"I hope not."He gave her a small smile."I hope you know you have a ride to Napa anytime you want to go.Just call me."
"Thanks."She blew out a sigh."I want us to be okay, Ollie.Really, I do.But we need to talk, don't we?"
"Yeah.I'm not trying to avoid it, Callie.I want to explain myself, and I'll answer any questions that you have, okay?"
"Thanks.And I want to explain myself to you."
He raised his eyebrows.
"I'm not being totally transparent with everyone in my life either."
She turned to head back toward the cottage, and he fell into stride beside her.
"Well, I'm here for as long as you want me," he said."Want to go inside and talk?"
"No."
She felt bad not inviting him in, and she knew that it wasn't rational, but she still had a weird feeling about him coming into her home.He liked it.She knew he did.His reaction when he'd first seen it had been genuine.But now that she knew he lived in that big house that the dogs had run off to when they walked on the estate —hisestate — she was still feeling a little unsettled.
At least she didn't need to come out and explain that to him.Instead, she said, "I thought we could go and walk on the beach.I like to go down there when I need to untangle things in my head.The wind and the ocean help."She smiled."I'll buy you a coffee on the way if that helps.And if it's too cold or too wet, we can sit in the truck and just look at the beach."
He glanced at the cottage as if he understood her reasoning.She was thankful when he said, "Yeah, let's do that.I enjoy the beach too."
When they entered the coffee shop, Kai greeted them with a smile."Hey, Callie.Do you want the usual?"
"Please."
He turned to Ollie."How about you?What can I get you?"
"What's the usual?"Ollie asked Callie.
"Just a latte for me.Nothing fancy."
She bit down on her bottom lip as soon as she said it.She didn't mean anything by it.Luckily, he didn't take it that way.He just smiled and said, "I'll take one of those, too."
When they came back out of the coffee shop, he took both the cups and held them while she drove them down to the beach.There were only a handful of people around, and Ollie scanned the beach appreciatively.
"I've always enjoyed it up here.I don't know why I don't come more."
"I think we all get caught up in the routine of our everyday lives, don't we?"
"I guess we do."
"That's why I decided to make the beach part of my everyday," she told him as they walked down to the water's edge."I'd only seen the ocean a handful of times before I moved out here."
She glanced at him, wondering what he'd make of that.But he didn't comment.
They walked on in silence for a little while, the wind tugging at her hair, but at least the sun shone warmly down on them.He took a slug of his coffee and then stopped walking and turned to her.
"I want to explain myself, but I've been waiting for you — if you want to go first."
She smiled."Thanks.I've kind of been doing the same."
"What do you think, then?Do you want to go first, or should I?"
She shrugged."I don't think it really matters.Do you have a preference?"
"Yeah.If you don't mind, I really want to explain myself."
