Page 88 of Let Me Be the One
“And,” her mother smoothly continued, “since you didn’t do a proper introduction, I’ll tell Mr. Patrick that I’m Liz McCallahan, and my husband is Frank.”
He nodded. “Feel free to call me Tanner.”
Smiling, her father said, “Nice to meet you, Tanner. Hope we didn’t interrupt?”
“Frank,” her mother chided. “She’s engaged.”
Blanching, Callie corrected, “No. I’m most definitely not.”
“Well, that will get sorted out during our visit, I’m sure.” Liz wandered in, dismissing Tanner. “I haven’tbeen here in years. I’d nearly forgotten Reggie’s house, though it hasn’t actually changed much.”
Yes, Callie wanted to say, it has.Because now I live here. But she’d just acknowledged to herself in the kitchen that other than being clean, nothing had changed all that much.
Disturbed by that thought, she instead focused on Tanner. “Thank you again. I’d have been lost without you.” Sleepless too. And still edgy, though he’d taken care of all of that and now she felt almost liquid with satisfaction.
Or rather, she would have if she knew where they were going with this and if she didn’t have her parents and their unexpected visit to contend with.
Tanner gave her a very neighborly nod. “Any problems, just let me know.”
Such a lackluster goodbye. Frustration mounting, she said, “I’ll walk you out.” She could steal one minute more with him—
“No need.” He nodded at her parents again. “I’ll let you get back to your visit.” He stepped out, shoved his feet into his boots and walked away.
Pretty sure he just took her heart with him. Who knew a heart could get attached that quickly? It never had before. She wasn’t the type to get clingy. Except with Tanner, she was discovering new things about herself. She wasn’t at all sure she liked this new, encompassing need. Or maybe she liked ittoomuch.
Closing her door, she turned back to her parents. Only they weren’t there.
Dear heavens, if they went through the house they’d see the discarded clothes in the bathroom, the messy bed…
From the kitchen, her mother said, “We’re helping ourselves to coffee.”
Oh, thank God! “Go ahead, Mom. I’ll be right there.”
Darting for the bathroom, Callie decided she’d put her house to rights before she joined her parents. That would also give her a little time to gear up for whatever they had planned.
First, she gathered up an armload of clothes and stuffed them into the hamper. With Tanner’s jeans included, they barely fit. Hmm. She could wash them, then return them with Addie’s dishes. That would give her an excuse to…
No, no making excuses to see him. The next move would be his.
So why did that decision feel so awful?
She knew why. There were no guarantees with Tanner. She could see him tonight, or weeks could go by without a word. So far, nothing with him had been predictable.
Even the sex had taken her by surprise.
But liking him? Laughing with him, enjoying him? Yes, far, far too easy.
Growling at herself, she went to her bedroom and quickly tidied up the room. She even fluffed the pillows and spread out the comforter. There. No one would know they’d slept together—in any context.
Except that the room still held Tanner’s scent, and it made her want to crawl back into the bed, press her nose to the pillow and think about…
Pivoting away from temptation, she strode through the hall and to the kitchen. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Her father stood on the back porch, breathing deeply of the morning air, but her mother was braced against acounter, her expression thoughtful as she stared at the mugs on the table.
Let her stare, Callie decided. So she’d enjoyed a mug of coffee with her neighbor? Big deal. She was allowed. “I’ll need to head out to take care of the goats and chickens.”
Her mother ignored that to say, “Sutter is coming by, too. I thought we’d all talk.”
