Chapter 2 #3
Callum was talking about food while I was still processing.
I slid off the table, crossing to him before I could stop myself.
He raised an eyebrow, the carton of eggs in one hand, the container of sausage in his other.
The twelve-year-old version of myself would have cheered me on, encouraging what I was about to do.
Something unusual and bold like making the first move.
I went up on my tiptoes but couldn’t reach his face.
Come on, Quinn. You’re resourceful!
Callum shot me a strange look, so I grabbed his face and pulled him close. He still didn’t seem to get what I was doing. Fully committed, I pressed my lips to his. His eyes sparkled before he closed them and kissed me back with fervor.
I told myself that the kiss was nothing more than curiosity, closure on a lifelong crush, something I needed to experience before shutting the door once and for all.
Those were all lies. Artfully fed lies, but lies all the same.
Callum broke away first. He seemed less confused and more intrigued.
That had to be a good sign. He also hadn’t pushed me away.
“Well, now. That was unexpected, sweetheart.”
He set the breakfast items on the counter but I quickly gathered the rest so that I wouldn’t do something silly like kiss him again. Milk, butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and the last remaining slices from the best sourdough loaf in existence. “A good unexpected or a bad one?”
Callum grabbed a bowl cracking the egg in one hand. “Good. Decidedly good. Did I really win you over with one round of discipline?”
“Jerk.”
Callum tsked. “Not an approved pet name,” he said teasingly as he cracked two more eggs and whisked them together with the milk. “If we’re going to be doing this before every meal, then I think we’re crossing into relationship territory.”
His brain jumped to a relationship?
Wait. Could the pages of my diary have suddenly penned reality?
The two of us. Owning Violet Meadows Ranch together. And being together romantically?
I watched him grease the griddle, giving me space to sort out my thoughts. As if he knew the sort of things running full-speed through my brain.
I slowly blinked, trying to grasp the meaning behind what he’d said. I also doubted my butt’s ability to handle a spanking three times a day. I hoped it was an exaggeration, but then again if I kept running my mouth…
“Do you really want a relationship with me? After everything I said about you?”
“I didn’t come here looking for a relationship, but I’m not opposed to one. Not at all. Let me present the facts back to you. You tried to drown me…”
“Your pants,” I corrected.
“...told Glimmer I was nothing more than some city slacker who couldn’t ride a horse…”
“I said city slicker, but maybe you are just a slacker wearing fancy dress shoes.”
“...yet when I told you to bend over the table, twice I might add, you did so immediately. Then you kissed me. Were you trying to endear yourself to me?”
“Obviously.” I snorted while twirling the end of my braid around my finger. My nerves were screaming, and I was seeking something stable underneath all the sass.
“Careful with that tone. My hands are unencumbered since I just flipped the bread.”
“I can speak however I choose. Maybe I didn’t think something through for once,” I said but as a chronic overthinker that was a lie. “If you’re offering a relationship, I guess we owe it to ourselves to try.”
The corner of his mouth twitched as if he was holding back a smirk. “I like things structured, spitfire. I call the shots when I’m in a relationship. Your input is important but ultimately my decisions are final. Are you on board with that?”
“I’m not going to pretend I understand the full scope of the sort of dynamic you’re talking about, but I’ve sort of liked you. For a long time. Probably.”
He had been in the middle of turning the sausages over, and paused, looking over his shoulder. His sleeves were still rolled and the movement caused his forearm to flex. I caught the delicious tension in the muscle before glancing at the very interesting tiles on the kitchen floor.
“Please look at me, Quinn.”
Shrugging seemed easier than addressing whatever emotions were likely playing on his features.
I dropped a huge confession, one that only my diary, my best friends and Glimmer knew about.
I’d been harboring feelings for Callum for years.
I took a deep breath, the yummy smell of cinnamon and vanilla filling my nostrils.
“Please,” he repeated.
“I’m willing to try, Callum,” I finally said, raising my chin.
“I can work with that,” he replied honestly. “All you have to do is mind your sass.”
“And you’ll mind my ass?”
“Naughty little thing,” he chided.
Luckily for me his hands were busy or he probably would have swatted me again.
Callum expertly plated the french toast, two for each of us along with sausage. “While we eat you can tell me what a typical day looks like for you. I’ll share some of the improvements and suggestions that we can implement this week.”
“But I thought you said we weren’t doing a complete overhaul on day one.”
“Well, I’ve been in town a few days now, but I meant in general. You know, the conversation I thought we were going to have this morning and not something much deeper.” Callum handed me a plate.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Glimmer was so going to hear about our morning. I was certain she’d seen it coming long before I did.