Page 51 of Scrape the Barrel
To my utter surprise, he lifted his hands and cupped my cheeks, but instead of closing the distance, he led me backwards into the aisle, removing one hand only to close the stall door behind him, not once taking his eyes off me.
Fuck. Why was that so hot?
“Mama?” Avery’s voice filled the barn, and I jumped out of my stupor, inhaling a sharp breath as I pulled away from Callan.
“Yes, Aves?” I called back.
Her tiny form came out into the aisle. “Are we going?”
I worked to catch my breath, not realizing that I’d been holding it that whole time. “Yes, sweetie. We’re going.”
That was too close.
If Avery had seen Callan and I that close, it would only confuse her. Yet, I was going on a date with him,withAvery. She didn’t know it was a date, though, which was for the better. Maybe it wasn’t as serious to Callan as I thought it was. Maybe he was just being friendly, wanting to get to know me better without strings attached later on.
But if that was the case, we had to get on the same page.
Because wanting more with Callan Bronson wasn’t what I needed to be focusing on right now. Wanting more withanyoneonly led to disappointment in the long run, and I didn’t need any distractions from being the best mom I could be for Avery.
Callan and I would stay strictly friends, if we could even be considered that.
Acquaintances.
Yeah, that’s what we were.
Just acquaintances.
19
Callan
Touching Sage was a bad idea.
My arms ached to reach out to her, my hand itching to feel her soft skin against my palms again. I shouldn’twanther like this. I hadn’t wanted anyone like this in…well, since my ex packed up and left.
So four years.
But even when I was with her, she didn’t stop my heart like Sage did. She didn’t steal the breath from my lungs, make my cheeks heat, just from being in the same room as her. Sage’s presence could never fly under the radar. Her whole being demanded to be seen like the north star in an ink black sky.
You could look away, but you’d stillfeelher around you.
Sage McKinley was a fucking heart-stopper.
I didn’t know the story behind Avery’s father other than I knew he wasn’t in the picture. For Sage to raise Avery all on her own while maintaining a full-time job absolutely blew my mind. She was so strong, and I had the feeling she didn’t think of herself that way, but she should.
The tall grass brushed together as we walked through it, the field moving like ocean waves as a slight breeze ruffled the blades. Avery was skipping ahead of us as Sage and I followed, heading in the direction of the pond. Sage’s pace was slow to cater to her still-healing knee, so I matched it, not wanting her to rush. She’d said the bruise was almost gone, but I should have driven them out here instead of walking. The pond wasn’t too far out on my parents’ property, maybe a fifteen minute walk, and the day was perfectly warm with the wind. Her knee still had to be somewhat sore, but she wasn’t complaining, so I took that as a good sign that it was healing well.
“Are you going to tell me what all this is for?” Sage asked, glancing at the basket swinging from my hand, along with the fishing pole slung over my shoulder.
“Nope.” She’d have to wait a few more minutes until we got there.
“If you think I know how to fish, you’re out of your mind,” she said.
Taking my eyes off of Avery in front of us, I faced Sage as we continued walking. “I’ll teach you.”
Sage snorted and I couldn’t help the smile on my faceat the sound.
She opened her mouth to reply, but stopped short when she saw my grin. “What’s that look?”
