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Then I realize what she said, and a sly smile comes over me. "Not yet? You're implying we may get there."
"Don't read too much into everything I say." She rolls onto her back, hands clasped over her belly. "I'm trying to keep your sister from getting into trouble."
"And I appreciate it." I sidle closer, my head inches from hers, still braced on one hand. "Tell me, why do you care so much about what my family thinks of marriage?"
"I suffer from an insatiable and inappropriate curiosity."
"Hmm." I study her with keen interest, my eyes narrowed. "You say you won't fall in love with me, but you can't marry me. One is a choice, the other implies an impenetrable barrier. Eventually, you will be divorced, which means you could marry me."
"Yes, I suppose I could." She falls silent for a moment, her gaze aimed at the ceiling. "But you're better off without me. I'm bad news."
I make an irritated noise. "Stop telling me you're bad. I don't believe it, and I never will."
"Stop being so stubborn. Why can't you accept my decision?"
"Because it's clear that's not what you want. I wouldn't be here if it was." I settle a hand on her arm. "Why don't you want to care for me? Am I so frightening?"
"No, of course not. I feel safe with you."
"Donnae understand. Is it your husband who scares you?"
She shuts her eyes, covering her face with both hands and letting them slide back down to rest on her chest. "Not him. It's way too soon for me to share my deepest fears with you."
Neither of us speaks for a moment while the silence stretches on.
Finally, she peeks sideways at me.
I regard her without expression because I have no ruddy idea what to say to her now. We've known each other for five days, but it feels like much longer. Still, she needs more time to decide she trusts me.
"You're exhausted," I say, caressing her arm with light sweeps of my fingers over her skin. "Sleep now, worry later."
Calli curls up against me with her face on my chest. As she drifts off to sleep, I know I won't sleep anytime soon. What frightens her? Why can't she trust me enough to tell me? I've told her about my family, but not about the accident or Seona. Yet I expect Calli to tell me everything.
Damn eejit, ye are, and selfish too.
All right, I will slow down and give her time. Even if it drives me insane.
I'll do anything for Calli.
Chapter Fourteen
We spend the next day at home, playing with the puppies, watching television, and cooking for each other. Calli tells me all about this part of Michigan, which is called the Keweenaw Peninsula. The elderly couple I'd met at the beach had tried to explain some of the geography to me, but I didn't really understand. The Keweenaw is a peninsula on a peninsula, Calli says, since it sticks out of the northwestern section of the Upper Peninsula. She even shows me a map, but I still find it very confusing. This part of Michigan isn't connected to the rest of the state, though it does link up with Wisconsin.
"Then why is it part of Michigan, not Wisconsin?" I ask.
"Because it isn't. Don't ask me why. At one time, there was a movement to make the U.P. its own state or country, but that never took off."
"I see." Maybe I don't really, but the geography and politics of this region aren't of great interest to me. The geography of Calli's body is.
But I don't seduce her. Yet.
In the evening, I have a shower while Calli washes the dishes. She insisted on cleaning up after dinner, saying I'm a guest and shouldn't do all the housework. I can't resist Calli, even when she's urging me to be lazy, so I give in to her command. I have to admit, she is sexy when she's bossing me around. When I emerge from the bathroom, I can see her sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
I saunter into the living room, veering around the sofa, and drop onto the cushion beside her. My hair is still wet since I never bother with girlie things like hair dryers. Besides, I know Calli likes me damp and fresh from a shower. I probably should've walked out in a towel. She'd loved that yesterday.
As I stretch an arm across the sofa's back, I let my fingertips graze her shoulder. "Thought I heard voices."
"Talking to my cousin on the phone."
