Page 45 of Holiday Hopefuls
Callie wanders into the living room, carefully examining the white leather seating set and white oak furniture. She takes in the white walls with nothing hanging on display, the dark rug and LED lighting.
“Well?” I try again.
“You could almost use it as a dentist’s office,” she muses. Based on her shocked expression, I don’t think that last thought was actually supposed to come out.
I don’t bother holding back my laughter. Shrugging, I move around the white granite counter. “Fair enough. And you’re right,” I nod, “it did come furnished.”
The relief is visible on her lovely face, making me chuckle again.
“You need art or family pictures or something. And a fuzzy throw.” Callie nods to the stark couch. “Either would help.”
“I’ll admit, I’ve never shopped for a fuzzy blanket before.” I smile at her.
“Maybe Blythe can help you. Her place is really cozy.”
Lifting a brow, I give her a playful grin. “I thought girlfriends were supposed to help decorate their boyfriend’s place?”
“Then maybe you should get a real girlfriend and she will.” Callie grins back. “You know, if you’re not careful, I may have to join you and your real girlfriend for Thanksgiving when you finally get one. Especially if it means getting out of having a full meal with my family.”
“What do you mean?” My brows knit together. “I thought we were having Thanksgiving dinner with your family.”
Callie shakes her head. “They eat the traditional meal for lunch. We’re joining them for dessert.”
Huh. “Will they be upset that you weren’t at the main meal?”
“I doubt they even noticed I wasn’t there,” she answers. Callie glances at her watch, her beautiful smile fading.
“Time to go?”
She nods as though the undertaker is on his way.
On instinct, I hold out my hand, which she willingly takes. “Well, if they ask, at least you can honestly say you’ve seen your boyfriend’s apartment.”
When we’re back in the car, Callie gives me the address to her parents’ home. While I can’t say I know the entire area surrounding Serenvale Springs, I know enough to understand that where the Rutherfords live houses only stately homes.
Minute after minute begins to tick by in silence. Finally, I can’t stand it any longer. “So, your family isn’t really a pack of wolves, right?”
Callie peeks over at me from the passenger seat, confusion marring every gorgeous feature.Okay,I guess we’re fully admitting that we’re attracted to her.
Not that I was really trying to avoid it before.
Grimacing, I clear my throat and try again. “I just mean, even my dad called them that.” Forced laughter chokes its way out. “And he basically lives in a cave with his woodworking. Literally, if you consider their garage a cave.”
The smallest smile graces her full lips, more polite than anything.
So I try again. “Anything I should be aware of?”
“Like what?” Her voice is small, nerves evident.
“Anything in particular they may try targeting you about? Weird habits or childhood stories they might use to embarrass you?”
Callie twists her fingers into a knot in her lap. Worrying her bottom lip, she answers, “They’ll probably ask you if this is real.”
Geez, who are these people?Doing my best not to show the rising frustration for these people I’ve never met, I work my fingers around the steering wheel, desperate for a distraction. “Have you brought many fake boyfriends around, then?” I shoot her a goofy grin, but it doesn’t land.
Instead, she looks like she could vomit at any moment. “Quite the opposite, actually. I’ve never brought anyone home for a holiday before.”
“Never?”
