Page 105 of Seven Year Itch
I cut a look to Calder, silently screaming at him for talking about our sex life with his brothers. Two nights ago, Trista would have got an eyeful if she’d walked over here. Calder had me bent over the sawhorses, and I fear I may have told him to keep his tool belt on.
So much cringing.
I give Calder a push to get him out from between my legs, but he doesn’t budge. He just turns around and presses his back against me, crossing his arms over his chest like it’s totally normal for us to be touching each other in front of his family in our sex shack.
God, he’s a stubborn ass sometimes.
“Wow... I had no idea you had so many pieces done, Calder. They’re all so beautiful.” Trista walks around inspecting them all. “But I’m partial to the chair you gave me last year, of course.”
“I know. I see you sitting on it outside the barn every damn day,” Calder teases, but I can hear the pride in his voice. He likes seeing Trista sit in that chair. It validates his passion.
“Did I interrupt a deep discussion?” Trista asks, hooking a thumb toward the door. “I’m sensing a little tension here maybe.”
“Dakota was just trying to uninvite me to this award ceremony tomorrow night.” Calder makes a loud, obnoxious noise with his throat.
I shove him in the back, but the big lug doesn’t budge.
Trista’s eyes light up. “That’s why I came over, actually! Johanna said she can watch Stevie, so I was just letting you know we’re good to come.”
“Come where?” I ask, frowning at her.
“To your Best of Boulder thingy. We all want to see you get your big award.”
“Wait... who iswe?” I blink rapidly, struggling to make sense of the words coming out of her mouth.
“Cozy, Max, me, Wyatt, Luke... I’m not sure if he’s bringing a plus-one. Calder too, of course.”
Calder nods like all of this makes perfect sense.
“Why would you guys all want to come?” My eyes dart from Trista to Calder and back to Trista.
“It was Calder’s idea, and I think it’s a great one.” Trista smiles brightly at him. “We didn’t realize you could bring guests until he told us.”
I pinch Calder’s side viciously.
“Ouch, Ace! That hurts!”
“What are you doing?” I hit him with a punishing glower.
“Nothing,” he replies with a laugh as he turns on his heel and hits me with a sexy smirk that makes my stomach do flips.
“Bullshit,” I scold. “Fess up.”
His hands squeeze my thigh in a reassuring caress. “I just think you’ve had a hell of a year, and you deserve to be celebrated by those who love you.”
My cheeks heat at that word that just slipped out of Calder’s mouth so casual like. He obviously didn’t mean love love. He just meant love likefriendship love. Cozy and Trista love me of course, because they’re my friends, but Calder Fletcher is not in love with me.
He told me when this all started that love would never be on the cards for him. And for a man like him to love someone as stubborn as me? Not a chance in hell. But I can appreciate this enormously kind gesture. He really has more heart than people expect. Me included.
I shake my head, willing my brain to stop short-circuiting. “So I went from going alone to having an entourage of people?” They both nod at me, and I feel a bit lost for words, so I finally shrug and say, “I guess I’ll see if I can get us a whole table.”
“Great.” Trista claps her hands. “I’m so excited. I even have a dress that I think will fit.” She stops in her tracks and frowns. “On second thought, I better go try it on again. See you both tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” Calder calls back cheerily.
I cut a menacing look at the mountain man in front of me. “You’re going to pay for that.”
He waggles his brows. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
