Kellan: Hey baby – dinner at my place tonight? I could pick up wings and fries from the diner?
Sounds great. What time should I be there?
Kellan: Whenever you like. The key to the front door is the bronze square guy on the Jeep keychain. The security code is 2152, then hit pound.
Wow. I always thought that extra key was for the garage, nothis freaking house.
Thanks. See you there!
Kellan: I'll be home in about half an hour, baby.
Kellan: Also, I'm seriously never going to get tired of calling you baby. So please let me know if it starts to bug you.
LOL!
I take a meandering route back to his house, since there's one road nobody has marked yet.
About twenty-five minutes later I'm pulling into Kellan's driveway. After parking the Jeep, I check the text with the security code and let myself into his house, kind of feeling like a burglar. At the same time, it feels incredible that he trusts me so much already.
I kick off my shoes and flop onto the couch, then see a text pop up on my phone. My smile from assuming it's Kellan turns into a deep scowl when I see it's from Brad.
Brad from Gallagher Computer Services: Well done, Jenna! I'm impressed you talked him into it so quickly. Your mother and I are very proud of you.
"What the hell?" I exclaim, staring at the screen, my jaw hanging open.
My chin jerks up as I see Kellan come into the foyer with two large takeout bags. He gives me a sheepish smile when he sees my expression, then I follow him to the kitchen.
It feels like my stomach is actually trying to tie itself into knots, but Kellan looks completely relaxed.
"Let me guess," he says. "Brad knows that it was me who asked for a quote for twenty-five computers?"
"How…I mean… I was never actually going to ask you." I hop up onto a stool, then bury my face in my hands. "Did he contact you directly or something? I’m so sorry."
"It'sokay, baby." Kellan stands behind me, wrapping his arms around me and rocking gently. "I didn't mean to overhear your conversation this morning, but I kind of pieced it together. He's just a small business who wants a break from a larger one. I get it."
"But I didn’t want to ask you for a favor?—"
"And you didn't. I asked my assistant to email from a non-Wolfe Security address. But I guess since we asked for a quote just hours after he spoke to you, he figured it out."
Kellan gives me a gentle hug, then spins me on the stool to face him while clasping my hands. "Jenna, it's completely up to you. We need the computers anyway for the school upgrade project. It doesn't matter who we order from, and it might as well be from him, if it’s good for your family. But if you don't like the way he wanted you to ask on his behalf, I won't. It's your call."
Pressure radiates through the center of my chest. A good kind of pressure, like a firm hug, or a super cozy winter jacket that fits a bit snugly because there are two sweaters underneath.
It's as if my heart is expanding. Kellan is such a beautiful man, inside and out. He just wants to do what's right, every time.
"Hey." Kellan says gently, dropping my hand to sweep his thumb along my cheekbone. "It's not that big a deal, is it? You don't have to decide right now. Why don't we eat? I'd love to hear about the route you took while exploring the mountain."
"I love your mountain." My voice is barely a whisper as my face splits into a grin. "It's so beautiful here. I could really imagine…" My lips snap shut before I can say too much.
Kellan's eyes light up. "Imagine what? Living here? Please tell me you'd love to live here. Tell me that you'll move in with me for a test month, to make sure you really want to be here. Please?"
I'm already nodding. "Yeah. Thank you."
I shriek as he lifts me into his arms, twirling me around between the kitchen and dining room. "My sweet baby is moving in!!!" he yells before setting me down on my feet. Then he dips me back in a dramatic movie star kiss.
When we straighten up, he chuckles. "Since you were doing hard labor for us all day, I'd better feed you."
“Driving around didn’t feel like hard labor,” I laugh.
