by Seton, Cora
Derek was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the dark wood paneling, his hands deep in his pockets. He straightened when he saw her, his sharp gaze giving her a quick inspection.
She turned, showing him her back, then turned again. “Am I decent?”
His mouth curved. “You look flushed.” His finger trailed her cheek. “A slight whisker burn there, but the lighting’s low.”
His eyes held a wicked gleam of pride in the fact he was the one responsible. She wrinkled her nose, rather than doing the thing she wanted most—sidling close and cupping him through his trousers. She was still horny. If they’d been closer to home, she would have said, Screw dinner. Instead, she smiled. “I’m starved.”
He bent toward her ear. “We could head straight to the nearest hotel…”
Tempting. She shook her head and laughed. Although their bodies were perfectly in synch, she liked knowing he’d be frustrated. “I’m starved for food, silly. I’m not used to so much strenuous activity.”
He chuckled and tucked her hand into the corner of his elbow to lead her into the dining room. Watching him from the corner of her eye, she enjoyed the sight of him, so well-built and tall. She knew they made a handsome couple and were drawing stares, but didn’t care. Her mind and body were floating in a happy place. Derek was here with her. Safe. And that’s all that mattered.
The man who’d sung that lonely song no longer had a haunted look in his eyes. She’d done that. Their squabbles seemed so minor—her reasons for refusing his proposals contrived. She loved him. Simple as that. When he wasn’t near, she missed him with a fierceness that kept her feeling hollow, a state she’d grown accustomed to and labeled as “normal.” Now, the simple act of walking into a room on his arm filled her with a quiet joy.
“Callie! Derek! Thought I saw you two pull up a while ago.” Macy Pettigrew’s voice called from a table near the window, overlooking the parking lot.
Callie’s eyes widened, and she glanced up at Derek whose brows rose.
He leaned toward her. “Better come up with a helluva good excuse for why we took so long to come inside.”
“Because we were coming inside,” she muttered, then pasted on a smile and glanced toward Macy, who was seated with several other Two Mule residents, including Derek’s mother and her own. Callie sucked in a breath. “Busted,” she muttered in a low tone.
He laughed and pulled her toward the table that had two empty place settings.
So much for a quick, intimate dinner.
Macy patted the seat beside her, a devilish twinkle in her dark eyes.
Setting her clutch next to her plate, Callie took her seat with Derek’s assistance, and gave his hand resting on the chair top a squeeze.
Wearing a wide grin, Macy leaned toward her. “Your mamas have been mighty impatient.” Her gaze narrowed on Callie’s face. “Too late for a little powder…”
Derek walked around the table to his mother, rested his hands on her shoulders, and gave her cheek a quick peck.
The woman’s eyes were bright, her mouth a little pinched. “What kept you?”
“A little wardrobe malfunction,” he said, then gave the rest of the table a quick, brief smile. “Mrs. Norman, Win,” he spoke to the two biggest gossips. “Mrs. Cunningham,” he said to her mother as he settled into the chair next to Callie.
Her mother’s smile was fixed, and her gaze went to Callie. Don’t blow this, she mouthed.
Mrs. Norman’s face was alight with curiosity, her gaze moving between the latest arrivals.
Ole Win’s craggy face eased into a smile. “Good to see you, boy.”
Thankfully, the waitress arrived and diverted attention from Callie’s blushing face. They placed their orders.
Nervous about the undercurrent surrounding the table, Callie sipped a glass of wine for courage. What in the world was going on?
“You gonna ask her again?” Ole Win said, his gruff voice carrying since he was a little deaf and had never realized that not everyone suffered the same affliction.
Derek’s lips pressed together, and he gave her a quick wink. “Think I’ll have any better luck this time?”
The old man jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Maybe you should take her back to the coatroom.”
Derek’s mom’s mouth dropped open, and she swatted the old man’s shoulder. “Shhh. We weren’t supposed to notice.”
Callie’s mom gave her a wink.
Ole Win gave Mrs. Tilden a frown. “Well, they disappeared someplace between the front door and the dining room for quite a while. Don’t think it was a much of a secret.”
Macy’s chest and shoulders shook, and she dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
Callie’s cheeks burned as she leaned toward her best friend. “What the hell are you doin’ here, anyway?” she whispered.
“Well, Derek called his mom to tell her he was takin’ you to dinner someplace special.” She splayed her fingers and ticked off one. “She called your mom to share the news, and then called Mrs. Norman to see when you left. Then she called me to ask for a lift since she doesn’t like to drive very far.” Her pointer touched her ring finger. “Ole Win happened to be at Mrs. Norman’s and Mary Tilden could hardly leave out her co-conspirators—et voilà!” Macy’s grin showed every one of her perfectly straight white teeth. “Had to gun it a bit, but we caught up to that old Mustang and followed you all the way from Two Mule. Surprised you didn’t see us in your rearview mirror.”
As if she’d thought to even look there. Macy likely knew exactly what had been happening in the Mustang to distract them. Callie glanced around the table again. “Still doesn’t answer the question of why everyone decided to ambush our date.”
“Got to make sure he does it right,” Ole Win blurted loudly.
Callie decided his deafness had to be a ruse. She gave him a glare. “What makes you think he didn’t do it right the first five times he asked?” She realized she’d nearly shouted those words, and glanced to her side where Derek was watching, his mouth crimped into a straight line to keep from laughing.
“Wouldn’t blame him if he’s just plumb given up,” Ole Win said, shaking his head. “Ought to be your turn now, missy.”
Her pulse racing, Callie pressed her lips together into a pout. These people, her people, were holding her accountable?
“Don’t guess it’s any of our business…” Macy said, aiming a quelling glance the old man’s way. “Doesn’t matter who does the askin’—just that it happens.”
Derek leaned sideways. “I don’t think they’ll be satisfied until the deed is done,” he muttered.
Callie felt her back automatically stiffening, but then reminded herself she’d been worried about the same thing—whether he would ask again and what her answer would be. She swallowed. “Why does everyone think it’s a foregone conclusion?” Okay, so now, she was stalling. But her hands had begun to shake. “If I say yes, I’ll be leaving Two Mule. Won’t you miss me?” she asked, her gaze scanning the table.
Macy reached out and patted her hand. “Your absence won’t be forever. Someday, you two will come home. Do you think our friendship’s so shallow it won’t weather a separation?”
Callie turned her hand and gripped Macy’s, grateful for the reassuring words. “Two Mule’s the first place that’s ever felt like home.”
“Didn’t want to put a damper on our evening, but we don’t have all the time in the world.” Derek cleared his throat. “I’m headin’ to Virginia on Monday.”
Callie’s chest tightened. She’d known he wasn’t back for good, but right now, Virginia felt nearly as distant as the desert.
“I still have four years on my enlistment. And after that, I’ll only have six years of service before I’m eligible to retire.” He laid his hand over hers and held tight. “Do you really want to wait until I’m through with the Navy to get married, Callie?”
She sucked in a breath. “Are you askin’ again?”
He grunted. “I was gonna get to t
hat. I’d planned to romance you, feed you, maybe get you a little drunk. And then I’d get down on my knee again—one last time.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You thought I needed to be drunk?”
“I’m not proud.” He shrugged. “I figured if that didn’t work, I’d make sure you wanted something else really bad, and then I’d pop the question.”
Well, if that wasn’t telling it like it is. Her blush intensified, knowing everyone understood that he’d meant to get her all hot and bothered and then propose.
His gaze narrowed on the group watching them so avidly. “I figured once you said yes, you wouldn’t back out of your promise. That you might still bellyache about leaving home, but you might actually be relieved I’d made the decision easier for you.”
This time, warmth wasn’t spilling over her skin—it swept inside her like a wave, warming her head to toes. Derek knew her so well. Knew at this point she was just being stubborn. That her refusals had become a habit. That gradually, over time, she’d come to trust he wasn’t going to leave her—not emotionally anyway. Not ever. And she no longer had any excuses left. Her friends would remain her friends no matter how long she was away.
“Baby, come with me. We could see the world, or at least part of it, together. And when we’re ready, we’ll come back here, seein’ as this is our home.”
Callie’s eyes filled and her throat closed up. When she saw him open his mouth to say something else, she shook her head. “Don’t say it.”
His mouth and face closed, his gaze shuttering as he glanced away from her.
He gave the group a shrug and a one-sided grin—a gesture she knew was pure pretense. Although he’d expected her to refuse him, the fact she wouldn’t even allow him to propose hurt.
But she steeled herself against his hurt and drew strength from the fact he was still sitting there, despite his disappointment.
Macy squeezed her hand so hard her knuckles rubbed together, pulling her attention. Her friend gave her a fierce scowl then glanced pointedly at Derek’s stony face.
Callie gave her a slight shake of her head. This isn’t the time.
Macy’s eyes widened in a scary glare. Then when?
Realizing she was only trying to stall again, she sighed and her shoulders slumped. Her glance whipped to Derek who’d been watching their interplay with a frown. “Why do you even want me? I mean, I’m a flake—I love you, I won’t live with you—why do you want to put with up that?”
Derek’s gaze settled on her face, not a flicker going to those around them. “I get you’re scared. I’ve been scared, too.”
Her throat got a little scratchier. “That wasn’t an answer.”
“No one makes me feel the way you do. I love your humor. Love the way your mind flits from one thing to the next. I love the way you surrender—with an argument, and then melting against me. It’s a challenge to keep up with the way your moods swing.”
Callie tried hard not to think that Ole Win and her mother just heard that. “So, you’re saying you need a bi-polar girlfriend?”
His mouth quirked on one side. “See what I mean? You get scared, your back goes ramrod straight, and you make a joke. Then when I push harder, move closer,” he said, cupping her cheek with a large palm, “you melt.”
“You want a mud puddle?”
His smile was sweet. “I want all your softness. Your strength. I need you to counter all my hard edges.”
“Thought guys didn’t understand this relationship crap,” she muttered with a shake of her head.
“I pay attention,” he whispered. “And I might have read a Cosmo or two.”
She tilted her head, looking into his face, and recognized how hard it was for him to be gentle right now. That the last thing he wanted was an audience, because if they weren’t here, she’d be in his arms and under him, and then he’d pop the question she’d always had so much trouble with.
For just a moment, she let her glance slide away to snag on Macy’s narrowed gaze.
She didn’t need any further prompting. Callie slowly withdrew and pushed back her chair. Taking a deep breath, she rose and then knelt beside him on both knees, because her dress wouldn’t allow her to go to one.
Derek’s expression warmed. His eyes gleamed with emotion as he stared down at her.
“Cain’t see a durn thing,” Ole Win said, pushing up from his seat.
Derek’s mother too rose, too, her hand going to her chest.
“Baby, what are you doin’?” Derek murmured, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Callie gave him a crooked smile. “Like Win said, only seems fair.”
He swallowed hard. “But only if you’re ready, sweetheart.”
“Darlin’, I’ve been ready.” She gave him a watery smile. “Just scared. I don’t like change. And I’m a coward. I’ll admit that in front of God…” she swept a hand toward the table, “and our nosy friends. But this is something I have to do because I like even less the way I feel when I’m not with you.”
Derek’s chest lifted with his next deep breath, and then he turned in his chair to face her, his gaze boring into hers.
A little nervous now, Callie reached for his hands and cleared her throat. “Derek Tilden, I know lovin’ me is not easy. I know my faults. I can be stubborn—”
“Can be? Uh huh,” Win said with a snort. “That’s a fact.”
Callie’s lips twitched, glad for the lightening of the tension. Then she set her expression, hoping all that Derek saw was the love shining in her eyes. “If you’ll have me, I’ll marry you.”
“Don’t she know she’s supposed to ask a question?”
Callie ignored the grumpy old man, looking up into Derek’s moist eyes. “Will you marry me?”
Derek reached down and pulled her into his arms, hugging her close to his broad chest. “You can’t take it back now,” he whispered in her ear. “We’ve got witnesses.”
“I won’t ever take it back.” She clasped her hands around the back of his neck. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He rubbed his cheek against hers.
“Well, give her an answer, boy!”
Derek laughed and pulled back. His face was relaxed, his expression boyish in his joy. “Yes, Callie Murphy, I’ll marry you.”
While applause burst all around the restaurant, Callie kissed Derek. The feeling of homecoming, of sweet acceptance, overfilled her heart. Tears tracked down her cheeks.
Gripping her arms, Derek pushed her back. “We’ll need to do the deed before Monday. Do you mind a quickie wedding in Vegas?”
Excited at what their decision meant, she flung her arms around his shoulders. “Let’s leave now.”
“Steaks aren’t even here,” Ole Win grumbled.
She laughed while Derek wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “Then, steaks first.”
“Sorry you won’t get a church wedding with all your friends around you,” Derek said, keeping her hand inside his as she settled into her chair.
“Who says she won’t?” Macy drawled. “Just leave the details to me.”
The next day, Callie and Derek said their vows inside The Little White Wedding Chapel. Callie was happy in a demure shell-pink dress. Who needed a proper wedding dress when the groom beside her stood in full uniform? The wedding couldn’t have been more perfect with both of their mothers, plus Macy, Mrs. Norman, and Ole Win, standing as witnesses.
Macy had arranged for a private plane to take them all to Vegas as her gift to the couple. Both mothers had pitched in to provide them a suite at the Bellagio to enjoy a very short honeymoon. In the morning, they’d be flying back to Texas where Callie had a million things to do, all on a Sunday, to get ready for the road trip to Little Creek.
“I have a house I have to close up,” she said as her mother gave her a hard hug in the parking lot after the ceremony.
“Quit making excuses, baby girl. You’ve got a good one so just throw caution to the wind. Don’t let him out of your sight.”
Callie laughed and held up her hand to look at the ring Derek had presented her. The one in the picture album.
Macy grinned at her as she moved in for a group hug. “I’ll get your stuff moved to a storage unit and make sure you have great renters. You’ll have a home to come back to, promise.”
“Any more worries?” Derek said from beside her.
Macy chuckled and moved away. “Looks like someone’s gettin’ restless.”
Her mother let go of her and wiped her eyes. “I love weddings. Just wish I’d been a little pickier about who I jumped the broom with.” With a wide smile, she hugged Derek. “Welcome to the family.”
Callie startled, realizing she wasn’t the only one gaining instant roots. She made a silent note to remind herself this marriage and all the scary things that accompanied it, wasn’t just her journey. It was theirs.
Derek’s arm slid behind her back, and he leaned toward her ear. “Ready to start that honeymoon?”
Callie raised her gaze to lock with his. “Thank you.”
He must have understood what she left unsaid. He kissed her cheek. “It’s entirely my pleasure, ma’am.”
While the rest of the wedding party gambled in a casino, Derek swept Callie into his arms and entered the suite. He didn’t set her down until they were inside the lushly appointed bedroom. Glancing around, they both smiled at the thick bedding with the covers turned down. A bottle of champagne sat in an iced bucket on a table. Not that either of them was particularly thirsty at the moment. That wasn’t the sort of celebration they craved.
He managed to remove her silk dress without ripping a stitch, knelt to slip off her heels, but left her standing in thigh-high hose, lacy panties and a bra. Again, he picked her up and laid her on the bed, coming over her fully clothed and settling on his elbows as he smiled down at her. “Hello, Mrs. Tilden.”
“Mrs. Tilden.” Callie grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
“So do I,” he said, his voice deepening. His kiss was light, a soft buss against her pillowed lips. “Havin’ a bed beneath us for once is nice.”
She grinned. “No grit or splinters this time.”
