More than Sometimes (Summer Lake Silver Book 6)

by SJ McCoy

  Manny: You busy?

  Cal: No.

  Manny: You want to take a ride over to Four Mile?

  Cal: No, thanks.

  Manny: Why?

  Cal: You guys don’t need me tagging along.

  Manny: Nina’s not coming. She’s out.

  Hmm. That was a different proposition.

  Manny: That a yes, then?

  Cal laughed.

  Cal: Yes.

  Manny: Great. I’ll pick you up in 15.

  Cal set his phone down with a smile. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Nina. He liked her a lot. But he didn’t want to get into the habit of hanging out with the two of them. And especially not today, not after last night. He didn’t want to face the questions from Manny—he sure as hell wouldn’t know how to handle any from Nina.

  He let himself out the front door ten minutes later and wasn’t surprised to see Manny pulling up. He jogged up the path and climbed into the passenger seat.

  Manny smiled. “What’s the place like?”

  Cal glanced back at the house and shrugged. “It’s a place. I don’t plan to stay here long.”

  “You mean here at this house, not here at the lake, right?”

  “Don’t look like that. I’m not changing my mind about staying already. Yes. I mean the house. In fact …” He pulled the brochure Austin had given him out of his back pocket. “When we get over to Four Mile Creek, you can drive me by a couple places I might be interested in.”

  Manny swiped the paper from his hands and let out a low whistle when he saw the picture. “Nice!” He handed the brochure back and pulled away. “You’re thinking about being my neighbor then?”

  “Yeah. If you wouldn’t mind. From what I can make out it’s just down the way from your place. Is it your place yet? Have you closed?”

  “No, not yet. But it looks like it should go through in the next couple weeks.”

  “That’s great.”

  Manny chuckled. “It is. Nina wasn’t sure about leaving her place when I first asked her, but now she’s so excited she has almost everything packed in boxes waiting to go already.”

  Cal had to smile as he remembered Teresa last night saying that Nina was excited to hear about the two of them.

  “Something funny?” Manny was giving him a puzzled look.

  “No. I think it’s great. And seriously, you wouldn’t mind if I ended up being your neighbor?”

  “Mind? I think it’d be great.”

  They drove on in silence for a little while. Cal watched the lake through the window as they headed up the East Shore toward Four Mile.

  “Are you deliberately not saying anything?” asked Manny.

  “About?”

  Manny laughed. “Never mind. If you don’t even know what I’m curious about, then I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

  Cal smiled through pursed lips. “Of course, I know what you’re talking about. But I’m waiting for you to ask specific questions, so I don’t give away more than I need to.”

  “Come on, this is me you’re talking to. I’ll get it all out of you one way or another. You may as well just dive in.”

  He had a point. “Okay. But at least tell me where to start?”

  “I want to know the backstory before you tell me why you both reacted the way you did when you first saw each other. That wasn’t the first time, was it?”

  “No.”

  “And I figured that she must have cut your hair after you left the office?”

  He nodded.

  “Come on. Between Nina and Ryan and me we pieced it together last night, but I want to hear your version of events.”

  Cal blew out a sigh. “Okay. Yes, she cut my hair.” He chuckled. “I actually sat in her salon—have you been in there? It’s …”

  “Not a place I could imagine you ever setting foot!” Manny laughed.

  “Yeah. I realized that as soon as I got through the door, and I was about to leave but …”

  Manny waited.

  How was he supposed to explain that the moment he’d seen Teresa’s smile his feet had rooted themselves to the floor? He’d sound like a complete idiot. He sneaked a glance at Manny. Maybe he’d get it? He was a different guy with Nina. And not just with her. He was a different guy since he’d met her.

  “But then you met Teresa,” Manny finished for him.

  “Yeah. And Nina already told you that I asked her out, and that she saw me texting Darla and got the wrong idea. That she ended up thinking I was some creepy dude—some creepy married dude.”

  “Yep. Ryan and I were ready to hunt you down. At least to hunt down the creepy dude.”

  “So I heard. And that’s all. So, you know everything that happened before what you saw last night.”

  “I do now. Up until now I only had hearsay and a few assumptions.”

  “And now?” Cal knew he was getting at something else.

  Manny shot a smile at him. “Now I know that you’re taken with Teresa and way out of your depth.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Manny laughed. “You didn’t need to. It’s all in what you don’t say.”

  When they reached the development at Four Mile, Manny took a left down onto the lane that ran along the shore. There were only a few houses here by the water’s edge. Cal nodded appreciatively. It was nice.

  “This is us,” said Manny when he brought the car to a stop.

  “Are you going in?” asked Cal. “Is that what we’re here for?”

  “No. But what do you think of the place?”

  Cal looked it over. It was a nice house. It was obviously a fairly new build. It sat behind a row of evergreens that looked as though they still had some growing to do. There was a porch on this side of the property, but he’d guess this was just the entrance.

  “It doesn’t look like much from here,” said Manny. “But out front it opens up to the lake. There’s a dock, and a pool out there.”

  Cal raised an eyebrow. “I like it. It’s an upgrade from your apartment in Sacramento. But … a pool?”

  Manny chuckled. “Nina’s always wanted one and there’s a bit of story behind why she never got one.”

  Cal could swear he saw a hint of pink color Manny’s cheeks and ears. “And you’re happy to be the guy who makes sure she gets one now?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I like it.”

  “You do? I thought you might bust my balls.”

  Cal laughed. “Fair’s fair; you haven’t busted mine yet.”

  Manny laughed. “And I don’t intend to, but I can’t speak for Ryan and like I told you, he brings out the worst in me.”

  Cal laughed. “I can handle Ryan.”

  “True. I forget that. Anyway …” He pulled away and carried on to the end of the road. “Let’s see what your place looks like.”

  Cal smiled when he saw the house. It surprised him that it looked better in the flesh than it did in the photos. He’d expected that to be the other way around.

  “Is it empty?” asked Manny. “Can we take a look around?”

  Cal pulled his phone out. “I’ll check.” He dialed Austin’s office number and waited.

  “Summer Lake Realty, this is Crystal, how can I help you?”

  “Hi, Crystal. This is Blake Callahan. Austin’s supposed to be setting me up an appointment to see the house at Lakeside. No need to find him, you can probably tell me. I took a drive by and want to know if the place is empty, if it’d be okay to take a walk around.”

  “Oh, okay. Hold on. I know it’s empty. Just let me …”

  She put him on hold and Cal frowned. That was all he’d needed to know.

  She came back after a few moments. “Mr. Callahan?”

  “Yes?”

  “I checked with Austin. I knew the contractors had been out there this morning. Austin said that even if they’re not there now the back door should be unlocked. He said to go on in and tak
e a look since you’re there.”

  “Thanks!” He hadn’t expected that.

  “Of course. And call me back if you have any questions, won’t you?”

  “Thanks. I will.” Cal hung up and smiled at Manny. “I’m glad I checked. She said it’s unlocked, and we can take a look around.”

  Manny pulled forward into the driveway. “Great!”

  Cal smiled when he walked into the living area. The whole place was light and airy. It felt new and modern, all open plan. The front wall was mostly glass, giving onto a view of the lake that made it feel as though he was on a boat instead of in a house.

  “Is it love at first sight?” asked Manny beside him.

  Cal’s throat went dry. Was that what it was? Was that why he hadn’t been able to turn around and walk straight out of her salon yesterday? Why he’d made such a fool of himself through the course of the evening while he tried to remember—or perhaps learn for the first time—how to treat a woman?

  Manny raised an eyebrow at him. “You like the place so much it’s rendered you speechless?”

  Oh! The house! He was talking about the house. “Yeah.” Cal swallowed. “It is. I have.” He frowned. He needed to get his shit together! “I love it.”

  “I can see it suiting you. It’s not to my taste. Too modern for me.”

  Cal looked around. Manny was right. The place was all straight lines and right angles. Brushed steel and light-colored wood floors. To Cal it was perfect; clean, efficient. He had to wonder what Teresa would think of it.

  “Would I be right if I guessed that you’re thinking about more than the house?”

  Cal raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t understand—he wasn’t going to come straight out and admit it.

  Manny smiled. “I can button it if you like. It’s just … straight up? I’m fascinated, but I’m kind of embarrassed, too.”

  “Embarrassed?” Cal hadn’t seen that coming.

  “Yeah.” Manny folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the kitchen island.

  Cal mirrored his actions as he waited for him to elaborate. He folded his arms and leaned back against the column that supported the staircase. He looked up and could see the ceiling about thirty feet above them.

  “I’m embarrassed because I think I see what’s going on with you, but I might just be projecting my own experience.”

  “We won’t know till you explain.”

  “True. So, I’m guessing that you were wondering what Teresa would think about this place—whether she’d like it.”

  Cal pressed his lips together. How did Manny always know?

  “But at the same time, I don’t know that’s what you’re thinking. So, I question whether it’s just me … because I … because I think about how Nina would see things, what she’d think. And I did right from the beginning. Maybe it’s not like that for you. Maybe Teresa …”

  “It’s okay.” Cal had to put him out of his misery. He wasn’t going to let Manny think that he’d gone soft—or at least, not that he was the only one. He blew out a sigh. Wondering what to say. Wondering what he even thought. “You’re not projecting.”

  Manny smiled. “But you don’t want to talk about it?”

  Cal shrugged. “I … wouldn’t know how. I don’t know …” He let out a short laugh. “Would you look at us? With all that we’ve seen over the years, all that we’ve done? And yet we can’t string a sentence together when it comes to talking about this stuff.”

  “I know.” Manny chuckled. “I didn’t know what had hit me at first. I thought maybe it was to do with getting old. Then Ryan got Leanne back—and he’s just as bad, if not worse.” He shrugged. “If I can do anything to help you, I will. How about that?”

  “Thanks.” Cal pushed away from the column. “And on that note. Let’s finish looking around what I have a feeling is going to be my new home.”

  “Sure thing, neighbor.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Teresa went through to the back and sat down with a sigh in one of the comfy chairs in the break room. It’d been a busy morning, but then it was Saturday; it was always busy. She wondered again about what Elaine had said the other day. Could she get Elle to step up and run the place so that she could step back and start taking life a bit easier? She made a face. She wasn’t that old! But then that was kind of the point too. This was a hard job physically, and she didn’t want to keep doing it until she was too old and too worn out from it to enjoy doing anything else.

  She took her phone out of her purse. Nina had been only too happy to give her Cal’s number this morning. She’d wanted to know every last detail about last night. And she was supportive about Teresa’s tentative plan for tonight. She got it. It wasn’t that Teresa was trying to tempt Cal over to her place. She had to laugh at the thought. She wouldn’t mind—and she hoped that at some point they might go in that direction, but she had other priorities.

  Elle and Skye were her priorities. If Cal didn’t want to come over, she’d see him another time. If he did, well, he’d get to know her better—not just as a woman out on a date, but as a mother and a grandmother. That was who she was.

  She looked down at her phone and tapped in the number Nina had written down for her. She hit save before she hit the call button.

  “This is Callahan.”

  His voice brought a smile to her lips. It was so deep and sexy—and very businesslike.

  “Hello?”

  Oops. She really needed to say something. “Cal? Hi. This is Teresa.”

  “Teresa?”

  “Yeah.” She let out a nervous chuckle. “Sorry. Nina gave me your number. I’m not stalking you, I promise.”

  His laugh tickled her insides. “I believe you.”

  “It’s about tonight.”

  “Oh.” His tone changed completely. He sounded … he was! He was disappointed.

  “I’m not canceling on you,” she assured him quickly. “At least, I don’t want to. I’m calling to see how you might feel about a change of plan.”

  “Sure. Whatever you like.”

  She had to smile. So, he had been disappointed. “Well, the thing is … you see …” Damn. She needed to pull herself together. This wasn’t like her. “Elle, my daughter, she’s going out tonight and …”

  “And you have to watch Skye?”

  “I don’t have to. I want to.”

  “Okay. Tomorrow, then?”

  “No. I’m … I mean …” She laughed. “Now I’m the one making a mess of this. I’m calling to ask if you would like to come to my place for dinner tonight. I can’t go out. But you could come over if you want. I can make us dinner. And once Skye’s gone down, we can sit out the back with a drink.”

  “That sounds great. Thank you. Well, except for one thing.”

  “What’s that?” Her smile faded wondering what his problem might be.

  “You don’t need to be cooking dinner while you’re watching the little one. So, how about I pick us something up from the resort on my way over?”

  “Wow! You just get better and better, don’t you?”

  He laughed, and she had to laugh with him.

  “It just … it makes sense.”

  “It does. Thank you.”

  “How about I text you around six-thirty and you can tell me what you’d like so I can call the order in.”

  “Perfect!”

  “Okay, then.”

  “Yeah. Okay.” She couldn’t stop smiling and she could hear the smile in his voice too. She just wished she could see it. “I’ll see you later, then.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.”

  “Me too.”

  Chapter Eight

  It was busy when Cal got to the Boathouse, even though it was only just after seven. Ben, the guy who ran the place, did a good job. From what Cal had seen the resort was thriving, and the restaurant was the heart of the place.

  He looked around when he reached the servers’ stat
ion. He’d called the order in and they’d told him it’d be ready to pick up at seven-fifteen. He checked his watch. They had another ten minutes yet.

  He smiled when the bartender spotted him and waved. “I’ll get Kallen to come and take your order,” she called.

  “That’s okay. I’ve ordered. I’m here to pick up, but I’m early.”

  She nodded and finished serving the customers in front of her. Once she was done, she came over and leaned on the other side of the bar.

  “What are you doing getting takeout on a Saturday night, sugar? You should stay and eat here. Everyone will be out in a while. You should get to know people. I mean, sure you know Manny and Ryan, but we’re a friendly bunch around here. You’ll know everyone before too long. There’s no need for you to take your dinner home and eat by yourself.” She laughed. “You won’t be by yourself long if you eat here.”

  Cal smiled through pursed lips. Kenzie was quite a character. He knew that already and he’d only chatted with her a few times so far when he’d come in to pick up takeout.

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you considering it? First drink’s on me if you stay.”

  He chuckled. “Thanks, but …”

  “Is my wife bothering you?”

  He turned to see one of the guys who sang with the band standing behind him. He didn’t want to be the source of any friction between them.

  “No. She’s just trying to welcome me to the neighborhood. Suggesting I should eat here instead of getting takeout.”

  To his relief, the guy laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I didn’t think she was hitting on you.” He held his hand out. “I’m Chase. You’re Cal, right? Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of how things work around here soon enough.” He made a face at Kenzie. “And one of the things you’ll learn is that my wife likes to play matchmaker.”

  Cal shook with him and smiled. “Duly noted.” He turned to Kenzie. “Thanks for the thought. But I’m good.”

  She gave him a puzzled look. “You’re good? What does that mean? I can tell you that most of the women in here last night would agree with you.” She laughed. “Though they might use the word fine, rather than good. But I don’t think that’s what you mean.”