Page 86 of Let Me Be the One

He was awfully good at making himself at home. And at winning her over.

If Sutter’s life was on the line, she doubted he’d be able to say how she liked her coffee, yet Tanner had remembered.

After she took her first sip, she admitted—only to herself—that she liked how he settled in and got comfortable. It’d be far too easy to imagine him moving seamlessly into her life on a regular basis. Sleeping with him each night, the hot sex, the tender hugs, sharing coffee on a cool spring morning… They’d discusseverything big and small, then he would go off to do whatever landscaping jobs he had, and she would…

Her thoughts paused there. She’d never done the home and hearth before. Looking around now, she saw that she still wasn’t doing it. This house remained Reggie’s home, without her décor, her preferred arrangement, or her personal touches. Probably why Tanner was comfortable; he’d been here innumerable times.

She hadn’t made it her own yet, but still, she’d been so content.

Was she settling? Or so intent on proving something that she was willing to be “less than” everything she could be? She feared it might be the latter.

After a few fortifying sips of her coffee, she faced Tanner across the table. “So…” How did you ask a man where they were headedwithoutoutright asking? Was there a casual way to find out if this had been a one-off? Or would Tanner want a repeat performance?

Maybe she could start by asking him about dinner.

Except, Addie loved cooking dinner. Callie wouldn’t rob her of that—ifshe even could, which seemed doubtful. She took so long trying to figure it out, Tanner took over.

“Want me to help you with your chores before I take off?”

Hmm. No mention of later. Callie shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I have a routine.” And she should probably get to it. “I know you do as well?” She said it more as a question than a statement.

He nodded. “I’ll have a lot of cleanup to do. Storms always bring a mess and longtime clients ask for help in saving damaged trees and plants.”

That made sense, plus it sounded better than himclaiming last night had been a mistake. “What about your own trees?” So far she’d only seen a portion of his tree farm, but with thirty acres she imagined he’d have damage, too.

“We have a few part-time employees who work the land farther from the house when necessary. I give them a schedule, though it might change now. I’ll go out on the tractor later to check on things.”

“You have a tractor, too?”

“A compact residential tractor. Makes it easier to dig up and plant trees.” He sipped his coffee, then added, “The job varies from week to week, season to season. I’m mostly doing landscaping now, but maintenance is a year-round job. Much like tending your animals.”

“Speaking of that, I’ll need to check on the goat to see if he’s okay, too.”

“I’ll give Nell a call. She’s studying to be a vet tech, but she’s always had a way with animals. She grooms Blu for me.”

Which, Callie felt sure, was another way for Tanner to show Nell that she was needed, he trusted her, and she had options. He was backup when necessary and always a reliable friend.

It was so, so easy for him to steal her heart just by being himself. “I’d love to meet her,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

He upended his mug to finish it off, then pushed back his chair. “You’ll be around all day?”

“I don’t have any plans except the usual, so yes, I’ll be around.” Was he going to ask about seeing her again? Hopeful, and irked at herself because of it, she waited.

Tanner collected his shoes at the back door. “Then I’ll tell Nell to stop by when it’s convenient for her.”

Determined that he wouldn’t leave without at least one more kiss, she stood as well. “Okay, thanks.”

They stared at each other.

The knock on her door—now for the second time—made her want to groan at the interruption. Surely Dirk wouldn’t return so soon?

Possibly having the same thought, Tanner scowled and stormed that way.

Callie had to hustle to keep up. “I can answer my own door, thank you.”

As if that hadn’t occurred to him, he paused.

She skirted past him, unlocked the door, swung it open and—good God.

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