Chapter 15 Callie
Callie
I’m still thinking about the way River’s warm fingers were wrapped around mine as we pull up to the curb outside the townhouse. The moment he cuts the engine, I slip from the truck and open the door to get Nora. It’s only then I realize she’s fallen asleep.
River stops by my side, his gaze settling on her.
His expression turns tender. “How is it possible that she’s even more adorable when she’s asleep?”
I snort as a smile tugs at my lips. “No clue. But I do know she’s a total tornado when she’s awake, and she’s starting to outgrow her naps. I was hoping for at least another six months.”
He shifts slightly. “Should we wait until she wakes up, or do I try to lift her out now?”
“Let’s give it a shot. I’m sure you want to get the bed inside and set up. You’ve probably got plans for this evening.”
“Nope. None.” His eyes meet mine. “I’m all yours for as long as you want.”
I falter on a sharp inhale, searching my brain for a response.
But there’s nothing. I’m totally blank.
I force out a cough to steady myself. “You should probably get her.”
He gives me a lopsided smile before unlatching the harness and lifting it over Nora’s shoulders, trying to make room to maneuver.
Nora shifts but doesn’t wake. At least, not yet.
He carefully slips his hands under her arms and eases her from the seat.
As soon as her limp body is free, he pulls her against his chest and holds her close so that her head is tucked beneath his chin.
Seeing my daughter nestled against this man does funny things to my insides. Other than the help my parents provide by babysitting, this is the first time in years I haven’t felt like I had to do something alone.
As we head up the walkway to the townhouse, River says, “Looks like there’s something taped to the door.”
I blink out of my thoughts. “Huh?”
He nods toward it, and that’s when I see the envelope. Bright white with my name and address typed out on the front. It looks official. A vise grips my insides.
Is it from the bank about the late loan payments?
They wouldn’t actually come to my home on a weekend, would they?
My footsteps falter as dread pools within me. I’m scared to find out what’s waiting inside. I already know that whatever it is won’t be good.
With River looking on, I force myself to reach out and carefully rip it from the door. My fingers tremble as I open and scan the contents. I frown and reread it for a second time, trying to make sense of the paragraphs. Without warning, it feels like my world has been upended.
“Is everything okay?” River asks from behind me with Nora still sleeping in his arms.
Notice of Rent Increase: $500.00 effective next month.
The words blur on the paper.
Five hundred dollars.
I’m silently reeling at that number.
Even with the dessert order for Beau’s restaurants, it’s not going to be enough to cover all my expenses. No matter how hard I work, something always comes along and eats away at my savings.
It’s exhausting.
How much longer can I continue to do this?
I’m like a hamster on a constantly spinning wheel.
What’s frightening is the realization that I’m only one disaster away from losing everything.
A sound that’s caught between a laugh and a sob tears from me. “My rent is being increased by five hundred dollars,” I whisper as the paper flutters in my hand. “The landlord isn’t even giving me a thirty-day notice.”
I don’t realize tears are rolling down my cheeks until River’s hand is at the small of my back. “I’m sure there’s a way to fight it. At least for a full thirty or sixty days. What he’s doing has to be illegal.”
I shake my head. “I’ve heard from a few of the neighbors that he wants to sell the place to a developer. And jacking up the rent is one way to force me out.”
He takes a step closer. “What if I could offer you a solution?”
I glance at him as my brain somersaults. “A solution?”
There’s a beat of silence as his blue eyes sear into mine. “Move in with me.”
My brow furrows.
There’s no way I heard him correctly.
“You and Nora can stay with me,” he repeats. “There wouldn’t be any rent. No stress. I can help out with her. You won’t have to do this all on your own.”
He can’t possibly mean it.
I shake my head and search his face. “Why would you offer that?”
His expression never wavers. “Do you want the truth? Or a version that’s easier to swallow?”
My pulse stutters. “The truth.”
His steady gaze stays locked on mine. “I’ve wanted you for years, Callie.
Not just in passing or as a fantasy. I’ve wanted you.
The real you. The you who bakes when she’s stressed and bites her lip when she’s overthinking.
The you who built a life for her daughter with no one’s help.
You walked into my world and blew apart every plan I had.
And it feels like I’ve been waiting for my shot ever since. ”
The force of his words slams into me, stealing every thought, every defense I thought I had.
When I remain silent, unsure how to respond, he reaches out until his hand cups my cheek. His thumb brushes just beneath my eye.
“I’ve felt this way since the first time Zane introduced us,” he says quietly.
“It was after a game. Some club downtown. You walked in wearing this black dress and strappy heels, and I swear, the whole damn room disappeared. I couldn’t stop looking at you.
” His tone turns rough. “At the time, I considered Zane my friend. But seeing you at his side? Watching the way you stared at him? I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone more.
And I’ve been secretly coveting what he never appreciated ever since. ”
I can’t catch my breath.
Every word leaves me spinning.
“You have?”
He nods once. “The entire time.”
I shift, my eyes searching his for any sign of hesitation, any crack in his sincerity. I’ve been wrong before, and I don’t want to take a chance on being wrong again.
One question rises to the surface. One that’s too heavy to ignore. “What do you want in return?”
He doesn’t flinch or look away. “I want you in my bed. And when you’re ready to give yourself to me, I want that too. But what I want goes so much deeper.” There’s a pause. “I want all of you, Callie. Every messy, complicated, brilliant part.”
Just like that, the air vanishes from my lungs.
I have no idea how to respond.
My brain is screaming at me to run away, but what choice do I have?
I need a safe place for Nora.
If it were just me, I could figure something else out.
My gaze flicks from his face to my daughter, who is still slumbering in his arms. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that part of me wants to tell him to go to hell. I’ve spent years fighting on my own, and I can continue to do it.
But my heart…
It’s so damn tired of standing alone.
Of continually swimming upstream.
My shoulders collapse as that last thought rings in my head. “Do I even have a choice?”
He leans in, his hand sliding to curve gently around the back of my neck, anchoring me in place. “There’s always a choice, Callie. One is to keep doing it all on your own.” His gaze drops to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “The other is to let me help you.”
“For a price,” I murmur, needing to speak the truth aloud.
He lowers his head, lips brushing the shell of my ear. “I promise it won’t be one you’ll mind paying.”
His voice is low.
Confident.
Intimate.
And just like that, a shiver sizzles through me, setting every nerve ending on fire.
I search his face, every shadow and line, but can’t find a single reason to say no.
If I’m being honest with myself, part of me doesn’t want to.
There’s no way this respite will last long.
River watched Nora once for a few hours before bedtime.
He has no idea what living with a toddler 24/7 is like.
After a week or two, day in and day out, his tune will change.
If I’m lucky, it’ll last a month. Just enough time for me to figure out a permanent living situation.
“Okay,” I whisper.
Relief flashes across his face along with something else.
Something I wasn’t prepared for.
Possessiveness.
Almost as if now that I’ve said yes, he has no intention of ever letting me go.
I have to remind myself that I’ve seen that look before.
Zane wore it in the beginning too.
This time around, I’m older.
Wiser.
I won’t be fooled by pretty words wrapped up in nothing more than empty promises.
“When does this arrangement begin?” I ask.
“Right now. Go inside and pack what you and Nora need for the next few days. I’ll hire a moving company to get the rest on Monday.”
A jolt runs through me at how fast this is happening, and I hesitate. “Are you sure about this, River?”
“I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.”
I force out the next question. “What about Zane? He’s your friend and teammate. Won’t this cause problems?”
He swallows up the remaining distance between us until he’s close enough for me to feel the gentle press of Nora against my chest.
“Zane and I haven’t been friends for a long time,” he says in a low tone. “I’ve spent years waiting patiently for you. And now I’m done waiting.”
His words send an undeniable thrill shooting through me.
In this moment, I can’t tell if I’ve just made the best decision of my life…
Or one that will shatter me completely.