Happiness buzzed in his chest.He didn't know why, but something about her feeling a connection to the same flowers that he did felt...important somehow.
"I remember them from when I was a kid," he explained.Though he couldn't have said from where.The estate had gardens, but he didn't think there had ever been lilacs there.
He understood the feeling of home, even though he didn't associate it with the estate where he'd lived all his life.
Behind the cottage was a shed with its own little porch and railing.
"Is that your kiln?"
"Yep, that's where I do all the damage."
He stepped up onto the porch and held the screen door while she let them inside.The place was unmistakably Callie's, and he drank in the sight.No fancy finishes.But everything had that touched-by-human-hands feeling.Nothing matched.Everything glowed.
"It's perfect," he said softly.
She glanced at him like she was trying to figure out if he meant it."It's not Napa."
"Exactly."
Inside, the place smelled like eucalyptus and clay.Her sink was stacked with drying bowls.There was a note on the fridge that said,Don't forget to live, scrawled in Sharpie.A wind chime made from shattered mugs tinkled by the back door.
Ollie went and gently traced his finger over the pieces, smiling."Do you ever sell these?"
She shrugged."Nah, no one would want them.I make them from the accidents.They're broken.Or crooked.Or chipped.Or weird."
"So...the best ones, then?"
She smiled.He meant it.
"Can I get you anything?It didn't dawn on me till we were almost here that I hadn't even asked if you wanted to come.I could have taken you straight back to the airport."
He covered the distance between them in two long strides.Looking down into her eyes, it hit him that this was the moment.He could just come out and tell her that although he wasn't from one of the wine families, he was still wealthy.He didn't need to point out that he was even wealthier than the people she'd been so unsure of.They knew each other a little better now, and after their visit with Alara and Zia — especially knowing that she was okay with not telling Alara why she’d really called her — he felt like she might be more open.
All the thoughts froze in his head when she smiled up at him.Her green eyes seemed to shine; they made her look so...alive.
"You're not mad that I brought you here, are you?"
"Far from it."He reached up to trail his fingers down her cheek."I think you already know that I like you, Callie.I like you a lot.Everything that's happened in the last twenty-four hours has only made me like you more.So, no, I'm not mad that you brought me here — I'm honored.And I'm going to say it: I hope this is only the first time that I get to come here."
His breath caught when she rested her hands in the middle of his chest and rose up on her tiptoes to press a brief kiss to his lips.She rolled her lips together as she stepped back, her eyes still shining as she said, "Ditto."
His heart pounded.This was going way better than he'd hoped.But now he really had to come clean with her.
His shoulders sank when his phone rang.
She raised her eyebrows."You should get that.It's probably Reaves.You might need to go get him."
He only hesitated for a moment — if Reaves wanted to come see Alara, then he'd fly back for him.No way would he let him down.But damn, the timing could be better.
"Want me to come get you?"he answered, putting the phone on speaker.
"Want?Yeah."Reaves let out a short laugh."But she said no.She promised me that she's okay.And when I pushed, she admitted that she's not great, but she plans to see a doctor just as soon as she can when they get to Portland."
"Sorry, bud."
"Thanks.Me too.I wanted to let you know so that you guys can get on with whatever you're doing.Are you still with Callie?"
Ollie liked that she called, "Yeah, I'm here," letting Reaves know that she could hear what he was saying.
