Page 30 of Make it Real
“I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be. That’ll only encourage them.”
We reached the door, where Granny and her friends would see us perfectly under the porch light. I put my back to them and faced him, figuring that of the two of us, he could probably handle their close scrutiny best. Hopefully, enduring embarrassment had fallen under some kind of Army training protocol. As expected, he pretended not to see them.
“I had a good time, thank you for taking me out,” I said a little too loudly. I wasn’t sure what they’d be able to hear through the window but figured better safe than sorry.
A smile worked its way across his mouth. I watched it bend and pull at his lips until I realized I was staring, and snapped my gaze back to his eyes.
“It was my pleasure, darlin’.”
His low voice rippled up my back, making my heart pound a frantic beat in my chest. No part of my body had received the memo that everything he said and did was for the benefit of the four peeping Tammys behind us. My skin tingled, my stomach swooped, and my palms got all sweaty, even though none of this was really meant for them.
“Should you kiss me goodnight?” I whispered. His eyebrows ticked up at my question.Way to be forward, Callie.“I mean, would you, if you were out with a woman you liked?”
He scrutinized me a minute, his eyes roving over my face like he was pondering the question. Apparently thinking hard, he took his time. “I don’t know. I might be too nervous.”
I laughed out loud, spoiling our quiet exchange. Jed wasnota man to get nervous about anything. Confidence radiated from him like a supernova—he definitely didn’t get nervous over a goodnight kiss.
“If I really liked her,” he said softly, “and wanted to see her again, I’d just feel lucky she went out with me at all. I’d probably give her a hug on the first date.”
He leaned down what seemed an impossible distance—just how tall was he?—to wrap his arms around me. I’d expected him to let go again right away, considering our enthralled audience, but he held me close, his cheek warm against mine. His hands spanned my back, the weight of them drawing me in, anchoring me to him.
It’d been too long since I’d hugged someone so fully. My heart seemed to feed off the embrace, growing warmer and softer with every second that ticked by. I sighed against him like this one perfect hug had healed over a long-forgotten wound.
As if realizing he’d done his job and then some, he released me. I stepped back, my pulse thundering in my ears as I came back to reality. The bright light fell stark on his face, making him even more brutally handsome. He had no right to be this gorgeous and this good of a hugger. He could have one or the other. Greedy to take both, really.
“Goodnight, Callie.”
His voice sounded rough, but no way would I convince myself he’d been as affected by that hug as I’d been. I knew for a fact Jed Evans wasn’t starved for affection like me.
“Night.”
He lifted a hand, turned, and hopped off the porch. In a few long strides, he reached his truck, gave me another farewell, and drove off into the night.
The taillights on his truck might as well have been warning beacons flashing their alarm. That fluttery, cozy feeling going on in my chest needed to knock it right the heck off if we were ever going to get through the next two months without this fake relationship blowing up in my face.
TEN
callie
I needed a couple more hands.
Lounging on my couch, I stitched away at a new embroidery project whileRear Windowplayed on the TV, my laptop open to a realtor website. I could stitch and watch a movie okay—especially when I already had the movie memorized—but adding scrolling the internet to the mix proved impossible. Maybe I could use my toes to scroll on the track pad? Probably a bad idea.
Between stitches and pivotal movie moments, I browsed houses, most of which I’d already seen. With a lot of free time over the summer, I’d spent most of it on this very website. But new listings would drop later in the week to spice things up and add to my unrealistic wish lists.
I knew more or less what my house might sell for, so ogling homes with fancy pools and walk-in pantries? Probably not the best idea. But browse I did, dreaming of some magical, imaginary day when I’d live in a house where my closet would be big enough to have an actual window. For the most part, though, I kept my searches within budget. All I asked for was a modest house with good bones and zero bad memories.
Gran joined me in the living room, and I shut the laptop with a snap. I didn’t need her knowing anything about my secret searches yet. Deep down, I knew she’d understand my need to get out from under this house, but I couldn’t tell her before she was ready to leave. What kind of a person would kick out their grandma?
She aimed an all-too-satisfied smile my way as she sank onto the opposite end of the couch. “Hear anything from Jed yet?”
I snorted. For all her more traditional sensibilities, she sure expected Jed to get straight to the point without delay.
“We just went on our first date last night.”
As soon as I’d walked in the door, she and the others had grilled me with questions.
