Page 58 of Letting Go
You are too kind, Walker. Any updates onanything?
Me
Still chasing down any and all leads. I promise to call or come see you as soon as I have something substantial.
Vivian
You know … It’s ok if you don’t have a significant case update but just want to call or stop by to say hey…
Me
That’s the best thing I’ve heard all morning, Sugar. I’ll definitely keep that in mind.
Vivian
You do that, sir.
I groan and bite my hand as I throw my head back. She’s killing me. The ‘sir’ thing, I know it’s just proper manners but something about hearing Vivian call me sir makes me almost feral. Taking deep breaths, I decide to let the conversation drop at that, just to be safe. I don’t trust that I won’t overstep more than I already have, and I don’t trust that her intense brother won’t somehow find out. I’m not afraid of Liam Callahan, but I also don’t want family members of the woman I’m falling for to hate me before I even take her on a proper first date.
As beautiful and tempting of a distraction Vivian Stone is, I need to focus on the cases, and not my dick that only wants to focus on imagining her calling me sir in a very different scenario.
These unsolved cases hanging out there without resolution make my skin crawl, but the fact that I’m holding back on a personal level until her husband’s murderer is arrested feels liketorture, specifically my self-induced blue balls. I may have already crossed the line when I kissed her, but I want to do so much more than that with her. I know she’s worth the wait, but waiting is not the only hard thing when I think about her.
Later that night, I’m sitting on my back porch throwing the ball for Ghost when my phone rings with an incoming call. I pick it up off the side table and immediately smile. Our evening phone calls only occur when my work and her schedule allow and that’s not nearly enough. My phone says that Vivian Callahan-Stone is calling, which means she must have updated her contact information today changing her display name from Vivian Stone to Vivian Callahan-Stone.
“Good evening, Ms. Vivian,” I answer after I take a deep breath.
“Hey there, Special Agent Man. How are you? I hope it’s okay I called instead of texting,” Vivian tells me. We have been texting daily for close to six months, but our schedules don’t always accommodate extended phone conversations.
“Of course, is something wrong? Are you alright?” I worry she’s calling because something bad has happened and sit up ready to grab the keys to my truck.
“Oh shoot, I should have led with that.” I relax back into the patio couch and resume throwing Ghost’s ball. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry, everything is fine. I was just sitting on the porch, trying to read a book on my phone and thought I would call to say hello ... Is that okay?” she tentatively asks, as if she wasn’t on my mind already.
“Always, Viv. Big reason, small reason, no reason, it’s always okay for you to call me.” I smile at the small sigh I hear in response; I think she was relieved to hear me say that.How low are her standards? She should be treated like the queen she is, and who would ever refuse a call from the queen?“Is the book not keeping your attention?”
“Oh, it’s not that. Last week, Eloise accidentally knocked my Kindle off the kitchen counter right into the sink. I keep meaning to order a new one. I miss reading on my Kindle, especially in bed at night. My phone just isn’t the same.”
“I get it, I prefer reading on one more than my phone as well. Is anyone else sitting with you on the porch tonight, like a little girl who likes to bathe electronics?”
She laughs. Damn, that’s a beautiful sound. “I’m alone at the moment. Eloise is having a sleepover at her Papa’s tonight with her cousins, and my sister is at a work event for her husband’s firm.” Sometimes I forget Savannah is married as the guy is never around. I know his background check came back fine, but the guy is never home.
“I think Daddy may have a few reinforcements coming in the form of their uncles though. You know for big tough guys, those four little girls have each and every one of them wrapped around their little fingers,” Vivian says as she laughs again. Her sweet and melodic laughter brings an instant smile to my face. I can’t recall ever thinking a laugh was beautiful before tonight but Vivian’s is just that; I could use more of that sound in my life.
Like daily.
“I have to admit, I feel like Ghost would side with the girls too but can’t blame the guy. My dog can be swayed with a treat and a good throw of his favorite toy,” I tell her. I must have held onto the ball for too long as Ghost decides playing catch is over with a huff and lays down at my feet.
“Good to know I can buy his loyalty if necessary. He seems like such a good dog; Eloise has mentioned him multiple times since seeing y’all at the park. She even told me she thinks if she had a dog like Ghost, he would keep her safe from the nightmares.” Ghost suddenly lifts and tilts his head as if he can hear her side of the conversation. Clearly both Bennett men of the house have beencompletely taken by Vivian and Eloise. I would be happy to test Eloise’s theory, especially if it meant I got to have a sleepover with her mama down the hall.
“Say, I keep meaning to ask, how do you like Tennessee? I forget you haven’t lived in Nashville for long.”
“It’s been a great move, both professionally and personally. I know my family would prefer that I move back to Texas but I don’t know if that’s in my future. I know moving here was the right step on all fronts,” I say.
“Sounds like there’s more to that answer,” her voice trails off at the end of her statement.
“There is indeed a lot more to that answer. On the professional front, leading the task force has been a welcome challenge and I have a great team that I get to work with every day.”
“Hmm. And … on the personal front?” Vivian asks.
