Page 63 of Let Me Be the One
Callie still looked wounded with guilt.
“Hey. Phones work both ways. He could have called as easily as you could have.” To keep from consoling her—with a hug, or a kiss…maybe more—Tanner headed back to the garage.
“Who taught him to drive?” she asked, hustling to keep up with his long-legged stride.
“I did.”
As if she’d already known the answer, she looped her arm through his in an awkward still-walking hug. “That’s what I figured.”
Scrubbing a hand over his mouth didn’t lessen the need to kiss that smile off of her beautiful face. He stopped outside the garage. “Do you think it’s a good idea for you to stay here alone?”
“Yes,” she replied immediately. “It’s a great idea.” Almost daring him to disagree, she stated, “It’s my home, after all.”
For now, he reminded himself. “Sounded to me like your folks are expecting something different.”
“When it comes to me, they usually do.” Her sigh held not a hint of real regret. “In one way or another, I’ve been a disappointment to them my entire life.”
“No way.”
“Sadly true—not that I’m all that broke up about it, really. They have expectations but most of them are based on me being someone I’m not.”
Tanner crossed his arms. “I remember you as a straight-A student.”
“That was me. I’m still an overachiever.” Holding out her arms, she encompassed the property. “Now I choose to overachieve here, with my goats and chickens.”
“And a horse you haven’t met yet.”
She tucked back a loose wisp of hair. “Yeah, I need to do that, I guess.” Tapping her head, she said, “Adding it to my ever-growing list.”
Whether she was trying or not, she charmed him. Always had. Back then it had been her looks, her smile, and her overall upbeat attitude. Now it was more about what she physically took on and her iron resolve that affected him.
Plus, yes, she was still gorgeous. “I remember you being a cheerleader, too.”
“Now I’m cheering you. And Liam. Probably Nell too, if I ever get to meet her.” She tilted her head back, eyes closed, and drew in a deep breath. “Me, too, I guess.” Opening her eyes again, she met his gaze and grinned. “I’m cheering myself on because I’m going to make this work.”
His huff of exasperation sounded more like a laugh. Made sense, because her happiness was contagious. “So good grades, cheerleading, always polite—how are you not meeting mommy and daddy’s expectations?”
“That was high school. Wasn’t really different in college though. If I do something, I want to do it right. Except I don’t want to marry Sutter. I don’t care about uniting the businesses. I don’t really care about the pampered life I had. I mean, wait, Isort ofdo. Like I still want my leisurely soaks in a jetted tub every so often.”
He did not need to hear that. Or imagine it.
“And I love the occasional salon trip. Facial, pedi, maybe a massage.”
Nope. He propped his tingling hands on his hips and pretended impatience.
“I love good food. Well, all food, I guess.” Wrinkling her nose, she patted her hips with both hands. “I often have a big appetite.”
Insinuating it showed? He could tell her that her ass was perfect, but he wouldn’t. “So the big conflict is…what? You don’t want to work for them? You didn’t like your job?”
“Correct on both counts. Plus I’m sick of bossy men who see me as arm candy because my dad is important, but they don’t really seeme.”
Scoffing, Tanner said, “There’s not a hetero man alive who doesn’tseeyou.”
“I doubt that’s true, but if it was, then maybe it’s in how they see me. Clearly, Sutter sees me as a connection. That’s all.”
He couldn’t argue that one. It was downright bizarre how Sutter had plowed right past her objections as if she hadn’t spoken. “He’s a rare breed of fool, that’s all.”
“You heard him, Tanner. You saw how he is. Do you have any idea how humiliating that is? I swore after college that I’d never again let a guy take advantage of me, and then Sutter came along and my parents liked him, and—”
