Chapter 7
Felicity
Sometimes, the numbers called to me. Sometimes, the numbers made me want to scream in a corner and pretend that they never existed. Sadly, at this moment, I was worried that this was one of the latter times.
I rubbed my temples and stared at the screen. “You can do this. You are numbers. And numbers are set. You understand how to make this work.”
“Talking to yourself again?” I looked up as my boss came in, a small smile playing on his face.
“Yes. I can’t get this spreadsheet to work, and it’s annoying me.”
“Well, back in my day, we used to do everything by hand.”
I rolled my eyes at him and his familiar refrain.
“Was it with the chisel, or did you move on to different sorts of clay at that point?” I teased.
“You youngsters. And I’ll have you know I am decent at a spreadsheet.”
“I do know that. You’re the one who taught me to use this program. You’re hip with the kids.”
“Young lady, the fact that you just said that phrase worries me. Are you no longer hip with the kids?”
“Probably not. I’m no longer a teenager. I don’t understand the lingo some of our friends’ kids say these days.”
“Sadly, it’s been years since I understood anything a teenager says to me.”
“Anyway, I know I can get these numbers to line up. I’m just missing something.”
“Who’s it with?”
“You know the account.”
He sighed and came over to my desk. “She’s just not great at receipts. We both know this.”
“How has the bakery gone on this long and missed so much? These are the questions I have.”
“Because we don’t have another bakery in town. And she’s damn good. She’s honestly a good baker. She’s just not the best businesswoman.”
“I’ll help her get all of her receipts and spreadsheets in order, but honestly, she should have us doing payroll.”
“But that costs a fee, and she’s not a person who wants to spend money on that.”
“Which makes me sad… But maybe you can work your wiles on her,” I said, fluttering my eyelashes.
He barked out a laugh. “We both know that won’t work. I lost my wiles long ago.”
“Are you putting yourself down again?”
I froze at the sound of Callum’s voice, my palms going sweaty. The object of my latest dream strolled behind Gregory and winked at the man. “Are you going to make me growl at you again?”
“No, no. No growling needed. I am going to go back to my desk and get things ready for tomorrow. Felicity, you should take off. You’re past your hours.”
I blinked, pulling my gaze away from Callum’s gray eyes, and swallowed hard.
“What?”
“Darling. You’ve been working for over nine hours today. You can finish your project tomorrow. Go and live your life. Remember, there is more to life than spreadsheets and working long hours. My wife and I learned that when we needed to, and I want to make sure you know it too.”
He nodded at Callum, gave me a wave, and went back to his office, leaving me alone with Callum Ashford. Once again.
“Well, I guess my boss said I’m no longer allowed to work. I’m sorry if you were coming in here to ask about your account. I guess I’ll have to work on it tomorrow.” I winked as I said it, a smile playing on my face.
Instead of glowering or looking annoyed, Callum just smiled.
He looked way too good with that smile.
“Actually, I am waiting for a phone call from a distributor and figured I’d come down here and show you the place.”
I blinked, confused. “What place?”
“The house I found for you? It’s not an apartment, but it’s a small two-bedroom house, and the owners use it for family members and friends who visit, but they also like to rent it out. They just don’t tend to tell people, but it’s rentable.”
“You found me a house. I thought you were just teasing me before with that.”
“I don’t tease, Felicity.”
Well, that was a lie if I had ever heard it. All he did was tease me. Then again, maybe he didn’t realize he was doing it. And I was losing my mind.
Yes, that sounded much more like the case.
“You found me a house.”
“I did. Come on, close up your things, and I’ll take you to it. It’s a short drive.”
“How did you know about it? What’s the rent? Is there a down payment? What’s the cleaning fee? Do I need to have references? There are a lot of questions that you just seem not to even care about right now.”
“I have a whole packet in the car for you. I know you and your love of spreadsheets. And I’m not going to take you to a crack house or something. You’re Felicity. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.” His eyes narrowed as he said it, and a shiver ran down my spine.
No, I knew Callum would do everything in his power to make sure no one ever hurt me. That was who Callum was. Overprotective, forceful, and powerful.
And every single time somebody in his orbit, namely his family, got hurt, he blamed himself.
Then again, my brothers did the same thing. It was probably why they were such good friends.
I let out a sigh and clicked save on my spreadsheet. “I suppose I’ll work on it tomorrow.”
“Baker giving you trouble?”
“I’m not telling you what I’m working on. That would be unprofessional.”
“Your voices carried when I walked in, and everybody knows that the bakery could go under at any moment because Fiona doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
“I’m not going to say anything,” I answered with a wince as I grabbed my bag. “Where are we going?”
“To the house across the street from mine,” he said after a moment. “That’s how I know about it. The older couple who own it lend it out to their adult children. You remember the Radfords?”
My eyes widened. “I do. They haven’t been back in a couple of years, though? I thought they sold that house.”
The house right across from Callum’s. Oh, that wouldn’t be a problem at all. Clearly, it wasn’t a problem for him. Meaning I’d have to make sure it wasn’t for me. This whole getting over my crush thing really wasn’t getting any easier.
“Anyway, the family didn’t sell it, and their adult kids don’t come here as much.
They’d rather stay up at one of the resorts in another town that’s close by.
They don’t really feel the need to stay in their parents’ childhood home.
I know they’re thinking about selling, but they’re not ready to yet. ”
“How do you know all this?” I asked as I walked past him, ignoring that cedar and sandalwood smell that just wafted off of him. Did he bathe in the stuff? No, that wasn’t right. Because it wasn’t overpowering. It was just tempting. Damn that man.
“I take care of the house when there are no tenants.”
“Really?”
“Of course I do. They need help, and I’m there.” He gestured to his truck. “Hop in.”
“I can drive.”
“Just get in the truck, Felicity. I’ll bring you back.”
I frowned, wondering how many orders I’d have to deal with. Okay then. I could do this. It wasn’t weird at all. And yet, I couldn’t help but feel weird.
When he opened the door for me, I slid my bag inside and reached up for the handlebar, so I could lift myself up.
Instead, Callum took me by the hips and lifted me on his own.
I frowned, stiffening, wondering how the hell he had gotten so strong.
But then again, he had been a tight end in the NFL. He was the epitome of strength.
I swallowed hard as he sat me down, and I turned to look at him. His eyes had darkened, his pupils dilating.
“You good?” he asked, clearing his throat.
I nodded, my tongue darting out to wet my lips.
When his gaze went to the action, I thought I had to be seeing things.
Instead, he took a step back and closed the door in my face.
I only had moments of reprieve, trying to catch my breath, wondering why I couldn’t slow my heart rate when Callum moved around the front of the truck and got in on the driver’s side.
“Okay, let’s head out.”
“I can drive myself.”
“You’re already in the truck. And this way, I don’t have to watch you try to parallel park.”
“There is no parallel parking on your road. You’re just making fun of the fact that I can’t parallel park.”
“You ran over Rune’s foot,” he growled as he started the engine.
My cheeks heated, a blush covering my face.
“I ran over the side of his shoe. And he shouldn’t have been standing so close.”
“He was on the curb.” The dryness in his tone made me laugh, and his shoulders moved as he chuckled with me.
“It was your first time trying to parallel park, and I know that your dad, the best man that I know, and the voice of assurance and calmness when it comes to being a fire captain and in the face of danger, had been freaking the fuck out with you behind the wheel.”
“Thank you,” I said as I threw my hands in the air.
“Everyone always acts like my dad is the calmest man in the world, and while he can be on most days, he was nowhere near calm when I was learning to drive. And Mom would continue to try to press the imaginary brake, so in the end, it was Atlas who had to teach me how to drive. Well, Atlas and Bodhi.”
Callum looked at me then, eyes wide. “Bodhi taught you? I don’t remember that.”
I shrugged. “He’s calm. He always has been. Especially since…” I let my voice trail off, not wanting to comment on why he had changed. And for good reason.
“Yeah. He’s always been decently calm. Well, I’m glad he could help you. I was never around when you were dealing with all of that. I don’t mind it because I barely remember you when we were younger.”
I shoved at his arm, even as he turned the wheel. “Mean.”
“I am mean. What can I say? However, I’m glad your family was there for you. And Bodhi.”
“You weren’t around other than that one weekend of me learning to drive, and even then, I didn’t actually get behind the wheel until I was eighteen.” I didn’t know why I needed to reiterate that I wasn’t that much younger than him.
“I always wondered why you took forever to get your driver’s license.” I shrugged as he turned down his road. The same road that this house was apparently located.