“Says who?” He winked, turning to sign something his manager brought to him. My interest piqued. “I have friends in high places.” He chuckled after the manager left. “So, it’s a date?”
“Yes,” I responded without thought, leaving the situation with Shay to play out as and when it would.
Caleb lavished me with a naughty smile. “So, being your fiancé, do I get access rights, you know to all the private entrances?” For a thirty-two-year-old father, the man could be devilishly naughty at times.
My dropped jaw made him grin. “Five good for you?” I changed the subject.
He winked, easily catching my dodge. “Sounds like a plan.”
If only love had a plan...
36. Glimpse of Us - Joji
Shay – 37 years
“Shay?” Ryleigh came up behind me.
Just as I was about to turn away from the scenic view outside the large window, a vision of silvery blonde hair stopped my feet. With her back to me, the woman, unsuitably dressed for the beach in a dark mid-thigh skirt and white blouse, hurried across the beach, pausing when her black heels kept sinking into the white sand. Finally, after stumbling a few times, she removed them and walked faster. Silently I begged her to turn around, to look at me, to give me a glimpse of a face I longed to see. But she didn’t. I watched until she disappeared up a path.
Disappointed, I released the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and turned away from the window. “Yeah.”
With Kyle propped against her hip, Ryleigh grasped my arm. “I know I’m not allowed to make decisions for you anymore, but I seriously don’t think this is the right place for you.”
“I think this is the one,” Brax bellowed, approaching us.
“That’s what you said about the two we saw last night.” She rolled her eyes, referring to the apartments we’d viewed on our arrival. “But like I was saying to Shay, I don’t think this town is the right fit for him.”
Brax did a double take, shaking his head. “Girl, it took me a month to coerce him to come down here, don’t go changing his mind, just when he settled. And daylight makes the view better,” he argued the last part. “Since you’re taking over Frank’s auto shop, where better to stay than in his home too.”
“If you two haven’t noticed, I’m quite capable of making my own fucking decisions,” I muttered, walking away from them. Why the fuck had I even agreed to let them help?
Outside, I fished my phone out of my pocket and sent a text to the estate agent, confirming my interest. Granted, it was an unscheduled viewing, I liked the oldish feel of the house. If nothing else, it would remind Ryleigh to stay out of my fucking business. I tolerated her coming along because Dad asked me to, nothing more. I didn’t need a woman’s perspective.
Stuffing my hands into my jean’s pockets, I walked until I reached a dead end. This road was the only access to the ten or so houses along that stretch. Admittedly, the sea views were spectacular even if the houses were a little dated but well maintained from what I could see.
A football rolling to a stop at my feet had me looking behind me. Two boys, around five or six, stood on an embankment on the other side of the road. The open field at their rear gave rise to the mountains behind it.
