Page 92 of Let Me Be the One
Another whine. Sure sounded like agreement to Tanner.
Since Sutter pulled into the line of cars waiting for the train tracks to clear, it made sense that he was headed that way. “Her parents want them back together.” Why did they want her to tie herself to the jerk?
Finally, the caboose went past and moments later, the gate arms lifted. Tanner finished the drive with his common sense warring against his basic urges. Realistically, he knew he couldn’t pull up to Callie’s house and wait for Sutter to arrive, just to tell the prick to leave.
For one thing, Callie could be embarrassed with the scene he’d cause, especially if her parents were still around to witness it.
For another, she’d be severely pissed. He’d figured that out this morning when he’d started to answer the door for her. Good thing she’d stepped past him too, since it was her parents knocking.
Her father, Frank, had barely changed from what Tanner remembered a decade ago. Maybe he had a little silver in his hair now, but the man was still tall, lean, friendly to everyone he encountered. Seemed to Tanner that her father had summed up the situation in a single glance. Oddly, Mr. McCallahan had been more amused than affronted by Tanner’s presence so early in the morning, and wearing no more than jeans.
At least he’d buttoned up and zipped at that point.
Tanner half grinned with cynicism, recalling the expression on Mrs. McCallahan’s face when her gaze had landed on him. Not that she’d been rude. She was too much the polished businesswoman to ever lower herself to outright rudeness.
In some ways, she reminded him of Callie, especially in her coloring. Her hair, similar to a shade of Callie’s but lightened with salon effects, was shorter and framed her face in a fancy style. Her tailored clothes looked crisp and uncomfortable to him. Her astute gaze missed nothing.
In a single glance, she’d made note of him standing there, no shirt or socks. Not for a second did Tanner believe she’d been fooled with the “neighbor checking on neighbor” story he’d pulled out of thin air, but finding him there hadn’t fit her agenda so she’d dismissed him as unimportant.
In the end, would Callie do the same?
He just didn’t know. Until they settled a few things—if there was anything to settle—Tanner decided he’d be cautious.
Instead of pulling down his driveway, he paused in front, his right forearm resting over the steering wheel as he watched the side mirror. Blu leaned over the seat to snuffle his ear, requiring him to lift a shoulder and laugh. “Hold on, buddy. I just want to see what happens. I’ll let you out in a sec.”
Less than half a minute later, Sutter went past and pulled into Callie’s driveway. Tanner was weighing what he wanted to do with what he knew he should do when Liam pulled up beside him in the older Buick.
Rolling down the window, Tanner asked, “Boss didn’t need you today?” He worried endlessly that Liam might somehow lose the job he loved to someone more experienced.
“It was too muddy to do much on the site, so he let me off early,” Liam said. “Since I had free time, I figured I’d come by to see if Callie had any damage.”
A perfect solution. “I’m sure she can use you.” He glanced back to Callie’s now full driveway. “Park on the street. She has company.”
Liam frowned. “Maybe I should’ve checked with her first.”
“No, you made the right call. Just give her the option to see what she thinks.” He was betting Callie would keep him around. “If she doesn’t need you, let me know.”
“You need a hand with something?” Liam immediately asked. “I’m always willing. I owe you.”
“No, you don’t.” He and Liam had been through thismany times. “But I appreciate the offer.” Mostly, he wanted to grill Liam to see how things were going. “Her parents dropped in on her and now her ex is here. She could probably use a friendly face right about now.”
One brow lifted, making Liam appear far more mature than his nineteen years. “A friendly face other than yours?”
“Exactly.” Then he thought to add, “Though if you think she needs me, send me a text.”
Liam cracked a grin. “Will do.” With a quick wave, he pulled up to Callie’s and parked at the curb.
Tanner wanted to linger, but he was layered in sweat and Blu was restless. It was time to put Callie from his mind—or at least, to function properly while thinking of her nonstop.
* * *
WHILE HER MOTHERdroned on and on, Callie silently counted things she’d rather be doing. She was up to about a hundred. Clean out the gutters again? Sure. Play with the goats? Definitely. Sweat off a few pounds weeding the garden? Right now, even that tree she’d climbed was starting to sound like heaven.
With a glance to the window, she wondered what Tanner was up to.
“Callie! Are you even listening to me?”
No. “I’m sorry, Mom,” Callie said for the tenth time. “I really am.”
