Chapter Seven #2
All the thoughts froze in his head when she smiled up at him. Her green eyes seemed to shine; they made her look so... alive.
"You're not mad that I brought you here, are you?"
"Far from it." He reached up to trail his fingers down her cheek.
"I think you already know that I like you, Callie.
I like you a lot. Everything that's happened in the last twenty-four hours has only made me like you more.
So, no, I'm not mad that you brought me here — I'm honored.
And I'm going to say it: I hope this is only the first time that I get to come here. "
His breath caught when she rested her hands in the middle of his chest and rose up on her tiptoes to press a brief kiss to his lips. She rolled her lips together as she stepped back, her eyes still shining as she said, "Ditto."
His heart pounded. This was going way better than he'd hoped. But now he really had to come clean with her.
His shoulders sank when his phone rang.
She raised her eyebrows. "You should get that. It's probably Reaves. You might need to go get him."
He only hesitated for a moment — if Reaves wanted to come see Alara, then he'd fly back for him. No way would he let him down. But damn, the timing could be better.
"Want me to come get you?" he answered, putting the phone on speaker.
"Want? Yeah." Reaves let out a short laugh. "But she said no. She promised me that she's okay. And when I pushed, she admitted that she's not great, but she plans to see a doctor just as soon as she can when they get to Portland."
"Sorry, bud."
"Thanks. Me too. I wanted to let you know so that you guys can get on with whatever you're doing. Are you still with Callie?"
Ollie liked that she called, "Yeah, I'm here," letting Reaves know that she could hear what he was saying.
"Oh, hey, Callie. Listen, I don't suppose..."
Ollie tensed; he thought he knew what was coming — and he was right.
"...there's any chance that you..."
He was grateful to Callie when she saved Reaves from having to ask.
"There's every chance," she told him. "If what you're asking is whether I plan to go check on them again." She smiled at Ollie. "I'll go after I take Ollie back to the airport."
"Right. Sorry, guys. I should let you get on with it. This is only your second date and here I am playing third wheel for half of it and sending you off to do a welfare check to boot."
Ollie chuckled, and Callie said, "It's not like that. We're just hanging out. And I was glad to know that Alara and Zia are here. I'll keep Ollie updated and he can let you know."
"Thanks, Callie. You're a gem."
"No problem."
"I'll call you when I land," Ollie told him.
"Okay. See ya."
He ended the call and decided this was the moment. He had to come clean with her. He looked up, dreading that this might be the last time she was so open with him.
When he met her gaze, she held up a single key and grinned.
"I didn't know if I was going to bring you back here because I didn't know if I was ready to show you my cabin.
But you shared flying with me." She hesitated, seeming to consider her words before she continued.
"And I think you might get it. But no pressure if you don't," she added quickly. "Do you want to come see?"
"I'd love to."
He knew he should tell her, but he justified the delay by telling himself that if she hated him afterward, he'd never get another chance at a glimpse inside her world like this.
He followed her out back, their footsteps crunching across the mossy gravel drive.
The redwoods pressed close here, blocking out most of the sky.
It felt like stepping into a separate world — her world.
Somewhere through the trees, he caught the faint rush of the ocean.
He wondered if she even noticed it anymore.
The little porch creaked when she stepped up onto it, and she gave him a rueful smile.
"This place still needs some work, but I love it."
"I can see why," he told her. And he wasn't lying.
It was rustic, to say the least, but it had character.
She unlocked the door and let them inside, stepping back when he joined her so that he could see.
The kiln was much larger than he'd expected, set in the far corner.
Her wheel sat in the middle of the room underneath a skylight.
Late afternoon light poured through it, catching the dust motes that hung in the air, turning the whole space amber.
There was a comfortable-looking chair set in front of the wheel, with a shawl draped over the back.
Everything seemed much more organized than inside the house.
It still had character, but there was an element of precision about it.
He got the sense that nothing in here was an accident.
He turned to her with a smile. "So, this is where the magic happens."
"Yeah." She nodded. "I didn't think you'd understand it, but seeing you in the cockpit of the plane today, I think you just might."
"I think I do," he agreed.
He wandered around, looking at the tools, all neatly stored in racks, and what had to be her supplies — various boxes and bottles, all meticulously labeled. He appreciated the sense of order.
"What are you thinking?" she asked quietly.
He turned back to her. "That I'm getting my first glimpse at who you really are."
As soon as the words were out, he worried he shouldn't have said them. The irony hit him hard again. But then a slow smile spread across her face.
"Don't look so worried. It's okay. Saying that tells me that you get it." She checked her watch. "I'd love to fire up the wheel and give you a taste of how it feels, but..." She made a face. "There probably isn't time before you need to get back."
He could protest and tell her that he was fine to stay for longer, but if he stayed, he'd have no more excuses not to tell her the truth about who he was.
"Then maybe next time?" he asked.
She nodded happily. "I'd like that. Both for there to be a next time, and to bring you out here when you come." Her smile faded. "And talking about next time, I’m sorry — I never filled you in about Charles, did I?"
"You didn't, but that's okay. I figured he'd call me and let me know what it is that he wants me to do."
"It's just that he wants to buy some of my sunflower glazes. I said I'd deliver them, but he said he might enlist your help."
"That works for me. Maybe we can combine the two — unless you want me to take the glazes back with me tonight?"
"No, that's okay. I'll wait for him to follow up. He didn't commit to buying them yet, so..."
Ollie chuckled. "I want to encourage you and say that Charles is a man of his word. If he said he wanted them, he wants them. If he said he'll buy them, he will. But it goes in my favor to wait. This way I can come back whenever the two of you have struck your deal."
She smiled at that. "I'll look forward to seeing you again."
"Yeah. Me too."
~ ~ ~
When they arrived back at the airport, Callie parked the truck and turned to Ollie with a smile. "I don't know what I expected out of today, but I didn't think it'd be this good."
He leaned closer and beckoned for her to do the same. Her heart skittered in her chest when he hooked his finger under her chin.
"I could say the same. I knew it'd be good, but I didn't know it'd be this good. I'd like to see you again, Callie."
"I'd like to see you too, Ollie."
He chuckled. "Then all we need to figure out is when, right?"
"Right," she agreed.
"Is the rest of your week busy now that you're back?"
"I don't really know yet. I am going to swing by to see Alara and Zia on my way home, and I have a feeling that however the rest of my week goes will depend a lot on them."
"You don't think she's up to making the trip, do you?"
She shook her head slowly. "I don't. And if it comes to it, I'll drive them up there myself."
"Damn. I didn't think of that."
She smiled. "That's okay. You probably didn't think of it because you're more concerned with figuring out how to get them to stay here for Reaves.
I'd love to think there was a way to do that, but I can relate to her situation.
She needs a job. She needs health benefits.
Portland seems like the only way she can get those things, so I'll help her get there. "
She could tell that her words landed heavily on him. He looked thoughtful for a moment before smiling again.
"Can I call you tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Okay. I'll do that." He reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "This is crazy. All I need to do is get out of the truck and walk away." He winked. "Maybe put a swagger in my step and hope you watch my ass as I go."
She laughed out loud at that and slapped his arm. "What makes you think I have any interest in your ass?"
He winked. "Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I guess I'm hoping that the feeling's mutual."
It took her a second to understand what he meant, and when she did, she nodded. She didn't see any reason not to admit it. "I'd say that it is."
"Okay, then kiss me, and I'll go."
She looked up into his eyes. They were the same shade of blue as the ocean on a stormy day, and she was already fully aware that she could drown in them if she wasn't careful.
"I already kissed you," she said with a smile.
He chuckled. "Are you trying to say it's my turn?"
She lifted a shoulder. "It's not that we need to take turns, but I think that—"
Her words were cut off when his lips met hers. It started out tentatively but grew into something else. It wasn't what she'd call a passionate kiss — more of an exploration. As if they were each questioning each other and then reassuring. Inviting, and then getting closer.
By the time he lifted his head, she felt as though they knew each other better than they had before. When he brushed his thumb over her lips and nodded, she knew he felt it too.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow, Miss Callie Clay."
She chuckled. "I look forward to it, Secret King. And don't forget — I want to see you wiggle that ass as you walk away."