Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Quinn
I needed my besties before I talked myself out of a relationship with Callum.
He’d been holed up in Nana’s office off and on since our chat in the kitchen.
Busy with work. I knew that logically but it felt like I wasn’t a priority.
Something I was used to not being. Somehow, with Callum it felt more devastating.
Driving myself over to the bakery, I paused for a moment when I saw the ‘Closed for Lunch’ sign. Well, that never stopped me before. I thought about texting but simply barged in, as per my usual entrance.
Maisie and Mickie were sitting at a small table in the main shop, chatting about something. Oliver leaned casually against the counter sucking on a lollipop like he had nowhere else to be.
“I have something to handle in the back,” Oliver said as soon as he saw me, moving toward the double doors that separated the shop from the kitchen. He had obviously picked up on the tension radiating off me like a beacon. “Let me know if you need anything.”
We watched him go and I commanded my feet to walk across to where my friends sat. I joined them, unsure of where to start. Maisie slid her lunch closer to me, a chicken sandwich from Denver’s Diner. I picked it up and took a few bites, letting my nerves settle. Mickie shared her sprite.
“I guess I look pretty stressed,” I finally said, mumbling around the food.
“Understatement of the year,” Maisie retorted. “What’s happened? Something at the ranch?”
“Yesterday Callum bent me over the kitchen table and spanked me.”
My friends shared a look, incredulous at first then shifted to amusement.
Mickie squinted. “Over Nana’s kitchen table?”
“The very same,” I managed in between bites. I quickly slid the plate back to Maisie before I ate it all. Having a little bit of food in my belly calmed me as much as their presence.
“Was it consensual?” Maisie piped up.
“Yes. Then I kissed him. And he declared that we’re in a relationship. But now I haven’t seen him since. He’s sent me a few paltry excuses–”
“Define. What’s his reasoning?” Mickie played with the heart charm on her necklace.
“Callum is managing a lot of back-end things. Structural integrity. Finances. I guess things that maybe weren’t being handled.
Seems like a convenient excuse,” I said shrugging.
When I said it out loud to my friends it sounded whiny and needy.
Two things I wasn’t on a typical day. Like I needed to see Callum to ground me back into reality so I could function.
That wasn’t fair since I’d been managing just fine without him.
They shared another look. Maybe I was being stubborn and clingy. Seeing things that weren’t there. Callum wasn’t going to implement changes and bounce off. He owned the ranch with me now. It was like, official and shit.
“It sounds like there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes,” Maisie suggested. “I’d reach out to Callum and tell him what you’re feeling. Keeping it all inside is just going to fester.”
“You’re right, but it doesn’t mean it’s that simple.
Nana left us the ranch to co-manage together.
The only way to change ownership after the fact would be for one of us to buy the other one out.
I don’t have the means to do that,” I lamented.
“And honestly I can see how hard he’s working to improve things already. ”
“So, then this is a relationship-only issue?” Mickie waited for me to nod before continuing. “Well the best course of action really is to talk to him. He spanked you. By your account, he’s now your boyfriend. I don’t think Callum would bother with all that if he was going to leave.”
Mickie certainly knew a thing or two about leaving. She’d only recently moved back home. Her boyfriend Sam literally drove to the city, collected her and now they were living in peaceful bliss. It hadn’t started out that way, I reminded myself.
Drumming my fingers on the table, I leaned back against the chair. “I haven’t been in a relationship in so long, maybe I’ve jumped the gun.”
Maisie reached forward and patted my hand. “Don’t rush to a decision based on your gut, Quinn. I know you’ve been taking care of things on your own both personally and professionally for a while. Maybe give Callum a chance to explain before you go off half-cocked and wreck it.”
Damn it. Of course my best friend understood the heart of the matter before I acknowledged it. I hated when Maisie was right, which was more often than not. Stealing a few more bites from her yummy sandwich, I wiped my mouth on a napkin and stood up.
“I’m sorry for wrecking your lunch,” I apologized, though neither of my friends looked the least bit upset.
“You didn’t wreck anything, Quinn,” said Mickie quietly. She stood up and hugged me tightly.
“We love you,” Maisie added, joining our hug.
“Is it safe to come out yet?” Oliver called through the double doors.
We all laughed, breaking up the remaining bit of tension. “Yeah, yeah, I’m leaving!”
Oliver returned to his spot by the counter, leaning casually. “Did you get your advice?”
“I did, and I’ll actually take it for once….” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll talk to him! Okay? I’ll talk to Callum with poise and grace.”
Maisie snorted. “I doubt the last part. Don’t forget to bring him here one day.”
“One day,” I agreed before waving over my shoulder and exiting the shop. They were right as usual. Only Callum could fix the worries bumping around in my head. As long as I told him what was on my mind.
Twenty-six hours since we’d spoken to each other.
Not that I’d been counting. Not that I hadn’t.
It was as if the advice from this morning went in one ear and out the other.
Glancing up from where I’d been washing my beast of a pickup truck I saw Callum on top of a horse.
So much for my assessment that he couldn’t possibly remember how to ride.
From this distance it looked like he’d been doing it every day since he left.
The navy flannel and boots added to his overall handsome appearance rather than detracting from it.
His steady hand rubbed along Cedar’s mane as they trotted to the barn.
Cedar was our mahogany brown Morgan that we used for work around the ranch, and the sight was magnificent.
I focused my attention on the hood like I could get off the scratches that had been there well before I ever set eyes on it. It gave me something to focus on. And for a while it worked.
My thoughts returned to Callum, of course they did. He’d promised a relationship, structure, guidance. We’d discussed my schedule along with his expectations. But then he was absent when I needed him. Callum had texted me a few times, but it wasn’t enough.
Out of my peripheral vision, I saw him striding out of the barn. I schlepped the bucket, rags and sponges around the back end of my truck. Disappointment tempered with anger and feelings of unworthiness came roaring back. It wasn’t all about him, but it was easier to direct it there.
Scrubbing harder, I paid Callum no mind when he approached.
“Hey, spitfire.”
“What’s up, Versace?” The irritation I’d been holding on to seasoned my tone and it wasn’t pleasant. That I called him the nickname he hated should have given him a peek into my mood.
“Be very careful how you address me, sweetheart.”
“Uh-huh. What do you want?” I kept my eyes on the truck rather than on him.
“We’ve both been busy and haven’t had a chance to unwind. Let me cook chicken parmesan for you tonight. I grabbed garlic knots. I’ll roast some broccoli. Then maybe you’ll indulge in an after-dinner liquor on the porch, watching fireflies while all cuddled up with me?”
It sounded like a perfect evening. Better than anything else I could have imagined given our lack of communication. I continued washing the truck. Scrubbing away imaginary dirt instead of responding to his date-night plan.
“Ignoring me, sweetheart? Bold choice.”
Oh. I’d show him a bold choice.
As if I wasn’t rattled by the hint of a threat in his voice, I dipped the sponge in the bucket, holding it long enough to absorb a decent amount of water.
Straightening, I gave him innocent eyes before smushing it directly against his chest. Callum glanced down at the white t-shirt underneath the flannel which was quickly becoming a wet t-shirt.
He waited a beat, his gorgeous brown eyes darkening as he cocked an eyebrow.
“If you wanted to see me wet and soapy, babygirl, you could have asked.”
“Twenty-six hours. Not one word. Did you forget about everything we’ve discussed this week? It’s hard to have a relationship if you’re too busy to make me a priority.”
He grabbed me around the waist pressing me into the sponge that I hadn’t dropped yet, dousing my shirt too. “Watch your tone, little girl. I sent you voice texts. I certainly didn’t choose to be stuck under a mountain of paperwork. I’m sorry things came up that kept me away from you.”
If I wasn’t already thrown by the wetness seeping through my shirt and into my bra his calling me ‘little girl’ disarmed me completely.
I was wholly out of my element, my resolve unraveling faster than a fraying rope in my hands.
Pulling away from him, I chucked the sponge into the bucket.
I had a moment to contemplate my next move, choosing to peel off my t-shirt, leaving me in just my jeans and boots.
Callum shook his head, taking in all of me. His gaze flicked down my body then slowly returned to my eyes. I popped my hands on my hips, preparing to battle.
He stepped to my feet, grabbing me around the waist again and hauling me over his shoulder like a sack of feed.
Protesting, I beat my fists into his back, not hard enough to hurt but enough to show my displeasure.
He’d taken the wind out of my sails, and I wasn’t ready to give in.
I was upset not only with his choices but also with my own.
It wasn’t entirely rational but I’d been in battle mode.
Callum spun on his heels, heading to the main house.