Page 28 of Untroubled Heart

I jump in my seat, springing back into the proper upright position when her voice comes through the phone’s speaker. My arm knocks my drink bottle, spilling water over my lap and stomach as I fumble for the intercom button.

“Ah… Y-yeah, Callie?” I stand, pulling my sopping wet shirt away from my stomach.

“Your realtor is on line one.”

I look up, and Tara’s gone.

How long was I lost in my thoughts of her?

“Thanks, I’ll grab it now.” I pick up the handset, hitting the flashing button. “Hey, Carmen.”

“Hi, Mason. Would you happen to be free at the moment? I just got the scoop on a very exclusive place. It won’t be going on the market for another few weeks cos the family needs to clear it out first, but I was able to swindle an early viewing. Interested?”

I check my watch, noting it’s almost lunchtime, then bring up my calendar on my computer. “I don’t have anywhere to be until after two. Is the place far?”

“It’s in Old Wandering.” That’s about a half-hour drive from the office, not exactly the ideal location, but I guess I haven’t found anything in the places I have been looking.

“Okay, sounds good. Send me the address, and I’ll head there now.”

“You got it. See you soon.”

I end the call, then walk over to the coat closet in the back corner of my office to grab a dry shirt. I’ve got the wet one pulled halfway up my back when there’s a swift knock on the already open door. I spin around, my head coming free just as I’m met with Callie, frozen in the doorway, mouth agape with a handful of paperwork.

“I-I—” Her hand comes to her neck as she clears her throat, eyes still fixed on my bare torso. “I have the latest ab report—AD! Ad report.”

I roll my lips together, hiding how much it pleases me that I’ve clearly set her off kilter with the sight of my bare chest and, yes, my abs. I pull my shirt the rest of the way off and toss it in a hamper in the closet before walking towards her, flexing my stomach for good measure. “Thanks, Callie.”

Accepting the folder, I drop it onto my desk, then pull on a fresh shirt. “I’m popping out for a bit. My realtor has a place for me to look at.”

“Ah, yep. No worries.” Callie looks down at her feet. She’s wearing crisp white high-top sneakers and tight, blue jeans with a company polo shirt. It’s a cute look on her. I like how she doesn’t dress to impress anyone, but somehow, she’s still the most beautiful person in the room. Shit.

I push away distracting thoughts of my assistant and grab my phone and car keys from my desk.

When I head back to the door, Callie’s still standing there, looking at her feet with a blush on her cheeks. She’s got her glasses on again, but they’ve slipped slightly down the bridge of her nose.

I lean my head down, carefully placing a finger on the centre of her glasses, and push them up. Her eyes move up with my finger until they lock on mine. “Did you need anything else?”

She gasps, shaking her head, then spins on her heel and almost runs back to her desk.

“I should be back before two,” I say as I pass her.

“Okay.” She nods. “Good luck.”

I’m almost out of the room when I pause, thinking back to what Beth said last week.

I slowly spin on my heel. “Do you want to join me?”

Her dark blue eyes fly to mine.

I wish I knew the thoughts passing through her mind. It feels as though time has stopped before she eventually says okay.

Maybe it’s not the best idea to spend more time alone with Callie, to bring her further into my world, particularly where it dips into my personal life. But like Beth said, no one else has managed to help me find what I’m looking for.

***

“Thanks again for my drink,” Callie says as we draw closer to the address on the GPS.

“Thanks for coming with me.” I take a sip of the iced chocolate I ordered for myself.