The Teacher's Billionaire (16 page)

“Hi. I hope I didn't wake you,” Dylan replied. “I just got in from dinner with Warren and my mother.”

“No, I'm just watching some television.” O
r at least trying.
The television was on yet she didn't know what was happening even though it was one of her favorite shows.

“I won't keep you. I just wanted to say hello, and tell you I should be up on Saturday. There's no way I can get out of the city before then.”

“You can stay here if you want,” Callie said before she even had a chance to really think about it.

As soon as the words passed through her lips she wanted to snatch them back. Was she coming off as to clingy? Was she pushing things to far to fast? Callie felt so out of her element with this man who kept inching his way into her heart.

More like bull dozing.

“If you don't want to...” she added wishing she could turn the clock back a few seconds.

“There's no place I'd rather stay especially if it means more of your apple cinnamon pancakes for breakfast. Preferably served to me in bed by you completely naked, but I'm flexible.”

Callie blushed at the mental image his words evoked. “Don't count on it. I have a rule about not eating in bed, so unless you're on your death bed, it's not happening.”

His sexy laugh came over the line. “Like I said, I'm flexible. If you want to serve them to me in the kitchen while you're naked that's fine too.”

The man was impossible
she thought rolling her eyes. “I still wouldn't count on it.”

“Sounds like a challenge to me. One I look forward to undertaking.”

Chapter 10

Man do you have it bad.
You haven't dusted in more than a month. Or was it two?
He was spending the night not conducting a white gloved test of her apartment to see how good of a housekeeper she was.

Still Callie wanted the place to look nice. She'd already vacuumed, cleaned the tiny bathroom and changed the bedsheets. Dusting was the last thing on her to-do list, and it was only eleven o'clock. He'd said he would be there around two, so she still had plenty of time to shower before he arrived. Tossing the dust cloth in the trash, she surveyed the room. It might not be worthy of Park Avenue, but it looked inviting, the neatest it looked in ages actually.

Three hours later Callie remained curled up on the couch, her nose buried in a new romance novel by one of her favorite authors. Dylan had called to say he would be late because of traffic. A multi-car accident had completely closed down I-90.

“I'm starting to feel like a character from one of these books, Lucky.” The dog sat in his usually spot next to her, his head on her leg half asleep.

Average everyday woman falls head over heels in love with rich powerful CEO. Man, did that sound like something written on the back cover of about a hundred books she'd read.

In those cases though the heroine always got a happy ending. Callie had no idea what to expect. She wasn't even sure what kind of relationship they were in. Were they free to see other people? Did he see other women during the week? She couldn't imagine him having the time. He called her every night, though sometimes it was well after nine o'clock when he finally got home from the office. Some nights they only had time to talk for a few minutes. Other conversations lasted much longer.

Despite their numerous phone calls the status of their relationship never came up. Actually the word relationship never came up at all. Neither did the word love. She'd almost slipped once and said it. But she caught herself in the nick of time.
Thank god.

At some point I'm going to have to bite the bullet and confront him.
Find out where their relationship was going. It wasn't happening this weekend. Her only plan was to enjoy herself. She would leave the tough conversations for another time.

Heck, maybe he would confess his never dying love for her tonight.
Don't count on it.

Such scenes only played out in movies and books, not real life. Still a girl could hope right?

A loud knock at the door sent Lucky bolting from the couch, waking Callie in the process. Still half asleep she sat up and checked her watch. Nearly five.

Rubbing her eyes she stood and stretched. How long had she been asleep? She hadn't even intended to take a nap. One minute she'd been reading and the next her eyes were so heavy she just couldn't keep them open. She only planned on closing them for a minute. That had been sometime around four she thought.

“Quiet Lucky. Go sit,” she commanded as she pulled open the door. Thanks to all the obedience classes she'd done with him the dog stopped barking and moved back to the living room.

Dylan didn't wait for her to invite him in. “Who needs a doorbell with him around.” In one quick movement he dropped his bags on the floor and pulled her tightly against him.

Callie found herself wrapping her arms around his neck as he worshiped her mouth. Standing there safely locked in his embrace, she lost all coherent thoughts that might have been going through her head. The only thing she could focus on was the hard body pressed against hers, and the soft fabric of his shirt beneath her fingers.

“God, I've missed you,” he said finally coming up for air. His breathing was slightly ragged informing Callie he was as effected by their kiss as she was. “I thought I'd never get here. Traffic stood still for hours.”

Did he just say he missed me?
She couldn't have imagined that. Could she? It wasn't any declaration of love, not by a long shot. But it did show he cared about her. Right?

Now isn't the time to think about it.
“I'm glad you're finally here. I've missed you too.” It was as close to telling him she loved him that she was going to get this weekend.

Callie moved out of Dylan's embrace to close the door behind him. “Is there anything particular you want to do this weekend?” Callie picked up his bags, so she could bring them into her bedroom.

Before she could move he grabbed the bags away from her. “Do you really need to ask?” The heat in his gaze told her exactly what he had in mind.

Desire and excitement shot through her body. There was no stopping it. “We might need to come up for air at some point,” she said almost not recognizing her own voice. To her ears it sounded sexy and flirtatious. Neither were words she associated with herself.

“That's where you serving me pancakes in bed wearing nothing but a smile comes in,” he joked before heading to her bedroom to drop his bags off.

Did the heat in here just go up?
Just thinking about Dylan's words set her body on fire. Grabbing a magazine off the table she fanned herself. Was he serious? Even if he was it wasn't something she could ever do. She'd never been comfortable being naked, or showing off to much of her body. The one time she'd dared to wear a bikini to the beach, she ended up leaving on her cover up the entire time.

If he was serious, that told her something, didn't it? It meant he desired her at least, right? It told her that he was attracted to her. She was certainly drawn to him like a moth to light and not just physically.

Slowly, Dylan's eyes opened. Callie's warm body was tucked up against his, her head resting on his chest. Her dark hair spilling across his bare skin. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. And not only beautiful on the outside. In his thirty-five years he'd seen plenty of women who were physically beautiful. That was just window dressing. On the inside they'd been shallow, self-absorbed. Not his Callie.

His Callie?
When had he stated to think of her as his, he wondered.

“What have I gotten myself into,” he whispered to himself. This thing between them wasn't permanent. He shouldn't be thinking of her as his.

Just because I enjoy spending time with her and making love to her is incredible, his brain paused mid-thought. When had he started to think of it as making love and not sex? Dylan had no idea. Still he thought of it that way with Callie. To say they had sex didn't do justice to what he experienced with her. It was so much more.

You're over thinking it, Talbot. This is just another relationship. Like any other
. “Yeah, right. And the world is flat,” he muttered to himself.

Next to him he felt Callie stir. “Morning,” she said her voice gravely with sleep. “How did you sleep?” Callie reached up and placed a gentle kiss on his check.

Damn but he could get used to waking up like this every morning. Bad. Very Bad.

“Like the dead. You wore me out last night,” he teased. He knew without even looking that she was blushing. Maybe it was cruel but he loved that he could make her blush. “If I'd known how demanding you were going to be I would have had a few Red Bulls before I got here. Or at least a coffee after dinner.”

Callie punched him in the arm before starting to climb out of bed. “Look who's talking.”

Reaching for her arm to pull her back next to him, he asked “Where are you going?”

“To make pancakes. Got to make sure I replenish your energy reserves.” She scooted out of his reach and pulled on a long New England Patriots t-shirt.

Oh, yeah! He could definitely get used to getting up like this everyday.
You're in big trouble here, Talbot.

Dylan remained in bed staring at the ceiling. In the kitchen he could hear her moving around, but he stayed under the covers.
You're digging yourself a hole the size of the Grand Canyon.
Lying in Callie's bed was perhaps the last place in the world he should be. At the same time it was the only place he wanted to be. When had the situation gotten so complicated? Maybe the night he'd first kissed her in the kitchen. Or had it been that night in Newport when they'd gone out for dinner?

Face it you were attracted to her the first time you meet her, he told himself raking a hand across his face. If he was smart he'd call it quits after the fundraiser in New York. Let her move on. Phillips wouldn't have to know. Dylan knew it was the right thing to do. The thought of doing it, however, left him feeling hollow inside. Now isn't the time to make this decision, he reasoned tossing off the blankets. There would be plenty of time to do it when he was alone in his apartment.

***

Stuffed with apple cinnamon pancakes, they headed to Brook Farm State Park for a day hike. “What do you think? Do you have enough energy left for a challenging trail or do you need one of the beginner ones?” Callie asked as they looked over a map of the various trails.

“I'm up for a challenge. But if you're tired by all means a beginner one is fine.” Dylan kissed the side of her neck and smiled when she tilted her head exposing more of her neck to him.

“You're trying to distract me so I'll pick an easy one. It won't work.” Callie took a few steps away. “Follow me.”

Neither of them spoke much as they made their way up steep inclines and through the various vegetation. Dylan didn't mind the lack of conversation. It allowed him a chance to really take in his surroundings. One of the things he loved about hiking was how isolated you felt. Living in the city he constantly had people around him. Out here though you could almost imagine you were the last person on Earth.

The lack of conversation also allowed him to focus on Callie. She made her way up the mountain with ease. She actually made it look effortless. Though he was in excellent shape, it'd been awhile since he last hiked and his legs were certainly feeling it. Callie showed no sign of sharing his discomfort.

You're going to feel this in the morning.
Reaching around to the side pocket of his pack he pulled out his water. Morning, now there was a time he wasn't looking forward to. He'd be waking up alone tomorrow. Doing so had never bothered him before, but now he found himself wishing Callie was coming back to the city with him tonight.

For a moment he considered inviting her. Bad idea, his brain screamed as he chugged water.
You're letting yourself become too attached
. Besides she has work tomorrow, he reminded himself. He knew she only had a few days of school left.

“Why don't we stop here for a rest,” Callie called out to him interrupting his thoughts. They'd broken through to a fairly level area with a small stream running through it.

“Sounds great.” Dylan removed the backpack he wore and joined her beside the stream. Settling himself on the ground he used a large boulder as a backrest. “I'm glad we did this today.”

Callie took a long drink from the water he handed her. “Me too. I haven't been hiking since last fall. I love it out here. Whenever you want a hiking partner just holler.”

He couldn't think of her as a hiking partner. That made her sound to much like just another buddy. She was certainly not that. The term girlfriend didn't fit either. That implied a possible long-term situation. Yet he couldn't think of her as just another casual relationship that he would forget about in a few months either.