Page 58 of Let Me Be the One
He wouldn’t mind rubbing… No. Better to ban that thought.
“Like I said, I had my own place. When there wasn’t a dinner meeting, I usually picked up something, but in a pinch I could grill a cheese sandwich, or fry an egg and bacon, and you already know my love of all things sugary.” She lifted her shoulders. “So cleanup was a necessity.”
“Well, you look great doing it.” Doinganything, really. He’d always thought so. Being dressed down and “roughing it” it was no different.
“Oh, fun. I’m glad to hear it because that will be part of my video podcast series. How to look good while working with chickens. Or goats. Or weeding the garden.” She flagged a hand in the air. “Basically, how to feel good about yourself no matter what. It’s catchy, don’t you think?”
He didn’t want to think about her shooting videos of herself and sharing it with the world, so he switched topics on her by saying, “I think you smell indescribable.” He brushed his nose along the side of her neck and the slope of her shoulder, a little amazed that he was here with Callie McCallahan, flirting, touching, and kissing in what used to be Reggie’s cluttered kitchen. “I always knew you’d smell this good.”
She leaned into him, even tilted her head a little to make it easier for his mouth to explore. “Tanner?”
“Hmm?” Her ears were small, each with double piercings, but currently without earrings.
Lacing her fingers over his, she kept his hands at her stomach. Not that he was moving them, but now she’d locked him in place—unless he forcefully pulled away. “I don’t want you to give a single thought to anything Dirk or Lang might say to me.”
Automatically, he started to step back—then he realized why she held on to him. “They’re assholes. I never pay attention to them.”
“Be that as it may,” she said, her tone proper enough to defuse his reaction, “I wanted you to know that I put no stock in what I hear, unless I hear it from you.”
Well hell. Did that mean she trusted him? Completely trusted him? Already?
Awful rumors had always been his curse, tainting the judgment of others before they’d even met him. Now Callie had heard them, but discounted them, and it left him feeling primed.
She turned in his arms and smiled up at him. “I haven’t been here that long. You owe me nothing, not defense against other pesky neighbors, and definitely not explanations that you aren’t ready to share.” Kissing him quick and firm on the mouth, she added, “I plan to be a no-pressure neighbor, as long as you understand that I already like you. A lot. In many ways.” And with that, she said, “Oh look, Blu came to check on us.”
Which was her way of saying their visit was over. Sure enough, Blu was there, but typical of the dog, he hadn’t made a sound. When he wanted, Blu could be as stealthy as a ninja.
Tanner stepped back. “Wedge a chair under each door, and call me if anything spooks you.”
“My, my,” she teased, looping her arm with his and walking him back to the living room. “You are the absolute best, most attentive and caring neighbor ever—especially for one who would rather see me packing up to leave.”
Caught in his own mixed messaging, he made a sound, half laugh and half growl.
“I see your concern as yet another reason for me to want to stay. Permanently.”
* * *
THAT BIT ABOUTTanner being a murderer and how Addie had to mortgage her house played over and over in Callie’s mind as she got through her morning and early afternoon chores. Had someone accused him of murdering his father? At thirteen? Absurd.
Although, given the abuse she suspected he’d suffered…No. She refused to imagine awful scenarios. She trusted Tanner, so unless someone told her something concrete, she’d do him the courtesy of ignoring accusations.
After she showered and changed into a cute halter and shorts, she and Glory did a quick makeup video. In the backyard. With curious chickens meandering into the frame and the goats putting in a few cameos.
Glory had a much better eye for lighting and background, and she occasionally prompted Callie on which way to turn, or how to tilt her face.
Throughout the video, Callie teased about the country life, the fresh air, the importance of sunscreen—at Glory’s insistence—and how invigorating it was to be her own boss. She ended it with a double coat ofmascara, batting her eyelashes at the camera and teasing that soon they’d be weeding the garden, and how fun would that be?
Even Glory laughed, though she covered her mouth to muffle the sound.
All in all, Callie was pleased with her performance and she trusted Glory to edit it in a way that would make it more interesting.
While Glory got more footage of the yard and the animals, Callie forced herself not to check the time. She’d already done so, repeatedly, but Tanner hadn’t specified exactly when he’d be by other than later afternoon, and counting off the minutes wouldn’t make it happen any sooner.
Glory said, “I’m heading inside now. I want to do some editing while my ideas are fresh. Do you need anything before I get started?”
“Nope.” Callie knew that once her cousin dug in, she’d be involved for an hour or more. “I’m good, so take your time. And thanks.”
“It’s going to be great.” With that, Glory went into the house. Her laptop, which contained her editing programs, was set up in the bedroom on a folding table they’d located in the spare bedroom. She’d use a kitchen chair until Callie could get new furniture, which would include a desk and office chair.
