He laughed out loud when they both lay down and covered their noses with their paws.
"We're ready," he called as he closed his eyes again.
He heard her heels click out onto the landing from the carpeted hallway upstairs, and then she called, "I'm going to give you a countdown.Don't open your eyes till I say.Three...two...Peanut!That's cheating!Okay, one.You can open your eyes."
Ollie laughed, not surprised that Peanut would be the one to sneak a look before she was supposed to.But the laughter caught in his chest when he saw Callie.
All he could do was stare.
She was gorgeous.She always was — but wow!She might not be his usual type, but that was only because his taste had been pretty superficial in the past.Callie was more beautiful than any woman he'd ever known.And now, standing there at the top of the stairs in a dress the color of her eyes, her light brown hair hanging loose around her shoulders, she was...
"Damn," he said."Just...damn, Callie.You look amazing."
Butter barked, and he chuckled."He says youareamazing.And he's right.Come on down."
He started toward the stairs, concerned that she might not have been joking about tripping.She waved a hand at him.
"No, don't come up.I want to make my entrance.You have to stand there and watch."
He took his phone out of his pocket."Can I take a photo?"
She nodded happily."Sure, but only if we get some more of the two of us once I'm down there."
Peanut whined, and she added, "Okay, okay.The four of us.Out by the pool, but no jumping in.We're going out."
Ollie laughed and snapped a couple of photos as she made her way down the stairs.When he went to take another, it was spoiled by his phone buzzing with an incoming text.The notification said it was another text from Dad, so he swiped it away.
He probably should call him back at some point.But not tonight.Tonight was a new beginning with Callie.He didn't want old ghosts casting shadows over it.
When she reached the bottom step, she stopped in front of him and smiled."Worth the wait?"
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her softly."You sure were."
~ ~ ~
"Damn, girl.Look at you."Callie grinned at Willow, who was nodding as she looked her over."That dress looks as though it was made to fit you."
"Thanks.Isn't it great?I think you already know I'm not much of a dress wearer normally, but Becca took me to Laurel & Vine today, and—"
"Let me guess.Margot helped you."Willow made a face."She's not my favorite person, but she definitely has an eye for what will suit you."
"As a matter of fact," said Becca, "Callie picked this one out herself.Margot picked out some different ones, and they were nice, but nothing compared to this."
"That's even better," said Willow, looking around Muse.The bar was already crowded, everyone scattered and catching up with each other."Margot's here tonight, and if I know her, she'll take credit for having picked your dress out for you, too."
Becca chuckled."I'm glad you said that, Willow.I'm never sure if it's just me.She's always super nice when I go in there, but I don't know..."
Willow nodded."Yeah, she's a bit of a schemer."She met Callie's gaze."If she's found out that you've snagged one of Napa's most eligible bachelors...In fact, come to think of it, he may have beenthelast one — or at least the most eligible — since Becca just put a ring on Jacob, and Bentley's engaged to Alyssa."
Callie shrugged, feeling a little uncomfortable, but Willow reached out to touch her arm.
"Hey, I don't mean anything by it.I'm thrilled.You have no idea how many women have set their sights on Ollie just because of his name and his money."She grinned."I love that they were things he had to get past before you'd give him a real chance."
Callie shrugged again."Yeah, I may have been a bit of an asshole about that.But he didn't give up on me, and I'm glad."
Willow laughed."Well, don't forget I'm still keeping Becca's bouquet for you.What do you think?Any chance you might need it?"
Callie wasn't sure how the bouquet thing worked.She knew that whoever caught it was supposed to be the next to get married, but … She dropped her gaze.Marriage wasn't something that had been on her priority list.In fact, it was something she'd been trying to avoid when she moved out here.
