Page 27 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Callie turned and her heart rate kicked up double time as Nate stepped inside and locked eyes with her.

“Hey.”

She forced her lips to curve as nerves sent her belly roiling after the way they left things last night. “Hey.” She let her gaze drop to the gun and radio on his hip before she looked at him again.

“Hello, brother.”

He nodded in Molly’s direction. “Sister. How’s the new employee working out?”

“Rather well. Hopefully she’ll be up for another shift on Monday morning.”

Callie nodded, unable to look away from Nate’s intense stare. “Of course.”

“Well, I have things to do in the kitchen before the Kovacs come get their stuff,” Molly said as she headed out back.

Callie smiled again and wiped her clammy hands on her jeans, not quite sure where things stood between her and Nate. She’d planned to find some time to talk to him later on, but not here. “Um, do you want an iced tea or coffee or something?”

He shook his head. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”

She closed her eyes as she sighed. “I’m sorry about last night. The way I left… I was rude.”

“You weren’t rude. Those people surprised you.”

Completely blindsided her was more like it, but she nodded and headed behind the counter, wishing the man and woman had never stopped her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you more about my career—who I am and what that means for me sometimes.”

“I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t know.” He shrugged. “I guess I should start reading more than ESPN and the sports pages—broaden my horizons.”

She nodded again, not knowing what else to say or do.

Nate moved closer to the granite counter. “Can I ask you a question that’s probably none of my business?”

Her head bobbed for the third time. “Sure.”

“Is there anything going on between you and Josh Moore?”

She felt herself frown and turned away, suddenly perilously close to tears. He’d looked her up on the Internet—not that she could blame him. She fiddled with the to-go cups, hating that she didn’t get to be Callie the Carter Island vacationer anymore. Not even two full weeks and she had to be the artist again.

His footsteps echoed on the floor as he skirted the counter and came up behind her, settling his hands on her arms. “Hey.”

She froze, breathing in Nate’s familiar scent. “Josh and I went out on a few dates—dated for a couple months,” she amended as she turned to face him. “But that was a while ago and we make better friends.”

“I’m not trying to pry. I like you. I like spending time with you.”

She studied him—the way he looked at her a little differently than he had yesterday—and she mourned that everything had changed.

“Callie, I don’t care about your connections to Hollywood or the art world.” He took another step closer and captured her hands, holding them firmly in his. “Who you sell your stuff to and for how much doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. I just want to drive you to Mary’s Bluff today.”

She took a deep breath, fighting another swift wave of emotion. He was going to let this whole thing be that simple. “I don’t—Thank you.”

He slid his thumbs along her knuckles. “Will you come with me?”

She wanted to hug him—to describe to him the beautiful gift of freedom and belonging he was giving her—but she didn’t. “What time?”

“Whenever you want. I’m off the clock for a couple of hours before I have to get back again.”

She glanced at her watch. “I should be finished up in about fifteen minutes.”

“Let’s see what we can do to give Molly a hand.”