Page 87 of Let Me Be the One
Her parents. A bucket of ice water to the face wouldn’t have shocked her more.
CHAPTER TWELVE
SEEING HER MOMand dad standing there in the humid morning air took the strength from Callie’s knees. Bracing herself, she wheezed in a big breath that, admittedly, sounded more like a horrified gasp.
In complete silence, her thoughts going everywhere all at once with a tinge of panic, she gaped at them.
Grinning hugely, her dad stepped in and enfolded her in a big, warm hug. “Sweetheart, you had us worried.”
“Worried,” she squeaked, supremely aware of big, bold, shirtless Tanner standing right behind her.
“Your mother texted and called repeatedly, but you didn’t answer.”
She’d forgotten all about her phone! “Oh, um…” He set her back, his congenial smile still in place as his gaze moved over her. “Look at you. My little country girl,” he teased. “You look cute as hell.”
At least her dad seemed happy to see her.
Tanner remained silent.
The sound her mother made, exasperated and impatient to be invited in, brought Callie back to reality with a snap and she started rambling. “We had a big storm last night. I lost power. My phone was ready to die when I went to bed, but I couldn’t recharge it and I guess I slept late, then didn’t give my phone a thought because I needed coffee so badly. Luckily, the powerhad come back on—as you can see. I mean, I do have coffee now.” Forcing herself tostop, she opened the door wider and stepped aside to welcome them. More calmly, she said, “I’m sorry that I worried you.”
Staring past her, her mother zeroed in on Tanner. “Who is your undressed guest, Callie? And why is he carrying muddy boots?”
Liz McCallahan didn’t exactly say it in accusation, more like curious confusion. She, too, gave Callie a brief hug, very brief, in fact, using only one arm, because her gaze stayed glued to Tanner.
Not that Callie blamed her. A woman at any age would appreciate the sight of him. Most guys, too. No way around it, Tanner was impressive.
But how in the world should she introduce him?Oh, hey, this is the hot guy next door who just rocked my world. I learned things about sex I’d never suspected. Naturally, I want more.
No, definitely not. “Um, Tanner, is a neighbor.”
Her mother’s perfectly arched eyebrows lifted in a respectful demand for more detail.
Tanner, thankfully, covered for her. “Tanner Patrick.” He held out his free hand to her father, and then her mother. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. McCallahan. I remember you both from my school days.”
His smile was perfectly polite, but not very warm—at least, not to Callie, who’d seen him genuinely amused. Her parents seemed to buy it, though.
“Oh?” Frank McCallahan said. “You’re from here?”
“I’ve never lived anywhere else. As Callie said, I’m in the house next door.”
“The tree farm?” Liz asked.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s been years, I know, but you mightremember how many houses lose power during a storm. Since Callie is new here, I checked on her. With all the rain, though, my boots got muddy walking over.”
Glancing at the porch behind her, Liz asked, “You didn’t just leave them on the porch?”
“Came to the back door, ma’am. There’s a path that cuts through both properties.” Tanner glanced at Callie. “I was just leaving though.”
Damn it, she didn’t want him to leave like this.
“Through the front door now?” her mother asked with a small provoking smile.
Callie finally recouped enough to say, “Mother! Stop badgering him.” She could have explained the true situation to her parents, but she didn’t want to involve Tanner in family drama—and she was fairly certain there would be drama aplenty. “He walked to the front door with me because you knocked.”
Not the least bit deterred, Liz said, “Just sorting it out, Callie. We’re here to talk about Sutter, after all, so finding a near naked man was a bit of a surprise.”
Callie’s mouth fell open, but she took a second too long to find words.
