“Yep, that’s exactly what I bring to this relationship.” He smirks down at me.
Squaring my shoulders, I hold my ground. “Do I get to meet the best dog ever or not, Rhodes?”
Eyes glued to mine, Oliver opens the door and I’m greeted by a kiss from Nacho’s tongue slapping against my cheek like a raw piece of bacon.
My laughter and Nacho’s barking intermingle before she goes in for seconds.
“Okay, easy girl,” Oliver laughs. “To the back seat. Make room for Callie.”
Nacho wastes no time hopping over the console, vacating the front seat. Though, if I had died being suffocated by her fluff, that’s just how I was meant to go.
Oliver waits until I’m fully inside before shutting the door behind me and heading to get in on the other side.
Despite having a dog who likely sheds like there’s no tomorrow, the man’s car is spotless. I could probably even eat off the floorboards. The light interior exudes warmth, just like everything else about Oliver. Even the soft smell of cinnamon apples linger in the air, reminding me of the first time I met him.
Threatening to make me want to stay here forever.
“My parents’ house is actually only a short drive from here,” he offers, pulling away from the parking spot. “So I thought it might be helpful if we knew a few things about each other. You know, in case they ask anything specific.”
I nod. “That makes sense. What do you want to know?”
“You grew up here?”
“Yep. You didn’t, right?”
“Right. I grew up in Boston, but I went to college here. My family would come visit, and they fell in love with the natural beauty. So they moved here?—”
“When your sister was in high school,” I finish proudly. “You mentioned that on Monday.”
A small smile tempts its way onto his handsome face.
“Do you miss going home to Boston?”
Dark blond brows raise slightly, as if he’s surprised I asked a semi-personal question. “I actually do go back on occasion. My grandma still lives there, so my parents go to see her pretty regularly.”
“Does Nacho ever get to go?” I ask, reaching to the back seat to sneak a few pets.
Oliver chuckles. “Of course. Every single time I go.”
“I love that,” I sigh. “If I had a dog, they’d go everywhere with me, too.”
“Why don’t you?” He peeks over to the passenger side.
Picking at my nail polish, I shrug. “You’ll think it’s dumb.”
“I would never consider anything dumb that’s important to you, Callie,” Oliver’s voice is soft, kind. “Why would you automatically assume I would think that?”
“I didn’t automatically assume that.”
“Callie.”
Swallowing, I turn to watch our town pass by. Few people are out strolling down the blanketed sidewalks. Instead, they’re all warm in their homes with families that love them unconditionally.
Must be nice.
“That’s just how it’s always been—with little exception,” I mutter.
I look back just in time to watch Oliver’s knuckles tighten on the steering wheel for the shortest moment. “Well,” he says, an easy grin sliding into place, “hopefully that’s something I can help.”
