Page 55 of Matthew
Not storm different.
Watch-your-backdifferent.
The walk to work should’ve helped clear her head. It didn’t. Damp earth, wet grass, and the faint, comforting scent of basil followed her as she approached the main building. Sammy trotted ahead, ears perked, and tail wagging.
And yet, everything felt different.
The lean-to. That storm. Matthew’s hands on her skin.
Callie still wasn’t sure how her body hadn’t caught fire and set the table ablaze. She rubbed her arms, trying to shake off the memory.
It didn’t work.
Unlocking the front door, she stepped inside and flipped the main lights, blinking against the fluorescent hum as the store came to life around her. T-shirts in neat stacks. Starter kits on the shelves. Hanging planters and seed packets lining the wall. All exactly as she’d left it.
Butshewasn’t the same.
Not after last night. And not only because of the sex—though holy smokes, the sex. It was the look in his eyes when he said he wasn’t coming in. The way he’d kissed her with meaning and tenderness as if she were everything.
And somehow, that had rattled her more than the blazing heat they’d shared.
She moved through the building on autopilot, checking locks, double-tapping the tablet to bring up the latest manifests. Everything looked clean. Normal.
So why was her pulse still ticking high? Because while her brain wanted to focus on today’s delivery, her heart kept replaying every single detail of last night.
Deep down, she knew this morning wasn’t just the calm after a storm. It was the start of something way beyond her expertise.
The back door creaked open as Callie was setting the tablet down on her desk. She turned, expecting Matthew, but it was Maggie, her arms full of coffee and a pink pastry box from the bakery in town.
“You’re a damn hero,” Callie said, grabbing a cup and practically hugging it. The one she’d enjoyed in her kitchen earlier was a memory.
More caffeine was needed. Now.
Tater greeted Sammy with a slobbery lick before the two bolted outside, all wagging tails and playful lunges.
“I know.” Maggie smirked. “What can I say? It’s a gift.”
Callie groaned, dropping into her chair. “I’ve got to stop feeding your ego.”
“Nope. But you might want to feed your face.” She set her coffee and the box on the desk, then opened the box lid. “I’ve got apple fritters the size of your hand, and a bear claw for your handsome boyfriend.”
“He’s not—” Callie started, then gave up with a laugh. “Fine. I’ll save him the bear claw if he makes it in time.”
Maggie sank down in the chair in front of the desk, grinning from ear to ear as she ate. It really was amazing how none of her fritter fell out.
Callie grabbed a fritter and waved it at her sister. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why are you smiling?”
“Because you didn’t deny that Matthew was your boyfriend,” Maggie replied before taking another bite.
She finished swallowing her mouthful and shrugged with what she hoped was a boatload of nonchalance. “I like being around him.”
Literally.
Oh, crap.
Heat infused her cheeks so fast, it was a wonder smoke didn’t blow out her nostrils. Those thoughts were dangerous, especially around her sister. Callie took a big bite and chewed slowly, savoring the sweet apple taste, and to have an excuse not to respond to whatever was brewing on her grinning sister’s lips.
“Oh, you so need to elaborate,” Maggie said. “You’re blushing.” She leaned closer. “Come on, spill it. What’s going on with you two? I know you’ve kissed. I can see it in your eyes.”
