Page 11 of Backed By You
She huffs in annoyance. “I missedonecall. I was in the middle of a project; he knows I always get back to him when I can.”
Justin nods. “Yeah, I figured as much. But you know how it goes, get the call, gotta check in.” He points to the porch swing. “Need any help hanging that up?”
I move. Pushing off the post, I stalk my way over, grumbling several curses under my breath as I catch Callie’s eye and the stunning smile that follows. She gestures my way. “Thank you, but Beau was just coming over to help me.”
Justin raises a brow when I walk past him and onto Callie’s porch to hang this goddamn swing, because like hell I’m watchingDeputy Justinhelp her.
“You sure, Beau? I’d hate to see you mess your knee up. After all those surgeries it took to put you back together.”
I snarl, ignoring him. I hoist up the chain and swing, getting it hooked, hung, and level within seconds. Callie beams, craning her delicate neck up to look at me. “Thank you.”
Justin clears his throat loudly. “Well, I’d better get going. It was good seeing you, Callie. Tell your father I said hello when you get a chance to call him back.” He winks with a chuckle, retreating on his heel to his car.
When he’s gone, I glance at Callie as she plops on the freshly installed porch swing. I watch her swing, smiling with a light laugh as she pats the space beside her. “Do you want to sit? Give it aswing.”
I huff in frustration, shaking my head, earning me another beautiful smile and giggle from her. I gesture toward her cabin. “Duke mentioned the oven stopped working.”
She nods, continuing to enjoy her porch swing. “Yeah, I don’t know what happened. It just stopped working a few weeks ago.”
“I’ve got time tomorrow morning to take a look.”
“What time?” she asks.
“Whenever works for you.”
She raises a brow with a playful smile. “Well, I was hoping to sleep in on a Sunday. Assuming this jerk who cranks up a chainsaw before seven in the morning doesn’t perform a repeat wake-up call.”
I ignore her comment. “My brother is coming over at noon to decide how we’ll be clearing out these bigger trees. There shouldn’t be any need for a noise complaint by that time.”
She glances at the partially cleared, taped-off property next to her cabin. “Why are you clearing the trees?”
“Adding another cabin,” I grumble. “Does 0900 work for you? Gives me time to get parts or a replacement if needed.”
“That’s fine.” She smiles, and I turn away to head to my cabin when she says, “Sure you don’t want to try out the new swing? She’s swinging like a dream.” She sing-songs with a giggle.
I glance at her, lifting my chin to her Jeep. “Move your car and turn the wheels so they’re straight. You’ll fuck up your drive shaft if you keep leaving it like that.”
She swings high, sending me a mocking salute. “Yes, sir.”
And if the sight of her beaming smile or the sound of her laughter didn’t send a jolt to my cold heart—knowing how happy she is right now because of a damn swing would do the trick.
Four.
Beau
Ilandthreeheavyknocks on Callie’s front door and wait.
“Coming,” she calls just before the chain lockslidesand the deadboltclicks. The door swings inward to reveal her clad in what I can only describe aswomen’s torture apparel—and by all means, is the torture directed solely onme.
This woman and her damnable silken sleep sets.
“Good morning,” she beams, far more chipper than yesterday’s early wakeup call.
“Morning,” I grunt as she waves me inside, having to shoo Hulk from his firm stance by the door to allow me in. He follows me to the kitchen, far calmer today versus our first encounter.
“Sorry for the mess,” Callie says, rushing ahead as my gaze scans the space.
I didn’t get to look around much the other day, given the circumstances, but the place is much smaller than I remember. No wonder Ma said this cabin doesn’t get booked as often.
