Chapter Six
It was two days later, a day after the town’s power came back on, when Cal suggested they visit the local bank.
The key with the red ribbon attached sat in the console between Deanna and Cal in his truck.
She glanced across at him from the passenger seat and smiled as he turned into the main street.
They had spent their time wisely, in Deanna’s opinion, making good use of Cal’s bed and shower and generally getting to know one another a lot better.
Christmas Eve had been spent drinking wine by the fire, and they stayed up far too late playing Uno.
That was only partly a euphemism. Deanna had woken Cal on Christmas morning with what he called her seductress moves.
For lunch, they’d roasted a chicken and potatoes and eaten a gorgeous chocolate mousse.
Later, they’d stayed in together as the snow didn’t stop falling.
She now knew that Cal liked it when she clung to his shoulders when he kissed her, digging her nails in a little.
Cal had learned that Deanna was helpless to resist him when his voice was low and growly and he called her ‘sweetheart’.
Actually, she was helpless to resist him, in general.
The way she felt about him…suffice to say, she had warm and fuzzy feelings. She hadn’t named those feelings aloud, but they were there, making her cheeks burn and her skin tingle in unmentionable places. She never wanted to leave his side.
“We should see if the bakery has reopened, after we go to the bank,” Cal said as he reversed into a spot in the parking lot behind a small market. “They have the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever tasted.”
Deanna shot him a sideways glance. “I do love a good cinnamon roll.”
Cal snorted as he killed the truck’s engine.
Cal seemed to like driving her around. He’d taken her to meet the tow truck yesterday. Her hire car had been picked up by the rental company, and they had refunded her more than half the cost and offered to pay for a replacement car. She’d declined the car but took a voucher.
So far, neither she nor Cal had raised the idea of him driving her to the airport or anywhere else. When he’d asked if she wanted to go home with him, she’d grinned and said yes. Then he kissed her, right there in the middle of the road.
Now, Deanna reached out and placed her hand over Cal’s on the steering wheel. He seemed to be stuck, having trouble getting moving. “Are you worried about what your dad left you in the safe deposit box?”
Cal turned to her, one thick eyebrow raised. “Yes and no. He forgot about it, so it can’t be that important. It’s the fact that he left me anything. He’s gone, yet not gone. But you get it, after that package from your mother.”
“Yes, it’s strange but also nice to still have a connection.”
Cal smiled at her, the subtle, sexy smile she was coming to think of as hers. “Yeah. Okay, let’s do this.” He nodded, seeming to talk himself into it, and they both got out of the truck into the freezing wind.
Deanna wrapped her coat tighter across her middle and stuffed her gloved hands in the pockets. She jogged across the parking lot, following Cal. They entered the bank via a back door, into an alcove. Metal safe deposit boxes covered one wall, numbers printed on the right-hand side of each box.
“179. Here we are.” Cal walked up to his numbered box, then pulled the key from his coat pocket.
Deanna stood by his side not saying a word.
Cal removed his gloves and slid the key into the lock, turning it until they heard a click. Then he opened the door and reached inside for the removable metal box. He placed it down on a nearby table, obviously there for that purpose.
When Cal opened the hinged lid, Deanna leaned over to see what was inside. It was a cardboard cylinder, the type you stored documents in. Cal pulled it open too and slid out a rolled-up sheet of paper.
Cal unrolled it to reveal an architectural drawing. Spreading it out on the table, he stared at it, his forehead creased. Deanna’s gaze connected with his.
She ran a finger over the lines in the drawing. The building in the plans looked familiar. “Is that the original plan for the lodge?”
“I don’t think so. Judging by the date, it’s a plan for an upgraded, larger lodge. More ensuite cabins out the back, a sunroom extension for a cafe, and here,” he pointed at the area on the right of the page, “is a separate building with an indoor pool and sauna.”
“Oooh, that would be fantastic.”
Cal tapped the plan. “Yes, it would be a drawcard for visitors and probably bring in more income in the long term.” He sighed, and it was a defeated sound.
“What’s the matter?” Deanna asked the question warily. She had her suspicions.
He shook his head and straightened up. “There’s no way I can afford this kind of project.”
Exactly as she suspected. If Cal couldn’t afford new backup generators, it was unlikely he could pay for a major renovation.
But I can.
An excited yelp rose from her throat.
“Cal, you know how my mum left me a share of the lodge. Well, she also left me some money—”
“No.” Cal crossed his arms. “I won’t take your charity.”
Deanna reached out and stroked his jaw, feeling the rough stubble under her fingers where he hadn’t shaved. “What? No, you don’t understand. It’s not charity, it's my new business opportunity. Our new business opportunity.”
Cal stared at her, his lips parted, apparently at a loss. “I can’t let you spend your money on my business. What if it’s an abject failure?”
“First of all, it’s our business now. You're forgetting I’m already an investor. It’s in my interests to make this a success.”
“Hmmph.” The growly, monosyllabic version of Cal was back. “You can’t tie yourself to me when you should be flying around the world. I don’t want to hold you back.”
Her heart thudded wildly beneath her breasts. Cal didn’t say no, even if he was trying to talk her out of her own decision. Well, he was too late.
“Oh, Cal. I’d already decided to quit my job with the airline. Do you know they wouldn’t give me time off when Mum was diagnosed as terminal? I had to keep flying back and forth to spend time with her in my little windows of downtime. I’m done with flying.”
Cal grunted. He obviously wasn’t convinced
Deanna reached around his neck, wrapping both her hands around him. “I’ve also decided to stay with you. If you’ll have me.”
Now he groaned, and mumbled something under his breath that sounded like, ‘I’ll have you, bloody hell.’
She grinned as she reached up on her tiptoes to kiss him. Just once, gently. “You’re a beautiful man, did you know that?”
“Deanna, don’t make me fight you when I want to take you home to bed. You’re the beauty here.”
He pulled her tight against his body and kissed the breath right out of her, while papers and plans drifted to the floor.
When she pulled back to meet Cal’s gaze, she giggled. “I’m going to let you win tonight. But only because I’m in love with you.”
Cal beamed at her. “Oh Deanna, thank god. I’m in love with you too.” They stared at each other for a few beats.
Then Cal was in motion. He put away the metal box, picked up the plans and stuffed them back in their cylinder, before hustling Deanna out the door, towards her new life.
One of Cal’s arms was around her waist, the other holding on to what amounted to the future. Their future.
It was a Merry Christmas indeed.