CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
With Stan teaching a clunky and awkward Judy how to waltz and Barbara replenishing the sharpened pencils in a basket, Callie turned off the television screens. They’d already locked the doors for the day, and she couldn’t wait to talk to Fin. Not only were the Cooters interested in running the programs, but they had great ideas for other classes.
When the music shut off abruptly, everyone turned to see Fin striding toward them from the back hallway. His athletic grace and masculine swagger, those lips curled into a delectable smile, made her blood fizzy.
“Well, I should get home.” With eyebrows raised, Barbara tipped her head to the door.
Stan nodded. “Yep. Grandkids’re coming for dinner tonight.”
It took all of three minutes for everyone to leave.
With just the two of them alone, Callie shook her head. “Way to clear a room.”
When he reached her, he caught her around the waist and kissed her soundly. “Got some great news.” He set her down. “I got a call this morning. From Walter Braverman.”
“Are you talking about Braverman Productions?”
His smile grew wider.
“He called you?”
With a nod, he said, “He offered me a contract.”
“Oh, my God, Fin. That’s amazing.” Over the years, she’d heard the brothers talk about a contract with Braverman Productions. It was a big deal.
“He said he hasn’t offered it before because I’m a Bowie and can fund my own trips. But he hasn’t signed anyone in a few years, and there’s no one he wants more than me, so he figured he’d take a shot and ask.”
“He doesn’t know you guys don’t touch your Dad’s money.”
“It’s nobody’s business what we do, but no, he doesn’t know.”
She forced her smile to stay in place. This is good for him. Really good. “Fin…I’m really happy for you.” But her heart hurt like hell. She wouldn’t show him that, though. He’d earned this great honor. “I’m proud of you.”
He cupped her chin. “Why so sad?”
“I’m not sad. I’m genuinely happy for you.”
He lifted her onto the nearest library table and boxed her in with both arms. “Last time we messed up because we didn’t talk to each other. You were so afraid I’d choose MSU that you didn’t come right out and ask me if that was what I wanted. I was so intent on not screwing up your dream, that I didn’t tell you about the pressure from my dad and brothers. But we should’ve talked about it. Because the foundation for everything going forward? Is that we’re in this together. That’s our base camp. From there, we figure out our plans, even if it means we ride different spines for a while.” He leaned back, examining her expression. “What’re you thinking?”
“You said we’re in this together.”
“That’s right.”
“I want that, Fin. More than anything, but—”
“There are no buts. The sentence ‘more than anything’ ends right there. There’s nothing we want more than being together. So that’s our starting point. The rest we figure out together.”
“It’s not that simple. I’ve been cut from the fellowship.”
He pushed back. “What’s that mean?”
“It means there’s no interview. I got a letter saying they have better candidates.”
“Bullshit. Man-Bracelet saw the video and whined like a bitch to his mommy.”
“Probably.” She rubbed the developing ache over her left eye. “But Megan gave me a great idea to go to the source, so I looked up the woman who sponsors the fellowship and found her alive and well in New York. I asked one of my graduate professors if she has a way to get to her. Luckily, she does. So I’ve sent her my resume and links to the exhibition, and I’ve asked if I can meet with her.”
“This all happened since I saw you this morning?”
She nodded.
With a slow shake of his head, he said, “You’re something else, wild thing.” With a determined gleam in his eyes, he caged her in again. “You want New York?”
“Yes.” She had to get that fellowship. And Fin had to sign that contract. “And you’re going off on your grand adventure.” Mixed in with the dread of fearing their relationship couldn’t work was hope. Was there some way to make it work? But he just stood there with that smirk on his face. “How is this funny?” She shoved at him, but he was a chunk of granite.
“What did I just say to you?”
“That you’re signing a contract with Braverman, and I’m moving back to New York.”
“You’re not a very good listener.” Still, with that stupid smirk.
“I’m a great listener.” She shifted to slide under his arms, but his big body held her in place. “A world-class listener.”
“How do you still not get it? You are my grand adventure. Some people want to climb Everest, some want to have a big family, some want to be world leaders. But I just want you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I live in New York.” Hope drummed a steady beat in her blood. “You’re going to be in the mountains.”
“Four trips a year. And the rest of the time I’m going to be with you.”
Her body clamped down on a burst of excitement. “The fellowship pays twenty-four grand a year. I won’t be able to come home that often.” Home. She would miss her parents and Theo. God, that little boy had just begun to trust her. By the time she came back for a visit, would he have forgotten her?
She loved Theo. She didn’t want to miss out on his life.
“We’re the base camp, remember?” The look in his eyes—steely determination mixed with utter adoration—it was everything. “That means home is where you are.”
Excitement fluttered in her belly. “What’re you saying?”
“You got a new roommate yet?”
“No.” She scooted closer to the edge of the table. “You’re going to live with me?”
He smiled. “Of course.”
“In New York?”
“If that’s where you are, then that’s where I’ll be.”
“How will this work?”
“We’ll get a place big enough so my team can crash there when we’re planning. I’ll take my trips and come home to you.”
“You’ll hate New York.”
“I’ll get my fill of the mountains four months out of the year. The rest of the time I’ll be with you. Sounds damn good to me.” He pulled away, worry darkening his gaze. “Is that not enough? Because I can tell him I’ll only do three trips a year. Or even two—”
She put her fingers over his mouth. “No. You take as many trips as you want. I’d never hold you back from doing what you love.” She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, Fin, and I’m all in.”
“Good, then let’s get out of here.”
They headed toward the back. Just as she reached for the light switch, she heard a knock at the door. “Let me see who it is. One of the Cooters might’ve forgotten something.” She hurried back to see.
An elderly gentleman in a Stetson rapped his knuckles against the window. When he saw her, he waved and stepped back.
She unlocked and opened the door. “Hey, there. Can I help you?”
With his baggy jeans and worn cowboy boots, he looked like a rancher. “Evening.” He pulled off his hat and held it against his chest. “I’m told there’s a message for me here.” His voice sounded as wrecked as his tanned skin.
Fin came up beside her. “Are you looking for Town Hall? Because it moved about two years ago. This is a museum now.”
Callie elbowed him. Exhibition.
“No, sir. I’m told you’ve got a message board and that there’s an envelope with my name on it.”
Callie jerked like he’d just pinched her, and two pairs of eyes slid over to her. “Yes. There is.” She stepped aside, ushering him in. “Please, come in.” Excitement hurried her pace. “Right over here.”
OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod. She wanted to call Helen and shout, He’s here! He came! But, of course, she had no way to contact the older woman who came in dutifully every day to check the corkboard to see if the man she hadn’t chosen had come to claim his note.
Callie couldn’t believe he actually had. At least she hoped it was the right man. She unpinned the envelope and handed it to him. “Are you Desi?”
For a long moment he didn’t answer, just stared at the handwriting. If the muscles around his eyes hadn’t flinched, she wouldn’t have detected an ounce of emotion in him.
The hand he lifted to take the envelope trembled. “Yes, ma’am.”
When Fin grabbed her wrist and tugged her away, she gave him a foul look. I was doing something.
“Leave the man alone.” He said it in a low, gruff voice.
He was right, of course, but come on. This was Helen’s man. But, fine, she’d busy herself with neatening the colored papers in one of the baskets, while keeping an eye on him.
Slowly, Desi pulled out the letter. The paper shook as he unfolded it.
She didn’t see all that many words on the page, so it didn’t surprise her when he quickly stopped reading. What did surprise her was the way he closed his eyes and just seemed to…savor whatever Helen had written.
After a moment, he slid the letter back into the envelope. “Did she leave a phone number?”
Oh, come on, Helen. You didn’t leave a way for him to contact you? “No, she didn’t.” Thinking quickly, she snatched a pen out of the basket and a bright yellow piece of paper. “But you can leave her a note with your number.” She reached for the envelope to exchange it for the pen, but he didn’t let go. Finally, after a moment, he folded it and shoved it in his back pocket.
Callie shifted her gaze to Fin. He wants to keep it. He loves her. He totally and completely loves her.
Fin gave her an indulgent smile.
Without looking at her, Desi took the pen and wrote something on the paper. Then, he folded it neatly and stuck it to the corkboard with a pushpin. When he turned to her, emotion clouded his eyes. He busied himself with setting the pen down and putting his hat back on.
With a nod, he headed for the door. “Thank you kindly. I hope I didn’t keep you.”
And then he was gone.
In that moment, Callie felt like she’d done something important. Something so much bigger than herself.
And she had to wonder what she was giving up by going back to New York.