She patted a hand against his chest. “That’s funny. No one believes that, but you’ve made it pretty clear that domesticity isn’t your cup of tea at this point. I don’t necessarily agree with that and would offer Becky and the twins up as evidence to the contrary, but—”
“Do you think that’s why she’s avoiding me?” he blurted.
Stephanie took a step away from him, inclining her head. “I didn’t realize she was, but it certainly explains your mood.”
“My mood is fine,” he growled.
“Uh-huh. Tell me more about being ghosted.”
He ran a hand through his hair, glancing around to make sure no one could overhear them. From Callum’s experience, construction workers liked to gossip as much as a posse of teenage girls. The last thing he needed was to be the topic of conversation for his crew.
“I wouldn’t call it ghosting. We had lunch once this week and I took her and the girls to dinner last night. She’s not ignoring me completely, but there’s a distance between us, even when we’re together. I can’t figure out why or what’s causing it.”
His sister frowned. “When did it start?”
“After Linus arrived at the pediatric center,” he said after thinking on it for a few seconds. “But that doesn’t make sense. Becky has a clear attachment to his welfare. I think she bonded with Laurel on that first day.”
“Becky has been an amazing support for me,” Stephanie said with a nod. “She checks in several times a day and answers every tiny question I have right away. Since he started going to the day care at the center at the beginning of the week, she’s made a point of stopping by and sends me updates on how he’s doing. I don’t get any strange vibes from her.”
“Then what could it be?” Callum shook his head, frustrated that he couldn’t figure this out. Part of why he was so successful in the renovation business was his love of solving complex problems. With a historic building or old property in need of revitalization, there were always unique challenges that didn’t present themselves with new construction. He thrived on managing those kinds of issues. The fact that he couldn’t seem to decipher the actions of one woman made him want to shout in frustration.
The toe of Stephanie’s boot tapped on the newly installed floor. “Have you been an idiot?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A valid one based on your defensive tone.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. I like her. She likes me. Her girls like me.”
“Are you sure like is the L word you’re looking for at the moment?”
“Stop.” He held up a hand. “It’s been a few weeks. You know what a bad bet I am, Stephanie. We can’t rush into anything when I don’t even know if I’m staying in Rambling Rose.”
She shook her head. “That’s your past talking, Callum. Not your future. You know Dad always says it only took him a moment to know Mom was the one. If he’d let his divorce from your mother define him, our family wouldn’t be what it is today.”
Callum swallowed. How could he explain to the sister who looked up to him that their father was a better man in so many ways?
“Maybe she’s just changed her mind about things,” he forced himself to say. “I know she was wary of getting involved in the first place because of the twins. They’re her priority and I respect that. It could be as simple as Becky not wanting her life complicated.”
“You sound pathetic,” his sister told him.
He rolled his eyes. “Not at all helpful.”
“Could be the kind of help you need is a swift kick in the pants.”
“Forget I mentioned anything.”
“I want you to be happy,” Stephanie said, her tone gentler. “Tell me if there’s anything I can do. Maybe I could talk to Becky for you?”
“No.” He shook his head. “This isn’t junior high where I need you to pass her a note and have her check the box whether or not she likes me.”
“I hated those notes,” his sister murmured. “So much pressure.”
“Yeah.” Feeling pressured was exactly his problem at the moment. But he didn’t want to push Becky until he felt certain about what he could offer her. If only he could work out the puzzle of his heart, maybe everything else would fall into place.
Chapter Thirteen
Becky sat in front of the computer at the nurses’ station entering stats on a recent patient when she felt someone watching her. She looked up to find Sharla and Kristen staring at her from the other side of the counter.
“I didn’t eat the last doughnut,” she lied without hesitation, wiping a finger across her bottom lip in case any leftover crumbs might give her away.
“We’re not here about doughnuts,” Sharla said, crossing her arms over her ample chest.
Kristen nodded in agreement. “We just saw Callum Fortune walking out of the building looking like someone stole his new puppy.”
“He doesn’t have a puppy,” Becky muttered, refocusing on the computer.
“What’s going on with the two of you?” Sharla demanded. “Don’t tell us you’re going to waste your chance with a man who is hot, rich and clearly way into you.”
Dragging in a slow breath, Becky pushed back from the desk and stood. “I’m not telling you anything. There’s nothing to tell.”
“We haven’t seen the two of you together as much lately,” Kristen pointed out, none too helpfully.
“Things are busy around here,” Becky countered. “As you’d know if you stopped trying to pump me for information.”
Sharla arched a superbly penciled brow. “Defensive much?”
Becky set her jaw and returned the other woman’s steely stare. “I’m not...” She paused, concentrating on the air that seemed caught in her lungs like a moth in a spider’s web. “I don’t know what’s going on.” She glanced around to make sure no one could overhear their conversation. “I did a really stupid thing.”
“You’re pregnant again,” Sharla guessed, her eyes widening.
“No.” Becky shook her head. “I fell in love with him.”
Kristen reached out a hand and squeezed Becky’s trembling hand. “Oh, honey. You’re only human.”
Becky laughed. “Right?” she agreed. “The problem is I don’t know how he feels about me. I’m not even certain he’s planning to stay in Rambling Rose long term. What if I give him my heart and he breaks it?”
Sharla started to answer, then snapped her mouth shut when one of the exam rooms opened and Parker walked out. “We’re just waiting on a lab report and then they’ll need a follow-up appointment.” He approached the desk. “Everything okay here?” he asked, concern in his tone.
“Peachy keen, Dr. Green,” Kristen answered.
He must have heard something in her voice that made him wary because he stopped in his tracks and immediately pulled his phone out of the pocket of his white lab coat. “Look at that. I need to return this call. I’m going to just... I need to go my office.” He flashed a tight smile. “And close the door.”
“We’ll hold down the fort out here,” Sharla told him.
“I’m going to go check on the family waiting for labs,” Kristen said, then pointed a finger at Becky. “Whatever Sharla tells you, that’s what you’re going to do. No questions asked.”
Becky gave a small shake of her head. “I don’t know about—”
“No questions,” the redheaded nurse repeated.
“Okay,” Becky whispered, watching Kristen disappear into the exam room.
Sharla propped her elbows on the desk and leaned in. “Have you told him you love him?”
“Of course not.”
“Do you think you might want to start there?”
“What if it freaks him out and he breaks up with me?”
“What if he feels the same way and doesn’t kn
ow how to tell you because you’re acting so strange?”
“I’m not acting...” She clasped a hand over her mouth when a sob tried to break free. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” she said, more to herself than Sharla. “I already had my love story. Rick was the love of my life. If I tell Callum I love him, am I being disloyal to my late husband? Am I a terrible person?”
“For wanting to be truly happy again after overcoming a tragedy no one should have to face?” Sharla offered a tender smile. “Of course not. You’re a good person, Beck, and an amazing mother. I didn’t know your late husband, but I can only imagine he’d be proud of the life you’d made for your girls. You deserve happiness.”
“Thank you,” Becky whispered. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed someone to give her that permission until her friend did. “I don’t just want to blurt out the words while we’re taking turns feeding the twins. I know Callum cares about the girls and they will always be my priority, but I’d like to do something special for him.” She shrugged. “Romantic gestures aren’t exactly my forte. Any ideas?”
“Oh, girl.” Sharla swiped at her eyes, then grinned like the cat that ate the canary. “I’ve got you covered on romance.”
* * *
“You need to come with us.”
Callum turned from where he was meeting with the foreman at The Shoppes to find Steven and Dillon striding toward him.
“What happened? Is it Linus? Stephanie?” He threw up his hands. “What’s going on?”
“Bro, chill. Everything’s fine.” Dillon gave him a strange look. “You’re wound as tight as a top.”
“We’ve got a lot of work going on,” he told his brother, gesturing to several dozen pallets of lumber lined against the far wall. “In case you haven’t noticed.”
“I’ve noticed,” Dillon told him. “And we’ve got it all covered.”
“At least for the next twenty-four hours,” Steven added with a smug smile.
“You two aren’t making any sense.” Callum narrowed his eyes. “Are you drunk?”
“Give us a couple of minutes, Dan,” Steven told the older foreman when he chuckled at Callum’s accusatory question.
“Sure thing, bosses.” The wiry man with a shaggy beard walked toward the space where the electricians were roughing in recessed lighting.
“Seriously, you need to loosen up.” Dillon walked behind Callum and half guided, half pushed him toward the door.
“You still haven’t explained what’s going on,” Callum said through clenched teeth. His patience was at an all-time low. He hadn’t seen Becky since he’d stopped by the pediatric center yesterday, and she’d done little more than give him a swift kiss before turning her attention back to whatever she was doing on her large desktop monitor.
Not that he expected her to drop her work for him, but he missed her. He missed the closeness they’d had and hated the tension he couldn’t quite put his finger on that seemed to pulse between them.
He’d texted her earlier in the morning, but hadn’t received a response. And no, he told himself, he definitely wasn’t compulsively checking his phone in case he’d missed the tone or vibration of an incoming message.
“Do you trust me?” Dillon asked as he continued to herd him like a farm animal.
“Normally, yes.” Callum shrugged off his brother’s grasp but continued walking to the building’s entrance. “Right now I trust you about as far as I can throw you.” He pointed a finger at Steven, who stood holding open the front door.
“You’ll be sorry you doubted us in about ten seconds,” his brother warned with a Cheshire cat smile. “What do you think of that Corvette over there?” He gestured toward a vintage sports car parked in the shopping mall’s empty lot.
“It’s a beauty.” Callum squinted at the cherry-red vehicle, shading his eyes from the bright winter sunlight. “Did you buy a...” His voice trailed off as Becky appeared from the driver’s side. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders and she offered a tentative wave.
“Waiting for the apology,” Steven said with a nudge.
“What’s going on?” Callum whispered. “Why is she here?”
“Your girlfriend has more appreciation for romance in her pinkie finger,” Dillon said, thrusting a duffel bag into Callum’s arms, “than you do in your entire lunkheaded body.”
“Becky arranged an overnight getaway for the two of you,” Steven explained. “We’re covering you for the next twenty-four hours. A smart man would stop asking questions, mute his phone and go kiss the beautiful woman waiting for him.”
Callum’s mind might be spinning in a thousand different directions, but he wasn’t a total idiot. “You two are the greatest brothers in the history of the world. If you tell Wiley I said that, I’ll deny it. But thank you.”
“Have fun,” Steven told him with a grin.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Dillon added.
When Callum shot him a look, his younger brother laughed. “I’m giving you a wide berth of options.”
“I think I can handle it,” he murmured, flipping his phone to silent mode. He slung the duffel over his shoulder and headed toward Becky.
She watched him approach, looking almost as wary as she did excited. “I hope you don’t mind a little kidnapping,” she said.
He cupped her cheeks between his palms and kissed her by way of an answer, ignoring the cheers and wolf whistles from his brothers.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked when they finally broke apart several minutes later. He smoothed the pads of his thumbs over her cheeks. “What about the girls?”
“Sarah and Grant are staying with them for the night,” she answered, and he couldn’t help but hear the catch in her voice.
“You don’t have to leave them,” he assured her. “I don’t need a getaway, Becky. Any time we have together is special.”
“I want this night,” she said, her gaze sure and steady as she looked into his eyes. “If you do?”
“More than anything,” he said and kissed her again.
They climbed into the car, and Becky pulled out onto the road that led to the highway.
“New ride?” Callum asked, grinning as she giggled at the Corvette’s rapid acceleration.
“It’s Grant’s weekend car,” she explained. “He inherited it from an uncle who lived in Florida. I guess he and Sarah don’t drive it much around Rambling Rose, but he thought it would be more of a statement than picking you up in the minivan. I know it’s not as fancy as the Audi, but—”
“You could pick me up on a bicycle, and I’d be happy.”
“This is way more fun than a bike ride,” she said with a wink.
He laughed. “That’s true. Can I ask where we’re headed?”
“Austin. We have reservations for dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant that has great reviews, and then a room at the Driskill. Your sister recommended the hotel, and the photos online look amazing.”
“Everything about this is amazing,” he told her without reservation.
After the doubts and worry that had been weighing on Callum’s mind the past few days, being swept away for a romantic night in the city was the last thing he would have expected. Excitement zipped through him. He and Becky talked and laughed as she drove, and a heavy weight slowly lifted off his chest, replaced with an almost giddy lightness.
He could imagine how much it took for her to leave Sasha and Luna for the night, even with friends she trusted. It humbled him that she’d made that choice in order to spend more time with him.
The day was clear with the winter sun shining down on them like a bright omen. They arrived in Austin in the late afternoon and checked into the hotel located in the heart of downtown. Becky seemed enchanted by the Driskill’s opulent lobby and the old-world charm of the decor. She insisted on giving her credit card to the front de
sk, and while Callum appreciated the gesture, he hoped he could convince her to allow him to pay for both dinner and the room. Just the fact that she’d arranged this evening meant the world to him.
He carried his duffel and her overnight bag to the room and watched with delight as Becky marveled over every understated but luxurious detail of the hotel. He liked seeing the world through her eyes. Despite all she’d been through, Becky still seemed able to appreciate the small joys.
“Oh, my gosh.”
He was taking in the view from the room’s wide window when she rushed out of the bathroom.
“There are three shower heads in one shower. I’ve only seen that on fancy home improvement shows.”
Tenderness radiated through his heart and he pressed two fingers to his chest, unable to identify the feeling. Unwilling was more like it. He understood on some level that if he acknowledged the depth of his emotions toward this woman, they would change him in ways he couldn’t handle at the moment.
So Callum did what he seemed to do best where Becky was concerned. He shoved down all the unfathomable feelings and concentrated on what was simple.
His need for her.
“We have some time before the dinner reservation.” He made a show of looking at his watch as he walked toward her. “Just enough time by my calculations.”
She bit down on her lower lip, sending a wave of lust rushing through him. “Enough time for what?”
“For the best shower of your life.”
Her eyes went even darker. “You sound pretty confident about that.”
“One thing I’m not lacking—” he nipped at the edge of her mouth “—is confidence in my ability to please you.”
“That makes two of us,” she said and led him into the hotel room’s oversize bathroom.
* * *
“Can you zip me?” Becky asked, walking out of the bathroom later that evening.
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