Mindset (23 page)

He’d never understand what she saw in him, but for now it was enough to know that, at least for the time being, she wanted him around.  He got up from the chair and gingerly climbed onto the bed to lay down beside this remarkable miracle of a woman who was sharing her time with him.  The more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted.  What once seemed so impossible now seemed necessary to his very existence, and since he was being honest with himself now, that’s what really scared the holy hell out of him.  He couldn’t help but worry that someday she’d wake up and realize how much better she could do than him.

Yep.  Shit.
  He stretched out beside her and gently curled his arm around her waist, laying his head next to hers on the pillow.

Chapter 19

Callie woke up slowly and felt an unfamiliar weight across her midsection.  She reached down and came into contact with hard, muscular warmth, and when she opened her eyes she saw long dark eyelashes shadowing a handsome familiar face that was dear to her heart.  She reached over and brushed the hair away that had fallen across his forehead.  He stirred and opened his dark blue eyes.

“Hiya, handsome.”

“Hi yourself.  I guess I fell asleep.  How do you feel?  Are you hungry?”

“Don’t get up.  Just stay here for a few minutes and hold me, ok?”

“I guess I could do that.  How are you doing?”

“Better.  My throat is sore, but I’m sure that’ll pass.  My chest feels a little tight, but otherwise, I believe I’m going to make it.  How’s Evita?”

“She was still sleeping when I came in to check on you.  That girl’s got spirit, I’ll tell you.  If she hadn’t pried open the roof in the shed while you were trapped in there, we might not have had quite such a happy ending.  Remind me to thank her later.”  He looked deeply into Callie’s eyes and leaned over to kiss her gently.

“Do I taste like smoke?”

“Ummm.  You taste like more.  Come here.”

What started out as an expression of sweet gratitude for the gift of each other quickly evolved into something more heated.  Callie turned towards Cade and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.  Cade answered her embrace with one of his own, pulling her closer, and she could feel his growing erection against her hip.  He moved her to her back and covered her with his own body, nudging apart her thighs and grinding against her softness.  Although the covers were still between them, there was no stopping their growing excitement for one another.

Cade groaned against her mouth.  “God damn it, Callie, I want you.  I ache for you.  I need to get you alone.”

“We are alone.  Now stop talking and start kissing.”

He smiled at that.  “Baby, as much as I’m dying to get you naked underneath me, we’re going to have to practice some restraint, considering that your granddad, not to mention your two brothers, is right downstairs along with Trish and her kids, and any one of them are likely to show up at any minute.”

Callie groaned her frustration.  “Can’t we just put out a do not disturb sign and lock the door?”

“Do you really think that would keep them out?”

“Crap.  Probably not.  I need to get my own place.”

“Not right now you don’t.  Not with some crazy man after you.  I’m not about to let you out of my sight until we get this guy.  From now on, where you go, I go and vice versa.  Now, I’m going downstairs to make us a couple of plates.  Trish came by and brought lasagna.  I knew I liked that girl for some reason.  It’ll just take me a minute to zap it in the microwave.”

“I’ll go with you, Cade.  I’ve been in bed all day.  I want to get up for awhile.”

“You sure you’re up to it sweetheart?”

“I’m sure.”  He helped her into her robe, held her close one more time, then took her hand to lead her downstairs.

“Well, look who’s up.  How are you feeling, sugar?”  John stood up and hugged Callie. 

“Much better, Granddad.  I’m kind of hungry.  Did you boys leave us anything?”

Trish walked into the room with a freshly changed baby.  “Well, hey!  How are you doing?”  She gave her a big hug.  “I’ll make you and Cade a plate.”

As she headed for the oven, she passed Jake, and the baby reached for him.  Never one to turn down a proposition from the opposite sex, Jake took her from her mother.

Trish just smiled.  “What have you done to my daughter?  She never goes to anybody, but she can’t seem to stay away from you.”

“What can I say?  The girl’s got good taste, don’t you sweetheart?”  He lifted the baby up high above his head, and she laughed out loud.

Cade and Callie had just sat down at the table when Eva walked in.  Josh was the first to spot her and stood up to pull out a chair for her to sit in.  She smiled at him and took a seat.  Trish came over and gave her hug.  “One more plate coming up.”  Eva held up her thumb and first finger, a small space between them to indicate she only wanted a little bit.  Trish set a plate in front of her.   She took a hesitant bite, but had a hard time swallowing with her damaged throat.  Of the two women, she was the worse for wear.  She smiled and gave the a-okay sign. 

“Are you trying to take my job as cook?”  Eva rasped.  “The lasagna is delicious.”  She started to cough and took a drink of the iced tea that had been set before her.

“The job of family cook is filled,” John spoke up.  “However, you’re on sick leave for a few days, and it sure was nice to see Trish show up with supper.  I was getting ready to go get some kind of takeout.  You’ve spoiled me, Eva.  I may never cook again.  Please don’t ever leave me.”   Eva smiled at his heartfelt plea, especially when he placed his hands over his heart and got a sappy look on his face.

“You’re funny, Granddad,” Trevor piped in.  Everyone laughed. 

Trish opened her mouth to correct him when John added, “Leave the boy alone.  He can call me Granddad if he wants to.”

Josh walked over to Eva and placed a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of her.  “It’ll go down easier than the lasagna.”  She smiled her gratitude and dug in. 
That man always seems to know what I need before I do.

****

Leftovers were put away and the kitchen was cleaned up.  Trish knew she needed to get the kids bathed and in bed soon, and she started to gather her things.  John took Trevor’s hand while Jake picked up the baby from her spot on the floor where she was banging away at the plastic ware with wooden spoons. 

“Come on, sweetheart, time to go bye-bye.  Thanks again for dinner, Trish.” 

“Thanks to both of you for helping with the kids while I threw everything together.

“Granddad, can you come over and play with me tomorrow?”

“I’ve got to take care of the animals, son.  Maybe your mama will bring you back real soon, though, and you can help me with them.  If she says it’s okay, I’ll teach you how to ride a horse some time, too.”

“Can I Mom?  Please?”

“We’ll see, Trevor.  Now say goodnight.”  She saw him buckled into his big boy car seat and took the baby from Jake and strapped her in, too.

“Listen, Trish, it might be a good idea if you didn’t go out to the Lit Center by yourself.  We don’t know who set that fire today, and I’d feel a lot better if I knew you weren’t out there by yourself.  Granddad always says it’s better to be safe than sorry, you know.”

“I appreciate your concern, Jake, but I can take care of myself.  We have a lot to do in a little bit of time, and with the other girls down, I can’t possibly stay away from there.  We have to be open for business by the time school lets out, so we can have our summer reading camps.”  She paused and looked towards the house.  “Those two women in there put up a lot of money, because they believed in me.  There’s no way I’m going to let them down.”

He took a deep breath.  “Well at least keep the doors locked and your cell phone handy.  I’ve got some contracts out that way, so I’ll be in the area, and I can stop by from time to time.  Here, take my business card and program my numbers into your speed dial, ok?”

She looked at the card and took it.  “Like I said, Jake, I can take care of myself, but thanks for the offer.”  She walked to the other side of the car, got in, and drove away.

“Looks like we’ve got another tough Texas chick on our hands, don’t it son?”  Jake didn’t answer.  He was too busy watching the car drive away.  “That Trish sure is a nice girl, isn’t she?”  Again, no answer.  John smiled slyly and walked back to the house, leaving his grandson standing alone in the dark.

His other grandson met him at the door, on his way out, too.  “Did the girls go to sleep son?”

“Eva did.  I think Callie’s still up talking to Cade.  You know they’re going to end up together, don’t you?”

“Without a doubt, son, without a doubt.  I don’t know if he knows it yet, but she sure does.  And you know our Callie girl…once she sets her mind to something, it’s only a matter of time before she makes it happen.  That boy never had a snowball’s chance in hell of fighting her off, although he gave it his best effort for a long time.  What did you say about the girls going to bed?”

“I said Eva went to bed, but Callie’s still up.”

“Oh yeah, I remember now.  That Eva sure is a sweet girl, isn’t she?  Pretty little thing, too.”

“She is at that, Granddad.”

“It’s a good thing you’re doing, helping her get rid of that worthless SOB she’s married to.  When’s the divorce going to final?”

“Another month or two, tops.”  He paused.  “She deserves better than the hand she’s been dealt so far, Granddad.  She deserves some happiness in her life.”  He got quiet again, staring at nothing in particular.

“Yes, she does son.  Maybe she’ll meet someone someday who can undo some of the harm that’s been done to her.  Someone who sees her worth and cherishes her the way she should be.  In the meantime, though, I hope she’ll stay with us for awhile.  The house is a brighter home with her here.  Well, I’m going inside now.  Goodnight, Josh.”

Josh surfaced out of his thoughts long enough to say goodnight and started towards his car.

John headed back to the house smiling. 
Two down and one to go, and this mission will be all but accomplished
.  He rubbed his hands together and headed towards the couple seated on the couch watching a movie with their arms around each other.  He yawned loudly as he entered the room.

“I’m tired.  I think I’ll go to bed.  You know, son, I’ve been thinking.  Maybe you ought to sleep inside the house for awhile with all the trouble we’ve been having lately.  I’m not as young as I used to be, and I’m not so sure I’d hear someone if they tried to get into the house, much less be able to protect the women.  I hate to put you out, especially with the guest room occupied and all, but I wondered if you might sleep on the couch for the next few nights.”

“Sure, John.  I’d be happy to sleep on the couch.  I think that’s a good idea.”