Page 37 of Let Me Be the One
And then kept smiling, but no one appeared.
Glory glanced at her. “What are you doing?”
“We have company. Didn’t you hear the knock?”
Twisting around in her seat, Glory whispered, “Who?”
“Good grief, Glory, were you completely tuned out?”
“Sorry. I hadn’t checked my phone in a while and I had a lot of messages.”
New tension sank into Callie’s neck and shoulders. “From my parents? From Sutter?”
Droll, Glory said, “I do have a life of my own, you know.”
Yes, she did know. Her cousin was far more social than Callie had ever been, but then, they had very different personalities. “Sorry.”
“But some of the messages were from them.”
Rolling her eyes and huffing, Callie said, “I hope you’re not talking about me.”
“Only to say that we’re staying here again tonight, and you’re fine.”
She’d be staying forever, but she didn’t want Glory carrying tales, so she just nodded. “I appreciate the loyalty. If I want them to know something, I’ll tell them myself. Okay?”
“They’re worried about you,” Glory countered.
“I’m better than ever, so there’s no reason.” From the living room, she could hear a few muted voices, one of them Tanner’s. Before Glory could say anything else, Callie went to investigate, and found the whole family—Addie, Tanner, and Kam—standing in her small living room, arms filled with linens.
CHAPTER SIX
LIKE AN APPROACHING STORM, Tanner felt Callie was nearby. Automatically bracing himself, he glanced up from Addie, who was doing inventory while he held the basket. His gaze collided with Callie’s as she hesitated in the kitchen doorway.
His heart jumped, then began a slow, heavy thudding in his chest. Although the basket wasn’t heavy, his thighs tensed. It could almost be alarming, the physical reactions she caused by her mere presence, but then, his thoughts had been churning all day over the things he’d shared with her in the kitchen, things he’d never before discussed with any woman other than Addie, and never in such detail.
What Callie so effortlessly did to him was enough to make him keep his distance, and yet, he knew he wouldn’t. Couldn’t.
Even wilted, her hair limp and her clothes dirt stained, she was so fucking gorgeous. Maybe more so now. She looked earthy. Approachable.
Like she belonged here.
Glory stepped up next to her, breaking the spell and snagging Kam’s attention.
Glad for the distraction, Tanner introduced him. “Glory, I don’t think you’ve met my brother yet. Kam, Glory is Callie’s cousin.”
Glory lifted one hand and gave a little wave. “Hi.”
Hitching a brow, Kam said, “Nice to meet you,” and then, arms holding two fluffy pillows, he asked Callie, “Where do you want all this?”
Huh. Had his brother just dismissed Glory? Seemed so. Maybe she didn’t appeal to him anymore than she appealed to Tanner. But then again, next to Callie, a supermodel probably wouldn’t appeal.
“Not the bedroom,” Addie said, answering Kam’s question. “Not yet anyway. Let’s stack it all in the kitchen on the table, then you boys can drag the mattress out to the yard to air it—”
“Not on your life,” Tanner said. “I’m not touching Reggie’s mattress.”
“Same,” Kam said.
Suspicious now, Callie folded her arms and gave one of those not-so-polite smiles. “That’s fine. I’m sure Glory and I can handle it.”
