Page 72 of One Small Spark
At least those things were only ever secondhand news. I can’t repeat the things I actually heard him say, even if he’s changed his mind in the years since.
“How did you discover that’s not accurate?”
He doesn’t specify if he means the story about him thwarting our business or that he hated me. Hopefully that means all of it was inaccurate.
“Charlie said something about how much you couldn’t stand the guy. Something about how you wanted to beat him up because he was such a jerk to…someone in town.” I can’t look at him. This is the worst. I thought he tried to ruin me, and he actually did the exact opposite. “And I guess he’s been revealed to be a fraud now.”
“Now that you know he’s a fraud, it’s easier to believe I’m not the bad guy?”
I hate how his voice drops. My confession wasn’t supposed to make him sad. But he’s not wrong. I refused to entertain the idea Callahan could be a good guy until the truth of it slapped me across the face.
“It’s not just that. Rosetta told me about your volunteer work in the library, and I’ve seen how much you’re doing for Sunshine with the bike trails. And the romance book group ladies love you. They can be menaces, but they have good hearts. You’re sweet to August, and that counts for a lot. It’s all made me realize how unfair I’ve been to you.”
He just watches calmly while I spew out my feelings. Or most of them.
I exhale a huge sigh. Time for the big reveal. “I like you, okay? Against my better judgment.”
His mouth tips up. “Don’t go all Mr. Darcy on me. I might swoon dead away at your feet.”
My instinct is to laugh along with him, but I shoot him a dirty look. “Be nice. I don’t know how to do this.”
“Apologize?”
“That, too. But also…” I gesture between the two of us. “This.”
“You can’t tell me you’ve never dated.” It’s flattering how incredulous he sounds.
“I have. I’ve just never tried very hard before. Having feelings isn’t really my strong suit.”
The rundown of my exes with Hope earlier was a bit of an eye-opener. I picked crummy guys and then was surprised I never got invested? Play stupid games, I guess. I don’t want stupid prizes anymore.
“And now?” Callahan sure is calm when he’s tormenting me.
“Now…I want to try.” I suck in the most steadying breath I can. “With you.”
His mouth pulls into the slowest, widest smile. I can’t even call it a smirk. He’slovinghis front-row seat to the Awkward Wren Show.
“Don’t make it weird,” I add.
“I’m glad you want to try. Because I’m already there.”
I cannot with this man. Doesn’t he know those are inside thoughts?
My gaze sweeps over his living room until I spot the distinct retro-cowboy cover of next month’s romance group pick. I wave vaguely at it. “Where did you find that? I haven’t been able to snag a copy yet.”
Distraction to the rescue. The Awkward Wren Show is now on hiatus.
“We could read it together.”
My heart leaps at how casually he suggests it, no matter how impractical the idea is. “Reading over each other’s shoulders? Doesn’t seem like that would work very well.”
I might read faster than he does. Plus, we’d have to be super close to make that work. Practically plastered against each other. Like at the first book group meeting, but with zero space between us.
Reading together is growing on me.
“I could read out loud,” he says.
Did this man just offer one of my secret fantasies to me on a platter? I should have some self-control. This evening hasalready had enough strange moments. I should tell him I’ll read it after he’s finished. Reading one at a time, that’s the logical thing to do.
