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“Says who?” I open my mouth to protest but she raises her hand and gives me the ‘shut your pie hole, I’m not finished yet’ look. Rolling my eyes at her, she pinches my arm and continues, “The va-jay-jay wants what the va-jay-jay wants, Cali, and yours has wanted Kane Heatherington for as long as I can remember. Sure, there’s a bit of an age gap, and sure, he’s your dad’s BFF—and your sister is best friends with his youngest daughter—and you are currently a stripper living in NYC, and he’s a hotel owner here in Silverbell, but, babe, what about what you want? What you both want? Personally, I think everyone else can shove a pineapple up their ass, pointy end first. Follow your va-jay-jay … and heart.”
“They both want Mr. H,” I honestly tell her.
“Then that’s all you need to focus on. I know your dad, after the initial shock, he’ll come around.”
“I don’t know about that; he still hates Raven after he caught the two of us practicing to kiss when we were eleven.”
“Most people hate Raven ‘cause, well, he’s Raven.” I nod and smile because she’s right. Raven is an acquired taste but when you get to know him, he’s the bestest. “You’re now twenty-three and a responsible stripper. Maybe you should tell him you're stripping, that might soften the blow before telling him you're in love with his BFF.”
“He can NEVER find out about that. He’d be more pissed at that than me and Mr. H being together.”
“With Garrick Fischer, anything is possible, but in all honesty, chat with Kane tomorrow and go from there.”
“Mr. H and I have sooo much to chat about.”
“Just try keeping your tongue out of his mouth, that might help you iron things out.” She pauses, and then says, “You do realize that if you two start dating, you will have to start calling him Kane?”
“That’s future Calliope’s problem. Current Calliope is going to finish her tea and then Calliope is going to go back to sleep. Also, Calliope likes referring to herself in third person. Calliope thinks Fern should try it.”
“Fern thinks Calliope is losing it and is going to go back to bed to have some middle of the night nookie, so Calliope might want to turn some music on or get to sleep quickly.”
“Calliope thanks Fern for the warning. Calliope also reminds Fern that if it’s not on …”
In unison we repeat, “… it’s not on.”
“Thanks for the midnight pep talk, Fern, Calliope appreciates it.”
She pulls me in for a hug. “Anytime, lady, anytime but stop with the third person referencing, Fern does not want to punch her bestie.” And with that statement, she kisses my forehead and exits my room, leaving me to ponder her words.
Finishing my tea, I place the empty cup on the side table and lie back. I stare at the ceiling, playing out every scenario I can think of. I’ve come to the conclusion that no matter what happens, someone is going to be pissed and/or hurt.
Flicking off the light, I decide that future Calliope can worry about that. Current Calliope is going to try to get some shut-eye. I’m just about to drift off to Neverland when I hear Fern. “Tongue my ass, Tucker, tongue it good and then fuck it. Fuck it harder than you ever have before.”
Groaning, I pull my pillow over my head and scream into it, “Fuck my life.” Looking out the window from under my pillow, I see that the sun is starting to rise so I change into a pair of shorts and a tank, pull my hair up into a pony, grab my shoes, and head out for a run. Sitting on the bottom step, I lace my sneakers and take off on my run.
The hill up to The Clifton is a killer but it’s good for the glutes, so I push myself forward. Reaching the top, I stop at the hotel’s rhododendron-lined driveway. The pebbled driveway crunches under my feet as I walk back and forth, taking deep breaths, staring through the woodlands and up to the hotel building. I smile when I see the hotel’s chimneys peeking over the treetops. The Clifton sits on the bluff, overlooking the white sandy beach and Silverbell below. It has a slate roof with dormer windows, white shingle siding, and a wraparound porch on the ground floor. It was all brought back to its former glory when Mr. H restored the hotel after he purchased it all those years ago. The changes he made stayed true to the original design of the home, which he turned into a hotel. I’m glad he kept it all original, it really adds to its beauty.
A marketing job here would be amazing, the packages I could put together staying here would be endless, but Kerrie is the current MD. She recently took over from Hannah when she quit to enjoy retirement with her husband. It occurs to me just now that he never offered the position to me, something he promised Dad he would do one day, but I guess, he doesn’t want me back here after all and I know I said I didn’t want him to hand me a job but it still would have been nice to have been offered it. That thought hurts. It would have been great to work here … with him, but it’s moot so I may as well forget about it.
Shaking my head, I spin on my heel and race back down the hill and toward the beach. My feet sink into the sand when I reach the bottom of the hill. I’m huffing and puffing, so I drop to the sand and pull my legs up. I stare out at the ocean, the sound of the waves crashing into the shore calms me.
It’s so peaceful here this time of morning but my peace is broken when I see a lone figure running along the shoreline and as they get closer, my eyes widen when I realize who it is. I take the moment to appreciate the fine specimen running toward me. Even all covered in sweat he looks amazing. He’s a few feet away when he looks up and our gazes meet. He smiles and with that one little lift of his lips, I know exactly what I want to do.
I just hopehewants it to.
ChapterTwenty-Two
After my wet dream and text conversation with Calliope, I can’t get back to sleep. I lie here, staring at the ceiling, wondering what’s going to happen later today when we meet up. Now that I’m staring down the barrel of discussing everything with her, I don’t know what the hell I want to do. Well, I’m ninety-nine percent sure what I want but the consequences of it are massive. However, it’s Calliope we are talking about. I’ve never met anyone like her in my life.
When I’m around her, my heart beats like never before. Right now, I feel that this is the calm before the storm because if we do this, it’s going to cause waves. Big tsunami-sized waves. If she were any other woman, I’d jump in with both feet but she’s my best friend’s princess. His eldest daughter. Garrick has hated every boy she has ever dated and I really don’t want my best friend to hate me, but Calliope Fischer is perfect in every way. She’s a bright beacon of light in the darkest of nights. She’s worth his wrath but does she feel the same way? That’s the million-dollar question right now.
Climbing out of bed, I decide to go for a run to clear my head. Running along the beach has always reset my mind and calms my soul. I really hope this morning will be no different. Walking down the front steps of the house, I see the sky is just beginning to lighten, the sun will rise soon, shedding light on a day that will change my life forever.
Putting one foot in front of the other, I take the long way to the beach and I find myself jogging down Main Street. When I pass Fern’s apartment, I look up and smile, knowing that one flight of stairs away Calliope is sound asleep, possibly dreaming of me.
Picking up the pace, I head toward the beach. Before I hit the sand, I look to the clifftop and take a moment to admire my hotel. The Clifton was old and run-down when I purchased it. Everyone told me I was crazy when I bought it, but I ignored their concerns and followed my heart. The Clifton is now a popular getaway location and most seasons we’re fully booked before the end of the current season for the upcoming one. We are busy year-round and I have to say, Christmas at The Clifton is my favorite. We spare no expense on the decorations and the chefs really step it up, creating some of the most delicious foods I have ever tasted. I’m hoping to entice Michael to come and work for me when he finishes his apprenticeship. Under the guidance of Pierre, my current head chef, Michael could become amazing, well, more amazing than he already is.
Turning away from the hotel, I jog down to the harder sand at the shoreline and start my run. Once I’m at the opposite end of the beach, I turn around and slowly make my way home. The fresh air has cleared my mind and given me the clarity of what I need to do today. As much as I want Calliope, I’m going to leave the decision up to her. Will I be gutted if she chooses not to explore an us? Hell-fucking-yes I will be, but I don’t want her to do anything she doesn’t feel comfortable with. I’ve already hurt her once when I pushed her away after kissing her in New York, and I vow never to hurt her again.
