A laugh escaped as she touched his shoulder.
“Actually, that might be just what we both need.”
Callan tilted his head, intrigued. “What did ye have in mind?”
“Let’s go get Frankie and head over to the park. I’ll stop and pick up a few of the dogs I walk and they can all play while we relax under a shady tree.”
She eyed him up and down. “And then we are going shopping.”
Callan made a face. He didn’t know what shopping meant, but it did not sound like something he would enjoy.
Before he could protest, she arched a brow. “Go shopping and I’ll take you for pizza.”
“Pizza? Ye should have said that first, lass. Anything for the pizza.”
CHAPTER 9
The next morning, while Callan took Frankie for a walk, Daisy called Zara to catch up. He enjoyed taking the dog by himself, said it gave him a chance to learn about this place without her helping him. Didn’t he want her help? Maybe she talked too much? He was awfully quiet. After a few rings, her best friend picked up.
“Hey, I was just thinking about you.” Zara said, a rustling noise in the background. “Do you want my old grain bin? I don’t think it’s going to work in the new place.”
Daisy stretched out on the sofa as they chatted. “Are you kidding? It’s the perfect size for storing blankets. Thanks.”
The stack of neatly folded sheets that Callan placed on a chair made her wish she was as neat as him, but dust didn’t bother her, nor did grabbing clean unfolded clothes out of the basket. He’d folded the bed back up this morning as well.
“I just wanted to check in to see how the packing’s going. Are you ready for the big move?”
Zara laughed. “Getting there. It’s amazing how much stuff you accumulate over the years. I can’t believe I’ve been here eight years.”
She told Daisy about what she was donating and keeping, in case Daisy wanted anything else.
“Enough about me. How are things with your new houseguest? What was his name again, Callan?”
Daisy’s stomach flipped at the mention of his name. “Things are good, really good, actually. We’re going shopping today to get him some new clothes. I had a pair of sweats and tee left behind by that hockey player I dated a while back, but they don’t really fit him.”
She stretched. “At least with Callan here I finally went through the closet and bagged up everything from all my old exes, the past two years worth. It’s way past time to get rid of that stuff.”
“Oh, yeah?” There was a note of something in Zara’s voice that Daisy couldn’t quite place.
“And how’s he paying for all these new clothes? Does he have a job?”
Daisy hesitated. “He’s going to work at the Renaissance Faire. I told him he could pay me back when he gets paid.”
Zara sighed, knowing her friend loved the Faire and all the hot guys that worked there every year.
“You know I love you, but you’ve got to be careful. You barely know this guy. What if he’s some kind of con artist or taking advantage of your kind heart?”
She twisted a lock of hair around her finger, frowning. “He’s not like that. There’s something old-fashioned and proper about him, like he belongs in another time. It’s refreshing after all the ‘let’s split the check’ dates.”
“How convenient. He probably picked up the behavior working at the Faire. This is some random guy you met at a park who seemed mentally not all there or has some kind of amnesia, and for all you know, is married with five kids. A big huge guy who is currently living in your apartment, rent-free,” Zara pointed out as gently as she could. “I’m just worried. You know how quickly you fall for guys, and how badly you got hurt with Shawn. I don’t want to see you get your heart broken again.”
“He’s not married. I’d feel it if he was.” Tears pricked at the back of Daisy’s eyes. She knew Zara meant well, but the words stung. “Anyway, it’s not like that with Callan. We’re just friends. The guy is sleeping on the pullout sofa.”
“For now,” Zara said softly. “But I hear it in your voice. I envy how willing you are to jump into the dating pool over and over again after you split up with someone.” Her friend sighed, the sound flowing through the phone to her ear. “You’re already falling for him, aren’t you?”
Daisy swallowed. She couldn’t deny the growing attraction she felt for Callan, but she wasn’t ready to put a label on it yet.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling,” she admitted. “But I do know he’s one of the good ones.”
