Chapter 4 #2
It was pretty good, if she said so herself.
The popsicle was cold and creamy and refreshing, with a sweet undercurrent of honey and the warmth of vanilla, topped off with the tang of lemon, a slightest hint of coconut, and the satisfying crunch of frozen peach.
It was just the perfect thing for a hot summer’s day, and she sighed happily.
“You happy with how they turned out, Ash?” she asked, and he nodded, too busy eating his popsicle to answer.
She turned to look at Calvin, a little concerned by his lack of response. Did he not like it?
But in the end, she shouldn’t have worried.
He was sitting there with his eyes closed, looking absolutely blissed out.
“Wow. Oh, wow.”
He opened his eyes almost reluctantly. “What did you do to the peaches? This is incredible.”
Diana’s heart fluttered with happiness at the compliment. She hadn’t felt this excited about meeting a guy since… well, since forever.
How could I be this excited about someone I just met?!
But it was undeniable. There was something about Calvin – beyond his obvious good looks – that was just getting her attention in ways that she hadn’t thought possible.
Remembering that she was supposed to be conversing with him, rather than just ogling him and letting her thoughts wander off in directions they really ought not to, she dragged her mind back to the topic at hand.
Peaches. Right.
“We roasted them first with some honey and salt,” she said. “I was a little unsure how it would turn out when I first saw the recipe, but I definitely think it ended up being a winner.”
“You can say that again.” Calvin moved the remains of his popsicle away from his mouth. “I have to pause for a minute, otherwise it’ll all be gone before I know it. I want to make this last.”
The thought of him saying those words to her in another context, whispered in a low voice, suddenly struck her, and she shivered.
Not now! Leave the poor guy out of your inappropriate thoughts!
She didn’t think that was going to be possible, though. She could foresee many, many inappropriate thoughts in her future, long after Calvin had left town.
The thought was depressing. Was this amazing guy really just going to pass through her life in the space of an afternoon? She didn’t think she’d ever be able to settle for anyone else again, after this.
This isn’t like me at all, she thought desperately. My libido has been reawakened at the least convenient time.
“How long are you staying in town?” she asked. Best to rip off the Band-Aid and get confirmation that she would never see him again as quickly as possible.
Calvin licked a long, slow line up the side of his popsicle in order to catch a stray rivulet, and Diana nearly combusted on the spot.
“I’m not sure, to be honest,” he said. “I was going to spend a few days camping a little way down the mountain, but my car and my phone both died, so I thought I’d come here and see if I could organize a tow truck. Since it’s getting late, though, I think I’ll camp out here for the evening.”
He did a double take, looking oddly flustered. “Not here, I mean – not in your house. Outside. But not in your yard. At a campsite. In my tent. That I brought.”
Diana watched, fascinated, as he fidgeted with his popsicle, before taking a large bite.
If she hadn’t known better, she would’ve thought that he was just as nervous as she was. Which shouldn’t have been possible – surely a guy like this would be completely self-assured in all things?
Or at least, definitely when it came to women. Diana couldn’t imagine he didn’t have women hurling their phone numbers, addresses – hell, probably even their panties – at him everywhere he went.
But then what he was actually saying hit her.
He was looking for a place to stay?
… No. She couldn’t. That would just be too forward, even if she cleared the underwear off her bedroom floor first. And she didn’t think she’d be able to keep her hands off him.
He could sleep on the couch, she supposed, but there was no way he would fit. And she knew that he would refuse to take the bed if she offered it.
Still… she had to offer. It would be downright rude if she didn’t offer up her bed to the poor stranded man. Who was she to leave him alone in the wilderness?
“There’s a B&B nearby,” Ash said, and Diana almost jumped out of her skin. That kid could be so quiet sometimes that when he spoke up, it startled her!
Mentally, she cursed him just a bit… but it was in fact the most logical option – as well as the option that would be the most likely to save her dignity, and her sleep schedule.
She didn’t think it would be a great idea to have Calvin stay the night.
Even if they were in different rooms, she wouldn’t get a wink of sleep just from the knowledge that there was a gorgeous man in such close proximity.
And she didn’t want to do anything that would even slightly cause discomfort for Ash.
Besides a bit of awkward flirting, anyway, she thought wryly.
“That’s true,” she said. “It’s an absolutely gorgeous old mansion, renovated to be a guest house. You’d love it.”
“Sounds expensive,” Calvin said, frowning slightly.
“Yeah, it’s not cheap,” Diana said, before another thought hit her. “Though… it wouldn’t surprise me if they were booked out anyway, what with it being the last minute and all.”
She pulled out her phone, bringing up the B&B’s website. It was run by her friends Natasha and Kieran – both newcomers to Girdwood Springs, but they fit in so well with the town’s atmosphere that it felt like they’d been here forever – and she knew the address by heart.
She checked the availability, then shook her head.
“Just like I thought – completely sold out,” she said.
She wanted Calvin to stay at the nice place, really she did. But she also wanted an excuse for him to stay the night. Even if it meant camping in her back yard.
“They have a camping ground they just opened up,” Ash said, peering over her shoulder.
“Oh, that’s right!” Diana exclaimed, scrolling through the options. Again, she wasn’t sure whether to rejoice or cry. “It just opened a few weeks ago, not far from the mansion. Here it is. Still several spots available. And they have cooking facilities and showers as well.”
She kicked herself internally as soon as she’d said it, even as she held her phone out to Calvin so he could see all the places he could stay, far away from her, her couch, her bed, and anything else to do with her.
Calvin got up to look down at the phone, even as Bella also got up and forced her head into Diana’s lap, sticking her wet doggy nose into the phone’s screen.
Calvin hummed in approval. “That’s a bit more my style.”
Diana’s heart sank. It was for the best, she knew, but she couldn’t help but be disappointed.
On the other hand, though… that meant that Calvin was going to be in town at least until tomorrow. He wasn’t just passing through, never to be seen again.
She brightened.
“Want me to book you in for tonight?” she asked, looking up at him over her shoulder, and he nodded.
“If you wouldn’t mind, that would be fantastic,” he said, before digging around in his pocket. “Since my phone is shot. But here, let me give you my card details.”
“No way – you’re a guest in this town. I’m treating you,” she said, typing in her credit card number before he could protest. He started to reach for her phone, almost touching it, before, strangely, pulling his hand back as if it had been burned.
Weird, she thought. But his hesitation gave her the time she needed to confirm the booking.
“Ha! All done!” she exclaimed, and the expression on his face as he sank back into his chair – a combination of gratitude and hangdog puppy – had her laughing out loud.
And she had an idea. It was a bit risky, but… what was life without a little risk?
She swallowed hard, before gathering her courage.
“If you’d really like to pay me back, you can treat me to breakfast tomorrow.”
His eyes widened for a moment – and then he smiled, a broad, dazzling smile that left her breathless.
“Where do you recommend?” he asked, and while it was an innocent enough question, it almost felt loaded somehow. Like breakfast was somehow a prelude to other things.
“Th-there’s a great diner on the main drag that does breakfasts,” she said, doing her best to keep her voice steady. “It’s super easy to find. We can meet there, if you like?”
“Sounds good,” said Calvin, his voice sounding impossibly deep. “Are you an early bird, or a late riser?”
For you, I’ll be whatever you like.
“Early bird by necessity, late riser by choice,” she said honestly.
Calvin grinned. “How does ten sound to you?”
“Fantastic,” she said with a smile. And that would give her plenty of time to help Ash with his breakfast before he went off for his planned day playing board games at the community center with some of the other kids.
She’d make him whatever he wanted, if she was going to be going off and getting treated to a diner breakfast.
“Well, I guess I’d better head over there pretty soon,” Calvin said, sounding reluctant. “It’ll be getting dark before long.”
“Let me give you a ride,” Diana said, standing up and trying to pretend that she hadn’t just given herself a very interesting mental image.
“Oh – oh, no, that’s fine,” Calvin said, practically stuttering and almost holding his hands out, as if trying to keep her at arm’s length. It was such a sudden turnaround that she stopped in her tracks, confused.
“I mean – it’s just that I don’t think I’d fit in your car,” he went on.
Diana wasn’t sure about that – sure, it would be a little cramped, but she could move the seat back once they’d removed the boxes and bags she’d brought back from the lemonade stand.
Still, maybe he just liked being out in nature. He did seem the type.
She resolved not to overthink it. He’d agreed to meet her for breakfast. That was the important thing.
“No problem,” she said, smiling in what she hoped was a reassuring way, and he seemed to relax in response.
There’s a mystery here that I’m going to get to the bottom of. Don’t think I’ll forget about this, mister!
Calvin moved over to his monstrously large backpack, which Diana now realized probably contained a tent and everything else Calvin had brought up the mountain with him.
He bent down to pick it up – good lifting technique, she thought approvingly, as his shorts stretched a little over his buttocks, not that she was looking – and brushed against the window air conditioning unit as he stood.
The background hum of the A/C came to a sudden, groaning halt.
Calvin froze, backpack dangling forgotten from his hands.
His eyes widened.
Quietly – so quietly that Diana almost doubted she heard it – he whispered, “Oh, crap.”