Only This

by Hadley Quinn

  And ever since her short conversation with that guy on the sidewalk the other day, it was hard not to wonder if he was there each time she walked by. Today was no different as she slowed her pace upon passing, but then her insecurity set in and she was afraid of being caught lingering.

  Before she could hurry along fast enough, the front door to the business opened. Damn it, she couldn’t see through the tinted glass to know that someone had been there, and she was especially embarrassed because it was the same guy she spoke to the other day.

  The same guy with soul-piercing eyes and a voice that would most likely stop her heart if she let him affect it too long.

  “Good morning,” he said as he stood in the doorway with it halfway open.

  “Hello,” she smiled politely.

  She quickly debated whether or not she should keep walking or add something more. He was just standing there, staring at her like he wanted her to strike up a conversation. During that time, she was able to appreciate the slim-fitting t-shirt he was wearing and the tattoo that peeked out from his sleeve. She wondered exactly how far it continued and where it covered. And what other markings he had on his body…

  “Are we business neighbors?” he finally asked, tilting his head to the side. It was cute, like he was really intent on hearing anything she said. And his question was also clever. It sounded innocent enough, but she could tell where he was headed with it.

  Hmm, gorgeous, and smart. This one might need special handling…

  “I guess we are,” she answered, this time with a bigger smile as she turned to continue walking. “And I’m gonna be late,” she added, walking backward a few steps as she waved goodbye.

  “Have a good day,” he returned the smile as he watched her leave.

  “I will now,” she answered.

  She faced forward and kept walking, surprised by her own efforts to flirt with him. But he was gorgeous, and the fact that he seemed to be mutually attracted to her made it easier.

  Sarah waited for him to say something more, to catch up to her, to follow her…anything. But nothing happened. Too afraid to glance behind her, she kept walking until she slipped into the café, only briefly glancing down the street to notice he wasn’t even there anymore. She’d worried her entire trek to the café that he’d been staring at her ass and he hadn’t been. It was not only a baseball bat to her ego, but a waste of time feeling insecure about it.

  “Hey there, lovely,” Nora smiled at her upon entering.

  “Good morning,” Sarah smiled back. She waved at a few of the regulars and slipped behind the counter to give her old boss a hug.

  “I didn’t think you were working today,” Nora stated as she squeezed her hard. “I thought Rayne said Tuesdays were going to be your official days off.”

  “They will be after today. We’ve just got an anniversary party to discuss.”

  Sarah was trying to hold back a smile but couldn’t help it, especially when Nora’s huge grin was too much to shrug off.

  “Yay!” Nora cheered, quietly clapping like an excited child. “A party? Really? That’s so exciting! I’m so happy for you two.”

  “Yeah, I’m excited too. Our first official ‘event’ on the calendar.”

  “And it will go fabulously, you’ll see. And your business is really going to take off from there, I just know it.”

  “I hope so,” Sarah agreed. “I do miss working here with you, though.”

  “Nah, you’re better suited for your own business. I miss you working here too, but I’m glad you’re right next door and I see you often.”

  Sarah picked up a to-go container of breakfast items that Nora had already set out for her and motioned to the space next door. “Well, you know where to find me.”

  “Okay, sweetheart. Have fun planning the party.”

  Smiling, Sarah made her way to the door, but before she slipped through it, Nora added, “Oh, and Ali said she can’t make it to work tonight.”

  Sarah stopped dead in her tracks and sighed, shaking her head. “I’m going to strangle her. I really am. One day it’s going to happen and it’ll be your fault because I warned you fifty thousand times…”

  Nora lightly laughed but waved Sarah away. “I’ll take care of it this time, don’t worry. Goodbye, honey.”

  Nora always said that, and she always did have a stern conversation with Alison, but it just never worked. Even Sarah couldn’t get through to the girl and she’d known the teenager for a couple of years. Ali was not only her next-door neighbor, but Sarah also felt like a big sister to her and tried to look out for her as much as she could. After Ali and her friends had broken into Nora’s restaurant one night and were caught vandalizing it, Nora allowed her to work off the damage instead of turning her in.

  It was hit and miss with that girl sometimes, but even though it was frustrating, Sarah wasn’t about to give up on her.

  “Hey, turn that frown upside down or I’ll kick your ass,” a familiar voice threatened.

  Rayne was sitting at a worktable with papers strewn across the top when Sarah entered the floral shop next door. She also had an assortment of colored daisies snipped into various sizes and was weaving a row of them together.

  “What do you think of this?” she asked, holding up her creation that looked like a headband made of flowers. “If I attached ribbons here,” she pointed to the ends, “then they can be braided into French braids along the sides.”

  “Ah, and hold the flowers in place. Very clever.”

  “I thought so too,” she nodded decisively, obviously proud of herself.

  While Rayne took out a camera and photographed the piece of work for their project notebook, Sarah dumped her stuff on the far table and sat down.

  “So? Multi-tasking, I see.” Sarah scooped up the first paper she could reach. It was for the anniversary party they’d be planning.

  She scanned the order and began discussing details with Rayne, but they didn’t get two minutes into it before the phone rang. She slid the container of breakfast food across the table to share before she got up to answer the call.

  “Forever Flowers,” she answered politely. “This is Sarah, how may I help you?”

  “Uh, flowers?” the male voice replied back. “I was calling to order a large combo. Jalapeños on the side. And if you can add extra olives, that would be fantastic and make my life worth living.”

  She paused. “Well sorry, you’ll have better luck calling a pizza joint.”

  “Hmm, so it seems. Nah, I’m just kidding. I wanted to order some flowers, actually.”

  Sarah paused again. She wasn’t sure if she should be wary of a prank call, but she at least had a sense of humor.

  “Sure,” she smiled, grabbing an order pad. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I’m really not sure,” he said. “Surprise me.”

  She paused and glanced at Rayne, but her friend was busy scribbling something down and not even paying attention.

  “Okay,” Sarah replied slowly. “What is your budget, then. How ‘bout we start there.”

  Pause. “I have no idea how much your flowers cost, actually. What can you do for a hundred bucks?”

  Sarah’s eyes widened, but then they narrowed. Why did this voice suddenly sound so familiar? “Well, I’d say I could do something really nice for that amount. What is the occasion? That will help me figure out what to do.”

  “Hmm, the occasion… Well, I guess a grand opening. You know, something nice for the lobby.”

  Sarah leaned against the counter and dropped her chin into her hand with amusement. “What colors are in your lobby?”

  Another pause. “Navy, black, silver…um, a lot of wood…”

  She smiled, not only because her mind instantly went to the gutter, but because she could very clearly picture the face on the other end of the line. She could also feel her cheeks blush. How on earth a phone call could do that, she wasn’t sure.

  “Okay,” she answered. “I think I can put something
together for you.”

  “And no poisonous plants,” he said, trying to sound serious. But Sarah could almost hear him smiling through the phone.

  “Okay,” she chuckled. “I try to keep those only for customers I hate, anyway.”

  “Good to know I’m not on that list. Yet. And one more thing…you have to deliver it personally.”

  “Me? Why?”

  “Because…well, because the boss requested you, that’s why.”

  Sarah lightly laughed. “Um, okay. And when would you like this delivered?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  Sarah paused and looked at the clock. “Well if you give me an hour, I think that’ll do.”

  “An hour? That’s quick. Are you sure? I mean what if I’m in Malibu or Santa Clarita? You really couldn’t make a delivery in that amount of time. I’m sure you know what you’re doing, but I’d rather you not break any laws. Just trying to help.”

  “And what if you’re just right down the street from me? Say…at 8-4-0-5.”

  He paused again, and Sarah tried not to laugh.

  “Really?” he finally said. “And how could you possibly know that?”

  “Because your—” She closed her mouth before she actually said it out loud. She was about to say because his voice was extremely sexy and hard to forget. “Because I recognize your voice.”

  “Really,” he stated. “Wow, you’re good. But then again, I recognized yours the second you answered the phone.”

  “Well I kind of said my name.”

  “True, but it honestly wouldn’t have mattered.”

  There were several seconds of silence between them and that’s when Sarah noticed that Rayne was studying her curiously. Maybe her end of the conversation sounded really, really odd…

  “So what’s the name I put on this order form?” she finally asked, getting back to business.

  “Well, Sarah, my name is Tyse. T-y-s-e.”

  She smiled and wrote it down. Very different. She liked it. “Thanks for the spelling. Last name?”

  She thought she heard him clear his throat quietly before he added, “Uh, McCallan.”

  Sarah’s heart literally stopped for a beat. No. Fucking. Way. Was this a joke? It had to be a coincidence, right? It just wasn’t possible. But she had the weirdest feeling for some reason and she couldn’t shake it. It was fear. Fear, and the wave of emotion that rushed through her chest.

  “M-c-c-a—”

  “I know how it’s spelled,” she interrupted abruptly. “What’s your card number?”

  Well if a fun, flirty conversation could go bad in a matter of seconds, it surely did. She couldn’t get off the phone fast enough, and as soon as she practically threw it down on the counter, Rayne was gaping at her with obvious shock.

  “Wow, if that was a customer, I’m really not sure your phone skills are up to par.”

  “No, that was not a customer,” Sarah shook her head. “That was a McCallan.”

  Chapter Five

  Tyse sat in the sound room, methodically clicking the top of a pen. There was no one in the recording booth, but he stared into it anyway. Soon there would be art produced in this room—he could picture it clearly. There was no telling the experiences and history that would be made in this studio, but Tyse couldn’t deny the excitement that ran through his veins.

  This was actually a dream come true. Eight years ago, as a seventeen-year-old kid, he’d met Bob Dylan. He’d been at his concert that night and was lucky enough to have won backstage passes through a radio contest to meet him after the show. Tyse thought it would be just a sixty-second ‘hello how are you’ kind of thing¸ and then he’d be sent on his way. But he and his best friend Marcus actually got to sit down with the legend, and once it was mentioned that the boys both played in a small garage band, they were invited to pick up an instrument and jam with him.

  It was an experience Tyse would never forget. He would also never forget the advice he was given that day. The money and fame mean nothing; do what feels right and makes you happy.

  Tyse had always kept that in mind. While his friends talked of fame and fortune and performing for thousands of people in arenas, Tyse knew right away it wasn’t what he wanted. He loved the music and the production of it, but he would much rather watch it come to fruition from behind the scenes. After being pressured so much to become a musician, Tyse decided to pursue another career he was interested in—physical therapy—just so he didn’t have to deal with the constant nagging by his friends.

  He loved that job entirely, but music had still always been a constant in his life. He studied everything he could about recording, producing, managing, and even whatever he found about record labels and their signed clients—past and present. He got a business degree on top of his current degree, studied sound engineering on the side, and continued to play as much as he could.

  Maybe the timing of things in his life were meant to be, because when his fiancée decided to cheat on him with his best friend—and his mother finally told him who his real father was—it was at a time in his life that a change needed to be made. Tyse had no interest in the McCallans as a Hollywood family, but he really wanted to meet Kellie and Jay—siblings he never knew he had and weren’t really into the fame aspect of the family, either.

  But Tyse never expected that his biological grandfather would take so much interest in him, and Neil McCallan wasn’t exactly the man he’d perceived him to be when they first met. And then the business talk ensued, which was something they both had in common. When his grandfather first brought up the idea of building a recording studio, Tyse was instantly intrigued. He wanted to bring forth the music, not perform it, and what better way to use his music background than that? Talk soon became a reality, because as Tyse quickly learned, when a McCallan says ‘it will be done’… It sure as hell will be.

  “Obviously you’re not actually here, just your body,” a voice spoke from the doorway.

  Tyse spun his chair away from the soundboard to face Kellie. “What?”

  Laughing she said, “You are totally in space camp right now. What’re you thinking about?” she asked, coming into the room. She looked into the recording booth, like she was trying to see what he’d been envisioning.

  With a sigh, Tyse replied, “Ah, nothing in particular. Just still in amazement by all this. I can’t believe how fast life changes sometimes.”

  “Pssh, no fucking joke,” she scoffed. “I mean now I have another brother,” she motioned to him. “And Teague is married? Jay and Melanie? They have a baby? I would have never ever put money on either of those. Jesus, especially Jay. I mean really?”

  Tyse laughed and stood from the chair. “You’ve known him your whole life so you’d know better than me, but even I know what you mean.”

  Kellie stared across the room at the wall for a few seconds as she twisted a lock of her burgundy hair. “It’s cool though,” she finally said with a shrug, looking at him again. “I love how happy he is, and I love Mel like a sister. And Cade… God, that kid is gonna be a heartbreaker.”

  “Yeah, he is,” Tyse nodded.

  “Is it weird being an uncle so fast?” Kellie asked.

  The question kind of took him by surprise, so he had to think about it for a moment.

  “I mean you learn you have a family over here,” she continued, “drop your current life to look into it, and now you have all of us. I can’t imagine what that’s like for you.”

  With a slow shrug, Tyse sighed. “I had a few days to process it,” he smiled, somewhat joking. It really was strange to take in within a matter of days—and the adjustments were still in progress—but so far he was happy with the outcome of the risk he’d taken.

  “A few days,” she repeated with amusement. “Wow, and Camryn and Teague will have a little one in a couple of months… How ‘bout you?” she asked, leaning against the wall.

  “How ‘bout me for what?”

  “Kids,” she laughed. “The wife-and-kids thing.
Is that you? I mean you are amazing with Cade, and you’re so not like Jay when it comes to women—at least not how he used to be. I can also see you with a family.”

  Tyse barely shrugged a shoulder. “Yeah, I’m a one-woman kind of guy. I just need to make sure she’s the same way. I’m not into sharing.”

  Jay was the only family member so far that knew of his past with Nicole, but he’d only mentioned it to his brother to wake him the hell up so he didn’t lose Melanie. Kellie was obviously on to the bitterness in his voice right now, but Tyse changed the subject.

  “What made you stop by? And how’d you get in here? Hell, does everyone know how to open the front door when it’s locked? It’s getting replaced this afternoon.”

  Kellie smiled with confusion. “No fucking idea what you’re rambling about, but Grandpa gave me a key to the back door. He said I’d better make sure you were okay with it, but I told him to shut the fuck up, you can’t boss me around.”

  “No you did not,” Tyse laughed.

  “Okay, I didn’t say that out loud to him, but I thought it,” she grinned.

  “I’m sure you did,” he nodded, headed for the hallway. “I’ll put you to work if you stay any longer,” he hollered over his shoulder.

  “You need a manicure next?” she joshed back, following him to the lobby.

  Tyse unlocked the front door and glanced at his watch. “Not especially, but where would you put an arrangement of flowers in here?” he asked, scanning the room.

  “Flowers?” Kellie snorted. “You want flowers in here? Isn’t that a little, um, girly?”

  “You think this place is just for guys?”

  “Well, it does look a bit masculine…” Kellie looked around the lobby and shrugged. “Okay it’s pretty non gender specific, but maybe flowers would look nice in here.”

  “So where would you put them? On the reception desk?” he motioned.

  “Sure,” she shrugged. “Is this the work you want me to do? You want me to go get some flowers? Like what are we talking about? Real ones or a fake thingy?”