“I called my real-estate agent and accepted that last offer on my house. I’m moving back into my old house.”
Her heart clenched as she fisted her hands in her lap to keep from reaching for him. “That’s great.”
“And I have a proposition for you, but you can take time to think about it.”
Intrigued, and angry at her crumbling defenses, she asked, “What is it?”
He spared her a glance as he came to a red light. “I want you to still model for me. I’ve made a decision on the new office I’m opening.”
Reaching across, he took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m going to make it a surgical center for victims who have been scarred or burned.”
Callie jerked her hand back, bringing it to her mouth in an attempt to hide her quivering chin. “Noah…”
He pulled ahead when the light changed and then turned into the pizza place where they’d “celebrated” weeks ago. Once the car was in Park, he faced her, taking both of her hands now.
“You’ve taught me so much, Callie. You can’t know how you’ve opened my eyes to what’s important.” His eyes filled with unshed tears. “After meeting your family, learning even more about you and knowing how hard you’ve fought for what you want, I know that you are the woman I want in my life. I want your drive, your determination…your love.”
Callie shook her head. “You don’t mean that. You just see me as another woman who left you.”
“You and Malinda may have similar appearances, but that’s where the similarities stop. You have my heart, Callie, in a way I don’t think she ever did. Yes, I’ll always have a piece of me that loves her, but what I feel for you is so big, so beyond anything I’ve ever known. I can’t give you up and I won’t let you give up on us. Not when we’re so close to perfection.”
Callie glanced to the restaurant, saw all the kids inside playing games, getting tickets and running around with smiles.
She wanted to believe every word he said. She firmly believed that if he didn’t truly love her, he wouldn’t have acted so fast after she left. He wouldn’t have sold his house, wouldn’t have shown up at her door ready to fight for what they had.
She glanced back to him. “What are we doing here, Noah?”
His smile widened. “Celebrating.”
“What are we celebrating?”
He reached behind her seat and pulled out the ugly monkey she’d won weeks ago. “It’s not a ring, but I’m hoping you’ll celebrate spending our lives together. Forever.”
Callie looked at the pathetic stuffed animal and smiled through tears. “God, that was so romantic and silly at the same time.” She laughed.
“What do you say we go in and win more ridiculous stuff to put in our house?”
She threw her arms around his neck and held tight. “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”
Noah eased back, framed her face and kissed her lips. “I love you, Callie Matthews.”
She saw the truth in his watery eyes. “I love you, too.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Conflict of Interest by Barbara Dunlop
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