Chapter 4
four
EMERIE
“I can pack my things myself, you know,” I snap, glaring at Calder as he places yet another box by the door.
“Maybe so, but it’ll go quicker if we both do it.”
The man was insufferable. Completely and totally insufferable. Didn’t matter how sexy he was. Or how much I wanted him to be inside me.
During the past few days, while we were in Lanche, Calder drove me absolutely bonkers. I wanted to say it was because he was a know-it-all. But he didn’t talk much. Not unless he was asked a question or needed to speak up about something important.
I liked that about him. He listened to me, unlike other men I know. The men who have been in my life since I could remember always treated me like I was dumb and didn’t have an opinion about anything.
Hince how I ended up married to Calder in the first place, my own father treating me like nothing more than a business transaction.
“Maybe I don’t want you touching my personal things,” I grumble, not really meaning it. It was nice having help. I typically did everything alone, including celebrating Christmas.
On that thought, I turn to Calder and ask, “Do you have a Christmas tree?”
“Nope,” he grunts.
“Decorations? I have mine, but it’s not much.” Living in this apartment, I didn’t have a lot of room to be able to decorate.
“I don’t have decorations. You want them, feel free, but it ain’t my thing.”
“What?” My eyes widen, completely in surprise. “How is Christmas not your thing? Christmas is one of the best times of the year.”
“It’s just another month to me.” Shrugging, he glances around my apartment. “We can have movers move the furniture into a storage unit. We don’t need it, but we’ll keep it if you want.”
I huff seeing that he changed the subject, ending the one about the most wonderful time of the year. “Fine. They can even pack the rest of this up as well, then.”
We already packed up my valuables and clothes.
“Good.” Calder grunts and looks at the watch he’s wearing on his left wrist. “I’ve got some things to do, so let’s get you home.”
“Fine.”
While we’d been in Lanche, he hadn’t seemed distant as he was now, but I guess this is what I should become used to. It’s not like our marriage is real. Like everything else in my life, it’s nothing more than a transaction.
* * *
Calder’s house was actually beautiful. Made of stone and mortar. It honestly looked like it was historical, almost like in a fairy tale. That might be me exaggerating, but it was that gorgeous in my opinion. I loved it.
The wrap-around driveway circled in front, with a section off to the side to park.
It had a beautiful yard that I could just imagine being lit up by Christmas decorations.
Maybe a sleigh with Santa and his reindeer.
Some light up trees in the center section.
To make it even better, white icicle lights to go around the roof of the house. It would be perfect.
But Calder doesn’t do Christmas. Those were his words. It’s just another day to him.
He’s nuts to think such a thing about the best time of year, in my opinion. I love being able to bring joy to those around me. I’m not a Scrooge-type person.
“Come on, I’ll show you in, then I need to head out,” Calder remarks, coming to take my hand.
“I could just find my way around. I also need to go run some errands myself.” I don’t know if he has anything in the kitchen worth cooking let alone anything I might eat. I’m a pretty picky eater when it comes to certain things. I like my comforts around me.
“You can use one of the cars in the garage,” he states. “I’ll show you where I keep the keys for them.”
“I have my own car,” I proclaim, making Calder halt his steps to look at me.
“The car your father had given you wasn’t yours. He used it to track your movements. It was given back to him. The last thing I want is for him to know exactly where my house is.”
“But I’m his daughter, don’t you think I’d want to be able to have him visit me?” Okay, that was a bald-faced lie. I wouldn’t want that.
Calder cocks a brow and shakes his head. “You want him to visit you, we’ll set something up at Grant’s place. No way is he coming here.” The stern way he said this spoke volumes, which I’m not sure I understand.
“Is anyone allowed here?” I blurt out without thinking first.
“Yes, but before they come, I’d prefer they be vetted first.”
“Vetted?” Was he serious? Why would he need them to be vetted before coming over?
“Vetted,” he confirms. “I don’t take chances. Not with my line of work.” He checks his watch again and curses. “I need to get going soon.”
Opening the front door, Calder steps first, bringing me in right behind him. He gives me a quick, brief tour of the house, showing me to my room. Which happened to be the only bedroom furnished, so I knew it was his room as well.
Great.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. He slept next to me while we were at the hotel as well.
Those nights I’d gone to sleep on the edge of the bed only to wake up with my body curled around his. It felt nice. I enjoyed sleeping next to him. Sharing a bed with him wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Once he finished showing me the room, he took me back through the house to another door and pointed out the sets of keys. “You can take your pick of any of the cars. Just don’t be reckless.”
“I’m not a reckless driver,” I inform him. I wasn’t. I tried to be as careful as I could be.
“Right,” Calder murmurs, the edge of one side of his lips twitches like he finds my comment comical. “If you need me, my cell is already programmed into your phone.”
I knew this too. He didn’t need to remind me. He made sure I had all of his numbers, including Grant Devore’s and his brothers, along with a woman named Rebel. I don’t know who she is or how she factors into all of this, but I knew next to her name he put LAWYER.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell him.
“Maybe so, but regardless, if something comes up, you call me. Got it?”
I nod, not really sure what could happen.
Calder pulls me into his arms and reaches up to tangle his fingers in my hair.
It’s the first time he’s touched me like this since we got back from Lanche.
His eyes meet mine for all of a second before he lowers his lips to mine.
The kiss is no more than a simple brush of his over mine, but it was still heavenly.
I don’t get it. What is it about Calder Blanche that compels me to want him as I do?
“I’ll be back later.” Calder lets me go and steps back.
“Okay,” I whisper, not taking my eyes off him.
I know there’s so much still that we have to talk about, but with him gone, I was also going to go out. It was December, and there was no way I was going to be able to be in such a beautiful house without having it decorated for Christmas.