A Time for Home: A Snowberry Creek Novel (24 page)

The call went right to voice mail. “Not a problem about the truck, man. Just take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything.”

Now it was time to go see Callie. If he’d had the truck, he might have considered driving into town long enough to pick up a bouquet of flowers or maybe some of Bridey’s pastries. On the other hand, he wasn’t sure how the lady next door would react to any form of bribe.

Maybe it was better to go empty-handed and hope for the best. He cut through the woods, forcing himself to walk at a normal pace, not wanting to arrive short of breath and jittery. As he crossed the yard, he could hear Mooch announcing Nick’s arrival from inside the house.

Callie opened the door to invite him in before Nick reached the top step. He took that as a good sign.

Or maybe not. He wasn’t sure what to think about the suitcase and carryon bag that sat in the middle of the kitchen floor. He stared at them for several seconds before he looked at Callie, needing to know why they were there and afraid to ask. She trailed her fingers over the top of the larger suitcase and answered his unspoken question.

“After you left earlier I realized that you weren’t the only one who needed to think everything through more clearly.”

She turned away to stare out the window toward the backyard. “I came back to Snowberry Creek expecting to stay just until I took another contract job. Then this whole thing with Spence, the house, and now you happened.”

He regretted his part in putting that sad note in her voice. “You have to know that I never meant to be a problem for you, Callie.”

“I do know that, Nick, and I didn’t mean to complicate your life, either.”

She twirled a strand of her hair around her fingers. “About the suitcases. I’ve been offered a job interview in Portland. It’s a company I’ve worked for before as an independent contractor, but they said this time it might turn into something permanent. All things considered, I think I should go. Mooch will be all right here with you for a couple of days, won’t he?”

Did she even have to ask? “Of course. How long will you be gone?”

“Two days, three tops. It will all depend on whether they actually offer me the job. If they do, I’ll need to look for a place for me and Mooch to live.”

How could she even think about leaving Snowberry Creek? The very thought made him want to shake some sense into her. Considering how unstable his control was at the moment, Nick retreated several steps before he did something really stupid. He leaned against the counter, hoping he looked and sounded calmer than he felt.

“If I might ask, what changed, Callie? It was only a few hours ago that you were planning to remodel Spence’s house and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. If you’re leaving because of me, say so. I’ll pack up and be ready to go as soon as Leif gets back with my truck tomorrow morning.”

He willed her to turn around, to look at him, to let him see the truth for himself. When she did as he’d hoped, he immediately wished she hadn’t. The stark pain in her eyes ripped a hole right through his heart. God, he never meant to hurt her like this.

“Aw, Callie, honey. I’m so sorry.” Although he wasn’t sure what it was he apologizing for, he repeated himself. “I truly am sorry.”

Callie offered him a poor excuse for a smile. “It’s not you, Nick, or at least not entirely. It suddenly hit me that maybe I am doing all of this out of some misguided idea that I owed it to Spence.”

She waved her hand in the direction of the house next door. “Somehow I got it in my head that doing something with Spence’s house would be like some kind of memorial to him. But what if I wouldn’t be happy staying in one place? Living in that house out of a misguided sense of obligation is the last thing Spence would have wanted for me.”

Callie drew a deep, shuddering breath. “So the bottom line is that I need to explore all of my options before I commit to anything.”

Or anyone, especially him—not that Nick blamed her. After all, she was right. Spence’s death had hit her hard, knocking her life off course the same way it had his. Both of them had a lot to consider.

She echoed his thoughts. “I think we need some time apart to figure out what it is that we actually want.”

Her words sent a chill straight through him. That didn’t mean she wasn’t right. “When do you leave?”

“First thing in the morning.”

Which meant they still had tonight. Could he convince her to spend as much of it with him as possible? Maybe not, but he had to try.

Casting around for any idea, he finally asked, “Are you up for a walk tonight?”

She blinked, clearly surprised by the change in topics. “I could be. That is, if you’re not too mad at me.”

Had she expected him to fight her about her decision? Even if he had the right, he understood far better than anybody the need to find his own way back to normal.

“I’m not mad, Callie, although I won’t lie to you. I hate to see you go.”

He forced a smile. “Listen, I haven’t had dinner, and I’m guessing you haven’t, either. Why don’t we walk into town and grab a quick bite? I’ll make sure we get back in plenty of time for you to get a good night’s sleep.”

It was a relief when Callie didn’t hesitate. Picking up her keys, she started for the door. “Tell you what: Let’s get something to go and then eat by the creek so Mooch can go with us.”

Nick followed her outside, promising himself he’d do everything possible to make sure she enjoyed the outing. If it was to be their last night together, he wanted it to be memorable.

C
allie couldn’t remember the last time she laughed so much. By unspoken agreement, she and Nick both set aside their problems and kept the tone of the evening light and fun. They’d picked up a pizza for dinner for simplicity’s sake, although they’d argued a bit about what kind to order. He wanted sausage and pepperoni while she held out for the veggie special.

Finally, they’d flipped a coin, and she’d won. Then, in the spirit of the evening, she ordered one of each kind, figuring Nick and Leif would take care of any leftovers. After the two of them had eaten their fill, she sat back and watched while Nick entertained Mooch throwing sticks for him to fetch. For a dog that had grown up alone on the streets, he took to games with surprising gusto.

Callie had promised to give Mooch a good home with her, and she’d meant it. However, watching the two of them play so happily together made her heart hurt. The bond between the man and the dog was painfully clear, and both would suffer if separated. What was she supposed to do about that?

Nick turned as if to tell her something, but his smile quickly faded. “Callie, is something wrong?”

Nothing. Everything.

She managed a small smile. “No, I’m fine. I should be getting back to the house. I still have a few things left to do before I can leave in the morning.”

Now his expression mirrored hers. He called Mooch back to his side and clipped on the leash. “Come on, boy, we need to go.”

Great, now even the dog’s tail was drooping, but the two males joined her. Nick handed off Mooch’s leash and picked up the pizza boxes from the picnic table. Then he took her hand in his, giving it a quick squeeze as they started the long walk back to the house.

After a bit, Nick released her hand and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in closer to his side. The evening air had a slight chill to it, and the heat from Nick’s body felt good. For the moment, he seemed content to walk in silence.

But as they approached the driveway to Spence’s house, he slowed to a stop and stooped down to unclip Mooch’s leash. “Go on home, boy. I’ll be along in a minute.”

The dog woofed softly and trotted off into the woods. Nick then set the pizza boxes on top of the mailbox. Callie watched and waited to see what he’d do next. Her pulse picked up speed when he stepped in front of her and ran his big hands up and down her arms, leaving a lot of heat in their wake.

She offered up no resistance when he closed the small distance between them to enfold her in his arms. “Mooch will miss you while you’re gone.”

He’d whispered the words close to her ear, his breath tickling her skin. She whispered back, “And I’ll miss him.”

Nick gave her a stern look. “He’ll expect you to call every night, so he can know you’re all right alone in the big city.”

Callie laughed but only because Nick expected it. “You won’t mind taking messages for him?”

He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “Not at all. You know how much the fur ball worries.”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

But when she lifted her face to respond to his teasing, her smile died as Nick stared down at her with hot, stark hunger in his dark eyes. Whatever she’d thought to say disappeared in a rush of desire.

Nick brushed her hair back from her face, his touch gentle. “Stay with me, Callie, just for tonight.”

There were probably a dozen reasons why that wasn’t a good idea. Not a single one came to mind. “It won’t change anything.”

“I know.”

There was such powerful truth and understanding in his simple statement. They both knew the risks and the rewards of sharing the night together. She’d known from early on that Nick could break her heart, but she wasn’t going to miss this chance to assuage the constant ache for his touch.

She cupped the side of his face, trailing her fingers along the lines of tension in his jaw and down to the thrumming pulse at the base of his neck. He might have sounded calm, but he was feeling the same hunger, the same need.

“Take me to bed, Nick.”

Rather than immediately rush down the driveway to the house, Nick kissed her with such sweetness, but with an added spice of heat. He broke it off abruptly and glanced back toward town. A car was coming their way, and soon its headlights would find them hovering on the side of the road. After grabbing the pizza, Nick took her hand, and the two of them ran down the driveway, laughing as they dove into the dark shadows like a pair of teenagers desperate for a bit of privacy.

By the time they’d reached the porch, she was a bit breathless. Nick quickly unlocked the door and stood back as Mooch ran inside just ahead of Callie. Nick led her straight up the staircase without bothering to turn on any lights. When they reached his bedroom, he closed the door, shutting out the world, including Mooch. The last vestiges of the sunset gave his room a rosy glow as the two of them tumbled down onto the bed.

•   •   •

God, what was he doing? Did he really need to remind himself that he was in Spence’s hometown with the woman who had meant everything to him? Not only that, but Nick was about to make love to her in Spence’s house. That was wrong on so many levels, but at the moment Nick couldn’t find the strength to stop himself, not when time was running out for the two of them. Tomorrow would be time enough to deal with a new layer of guilt.

Doing his best to ignore the grumble of his conscience, Nick forced himself to go slowly, to savor the moment. He wanted to memorize every second, every touch, every kiss the two of them shared. For the longest time, they lay together, arms and legs tangled, as they kissed and fanned the flames between them with simple touch.

His lady wasn’t as patient. She was the one who grew frustrated by the layers of clothing between them. Callie tugged his shirt up and off, tossing it to the floor. Her kisses left a hot trail down his chest until she reached the waistband of his cargo shorts. Her smile was wicked as she slipped the button free and then worked the zipper down. He lifted his hips to assist Callie in her mission.

She peeled down his shorts, taking his boxers with them. Next, she made quick work of his shoes and socks before sitting back as if to admire her handiwork. When he reached for her, she slapped his hands away.

“No way! Let me.”

“Okay,” he said as he reached back to hold on to the headboard, content for the moment to be her willing prisoner.

“You’re looking pretty hungry there, Callie girl, although I’m thinking you have a few too many clothes on right now.”

His comment seemed to please her. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

She took her time, letting him look his fill as she gradually revealed each luscious inch of her skin. God, he hoped he wasn’t drooling, but she was so damned beautiful. When her clothes had joined his on the floor, she straddled his thighs and slid her hands up his chest until she was stretched out on top of him.

The simple contact felt good but wasn’t near enough to satisfy his need for her. “Damn, woman, you’re killing me here.”

She kissed him slowly, deeply, the whole time rocking her hips, stoking the fire between them. He moaned when she broke off the kiss, but his disappointment was short-lived. She reached between them and firmly gripped his penis in the warmth of her hand.

Her smile was all vixen as she teased him with a sliding massage. She kept her eyes locked on his as she bowed her head down to follow the trail her hand had blazed. He arched up off the bed, begging her to take more, to take everything he had to offer.

But then the teasing was over. She rolled to the side, pulling him with her. Between one heartbeat and the next, he took control and then took her. When their bodies joined, it was heaven. He reined himself in long enough to savor the moment, but when she lifted her legs high around his hips, taking him even more deeply into her body, his control snapped.

He thrust into her hard and fast, over and over. Callie dug her nails into his shoulders, encouraging him, demanding everything he had to give her. Despite the near frenzy, he recognized this moment for what it was: a claiming, marking Callie as his, maybe not forever, but at least for tonight.

All too quickly, she reached her climax, taking him with her. He held on tight, pouring out everything he had to make it as good for her as he could. A few seconds later, both of them were breathing hard and totally spent. Nick mustered up enough strength to move to the side, spooning along the length of Callie’s body before tugging the sheet and quilt up to cover them both.

For the moment, he would be content to simply hold her, to fill his senses with her scent and soak in the warmth of her skin. They weren’t done yet, not by a long shot. He’d give both of them time to recover, and then he’d coax Callie into a repeat performance or maybe two. He couldn’t lose sight of the fact that she’d need some rest for her long drive to Portland tomorrow. But one way or another, the memory of this time together would follow her down the highway.

He hated the whole idea of her leaving, but he would watch as she drove away. Hell, he’d even smile and wave. But even as he gave her the space and time she needed, he’d despair every minute she was gone. His patience had limits. If Callie didn’t realize that her place was right here in Snowberry Creek, especially with him, he’d have to figure out some way to convince her.

That was something for him to work on later. For tonight, he had her exactly where he wanted her.

•   •   •

A scratching at the bedroom door followed by something breaking downstairs dragged Callie up from a deep sleep. She stared up at the ceiling, trying to decide whether she’d really heard a noise or if it had been part of a dream.

Nick answered the question for her. “It’s Mooch scratching at the door trying to tell us somebody else is in the house. Stay still and stay quiet.”

His words came in a soft whisper near her ear just before he rolled up to sit on the edge of the bed. Fear tasted sour in her throat as Callie watched Nick pulling on his cargoes. “What are you going to do?”

He put his finger across her lips, reminding her not to talk. The scratching at the door resumed, this time accompanied by a soft growl. Nick reached for something on the dresser and approached the door, calling softly, “Stand down, Mooch.”

Nick returned to the bedside long enough to toss Callie her shirt and jeans with his free hand. The other one held a handgun.

“Get dressed, Callie. I’m not sure how this is going to play out.”

Her fingers fumbled with even the simplest task, but she managed to pull on her shirt and zip her jeans. “Shouldn’t we call the police?”

Nick nodded and handed her his cell phone. “Warn them I’m armed and that I’m going downstairs to see what the hell’s going on.”

Callie followed him across the room. “Why can’t you stay up here and wait for the police?”

His eyes glinted in the darkness, and his voice was steel hard and cold. “I’m tired of this bastard playing these games, and he could be gone before the police arrive. This ends tonight.”

She wanted to argue some more, but he’d already opened the door and stepped out into the hall. The way he moved in total silence was startling. He looked far too at home with that gun in his hand. Gone was her gentle lover; in his place was the highly trained soldier. Knowing that was what he was and seeing Nick in action were two very different things.

She hated being left alone, but someone had to call the authorities. The dispatcher answered on the second ring; her calm voice and businesslike attitude went a long way toward calming Callie’s badly frayed nerves.

“They’ll be there inside of ten minutes, Miss Redding. Where are you in the house?”

“I’m on the second floor, but my, uh, friend Nick went downstairs to investigate. He’s a soldier and took his handgun with him. He wanted me to tell you that.”

The dispatcher didn’t try to hide her disapproval. “I’ll warn the officers, but it would have been better if he’d stayed with you.”

Callie wasn’t about to argue that point. “What should I do?”

“Stay where you are. Lock the door to your room if it has one. The officer says he’s within two miles of your house now.”

Thank goodness. Callie held on to the phone like it was a lifeline, praying the police would get there before anything happened downstairs. She didn’t even care if the intruder made good on his escape as long as no one got hurt, especially Nick.

What was going on down there, anyway? She pressed her ear against the door, hoping to hear something, anything that would let her know that Nick and Mooch were all right. Nothing but an ominous silence. She crossed the room and carefully peeked out the window to watch for the police.

The first set of lights she saw flickering through the trees kept on going. She held the cell phone in a death grip, praying the next car would herald the arrival of the cavalry.

What was happening downstairs? Nothing, she prayed.

But then a crash and a cry of pain shattered any hope of that. The smart thing to do would be to stay right where she was, but what if Nick was hurt? She was out in the hall and poised at the top of the steps in a heartbeat.