain in the ass today. She and her cousin came through the woods like a couple of drunk rhinos.” It was mostly true for Glory, but even while he’d held the screaming chain saw, Callie had managed to look composed and polite. It was uncanny how she did that. Must be nice to have such a protected life that nothing ever took away your peace of mind.

Addie frowned. “They came out of the woods together?”

“Yeah.”

“So why wasn’t her cousin still with Callie when we met her?”

Hiding any sign of guilt, Tanner shrugged. “The chain saw spooked her and she ran off.”

“She left her cousin?” Kam whistled. “If she was scared, you would think she’d want to help Callie, too.”

He and Kam were big on backing each other up. For them, with how Addie had taught them, loyalty was everything. “Glory doesn’t seem to have Callie’s backbone. She ran off screaming while Callie just stared me down, smiling.” And ogling him. The way she’d looked at him, so absorbed, fed his imagination. It would play big-time in all his future fantasies. “Blu took to her right away.”

Hearing his name, the dog’s ears perked forward, but otherwise he kept sleeping on a rug nearby. Kam’s cat, Percy, was snuggled into Blu’s side, but he effectively ignored them all.

“Blu’s smart,” Kam said. “Pretty women always get his attention.”

Tanner shot him a look, but Kam played innocent. “What? Was I not supposed to notice how drop-dead gorgeous she is? That mouthwatering figure? Her super--sweet smile?”

Addie raised her hand. “Well, I noticed. Course Kam would, too. He has eyes, right?”

From the day she’d brought them home, Addie had made it clear that no subject was taboo. She was a woman who encouraged them to share their every thought—even personal observations.

Of course, as he and Kam grew older, they’d started to censor things a bit anyway. Not their likes and dislikes, or their goals and determination. But their interests in sex? Some things a guy just instinctively knew weren’t meant for a parental figure.

“Doesn’t matter,” Tanner countered. “She won’t be sticking around. Once she sees the level of work and expense it’d take to fix up Reggie’s place, she’ll sell it to me so I can level it and get on with my plans.”

“Hmm,” Addie said. “I don’t think so. I got the sense she feels challenged, not discouraged.”

“That could be a good thing for you,” Kam insisted to Tanner. “With her living right next door, you have a shot now. If nothing else, maybe you can get her out of your system.”

That earned a shove from Addie. “He deserves more than that, and so does that nice young lady.”

See, that’s why they needed to censor things with Addie. The woman had no concept of overwhelming lust, and just how satisfying it could be to indulge.

In fact, now that Kam said it, the thought took root. Have Callie McCallahan for his own? Even for an abbreviated time? The idea had merit. How many times had he dreamed of sating himself on her, and then walking away, proving… What? That her complete indifference to him hadn’t mattered? That although he’d fantasized about her, wishing every day that she’d notice him, he’d outgrown that adolescent infatuation?

At least he could prove to himself that none of it had mattered, that his childhood—first devastating, and then later, after Addie, endearing—had gone along just fine without Callie’s notice.

The lost youth he’d been in high school had grown into an independent man who handled his shit and didn’t slow down for anyone…except Addie and Kam. They were the only people he counted on now and he knew they were rock-solid.

Giving himself another minute to think, Tanner tipped up his milk glass and drank it all. When he finished, both Addie and Kam were still watching him expectantly. He resisted the urge to huff. “Times have changed. Forget high school.” As if he could with her so close by, but he drummed up a lie and said, “I have.”

“But dude—”

Tanner’s scowl discouraged Kam from saying more. If he accepted the prospect of getting close to Callie, of having a brief, no-strings, very sexual relationship with her, it wouldn’t do to tell Addie. That’d only encourage her to champion Callie. He and Kam both had firsthand knowledge of how she protected the underdog. And this time around, that’d be Callie.

Addie stood to pick up the empty dishes. “High school was one thing,” she agreed. “People change, their perceptions and their priorities change. Important part is that she’s noticing you now. The girl could barely keep her eyes off you.”

Refusing to believe that, Tanner pushed back his chair. “Let it go, Addie.” He took his plate from her, or tried to, but it turned into a tug-of-war. “Addie. I can clean up my own messes.”

Smiling up at him, she said, “But honey, you worked all day, and besides, I love taking care of you. Always have and always will. Let me do what little bit I can, okay?”

That attitude was nothing new. He’d left a home where abuse and neglect were the norm, and then was embraced with Addie’s unconditional love. It still had the power to emotionally bring him to his knees.

After taking the dishes from her, Tanner set them aside to gather her close. “God bless you, Addie.”

“He already did, with you two.”

Standing behind Addie, Kam smiled at him. “It never grows old, does it?”

Tanner shook his head. “No.” And it never would.

* * *

H ER VOICE BARELY above a whisper, Glory said, “I can’t believe we’ve ended the day camping out in a neighbor’s attic.” She glanced around the room with disbelief bordering on awe.

Callie shrugged. “I’m a little bewildered at how it happened, too.” Addie was a small tornado who swept everyone up in her path. Mostly, though, it had been her need to thwart Tanner that had convinced Callie to accept the offer. “We have clean beds to sleep in, so don’t complain.”

The finished attic, or bonus room, as Addie had called it, had a sloping ceiling around the perimeter, though it was high enough down the middle. Twin beds, made up like couches with plenty of throw pillows, were situated beneath the lowest part on opposite sides. Fresh pillowcases and quilts were waiting for them.

The stairs leading up to the room had opened into a small entry that led to a walk-in closet filled with holiday décor. The door had only been haphazardly closed, and inside Callie had seen a giant Santa head next to an electric star, with boxes and boxes of ornaments, some of them clearly homemade. There was also a rack of Halloween costumes in varying sizes, and a large Easter bunny costume beneath a shelf filled with baskets and colorful buckets. There was even some birthday décor.

When Callie had peeked inside, fascinated by it all, Addie had laughed, saying, “I started doing huge parties for the boys when they were younger and I’ve never stopped. Now it’s comical when I put on the bunny costume and make them take baskets to hunt for eggs, or when they have to sit beside me while I’m dressed like Santa.” She’d chuckled with the memory. “Gotta have my annual photos, you know, and the boys play along. They’re good sports.”

In that moment, Callie’s heart had begun aching and it hadn’t let up yet. A hollowness filled her, making her yearn for new things. Things she’d never had before and hadn’t realized were missing.

Holidays at her house were always formal affairs with everyone dressing up to entertain important clients. Never, not once in her twenty-eight years, had either of her parents ever worn a bunny or Santa costume. Someday, she’d love to see Addie’s photos.

If she’d be here long enough.

Tanner hadn’t made a secret about wanting her gone.

Addie had left them after saying that her kitchen was open if either of them got hungry, and that she’d have coffee ready by eight, but they should feel free to start a pot if they got up before that. No one could be more open, more welcoming than her new neighbor.

Now Callie sat on a bed, rethinking her plans. Because of Addie. And because of Tanner.

Glory, still exploring, said, “Behind that big closet is a bathroom with a shower and on the other side is a small kitchenette.”

Addie had said there were bottles of water and cans of cola in the narrow, apartment-sized fridge, but Callie didn’t want to impose more than she already had.

“It’s spotlessly clean,” she noted. “Addie must keep it that way, because she didn’t know we were coming.”

“Or,” Glory whispered, “It’s kept that way to remove evidence of past murders. If they lured us here for godawful reasons, you played right into their hands.”

With a roll of her eyes, Callie said, “I hope you’re joking.” When it came to Glory’s overblown imagination, she could never be sure. Honestly, she was jumpy enough after the bad vibes in the woods that she didn’t need Glory making her more nervous. “Addie said the boys used to hang out here with their friends.”

“I’d hardly call your smoking-hot specimen a boy.”

“First, he’s not my specimen.” Which was really too bad. If Tanner were just a little more agreeable, he could make her entire transition a far more pleasant experience. “And I’m sure she meant when they were younger.” Couldn’t deny the “smoking-hot” description. Tanner had it, in spades. The man was downright fantasy-inspiring, so it was no wonder she was already indulging a few fun scenarios.

Like…what if she did a rehab on the house with the intent of selling it, and along the way she got to play with Tanner? So far, he hadn’t seemed interested, but he might change his mind if he knew she wouldn’t be sticking around.

Glory shrugged. “I guess if Tanner and his mysterious brother used this space, the foosball table and gaming system on the TV would make sense.”

Callie grinned. “Plus those beanbag chairs. I haven’t seen those in years.” And she’d never seen them in her own home. For just a moment she had a flash of Tanner as a teenager, all long limbs and prominent bones, sprawled in one of those chairs with a controller in his hands. Somehow, the image didn’t work, because she couldn’t quite imagine anyone as intense as him ever being carefree like that…and yet it felt familiar, too, almost like she could see him.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Glory announced. “That is, if you don’t mind me going first.”

“Have at it. I’ll clean up after you.” She needed a little time to dig out a change of clothes from her suitcase.

“I’m locking the door,” Glory warned, “just in case any of our hosts decide to intrude. If you need to go, now’s your chance.”

“I’m fine.” She shooed Glory away, content to continue her speculation on Tanner. He’d said he knew her. She was from this area. Had they once crossed paths?

Getting comfortable on the twin bed, she plugged in her phone so it wouldn’t die, and then did a search of him on social media. Nothing. Seriously, he wasn’t on any social media? That seemed really odd.

Changing tactics, she looked for family-owned tree farms in Hoker, Kentucky. One business popped up: Willis Tree Farm. Curious, she scrolled through the details and some images, confirming that she had the right place. No photos of Tanner though.

He seemed the same age as her, so she looked up the high school. The website showed only current information with a few alumni from the year she’d graduated. Determined, she checked the class that graduated the year before her…

Bingo.

Tanner Patrick, a graduate who had gone on to sponsor at-risk boys and girls in numerous ways, including with summer jobs, outings for the holidays, and in various sports programs.

He helped kids from the school district. He…cared.

Breathing a little faster, Callie went back to social media and instead of searching for accounts under Tanner’s name, she went to each different platform and just searched for mentions of him.

There were plenty.

High school kids shared photos of them in groups at his tree farm on what looked like instructional outings. There were a few shots of Tanner with different boys he’d sponsored in wrestling and track. A group photo of a Little League team with Willis Tree Farm on their jerseys.

The last was of him presenting a check to a smiling but exhausted woman at a local shelter for abused and neglected youths. He was surrounded by kids, some of them shy, a few openly happy, all of them staring at him with blatant hero worship. Pressing her fingertips to her lips, Callie tried to contain the well of emotion that quickened her breathing.

The most astounding part of all was that Tanner appeared content. He was devastatingly attractive, no matter what, but with that particular expression on his face? The man could melt an icy heart.

Had she known him in high school? No way. If she had, she wouldn’t have forgotten him.

A half hour later, after Callie had finished her own shower, she felt marginally revived, but also exhausted. It wasn’t that late, but she was ready to turn in, to explore her private thoughts and consider her current plans.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep,” Glory said as she paced barefoot around the room. “It helps that the door has a lock on it.” Glory peered toward the window. “And if we’ve blundered into something nefarious, we could always climb out the window, slide down the roof and…fall to our deaths.”

Callie spread out the quilt and plumped her pillow. “You watch too many horror movies.”

“Very true.” Glory came closer for a hug. “I’m sorry I’ve been a pain all day.” She smoothed back Callie’s hair, then frowned at the scratch on her shoulder. “Does it hurt?”

“It feels better now that it’s clean.” Bruising showed around the scratch and it itched, but tomorrow she’d find some ointment for it.

“I know none of this is what you expected. Thorny woods and grumpy men with chain saws and sleeping in an attic.”

To Callie, none of it had been that bad. In fact, most of it was enlightening. Plus, she hadn’t thought at all about Sutter, or the canceled wedding, or how her parents were blowing up. If nothing else, Tanner was certainly a nice distraction.

“Tomorrow we’ll get it all figured out, okay?”

By “figured out,” Glory probably assumed they’d head back home, which was something Callie wouldn’t do. No reason to explain that tonight, though. “Thanks. I know it’s not that late, but I’m going to turn in.”

“I’ll be quiet, but I might watch something on my phone. Will that bother you?”

At the moment, Callie didn’t think anything could bother her more than her preoccupation with Tanner. The more she thought about it, the more familiar he seemed, as if she’d known him forever. Pretty sure she would dream about him tonight—or at least, she hoped to. It’d be much nicer than focusing on the mess of the house she’d been given. “Have at it. Just keep the lights low, okay?”

“Will do.” Glory retreated to the other side of the room and got her own bed ready, but instead of reclining, she propped her shoulders against the wall and scrolled on her phone.

Funny, but even after what they’d been through, Glory looked as beautiful as ever. Her pale blond hair hung smooth and sleek to her shoulders. Her skin remained flawless despite their trek through the woods. Her cousin fretted about looks a lot more than Callie did, but thanks to her background, she had reason. So many reasons.

Yes, she’d griped a lot, but Callie loved her dearly and accepted Glory as her best friend. More often than not, they argued like sisters. And loved each other like sisters, too.

After mostly being raised together, that made sense.

Callie yawned widely, closed her eyes, and turned on her side facing the wall. Her last thought before she fell asleep was that tomorrow she’d get familiar with her ramshackle house, unseen chickens, spooky goats, a horse—and one very cantankerous neighbor who looked far too sexy in worn jeans and sweat.

All in all, not an unpleasant prospect.

* * *

T ANNER WOKE EVEN earlier than usual and once he did, he couldn’t get back to sleep because he knew Callie was in the house. Probably curled up on the same bed he’d used in his early teens. She’d be soft and warm, her silky brown hair spread over the pillow.

What did she wear to bed? T-shirt and panties? Yeah, that was a nice visual.

He stacked his hands behind his head, stared up at the dark ceiling, and pondered Kam’s words.

Was this an opportunity?

Never mind what Addie said—she was clearly biased—he had no idea if Callie would be any more interested in him now than she’d been years ago. And even if she was, could he keep it casual? Could he get his fill and then send her on her way?

They’d been kids the first time he’d noticed her, maybe fifth grade or so, and from the start he’d been drawn to her. She’d been standing there, fresh and clean, her long hair curled, her clothes pretty, and her personality sweet.

He’d been wearing torn jeans, a stained shirt, and a black eye.

She was from the wealthiest family in town and he was the son of an obnoxious drunk who people reviled—at least they had back then, before Addie had taken him in the year he turned thirteen. But by then, he’d already become invisible at school. Other kids wanted nothing to do with him, teachers didn’t know how to handle his sullen attitude, and counselors had gotten exactly nowhere trying to get him to open up.

As if any kid would want to share about his old man, a dirty house, and all the shame…

Before Addie, he’d missed school more than he’d made it in, and half of that time it had been with bruises. But by God, he’d never failed a grade. Was never held back. In every way, he’d been hell-bent on proving himself… better .

Better than his dad. Better than his circumstances. Better than anyone expected.

And still, he’d always known he wasn’t good enough for Callie McCallahan.

Thinking back on those torturous days still made him tense, so he shoved the memories to the back burner and rolled out of bed.

Avoidance was his go-to when it came to memory lane. No good came of focusing on what he’d left behind. What he’d never had.

Well, except when it came to recognizing kindred spirits. He’d been there, done that, so he knew how neglected or abused kids felt, and sometimes he knew what to say and do to make it a little better. At those times, he’d gladly go through fresh hell if it made a kid’s life even a tiny bit easier.

It was barely 5:30 a.m. when he made his way to the kitchen. Barefoot, wearing only jeans, he went to the counter and switched on the coffeemaker. He hadn’t yet decided if he wanted to be around when Callie got up, or if it’d be better to already be out of the house. The sun wouldn’t rise for another couple of hours, but he could work in the barn.

Blu, who’d been sleeping in his usual spot near the sliding doors in the great room, got to his feet and yawned, and that disturbed Percy the cat. “Sorry, buddy. It’s too early to be up and about, isn’t it?”

Percy gave him an annoyed look and sauntered off to another part of the house. He was a lazy thing that liked to sleep, eat, and occasionally prowl outside.

Tanner slid open the door for Blu, then followed him out to the enclosed back porch, where he opened another door to give the dog access to the yard. This early, the air was cooler and a fine mist dampened the air, but Tanner stood there patiently, giving Blu the time he needed. He didn’t trust the Garmet brothers, with good reason.

One time, and one time only, he’d found them on his property harassing Blu. Given Tanner’s reaction, it was doubtful they’d encroach again, but he wouldn’t take the chance. He never did, not with those he loved.

A little voice in his head said: Callie will be living right next door to them .

His jaw flexed, because so far there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He’d warned her. He might warn her again. The rest would be up to her.

Blu sniffed the air, looked around, and finally found a suitable grassy spot to sprinkle. He’d just finished when his ears went up, but it wasn’t anything in the yard that interested him. When he trotted past Tanner and into the house, his tail was already wagging.

Wondering why Kam would be up so early, Tanner followed the dog in through the porch and great room, but froze in the kitchen entrance at the sight of Callie on her tiptoes trying to reach a coffee mug on the top shelf of the cabinet. He should have announced himself, but didn’t. Should have looked away, but couldn’t.

The dog didn’t alert her, either. Blu, standing still but attentive, seemed as mesmerized as Tanner.

Her legs were beautifully bare, her plump ass hugged by a pair of white cotton shorts that didn’t cover much more than panties would have, and left little to his oh-so-awake imagination. When he finally dragged his gaze off her stellar behind, he saw that her dark T-shirt was a little roomy, and her rumpled hair hung down her back in silky hanks.

Tanner didn’t dare breathe. If he did, she just might disappear.

Giving up on the mug, she watched the coffeemaker as if she could hurry it along, then sighed and rested her forearms on the counter—which better presented her backside to his scrutiny.

Blu had better manners than him, because the dog whined, startling her upright, then came forward in greeting.

Her sleepy gaze landed first on the dog, then lifted to Tanner. Blinking at him, her drowsy gaze going quickly over him, she gave a husky, “Good morning.”

He still had trouble breathing. “Morning.”

Breaking the connection, she knelt down and rubbed the dog’s ears. “Morning, Blu. I hope you slept well.”

Blu tipped his head, narrowed his eyes in bliss, and swept the floor with his tail.

Callie kissed the top of his head. “You are such a big sweetheart.”

When she straightened again, Blu wandered to his water dish, got a few drinks, then padded back to his sleeping spot and collapsed with a quiet huff.

Tanner knew he couldn’t keep staring at Callie, no matter how good she looked all morning mussed and sleepy. He unglued his feet and walked in. “Addie keeps her mugs over here. Easier to reach.” He opened a lower cabinet to show her the array of colorful mugs with various sayings. “The ones stored high aren’t used that often.”

“Oh.” She accepted the mug he handed her. “Thanks.”

How did the woman always look so rosy and fresh, as if she’d just left a warm shower? Even with her sleepy eyes, her skin seemed to glow and she looked…

Fuck. She looked wholesome.

And why the hell was that sexy?

His scrutiny must have bothered her, because she combed her fingers through her hair, saying, “I didn’t expect to run into anyone yet.”

“Usually you wouldn’t. I woke up early.”

“Me, too.”

His gaze snagged on hers, speculation running through his brain. “Couldn’t sleep?”

With a quick smile, she said, “Actually, I slept better than I have in a week.”