Page 15 of Let Me Be the One
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 groupphoto of a Little League team withWillis Tree Farmon 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 showedaround 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.
* * *
TANNER WOKE EVENearlier 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 beendrawn 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.
