Page 51 of Let Me Be the One
“Actually, I can.” Most definitely when he acted like a pig.
“Oh, gawd,” he groaned dramatically. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those.”
They were insufferable. Callie crossed her arms and cocked out a hip. “Those being?”
“Women who twist every word, who get insulted over every little thing.”
“What you were implying wasn’t a little thing, and no, I don’t get insulted easily.” Let him make of that whatever he wanted. “I think it’s past time for you two to go.”
“Ah, now, darlin’, don’t be like that,” the taller one said. “We’re neighbors.”
Damn. Sincerely hoping she was wrong, Callie guessed, “The Garmet brothers?”
“None other.” As if settling in, the taller guy propped his forearms on the top rail. “I’m Dirk, and this is my brother Lang. We’re harmless, I promise, so let’s get acquainted.”
In her mind, Callie couldn’t help contrasting Dirk’s nauseating attitude to Tanner’s when they’d sat at the kitchen table joking about her independence. Tanner had teased, not insulted, and not once had he leered at her in such a disgusting way. “Not tonight.” Yet they stood on her porch, so how could she get in her house without getting closer to them?
“Come on up,” Dirk said. “We don’t bite.”
Lang laughed.
Callie didn’t know what to do. When a growl sounded behind them, she turned—and God bless him, Tannerwas approaching at a fast clip with Blu beside him. The dog immediately stepped in front of Callie and Glory, his ruff up, ears flattened and body stiff.
As Tanner passed them, he shoved a plate of cookies at her, which she automatically accepted. “Stay,” he said, and Callie seriously hoped that abrupt command was for the dog and not her, because she’d had enough of hardheaded men for one evening.
She passed the cookies to Glory and, much more sedately, followed Tanner.
The men on the porch straightened, their expressions uneasy.
Dirk said, “Hey Tanner, what’s up, man?”
“Leave.”
Dirk and Lang both went rigid. “We were just introducing ourselves to the women and—”
“And you’re done. Leavenow.”
“Fucker,” Lang muttered, but he skulked down the steps.
Dirk, deliberately provoking, took his time. “Staking a claim, are ya?”
Tanner bunched up even more. “Say it again.”
“Just asking, dude.”
“No, you’re insulting her and in the process you’re pissing me off.”
Callie remained just a few feet behind him. If things erupted, she didn’t want to be in the way, but she hoped to smooth over the confrontation before that happened.
“Does she know you’re a killer?” sneered Dirk from the porch. “Does she know how your mama had to mortgage her house just to keep your sorry ass out of prison?”
Showing no reaction to the taunts, Tanner shrugged.“I have no idea what asinine rumors she’s heard from the local lowlifes.”
The complete lack of emotion in his tone alarmed Callie and clearly irritated Dirk. “If I may interrupt,” she said, “it’s getting late and I’d really like to call it a day.” To ensure Tanner knew the dismissal wasn’t for him, she stood at his side and gave all her attention to Dirk and Lang.
Dirk accepted it, loping down the steps, but with caution. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow then.” He glanced at Tanner. “Or maybe not.” Pretending he didn’t care, he backstepped away, keeping Tanner in his sight.
Tanner stood there, his body still tense, his gaze watchful as if he thought the brothers might attack at any moment.
