“You’re thinking awfully hard over there.”
“There’s lots to think about.”
Calder traced circles on the back of my hand. “We’ll find out who’s doing this.”
I knew they would. Eventually. But in the meantime, my entire life would be upended. “I’m annoyed that I have to leave my home.”
Calder pulled to a stop in front of my house. It wasn’t massive, but it wasn’t small, either. A four-bedroom modern farmhouse with high ceilings and lots of windows. A sprawling porch in the front and a large deck in the back. I’d put myself into each little choice from the double ovens for my baking projects to the soaking tub with a view of the mountains.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were making a living from your videos?”
I looked over at Calder, trying to read his tone. “It never came up.” He was silent for a moment as he studied my house. “Does it bother you?”
“That you’re making a killing doing what you love? Why would it?”
I tugged at a loose thread on the jeans I’d changed into at the station. “Some guys wouldn’t be a big fan of that.”
Calder’s hand slid along my jaw, turning my face towards him. “Hads. I was surprised, and I’ll admit a little annoyed that you didn’t share you’d found that kind of success. But that has nothing to do with me being intimidated by how much money you make. Any man who has a problem with that isn’t much of a man at all.”
I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his. “You say all the right things.”
His fingers tangled in my hair, keeping me just a breath away from him. “Glad you think so. Now, let’s go pack some of your stuff so I can get fed.”
“You do get grumpy when you’re hungry.”
Calder grunted. “Like you don’t?”
“Fair point.” I could be downright evil if someone kept me from my food.
We climbed out of the SUV and walked to the house. I pulled my keys out of my pocket and unlocked the door. We both paused for a moment, looking for some sort of destruction or waiting for the bogeyman to jump out, maybe. But everything was just as I’d left it.
Calder followed me up the stairs to my bedroom. Energy hummed over my skin as I took in the bed. Memories of Calder’s hands and lips on my body cascaded through my brain.
“Don’t get that kind of look, or we’ll never make dinner,” he mumbled.
My cheeks flushed. “I’ll just get a duffle.” I hurried to my walk-in closet and pulled two bags down from a top shelf. I tossed clothes into one with no real rhyme or reason, hoping it would be enough to last me as we got all of this figured out.
I slung the bag over my shoulder and tossed the empty sports duffle at Calder. “I need to put some of my gear in that one.” I might pause the videos for a while, but I wasn’t giving up the outlet I needed to stay sane.
“Just call me your pack mule.”
I gave his butt a little pat as I passed. “But what a cute pack mule you are.”
Calder growled. “Did you just call me cute?”
“Calling ‘em like I see ‘em.”
“I’ll show you cute.” He grabbed me around the waist, tossing me over his shoulder and heading down the stairs.
“Put me down! You’ll drop me, and I’ll get some crazy concussion.”
“If you had a pool or a lake, I’d throw you in it right now.”
As Calder reached the bottom of the steps, I went for a spot under his ribs that I knew was particularly ticklish. He let out a grunted yell, pretty much tossing me from his shoulder. “You’re evil, woman.”
I waved my fingers like I might go for him again. “Play with fire, and you might get burned.”
Calder shook his head but did it while grinning. “Do you want to clean out your fridge while we’re here? You can take anything that might go bad over to my place.”