27. Elodie
TWENTY-SEVEN
ELODIE
Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.
Cal’s words rolled through my mind as a delicious shiver crept up my back. He had surprised me when he’d asked me out on a date, but then again, the entire afternoon had been surreal.
Cal had apologized for his reaction at the Keepers’ meeting. I hadn’t realized how much I needed him to say those words until they were out. It wasn’t that I was surprised Cal was interested in the farm—I knew that—but such a public display against my plans felt so personal .
A part of me was still irritated at him, but the more curious part won out. Cal was so confident I would eventually accept his apology that I was curious to see what other ways he might want to apologize.
It was so on brand for him to just show up, frowning and watching what I was doing, as though he was trying to figure out all the ways in which I was doing it wrong. But then he softened, his hackles lowering until we found a quiet, steady rhythm of working side by side.
Once the planting was completed, he and Levi retreated back to the inn, and I spent the rest of the time cleaning up the trowels and empty planting containers while dodging sidelong glances and snickers from my sister and parents.
My parents had the uncanny knack of seeing the good in everyone, so of course they were already half in love with Callum Blackwood. A strange pressure built beneath my breastbone. I was starting to see it too—not just the good in him, but the quiet steadiness beneath all that gruffness.
Anyone who cared to look would see the way he took care of the people in his orbit without asking for anything in return. It was dangerous, the way he could slip past my guard when I wasn’t paying attention.
Dad had taken Levi under his wing, patting him on the shoulder and showing him the best way to use the square shovel to cut a new walking path into the earth.
It was grueling, sweaty work, but Levi worked hard and my dad, always free with his praise, encouraged Levi every step of the way.
The sullen moody teenager I had met only weeks ago still clung to the edges, but over time Levi was relaxing into a quiet, confident young man.
Despite his mistake, somewhere along the line I had fallen for that kid, and I couldn’t help but smile anytime he came to mind.
I glanced at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. “And now you’ve got a date with his dad,” I said aloud, my excitement growing.
My reflection beamed back at me, eyes bright, cheeks a little flushed—not from nerves, but from something dangerously close to giddiness. I pressed my fingertips against my lips like I could hold it in, but there was no stopping it.
I was excited.
I reveled in the sensations—the way my skin hummed in anticipation, the way my stomach did that ridiculous little swoop. I wasn’t just hoping for a good time with Cal—I was genuinely looking forward to it, and hell if that didn’t make my heart trip over itself.
It wasn’t just the idea of Cal seeing me like this—it was the way I wanted him to see me. To notice.
Anyone could see that Cal Blackwood was the hottest bachelor in Star Harbor.
Sure, he was grumpy and kept to himself, but he was also kind—the type of man who showed up when you needed him, who took care of things without making a show of it, who watched over the people he cared about even when he pretended not to.
A man who spoke with passion but apologized when he was wrong.
His looks might have caught people’s attention, but it was that quiet, unwavering steadiness that held it.
With a sigh, I surveyed my outfit—a simple heather gray V-neck T-shirt cuffed at the sleeves.
The front was tucked into a pair of jeans that made my ass look incredible.
They weren’t exactly work jeans, but I was willing to get them dirty if that meant Cal might also appreciate the way the denim hugged my curves.
My toenails were painted a hot pink, not that I expected Cal to see them—oh hell, who was I kidding? A very large part of me was hoping he might.
I spritzed on a few pumps of the expensive perfume I reserved for special occasions and secured a simple pair of gold studs in my ears. We may be getting dirty, but it was still a date.
Nerves tickled my tummy, and I pressed a palm against it to settle the butterflies, blowing out a steady stream of breath through my pursed lips. Cal had nearly seen me naked already, and we had even spent the night spooning in my bed after the Lantern .
So why the heck was I so nervous?
That was when I realized it wasn’t just about the sex. Yes, I certainly was hoping Cal and I might find ourselves in a tangle of limbs and panting breaths, but what was more, I actually wanted Cal to like me.
I smoothed my hair, twirling a loose, frizzy curl around my finger in hopes of forcing it into shape. When I released it, it sprang back up, doing whatever the hell it wanted.
This pick-me energy was new and unsettling.
Cal had been a thorn in my side, actively cheering for my failure in revitalizing Star Harbor Farm, all for the sake of his precious peace and quiet.
But somewhere along the way, something had shifted.
He wasn’t quite so cantankerous, and more than a few times he had been actually helpful.
Maybe I liked that unexpected and interesting side to Cal, or maybe the bratty side of me liked knowing I had the power to get under his skin and into his head. A low thrum pulsed at my core, and I chuckled to myself.
Yep, that was definitely a part of it.
A hard knock at the front door made me jump and I stifled a yelp, the remainder of my nerves skittering across the floor.
“Coming,” I called out, giving myself one last once-over before hopping toward the door as I stuffed my feet into a fresh pair of socks.
I pulled open the wooden door. “Hi!” I exclaimed on an exhale.
Cal stood at my front door freshly showered and looking like a fantasy come to life.
My eyes started at his scuffed work boots, traveling higher, appreciating how the well-worn denim of his jeans stretched across his thighs.
The hem of his T-shirt covered his tapered hips but flared out with the V of his torso.
The gray material stretched across his chest, and his arms tested the strength of the fabric as his arms flexed beneath it.
My gaze dragged across the column of his throat.
He hadn’t bothered with a fresh shave and my legs pressed together at the thought of that scruff tickling my inner thigh.
When I finally reached his face, his eyes were playful and a smirk teased his lips. “Are you eye fucking me, Darling?” he teased.
A chuckle rumbled out of me. “One thousand percent,” I admitted with a full belly laugh.
His eyes flicked between his shirt and mine. “Nice outfit.”
My shoulders shimmied, noting the nearly identical light-gray colors. “We’re twins.”
I held my hands open to my sides. “Is this what you had in mind?” I asked.
Cal didn’t answer right away. His gaze dragged over me, slow and unhurried, like he was memorizing every inch.
The heat in his eyes sent a shiver rolling down my spine, my skin prickling under the weight of his attention.
His jaw ticced, the muscle there flexing like he was holding something back.
His fingers twitched at his sides, and I had the distinct feeling he wanted to touch me but was using every ounce of restraint not to.
“You’re perfect.” His voice dipped an octave, and I could feel the low timbre hit me in the chest.
A heady thrill at his approval zipped through me. “Let me just throw on my boots, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“I said be ready at six.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s six-oh-three,” I shot back, loving that whatever tension had pulled tight between us didn’t ruin our playful banter .
Cal took a step back, allowing me room to step out of the cottage and pull the front door closed.
He pointed at the door. “Lock up,” he demanded.
I shook my head and turned. “Yes, sir,” I teased.
A firm thwack struck me right in the ass, and I yelped.
“That’s right,” he rumbled in my ear with a playful edge in his voice.
I swallowed a giggle as heat flooded my system.
With a smile, I bent down to slip a foot into one of my green boots.
Cal’s arm reached out and I grabbed it, steadying myself as I tugged on the first boot, then the other.
His forearm flexed under my grip, the muscle jumping slightly, but he didn’t pull away from my touch.
Damn it, why are forearms so hot?
Cal didn’t move and didn’t say a word, but stood there, letting me balance, his jaw tight like he was thinking very, very carefully about something. I straightened, pulling my hand from his arm and tucking a rogue hair behind my ear to try to hide the blush I felt creeping onto my cheeks.
I looked up to see a large 4-wheeler parked in front of the cottage. I looked at Cal in question.
His arm swept wide. “Your chariot, my lady.”
My eyes went wide as my breath hitched. “Can I drive?” I asked, practically bouncing on my toes with excitement.
Cal’s eyes narrowed. “How about I get us to where we’re going first, and then if you’re up for it, you can take it for a joyride.”
I stuck out my hand between us. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
His large palm enclosed mine, warmth crawling from my palm all the way up my arm.
With a delighted squeal, I left Cal standing there and climbed onto the 4-wheeler and patted the seat. “Well, saddle up, cowboy.”