Page 56 of Matthew
They’d done much more than that, although she wasn’t going to tell her sister.
She shrugged again but couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her lips. “A few times.”
“Yes!” Maggie shook a fist in the air. “I knew it. I’m so glad. ‘Bout time you cut loose.”
Callie didn’t get a chance to reply, because Sammy and Tater trotted in from outside, each with one of her boots clamped between their teeth.
“Tater?” Maggie frowned. “What in the world do you have in your mouth?”
The dog proudly pranced forward, tail wagging as he deposited the soggy boot at Callie’s feet. Not Sammy. He plopped right down by the desk, her other one firmly in his mouth.
Callie stared at the shoes she’d forgotten by the table last night.
Idiot.
“Uh,Cal?” Maggie said. “Why do the dogs have your favorite Ariats?”
Schooling her features to neutral, she lifted her gaze to Maggie. “I got caught in the rain yesterday and had to ride out the storm under the lean-to.”
There. No lies.
Just a few very hot omissions.
“Why did you take them off? Maggie asked, then blinked. “Unless you weren’t alone…”
Perfect time to finish her fritter, so she did by shoving the rest into her mouth.
Her sister sucked in a breath then shot to her feet, startling both dogs. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The dogs jumped to their feet too, barking in unison.
“Sorry, boys,” Maggie said, lowering her voice and energy as she stooped to pet each of them. “You don’t understand. This is momentous. My sister got herself some with the hot ESI guy.”
Frowning, Callie leaned forward. “Shh…the others will be arriving for work. Keep your voice down.”
“Can’t.” Her sister laughed. “I’m way too happy for you.” Maggie sat back down, her grin still in place. “Bet it was thunderous.”
She snorted despite herself. “Definitely earth moving.”
“Yes,” Maggie repeated, this time in a loud whisper as she fist pumped the air. Then her gaze narrowed as she glancedaround. “Why isn’t he here? Oh, no. You didn’t shut him out, afterward, did you?”
Callie shook her head. “No, actually he walked me home before he left.”
“He left?” Maggie’s frown deepened. “He’s giving you the brushoff?”
“No. No, nothing like that,” she insisted, hoping she was right. An invisible band squeezed her chest. “It was actually really sweet. I’d suggested we should both go home.”
Maggie winced. “Ah,Cal, why? Don’t go putting up your walls.”
She shrugged. “Habit. But he’d insisted on walking me to the house.”
Her sister clapped. “Oh, I approve, and Mom would give him brownie points for that.”
“Mom better not ever know,Mags,” she said, leveling her sister with a hard stare.
“Of course. Of course. My lips are sealed.” Her sister made the universal locked gesture over her mouth. “Although, don’t forget we’re having dinner with her and Grandma tonight.”
Callie narrowed her gaze. “As long as you actually do keep your lips sealed.”
