Page 30 of Let Me Be the One
At times he could be incredibly caustic, focused onlyon getting his way, which in her case, meant acquiring her property. Yet when he spoke about Addie, Kam, or even Blu, she saw the raw love in his eyes, as if having them was something extra precious to him.
Admittedly, she knew nothing about abuse. Indulgence, yes. Her parents had ensured she had everything she ever needed, and usually whatever she’d wanted. Distraction, too, of course, because affluent people loved to travel with their “set” and showcase all they had. Trips abroad, private cruises and jets; her parents were definitely social climbers who always accepted offers to travel with their “friends,” even when it was a holiday, when she was at home from school, or the times that she’d been sick.
Their love was obvious, but so were their priorities: they wantedmore.
If she’d married Sutter, the “more” would have been immeasurable—for them, but not for her. Thank God she’d finally shaken off the nonsense and taken a stand. She deserved to discover her own happiness.
As did Tanner. Should she sell to him?
Immediately, Callie shook her head. No, not yet. Tanner could be happy without gettingeverythinghe wanted. And if she stuck around, maybe he’d eventually want her. She certainly wanted him.
How did he know her when she didn’t know him?
Over coffee, he’d somehow seduced her just by being himself—and by flaunting that stellar bod of his.
What really got to her was that he’dheardher. Things she said, and even things she didn’t. Her connection to him was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Not even with Glory, who was her pseudo sisterand best friend in the entire world, did she feel so energized, so…alive.
Coffee with Tanner had been more exciting than sex with Sutter. How astounding was that? It reinforced that she’d made the right decision in walking away.
It also explained why, as she’d worked, she’d dissected their every word…until she got to that part about her nibbling around nuts. She laughed again. “Oh, Lord.”
“What’s that?” Addie asked, as she joined Callie in the yard.
Today, Addie wore her hair held back by a headband. An older T-shirt, faded in some spots, stained in others, covered her to the seat of her loose jeans. She looked comfortably sloppy and happy, even while pitching in at Callie’s new house.
Smiling at her, Callie admitted, “I just realized what I said.”
“What did you say?”
“At breakfast?” Callie prompted. “Or rather, over cookies?”
An enormous grin creased Addie’s face. “Ah, yeah. That was pretty funny. I thought the boys would choke to death on their hilarity. I tried to shush them, but sometimes my evilest, most stern looks have zero effect. Men, you know, can only be wrangled so much.”
Callie leaned on the rake she’d been using to clean up the yard. “I love that you see it that way. Like you want to guide them, but within reason.” That wasn’t really the world today. There were such enormous expectations for some, and none for others. In truth, she thought each individual person had unique potential that should be encouraged without comparing one to another.
It was the philosophy she’d planned to use with her imaginary kids in her imaginary future.
“I had to learn, you know?” Addie stripped off her rubber gloves and tossed them to a rickety wooden table that sat on the back porch before striding closer. “Tanner… Man, I loved that boy from day one. Talk about a heartbreaker.” She paused to lean on a tree.
It was one of the things Callie loved about the yard. All the trees, so many varieties, offering shade and beauty.
Dropping nuts, leaves, and branches everywhere. That part was tough, but she’d get the hang of it. “Tanner told me you took him in when he was thirteen.”
“He did?” Surprise lifted Addie’s brows, then her entire face settled into a warm smile. “Well, guess I’m not surprised. He’d want you to hear it from him before others filled your head with nonsense.”
“He said people gossip about him?”
This time, Addie’s laugh was short and bitter. “You’ll hear it soon enough, but not from me.”
Callie wondered about that, but she wasn’t sure how to ask, especially with Addie’s statement hanging out there. It wouldn’t be right for her to pressure anyone, especially after her new neighbor had been so open and welcoming, so incredibly helpful.
“Thirteen,” Addie mused aloud, breaking the strained silence. “He thought he was so grown up. Thought he could just go off on his own and somehow make it. And you know what? He might have. He sure had the grit.”
More than anything, more than making her house livable or getting to explore Tanner’s sexy shoulders and abs, Callie wanted to better understand him. To learneverything about him. All the small and large parts of his life that had knit together such an intriguing guy.
That connection…it was still there, sizzling her nerve endings, keeping her thoughts hopping about, always wondering about him. Now that she was feeling so alive, she couldn’t imagine going back to being…well, dormant. Existing, going through the motions but never really taking part. Not with heart. Not like she should.
She’d been living without any real purpose. But this? Being outside and working on the yard and talking to Addie—a woman who had lived with her whole heart—made Callie realize what a shallow person she’d been.
