by SJ McCoy
She nodded. “And my labor, too. I’ve done the work on the houses I rent out, too. I bring people in for jobs that are too heavy for me but there aren’t many that I can’t handle.” She put her hand on his arm with a smile. “And now I have my own muscle-guy.”
He pursed his lips.
“You don’t want to? You want to bring professionals in instead?”
“No! It’s not that. I love the idea of us doing it ourselves. I really do.” He blew out a sigh. “I’m just wondering if it’d be better for us to go away for the weekend. There’s no rush on the house. We have the rest of our lives for that.”
Her heart pounded in her chest at that. She loved to think that he was going to be around for the rest of her life.
“And I have to be honest with you. I think it’ll be best if there’s no chance whatsoever of me running into your ex. Not even by accident.”
She raised an eyebrow at him.
“You told me yourself that the man is an asshole. From everything I’ve heard about him, I couldn’t agree more. And I’m not sure I’d be able to keep my mouth shut.”
She was surprised to see his hands balled into fists at his sides. She rubbed her hand up his arm. “It’s okay. We’ll stay over that side of the lake and I’ll tell Elle to keep him over this side. In fact, I’ll tell him, too. I’ll let him know that I’m not leaving town.”
Cal’s frown was back. “Does he know about me?”
“I haven’t told him. I only spoke to him that one time we were in your car on the way to Four Mile.” She had to laugh at his expression. “Will you stop that? I don’t tell the man a damned thing about my life anymore. I barely speak to him. It’s not as though I don’t want him to find out.”
“Maybe you should tell him.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Forget it, I’m being … I don’t know what.” He tried to smile, but it didn’t quite work. He was obviously rattled.
It finally hit Teresa. “You look the same way you did last weekend, when Elle met Donovan!”
He pursed his lips.
“You’re not jealous. You’re … what, protective?”
He shrugged. “Protective, yeah. But also …” He thought about it for a few moments. “I guess what I’m feeling is the desire for revenge.”
“Revenge?” Teresa didn’t get that. It didn’t make sense. “What’s he ever done to you?”
“He’s hurt you. And that makes me want to …” He shook his head. “It makes me want revenge.” He sucked in a big breath and slowly blew it out again, before he finally smiled. “And that surprises the hell out of me. I do cold, clinical, logical, and analytical. I don’t do emotional or illogical. Or at least, I never have before. You,” he dropped a kiss on her lips, “have turned me into a caveman, apparently. Don’t worry. I won’t act on it.”
She waggled her eyebrows at him. “I’m kind of hoping that you will. I don’t mean getting revenge on Steve somehow. I mean, don’t cavemen drag their woman back to their cave and—” She didn’t get a chance to finish. Before she knew what he was doing, he’d bent down and wrapped his arms around her legs, throwing her over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than Skye.
She laughed and beat at his ass with her fists. “I didn’t mean right this minute. We have champagne to drink.”
She watched the floor bounce by as he collected the bottle and two fresh glasses and headed for the stairs. When he reached the bedroom, he tossed her down on the bed. The look on his face surprised the hell out of her—and turned her on in a big way.
“And I thought you were such a gentleman.”
His chuckle came out mixed with a growl. “I used to be, till you brought out my inner caveman.”
All the muscles in her stomach and lower tightened as he stood over her, unbuckled his belt and pushed his pants down. Then he was down on the bed with her, pushing her skirt up around her waist, pulling her panties down and—oh God!
“Cal!” She grasped at his shoulders as he thrust deep and hard. They’d made a lot of love over the last few weeks, but he’d never been … he was always so considerate, so … “Cal!” she gasped his name again when he bit her neck. Her hands scrabbled at his back until he caught her arms and pinned them above her head.
He thrust deeper and harder, making her moan as he looked down into her eyes. “You’re my lady, Terry.”
She nodded, unable to speak. She linked her fingers through his and let him carry her away, driving her closer and closer to the edge and then pushing her over it, sending her soaring away.
“Mine!” He gasped as her orgasm triggered his, and she felt his release deep inside her. Their bodies melded into one. He was right, she became his in that moment in a way that went so much deeper than words ever could. And he became hers as she took all he had to give.
When he finally slumped down on her, she clung to him. If she expected one of his apologies, or any of his former uncertainty, she didn’t get it. His smile and his eyes held total conviction as he nodded and dropped a kiss on her lips before rolling to the side and crushing her to his chest. “You’re mine.”
She nodded happily. “I know.”
“And I’m yours.”
She pressed a kiss to his lips. “I know that, too.”
He smiled. “Forever. Did you know that?”
She had to smile back at him. “I think you just showed me.”
Chapter Eighteen
“What’s up, boss?”
Cal started and turned to scowl at Ryan.
“Whoa!” Ryan held his hands up and backed away. He’d made it into the office and almost to the desk before Cal had even realized he was there.
“Sorry. I was thinking.”
“It looked more like you were trying to bore a hole into your screen with the death glare.”
He gave Ryan a wry smile. “Sorry.”
“Would you stop apologizing? It’s freaking me out. What’s going on with you?”
He had to laugh. “I’m wound up.”
“I gathered that much. Want to tell me about it? Or should I go?”
Cal stared at him for a long moment. “Take a seat.”
Ryan pulled up the chair on the other side of the desk. “Fire away. I’ll be good. I promise. All joking aside. What’s eating you?”
“What’s eating me is that Terry’s ex, Steve, is coming this weekend.”
“And that’s a problem for her?”
“Not for her, no.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “It’s a problem for you?”
“Yeah. It is. It shouldn’t be. But …” He pursed his lips. “I’m not jealous.”
Ryan nodded but wisely kept his mouth shut.
“I’m … I’m angry at him. I’m angry at the way he treated—treats her. Angry at the way he treated Elle. Angry that … honestly? I’m angry that he’s still in the way. That he’s still in their lives. You know little Skye calls me Grandpa?”
Ryan didn’t manage to hide his smile as he nodded.
“Yeah.” Cal shrugged. “I’m not going to deny it. I love it. She’s a great little kid. But I want it to be real, you know? And it’s not. I’ve only been in their lives for five minutes. He shared most of it. However much I want it, they’re not my family. They’re his. He’s been a part of her life in a way I can never be. I’m in it now, and I plan to be there for the rest of it but …” He shrugged. He wasn’t even sure he knew what he meant. “I’ll only ever be an afterthought.”
“No!” Ryan shook his head. “That isn’t true. This guy was part of her life. He’s Elle’s father, and Skye’s grandfather. But he’s history. You’re the one they want. You’re the one Teresa loves—and I’d guess Elle and Skye do, too. I saw the way you were with them out at Donovan’s place. You already are a family. Sure, it’s new, but that doesn’t make it any less real. This is the first time this Steve guy has shown his face since you’ve known her, right?”
; Cal nodded.
“And she doesn’t talk to him?”
“Only the once that I know of.”
“And he’s coming to see Elle and the kid?”
“Yeah. He used to see them when they lived in the city, but he hasn’t since they came back up here.”
“And that’s been a few months now.”
“Yeah.”
“So, he’ll come, and he’ll stay a few days. Then he’ll be gone again. He doesn’t see them every day, he’s not part of their lives in the way that you are. He doesn’t get to bring the little one out so all his friends can fall for her. He doesn’t get to scare away guys who start sniffing around Elle.”
Cal frowned, and Ryan held his hands up. “Just saying. I like Donovan.”
“So, do I. What can I say? I went all protective. I don’t want … But it’s not even my place.”
“Sure, it is. Did Teresa get mad at you about it?”
“No. She teased me about it, but she told me afterward that she liked knowing that I cared. Knowing that I’ve got her back.”
“See? She likes having you as the man in her life.”
“I know. I’m not questioning that. I just … I don’t even know what I’m whining about.”
“You’re not whining. You’re processing your new situation and how you feel about it. And just when you were figuring out that you like it and you enjoy being the man of your new little family, the ex shows up. But you know what?”
“What?”
“If he’d been able to fill that role, if he’d been any good at it, he wouldn’t be the ex, would he?”
“I guess not.”
“Don’t guess, know it. There are two ways of looking at this. Either he was the right guy and you’re the afterthought who came along later, or you’re the right guy and he was the failed attempt who came first. And this might help you: you can bet your ass that he’ll see you as the afterthought. And if you keep thinking the way you are, you’ll make him right. You’ll be the secondary man in the family. What you need to do is make him wrong. You need to see yourself as the main man. He’s just some clinger from the past who hasn’t totally faded away yet.”
Cal had to smile. “I like the sound of that.”
“Then make it happen. I know you prefer to stay in the shadows, to pull the strings from behind the scenes. But I think this situation calls for you to step up and be the big man—well, you are the big man. But you need to believe it. You can be the rock of your new family, not just some little pebble on the shore. Leave that to him and hopefully with time the tide will wash him away.”
Cal laughed out loud. “I love it. Especially coming from you. I never knew you were so poetic.”
Ryan grinned. “I’m not just a pretty face.”
“I never said you were.”
“Feel better?”
“I do.”
“Want to buy me a drink as a thank you?”
Cal glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost four. And on Friday afternoon that meant a mass exodus from the office. “I could. She’s not finishing till five.” He shook his head. “And when she does, we’re going straight over to Four Mile—we’re staying over there this weekend so that we don’t run into him.”
Ryan made a face.
“It’s not my choice to make. Terry had already agreed to it. She says it’ll make things easier.”
“Well, you have to come then. Otherwise, I won’t see you until Monday.”
Cal chuckled. “What and you’d miss me?”
“Something like that.”
~ ~ ~
Teresa finished sweeping around her chair and straightened her cart, ready for Tuesday. She wouldn’t be back in here till then. She hadn’t taken any new bookings for this Saturday since Steve had told her he was coming, and she’d canceled her few regulars. They didn’t mind.
She looked over at Elle, who was just finishing putting color on a high-school girl who kept bouncing in the chair she was so excited. She’d talked non-stop since she came in.
Elle caught Teresa’s eye and smiled.
“Are you going to be okay?”
“Yep. We’ll be another hour here and then I’ll go and get Skye. Dad said they’d be here by eight.”
Teresa bit her lip. It wasn’t her place to say anything.
Elle made a face. “I told him that’s her bedtime and it’d be better to wait until tomorrow, but you know what he’s like.”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“They’re going to come and get Skye from here in the morning and watch her till I get finished. I should be done by noon.”
Teresa nodded again. Skye usually went to Jackie on Saturday mornings. But it made sense, she supposed. Steve and Maddie were coming to see her.
“Okay, well, I hope you have a nice time with them.” She made herself smile for Elle’s sake. “Call me when the coast’s clear on Sunday night?”
“I will.” Elle set the dye brush down in the bowl and wiped her hands before coming over.
To Teresa’s surprise, she wrapped her in a hug and squeezed her tight. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Oh, sweetheart. Don’t be. There’s no need. It’s fine. He’s your dad.”
Elle squeezed her again before she let go. “I know. But I feel like I’m kicking you out of your home. And I’ll miss you. And if I’m honest, I’m mad at myself.”
“Why?”
“Because why would I take time off and arrange everything around them to be able to spend time with them when I don’t even do that for you? And you know damned well I’d rather spend time with you and Cal, and Skye would too. I think she’s going to be a handful. She keeps asking for her grandpa—and she doesn’t mean Dad.”
“Don’t you give yourself a hard time! It’s natural. I’m here all the time. I’m part of your everyday life now.” She smiled. “And Cal is, too. It’s only normal that you go out of your way for the people you don’t see as much.”
“It’s not just that, though. It’s because I know with you guys, you have my back. You’re always going to be there. You, of course, but Cal, too. Just because of how he is. I’m mad at myself because I take you guys for granted because I know you love me. But I’m going out of my way for him just because he’s my dad.” She blew out a sigh. “This will probably sound awful, but if I was in a situation where I needed help, I’d call Cal before I called Dad.”
Teresa rubbed her arm. “I don’t think you should feel bad about that. I know I pull you up when you say things about him, and I believe that you should try to keep some kind of bond with him—if he deserves it. But if he weren’t your father, you’d never choose him based on the person he is. I get that.”
Elle smiled. “Thanks, Mom. That’s exactly it. And if I got to choose whoever I wanted to be my dad, I’d choose Cal every time.”
Teresa grinned back at her. “Me, too!”
“Eww!” Elle laughed. “But not to be your daddy!”
Teresa slapped her arm. “You know what I mean! I’m going. He’s waiting for me. Call me if you need anything over the weekend, won’t you? And don’t bring them over to Four Mile. Cal’s not thrilled about your father.”
Elle raised an eyebrow.
“Just like you and Skye would choose him, he’d choose you. And from the little he knows, he doesn’t think your dad deserves either of you.”
“Aww. I wish you’d met him back then.”
Teresa shrugged. “So, do I. But who’s to say it would have worked? And whatever we think of him, your dad gave me you, and I wouldn’t change that even for a lifetime with Cal. All we can do is be glad we have him now.”
Elle pushed at her arm. “Go on. Get out of here before you make me cry.”
Teresa pecked her cheek. “See you Monday. And tell my little sweet pea Grandma loves her.”
~ ~ ~
Cal opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. Something wasn’t
right. He turned his head. Teresa was there, sleeping on beside him. He looked around the room. It was a good space. It’d be even better when it had some furniture. At least he’d managed to get a mattress delivered. He hadn’t been looking forward to sleeping on an airbed this weekend. It might be luxury compared to some of the places he’s slept in his life, but he was past that now. He’d earned the right to a comfortable bed—and he’d get one soon. He’d decided at around three this morning that this mattress would have to go in one of the spare bedrooms.
He looked around again. He still had the feeling that something wasn’t right, but he didn’t know what it was. He and Teresa had a busy weekend planned. It turned out that she was something of an expert when it came to remodeling and decorating. She’d brought a bunch of files and folders with her last night and while they’d sat out on the patio with takeout, she’d gone through them sharing ideas with him and telling him about all the suppliers she knew where he could get a good deal. He was looking forward to taking on this project with her. He had a feeling it would bond them in new ways. He smirked—it’d help them figure out who was boss for sure, and he had a feeling that they’d hand that title back and forth depending on what they were doing.
He wanted to get up. He needed coffee. And although his mind kept wandering, he really needed to figure out what it was that had him feeling so uneasy. Had he missed a detail? That was the kind of feeling he had. It had gone with the job when he was working. He was the guy who pulled all the threads of an op together, who kept an eye on all the moving pieces. And when something felt wrong it was because some detail had been overlooked. But there was no op. There were no challenges in his life at present. Everything was good—better than good. Everything was great, he was happy. He couldn’t resist moving a strand of hair off Terry’s forehead. He was in love. Life was good and he expected it to keep getting better and better.
He slid out of bed. Since she hadn’t even stirred when he touched her hair, he knew she must be tired. He’d let her sleep on. She liked it when the coffee was ready before she was anyway—and he’d made sure to bring the coffee pot and supplies over from the rental house.
