Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Without a word, she disappears down the hall. I give it a couple of minutes before trailing after her. I find Callie standing over Nora’s crib, arms folded, watching her daughter sleep, as if she’s trying to take in the moment.
She startles when I step beside her.
“Just in case you were wondering, she was really good for me,” I whisper, not wanting to wake the little girl.
A smile lifts the corners of Callie’s lips. It’s not an expression I’m used to seeing. Especially aimed in my direction. “I’m glad. I was kind of worried. She’s always with me or my parents. I thought she might cry the whole time I was gone.”
I shake my head, only wanting to give her reassurance. “Nope. She was great.” My brow furrows as I stare at the toddler. “She looks like she’s outgrown her crib.”
Callie huffs out a tired laugh. “Yeah, I know. I need to move her into something bigger.”
The words are simple, but they land heavy.
I wonder if it’s the money.
Or the time.
Or maybe everything that’s weighing on her all at once.
“We could do it this weekend,” I suggest.
Her head jerks toward me. “What?”
“I’ve got some time. And a truck. We could go and pick something out, then I can put it together for her.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
It would be impossible to miss the confusion that flares to life in her brown eyes.
“I want to,” I say, stepping a little closer.
When she remains silent, I add, “Remember when we had a conversation the other day about how it’s okay to accept help every once in a while? This would be one of those times.”
Her shoulders fall just a bit as she glances away. “There hasn’t been anyone to help in a long time.”
I lift my hand, gently slipping my fingers beneath her chin. Her skin is so damn smooth, and warmer than I expected. It’s almost a surprise when she doesn’t fight me as I tilt her face toward mine.
“I know,” I murmur. “And I’m sorry about that. If you’ll let me, I’d like to help.”
She studies me in silence for a handful of moments. Even with the dim lighting, I see all the emotions that jockey for position in her eyes. Both her pride and fear. The never-ending exhaustion of being a single parent and running a business without anyone to support her. And maybe the flicker of something she doesn’t want to admit.
To herself or me.
“Fine,” she whispers.
I don’t move.
Or speak.
I just stand beside her, close enough to catch the rise and fall of her chest.
And in the quiet that follows, something delicate settles between us.
Something that feels dangerously close to a softening I didn’t think was possible.
13
Callie
By the time I finally make it to the bakery the next morning, I’m running on caffeine and nerves. Nora woke up with a low-grade fever. Even though it wasn’t anything serious, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that clawed at my insides. She seemed fine by the time I dropped her at my parents’ house, but I’m still bracing for a phone call.
So when I walk in and see a glittery purple banner that reads Congratulations, I stop short. There’s a cake on the counter with bright pink frosting. Before I can jumpstart my brain, I’m swallowed up in a group hug.
Rina squeezes me hard enough to crack a rib. “We’re so proud of you!”
Sloane grins. “I knew you had him in the palm of your hand. By this time next year, you’ll be opening a second location in the suburbs.”
Lilah offers me a mug of my favorite mint tea. “You’ve earned this, Cal.”
It’s almost a shock when tears fill my eyes and a lump rises in my throat. All I can do is press a hand to my chest and try to contain all the emotion attempting to break loose.
“Thank you. Seriously. I really appreciate this.”
The four of us squeeze into the back table by the window and dig into the cake while Rina waggles her brows.
“So… Beau. Talk about one hot man.”
“He’s definitely handsome,” I agree.
Sloane leans forward. “Tell us everything. Was this a business dinner…” She waggles her brows. “Or a business dinner?”
I laugh. “It was just a business dinner. Although, the restaurant felt more romantic than I expected, and he ordered wine. Then, at the end… it kind of seemed like he might try to kiss me.”
“And?” Rina demands, sitting up straighter. “And then what happened?”
It’s almost embarrassing to admit the truth. “I might have told him that I didn’t think it was a good idea to mix business with anything personal before fumbling with the door handle and launching myself out of the car.”
Lilah giggles. “Oh no.”
Rina throws her hands in the air. “Girl. I would’ve been all over that man like glaze on a donut.”
“Yeah, well…” I shrug. “It didn’t feel right. Not that he did anything wrong. I just wasn’t feeling it.”