Callie shook her head rapidly."Nope.That's not for me.I'll be happy to be Auntie Callie to Becca's kids, but I don't see myself having any."
When Elena gave her a puzzled look, she shrugged."We're all different, I guess.I thought that was the path I had to follow in life — get a steady job, work my way up, get married, have kids, take care of everyone else till I got old and died — all in the same town I was born in.Now that I've managed to escape that fate, it might be selfish, but I want my life for myself."
She met Elena's gaze, feeling as though the older woman might think less of her for it.
Instead, Elena nodded."I don't think that's selfish.You should live your life the way you want to.Only share it with who you want to — and if that's not children for you, then that's your choice."She smiled."Any idea if you might want a man to share it with?"
Callie inhaled sharply when an image of Ollie popped into her head.That was crazy!Okay, so dinner last night had gone better than their afternoon had, but when he'd walked her to Xander's truck after they got back to his apartment, the only kiss there'd been was the same peck on the cheek that he — and Reaves — had given her when she arrived.
She must have taken too long to answer — Elena chuckled."It's none of my business, but I have my hopes for you."She checked the clock on the wall."And speaking of that, do you want me to walk down to the hangar with you?Your ride will be here soon."
"That's okay, thanks."Callie picked her duffel up off the floor."I'd better get going.But I'll be in touch.I'll figure out how to get the mugs to you and Walt when they're ready."
"You could come back to see us and bring them with you."
Callie chuckled."Maybe I will."
~ ~ ~
Ollie brought the Cirrus in for a perfect landing at the Jacobs estate, and as he touched down, it occurred to him that other than bringing Callie last week, he'd never landed his Cirrus here before.There was no reason for him to.He and Reaves had flown the jet in a handful of times over the years — and more than he cared to remember over the last week as they ferried wedding guests in from San Francisco and then back out again.
When he reached the end of the runway, he turned the plane around and taxied back toward the hangar.He didn't think he'd ever been here without Reaves, either.
He glanced over at his phone sitting in the right seat.He'd tossed it there after texting with Reaves before he took off.Reaves had been checking in to see how he was doing this morning.All Ollie had been able to say was that he felt like crap.He'd enjoyed his evening over here with Callie, but he would have enjoyed it a lot more if he'd been honest with her from the beginning.He was an idiot, and he needed to set things straight with her.
His heart started to hammer when he spotted her standing by the hangar waiting for him.She was dressed the same way she'd been when he picked her up from Fort Bragg last week.Same cargo pants, same denim jacket, same duffel slung over her shoulder, and her hair tied in the same messy braid.None of it added up to the kind of woman he was normally attracted to, but that didn't make any difference.He had to face the fact that he found Callie more attractive than any woman he'd known before.
And here he was, royally screwing it up.
He grinned when she raised her hand in a little wave as he passed.It felt good to him, knowing that she was pleased to see him despite the fact that he was arriving in his own plane.Not because of it.
There'd been too many girls — and people in general — in his life who were only interested in him because of the money.Or no, maybe not just the money, but the money and the name put together meant that he was never sure if people were genuinely interested in him, the person.Ollie, rather than Oliver Stratton, son of the great Miles Stratton.
He waved back at Callie, knowing damn well that he had nothing to worry about with her in that respect.His smile faded.His worries with her were for the opposite reasons.Not that she'd want him for his money — that she would reject him for it.
That same heavy feeling settled in his chest as he brought the plane to a stop.She wouldn't get the chance to reject him over it until he was honest with her.And he still hadn't figured out how, or even when, he was going to do that.
She stood way back, watching him while he cut the engine and removed his headset.When he climbed out, she gave him another little wave and called, "Sorry, I didn't know if I was supposed to come running to get in or how this works.All I could think of was helicopters, where I think you're supposed to stand back until the blades stop going around."
"It's all good," he told her."And for future reference, you did the right thing.Always wait until the engine's stopped and the blades have finished turning."He made a little circle above his head with his finger as he said, "Whether they're up above or on the nose."
He realized as he finished that he'd moved his finger to circle in front of his own nose as he said it.The way she laughed reassured him that he hadn't made a fool of himself.
"Good to know," she said as she hitched the strap of her duffel higher on her shoulder.
"Here, let me take that."He held his hand out, and for a moment she tightened her grip on the strap as if she wasn't going to hand it over.But then she gave him a rueful smile and said, "Sorry, yeah, you need to put it somewhere, don't you?"
"Only on the back seat, but I wouldn't make you carry it yourself anyway."
"No, right, I forgot that.Thanks," she said as she handed it over.
His hand brushed hers as he took it from her, and her gaze flew up to meet his.It made him hope that she felt it too.Whatever it was, he couldn't name it — only that it felt like a zap of...something.Recognition, connection — he didn't know what, but he knew it was the exact same thing that had happened when he picked her up in Fort Bragg.
She dropped her gaze again quickly, and he loaded first her bag and then her.
Once they were both seated with seatbelts on, he turned to her with a smile."I didn't even think to ask — did you enjoy the flight last time?"
Some of the tension left his shoulders when she nodded eagerly."Sorry, I should have said.Yeah, thanks, I absolutely loved it.I mean, this is just so cool to me.I think I told you that I flew in the jet with Becca and Jacob at Christmas.They were going to see Becca's folks, and I hitched a ride to go and see mine.That was awesome, don't get me wrong, and at the time I thought it was a tiny plane."
