I need you …
There was something startlingly intimate about the way he spoke the words. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had said that to her. Maybe never. Craig hadn’t needed her. And Noah Preston didn’t need her, either … not really. He just wanted her to teach his daughter to ride a horse.
“I can’t.”
He smiled. “Yes, you can.”
God, he was relentless. Callie lifted her chin. “I said I can’t.”
“She’ll be on her best behavior,” he said.
Callie expelled a heavy breath. “Even if she is, I’m not—”
“Is your unwillingness actually about Lily?” he interrupted her. “Or something else?”
Her heart quickened. “Like what?”
He looked at her. Really looked. Callie felt compelled to turn her gaze away, but she didn’t. Couldn’t. She’d never felt this kind of intensity with anyone before. She’d spent years convincing herself she didn’t want it.
“I thought that perhaps you and …” He stopped, hesitated and sort of half smiled. “I think we … I think we might have started off on the wrong foot.”
He wasn’t kidding. But she wasn’t about to admit it. She wasn’t about to admit to anything. Instead, she thought about the practical. “Why this sudden confidence in my abilities?”
“Because Lily believes in you.”
Callie didn’t break their eye contact. “Even though you don’t?”
“And if I said I did? Would you reconsider teaching Lily? If I apologized again for being a jerk and asked you to do this for my daughter?”
Her insides quivered. Don’t be nice to me. “You don’t give up easily.”
He shook his head. “Not when I want something.” He looked around. “I heard you’d lost some students recently.”
She stared at him. “How did you know that?”
He grinned. “Local gossip.”
Callie’s skin prickled. Just like the local gossip she’d listened to last weekend. “Yes, I did.”
He looked around, to the house, then back to her. “So, it looks like you’re not doing well financially.”
More prickles. “I’m not filing for bankruptcy just yet.”
A full smile this time. “I didn’t mean to imply you were,” he said carefully. “But I thought perhaps we could strike a deal.”
Cautious, Callie’s interest spiked. “What kind of deal?”
“Your usual fee—plus I’ll help prevent your house from ‘crumbling around your ears.’”
She stilled. “And how exactly will you do that?”
“I’ll do whatever maintenance needs to be done while Lily’s having her lessons.”
Callie looked at him suspiciously. “Do you work construction?”
“No,” he replied. “But I know my way around a toolbox.”
I’ll bet you do. Suddenly she was tempted. Very tempted. She did need the money. And as for his offer to help repair her house … that idea dangled like a juicy carrot in front of her nose. With windows that wouldn’t open, doors needing repair, fence palings hanging loose and the knowledge she needed to chase the entire house with a paintbrush, the lure of his offer teased her. Refusing would be impulsive. And foolish.
And Lily … she wanted to help Lily. Helping Lily was suddenly important to her.
Oh, hell.
“Okay,” she said quickly, before she had time to think about what it might mean to have him hanging around her house every Sunday morning. Him and his adorable kids.
Noah looked instantly pleased. “Good. Will you start today?”
She shook her head. “No. Next week. Sunday, nine o’clock.”
He stepped back, finally, and she dipped underneath Kirra’s neck, feeling safer with the horse between them. “Thank you, Callie. You won’t regret it.”
Too late … she already did.
He walked off without another word, collecting his kids along the way. Once his truck had disappeared down the driveway, Callie took off Kirra’s tack and led her to the washing bay.
Joe appeared, his hair spotted with straw from the bales he’d been lugging off the truck and into the feed room.
“So, what’s the deal with Vampira?” he asked, grimacing as he passed Callie an old towel. “Scary.” He shuddered. “Do you reckon she’s got tattoos, as well?”
Callie wasn’t about to admit that she had one herself. “That’s not nice.”
He shrugged his lanky shoulders. “If my little sister went around looking like that my parents would go ballistic.” He made a disagreeable face. “Was that her dad—Noah Preston?”
Callie stopped rubbing the towel over Kirra’s flanks. “Do you know him?”
“I met him last weekend when he was looking for you. My Uncle Frank bought one of his boats last year.”
Her interest increased tenfold. “He sells boats?”
Joe shook his head. “He designs boats,” he replied. “And builds them. Top-of-the-range stuff. He’s got a big factory in town. Uncle Frank reckons his boats are the best around.”
Noah was a boat builder. And a single dad. And too gorgeous for her peace of mind.
As she led Kirra back to her stall, Callie couldn’t stop thinking about how deeply he affected her. And how much she wished he didn’t.
The Crystal Point Twilight Fair was an annual event that raised funds for the local elementary school and volunteer Rural Fire Brigade. Callie had been invited to provide horse rides for a small fee. The money collected would go directly back to the organizing committee, but it gave her an opportunity to promote her riding school. Sunshine and Peanuts, her two quietest geldings, loved the attention and happily walked around the makeshift yard she’d put together with a little help from Joe. There was also a jumping castle, a small carousel, a baby animal pen and a variety of stalls selling homemade cakes and candies and assorted handicrafts.
“So, are you staying for the dance later?” Fiona asked as she navigated Peanuts past her.
Callie checked the child clinging to Sunshine’s saddle and smiled at her friend as they passed one another. “In this outfit?” she said, motioning a hand gesture to her worn jeans, thin sweater and riding boots. “I’ll skip it. I have to get the horses back anyhow.”
