Page 46 of Keeping Denver

The cocky grin I love so much makes an appearance. "I have my ways."

"Money talks." I don't mean for my words to come out sounding callous. A wounded look crosses Callan's face, and my stomach falls. Seeing him hurt, because of my words makes me feel horrible inside.

"Money does tend to help." I hear the slight upset in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Callan. I didn't mean it like that." I reach out to touch him but stop myself.

"I know you didn't." The lines on Callan's face soften, as do his eyes. We both fall silent for a minute, neither quite sure what to say. "Listen, Denver. I…"

I hold up my hand. "Not here. I don't want to talk about it here. Today has been a good day, and with your generous help, it has gotten a whole lot better. Let's focus on that and helping as many people as we can instead."

Callan gives me a tight-lipped nod. "Will you allow me to drive you home later?" My eyes fall to the floor. "Please, baby," Callan pleads.

The moment the endearment passes his lips, my tummy gets that all too familiar flutter. I think about his request for a moment and decide we both have things we need to get off our chests. "Okay."

Callan visibly relaxes. "Yeah?" He looks for clarifications, and I nod, giving him a small smile. He sighs. "Thank you. I'll be here all day helping. Come find me when you're done."

The rest of the day passes in a quick blur. My head is a jumbled mess, and my nerves have kicked in when I realize it's almost time to leave for the day. "You ready to go, baby?" Callan asks, stepping up to me as he pulls his coat on.

I lick my lips. "Yeah. Let me say goodbye to Carol really quick." Callan has my jacket in his hands, and helps me slip in on.

"I'll wait here," he whispers in my ear, the heat of his breath prickles my skin, and I have to fight the urge to spin around and kiss him like a fool.

Making my way into the back, I find Carol in the kitchen. "Hey. I'm heading out. You need anything before I go?"

Carol stops what she's doing. "We got it from here, Denver. Go on home with that hunk of man meat I saw you with earlier. Tell him thank you for me again."

I blush. "I'll tell him," then turn to leave, but Carol stops me.

"Hey, Denver. I think what you did today was great. I'm happy you've been able to get back on your feet."

"You're welcome, Carol. I'll forever be grateful for what you all do here, and what you've done for me. I promise to come back and help as often as I can." We both smile at one another before she resumes what she was doing, and I exit the room.

When I emerge from the back, Callan is still rooted where he said he'd wait for me. Stopping beside him, he reaches out, placing his palm on the small of my back, leading me outside to his car. Callan opens the door and I climb in. His scent is all around me as I settle in the seat. Closing my eyes, I take in a deep breath, letting the smell of him fill my senses.

Callan sits beside me, leaving a small space between us, as the car moves down the road. Our hands rest on the leather seat, and my fingers twitch because I want so badly to touch him. The tension in the car becomes palpable on the drive home. The air thickens with so many emotions I can feel the weight of it pressing against my body. It's not until Callan parks in front of Frances and Richard's townhouse does he speak. "I'm sorry, Denver," Callan says those words to me, his green eyes boring into my soul. I know he means it. "I know I've texted you those words a dozen times in the past week. I also know words will never be enough. I can promise you, baby; I'm going to do everything in my power to earn your trust back." He palms my cheek and I lean into his touch.

"I love you, Denver Hollis." With those three words spoken, the flood gates open. It's like I've taken my first breath of air. "I love you too, Callan. I love you so much, but...I need time." My last words hurt, but they are my truth.

"I'm going to give you all the time you need. "

Tears fall down my cheeks. "I still haven't forgiven you." I sniffle. "I trusted you, Callan. I followed your lead when it came to our relationship, even though I knew we were moving too fast. I voiced my concerns several times, but in the end, I trusted you enough to fall. I fell so deeply in love with you, Callan, and I thought you felt the same." Callan pulls a handkerchief from his pocket, and dries my tears. I keep talking, needing him to hear me. I need him to understand. "When I needed you the most, you weren't there. I thought I had gone into this whirlwind relationship with eyes wide open. I feel so stupid for actually being so blind to the fact that you really didn't give us your all." I take a shuttered breath.

"I love you so fucking much, Denver. I know now that I've allowed my past and insecurities to cloud my judgment and my heart. I can promise you that it will never happen again."

I hiccup, trying to gain better control of my emotions. "I want to believe you. I do." My red-rimmed eyes stay fixed on Callan. "I was so scared, Callan. I'd never been arrested before. Having an officer put handcuffs on me, being placed into the back of a squad car, in broad daylight with strangers gawking at me. Being questioned and then having to sleep in a cold cell." Pausing for a moment to catch my breath, I look out the car window. "You want to know the worst part? Having the man I love, who I thought cared about me, look at me like I was nothing. Having that memory embedded in my soul is what keeps me from not being able to move forward. No matter how bad I want to move on with you, I'm scared."

"All I'm asking for today is a chance. Let me prove it to you, Denver. You can trust me again," he emphasizes. "We can take things as slow or as fast as you want. You're in the driver's seat, baby. I need you like I need air to breathe. I'll put in the work, and do whatever it takes," Callan chokes out. The pain and sincerity in his voice settle deep in my core.

"How?" I ask. "How do we make this work?"

"We start over. I didn't do it right the first time, and I intend to make it right." Callan clears his voice. "Denver, would you go out with me?"

"You want to take me on a date?"

"Yes."

I mull over his question, making him wait several agonizing minutes until I give him my answer. "Okay."