“Yes. David’s planning the works. Dad and I will be building it. Do not rat me out. Your children are not as civilized as my ex’s new family. Something tells me they would see my betrayal of information as an ass kickable crime.”
Chuckling over Cal knowing such a truth about her children, Ann rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, until Cal grabbed it. He pulled a perfectly white handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped her eyes and face.
“That’s the best that can be done without you taking one of those mega showers that uses up a whole hot water heater’s worth of water. You are seriously funky.”
“It’s called hard work,” Ann grumbled, feeling Cal link his fingers tightly through hers.
“So you say. I’ll show you my idea of hard work later—when we really make up,” he said.
Her face heated just at the thought of being with him again. Luckily, the dirt hid most of it from the worried gazes of her concerned children waiting in the kitchen when they went to the house.
Both patted her face but refused to hug her until she was clean.
Ann towel dried her hair, sprayed it with a good leave-in conditioner, and then wrapped the bath sheet tighter. It literally had taken nearly an entire water heater’s worth to get all the dirt and mud off. Too bad all that water hadn’t washed her remaining reservations away.
She couldn’t help wondering if Cal was going to hurt her again. In fact, she sort of knew he would. Wasn’t that the risk of any relationship? The question was… could she handle it?
Or maybe the question was whether or not Calvin Rodgers was worth it.
She started back to the bedroom and saw Cal sitting on the side of the bed still dressed in his uniform. Hat in hand now, he stared at her when she exited the bathroom. He straightened as she came closer, but only looked at her when she sat down next to him.
“Do Megan and David know you’re in my bedroom?” she asked.
Cal grinned at the question. “No. They left a bit ago. I think they wanted to give us plenty of time to talk things out. Those are two smart kids you raised. I’ve learned the hard way not to get between them when they’re fighting.”
“Their father was an intense guy, but that whole have-to-be-heard thing came from me.” Ann sighed loudly, lifting a hand to her wet hair. “I’ve never been good at fighting… or handling the aftermath.”
Cal grunted. “Me neither—said the divorced man offering his failed marriage as proof.”
It should be disturbing that she found that comment funny, but Ann laughed anyway. She could tell her humor relieved Cal because he grinned and relaxed.
“When my wife left, it hurt, but it also felt inevitable. Losing you was like losing an arm. The whole time I was being stupid, I knew my life was never going to be the same without you in it. Colombo laid a well-deserved guilt trip on me, but it was your children who made me realize that in hurting you, I’d hurt both of us. I hate being this wrong, Ann. If I let you take a swing at me with that shovel, can we call it even and move on? I want you to trust me again.”
“Stop,” Ann ordered, snickering over his repentant tone. “I’m sure eventually Georgia would have slapped me silly and sent me after you to explain myself.”
“Explain what?” Cal asked.
Ann studied her hands and then shrugged. “I needed the other guys to show me just how great you were because it had been so long since I’d had a man in my life. I knew all along that I was never going to want them the way I wanted you. And I knew I was never going to let them become anything more than a friend. The very fact that I’m still so upset about you walking away from me makes me fear you. I fear the effect loving you is going to have on my calm life more than I have words to express.”
Cal offered a smile. “There’s bound to be conflict at some point. We’re never going to agree on everything.”
Ann laughed. “Maybe not, but I’m used to getting my way. I’m also not used to letting people help me make decisions. Not even my friends.” His laughter over her confession had her eyes narrowing.
“I’m a talented strategist,” Cal bragged. “I’ve just decided that from now on we’ll discuss all important matters in bed. A few high octaves ought to even the odds of me winning a few.”
“Not necessarily,” Ann declared.
Cal covered his mouth to keep from laughing. Her arm smack only made his amusement get louder.
“I’m being serious here, Pretty Ann. I don’t want you worrying about us in the future—not ever. You’re my absolute idea of a perfect match. I want to drink beer, eat nachos, and take you to bed at the end of each day. I want us to get married.”
Ann sighed as she stood. She grabbed Cal’s chin the way he’d grabbed hers in the yard—hard and with purpose. She looked deep into his eyes and all she saw there was desire… for her. What Cal and she had was far, far more than she’d ever hoped to have again in her life. She’d find a way to deal with the bad stuff so long as she could have all those things with him.
“Do you care what order your wishes come true? I’m really not in the mood for a beer at the moment.”
“No.” Cal tilted his head, eyes questioning her even while he answered.
Chuckling at his confused look, Ann turned loose of him. Guys always needed it spelled out so she unfastened her towel and let it fall to the floor.
Eyes widening over her action, Cal tossed his uniform hat like a Frisbee until it landed in a nearby chair. He grabbed both her wrists and tugged her close enough to press light kisses across her face and neck. While he was doing that, Cal made that sound… that sound Ann hoped she drew from him for the rest of their lives.
“If we’re going to get married, you need to find your balls and tell your father about us, Calvin.” Then Ann pressed her mouth to his, absorbing that sound the moment it was being uttered.
Understanding at last that a love like this was worth all the risks, she happily let a still fully dressed Cal drag her completely naked body into the bed with him to finish making up.
Chapter Eighteen
Ann hid a smile as Cal met Georgia’s glare with an innocent look. Once she told Brent what Cal was doing for him today, the man would have to consider himself paid back in kind for his good deed.
“So you’re telling me that Hollywood honest-to-God and in person tracked you down and talked you into apologizing to Ann?”
“If you’re talking about Dr. Colombo, then… yes, ma’am, he did. The good doctor found me and ordered me to get my shit together. I decided to take his advice. I do realize I’m lucky Ann’s such a forgiving woman.”
Georgia snorted. “Sleep lightly, Cal. She’s not as forgiving as you think.”
Ann walked up to Cal and leaned against his arm. “Georgia still grilling you?”
“It’s worse than being reamed by a military superior,” Cal replied.
Ann’s snickering laugh had him slipping an arm around her.
“Food’s ready,” Jellica yelled.
“About time—I’m starving,” Georgia said, complaining and walking off.
Cal looked into her gaze. “Why am I doing this again? I’m really not that mad at the man. One lie and he’s off the hook, right?”
Ann patted his cheek. “Forget the players. Consider this as merely repaying a good deed.”
“Since they’re both your friends, this may end up being your wedding present,” Cal declared, sliding Ann into his lap to hold her.
A shadow with fisted hands suddenly loomed over them.
“Calvin Rodgers. I wondered when I was going to get a look at you. So you’re the guy who took my client from me,” Mariah said.
Ann yelped when Cal put her back on her feet almost instantaneously. She stared down at her now upright body in surprise. Cal stood to full height and glared at Mariah.
“If you’re out any money for Ann not dating those other guys, I’ll pay her damn fees—all of them. She’s mine.”
“I’m what?” Ann asked in total surprise.
Mariah disintegrated into laughter. “Yes. I can see Ann is yours. Everyone can see that.”
Georgia’s snort broke the tension. “Stop harassing the man, Mariah. Hollywood’s going to pay for me. It’s all good. Nobody’s going to be out any money except the hoity-toity plastic surgeon and he can well afford it.”
“Mom, I was teasing him,” Mariah said, her laughter dying at her mother’s words. “And Brent is not hoity-toity.”
Cal and Ann watched as Georgia dragged her daughter off, both of them arguing. He turned to her then. “I don’t believe I’m saying this, but I’d rather deal with Megan and David than your friends.”
“Too bad. They’re all Stan’s clients. I’m sure you’ll be fixing something for each of them eventually.”
“Only until my investment classes start paying off,” Cal said with great relief. “I don’t think I’ve been this excited about anything in years. I’ve basically been saving what Dad’s been paying me. I figure that will give me my first investment money.”
Ann slipped her hand in his. “I don’t need your retirement to pay the bills. You can use that too.”
Cal pulled her close. “We’ll discuss my contributions again later… like in bed later. And we’ll keep talking about my share until we come to some mutually beneficial terms. Mutual—isn’t that a great word, Ann?”
“What am I going to do with you?” Ann asked.
“I swear I’m seriously going to make you a list if you keep asking that question.”
Ann snickered as they walked toward the tables full of food and friends out on her new deck. With a teasing Cal at her side, she now had the perfect life.
--- THE END ---
Note From The Author
Thank you for reading Never Say Never!
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~ Donna McDonald
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Book Description
What could she possibly have in common with a man whose watch costs more than her car?
Georgia may be slowing down a bit at sixty, but she isn’t stupid yet. The idea of her genuinely dating Dr. Brentwood Colombo, aka Hollywood, when he poses in her doorway… well, that’s just totally insane.
Where is her dignity? Where is her pride? How did she let her snickering friends dare her into giving him a chance?
And where is the kind, caring daughter she raised? Mariah’s been replaced with an evil version who keeps insisting she give the womanizing plastic surgeon who dates twenty year olds a fair chance.
A fair chance at what, Georgia wonders? Breaking her heart?
No, thank you.
She would rather keep her womanly dignity than see it trampled under Hollywood’s expensive, polished shoes. Now if he’d just stop talking about her perfect, perfect breasts, she might forget about him completely.
Other Books By This Author
Never Too Late Series
Dating A Cougar
Dating Dr. Notorious
Dating A Saint
Dating A Metro Man
Dating A Silver Fox
Dating A Cougar II
Dating A Pro
Art Of Love Series
Carved In Stone
Created In Fire
Captured In Ink
Commissioned In White
Covered In Paint
Non-Series Books
The Wrong Todd
SEALed For Life
A Secret Dare
Saving Santa
Mistletoe Madness
No ELFing Way
Visit Donna’s website to see more books.
About the Author
Donna McDonald
After 35 years of doing everything for a living except writing books, Donna McDonald published her first romance novel in March of 2011. Forty plus novels later, she admits to living her own happily ever after as a full time author.
Her work spans several genres, such as contemporary romance, paranormal, and science fiction. Humor is the most common element across all her writing. Addicted to making readers laugh, she includes a good dose of romantic comedy in every book.
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