"I want whatever you want for yourself, Callie.It's not about me."
"Yeah, but—" She stepped closer."You've spent your life hiding from your father's name.The last thing you need is your girlfriend's name putting you back in that spotlight."
He chuckled."I’ll stand in any spotlight you like if I’m standing next to you."
She pursed her lips."I believe you mean that.But even if it comes to it, I'll use Callie Clay, so no one knows it's me."
He laughed and inclined his chin toward her phone."I think everyone knows it's you already.And the thing is — they know it's me, too."He cupped her face in his hands."And I couldn't be prouder."
She smiled up at him."We look like us in that photo."
"We do."He pressed a kiss to her forehead."Because that's who we are."
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ollie drained the last of his latte and set the mug down on the table beside the remains of their breakfast.The morning sun was warm on his shoulders, and the pool glittered in front of them, perfectly still.Beyond it, the vines stretched out in neat rows toward the hills, the leaves catching the light.
A bird was singing somewhere in the oaks near the fence line, and the air smelled like coffee and warm stone and something faintly sweet from the gardens.Everything about this morning felt good.
He and Callie had gotten a late start, but that was hardly surprising considering how little they'd slept last night.She'd been so buzzed after she heard from Delaney, and he felt the same way — he was excited for her.
They'd sat at the computer in the office so they could see all the comments and orders that had come in from Delaney's post.He was thrilled for her.When it had started to sink in for her that this was real, he'd asked her more about her business.Of course he'd looked at her Etsy shop online before, but he still didn't know much about how she ran things.
She'd brought up her photo galleries of all her work, and it was amazing — some of it was breathtaking.His favorites were still the wind chimes, though.The ones made from broken pieces of pottery.There was something about them that got to him.
With all of that, it had been late before they went to bed.And once they were there...A shiver ran down his spine.They'd made the most of it.He'd been right when he told her they had nothing to worry about when it came to their compatibility in bed.She was amazing — they were amazing together.
He chuckled when he realized she was watching him.
"You look like the cat that ate the canary.What's up?"
He shook his head with a smile."Nothing.I feel that way too.It's just that everything's good in my world.I'm enjoying it."
He reached for her hand, and she gave his a squeeze.
"I'm loving this, Ollie.Everything feels so right."
"That's because it is."
They both laughed when Butter barked.
"See?If the big guy says so, it has to be true."
She stood up and stretched, the morning light catching her hair.She was wearing his sweats again.She'd brought her own clothes with her this time, but it seemed they both liked the idea of her wearing his — at least for breakfast by the pool like this, with the dogs sprawled at their feet and the whole day ahead of them.
"What do you want to do today?"he asked.
"Be with you," she said with a smile.
He chuckled."Wish granted.Anything else?"
She looked down at the dogs, and Peanut rested her chin on Callie's thigh."Take these babies for a walk."
He laughed when two tails started to wag."Oh, I think we can definitely do that.And maybe swim too."
Callie glanced over her shoulder at the pool."Yeah, I'd like that.And I brought my swimsuit with me."
He made a face."Damn.And I was hoping you'd forget."
