She’d seen the face of the boy he’d been. She knew that the instant she’d met him, but did she recall seeing the face of the man she would one day come to love? Was that what her subconscious had been trying to tell her the day he’d arrived, as she’d watched him from the cliff top?
Life before Xander Costas seemed so...clear. So unencumbered despite the difficulties she’d faced—difficulties many people faced on a daily basis. But try as she might, she still couldn’t see past a day and what those days might hold.
Other than she longed to be held. Again. By him and only him.
Which scared Calliope to the very marrow of her bones.
He was steel to her grass. Unbendable to her pliability. Cemented in the world he helped to construct, while she thrived near the earth that had given her everything she ever needed. And yet...
“If today doesn’t give me anything to work with, I don’t know what will.”
Xander’s voice broke through Calliope’s thoughts. She glanced up as they stepped out of the grove. She offered a silent word of thanks to her butterflies for aiding her in her quest for the day.
With a slow blink of her eyes and lowering of her chin, the trees erupted in a flurry of wings as her butterflies abandoned their leaves to return to the trees at her farm. A manipulation of sorts, she reluctantly admitted. But if it helped get her point across...
Trees were more than obstacles to construction. They were testaments to time, with their own lives, their own histories and their own purpose. Special consideration should be taken when it came to removing even the most damaging of trees. Special consideration, planning and care.
That’s all she wanted. For every tree to be given a fair assessment for survival.
“I don’t mean to be difficult.” Calliope found herself apologizing before she could stop herself. She frowned. Where had that come from?
“Sure you do.” Xander didn’t seem offended by the notion. “Just like I do. We each have our own motives and goals. Figuring out a way around them is what makes life interesting, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose so.” Why was she surprised to hear that sentiment from his lips? “What are your motives, Xander?” Finally, she could explore Jason’s observations.
“You mean why did I take this job when I’ve spent most of my life dealing with multimillionaires and country-gobbling conglomerates?”
“I guess so.” The very idea that’s what he’d done was so foreign to her; she had no frame of reference. And wasn’t entirely sure she wanted one. “I might be wrong, but it feels as if you’re trying to rebuild something. Your family’s business, perhaps?”
“Forgive me, but I’m not buying that’s something you feel.”
“Jason mentioned your family is going through a difficult time. He also might have suggested I talk to you rather than expect you to agree with everything I’ve put forward.”
“I knew I liked that guy.” He stopped short of where he’d left his bag and cell phone, shoved his hands in his pockets and looked back to the trees. “Life seems simpler in there.”
“It often is,” Calliope agreed. “You don’t have to tell me, Xander. It’s none of my business. But if you do want someone to listen—”
“There’s no reason for you not to know. Honestly, I was surprised we were even given a shot at this design considering what happened.”
“Surprised but relieved. This isn’t just about wanting the job.” Harkening back to something Jason had said, she added, “You need it.”
“You do realize you could make a fortune as a therapist.”
“And now would be the time to observe that you use humor to deflect your feelings.” She wanted to reach out, to take his hand, to comfort him and tell him everything was going to be okay. But she knew once she touched him, she wouldn’t want to stop. This connection, this whatever it was that tethered them, wasn’t weakening. It was strengthening with every moment they spent together.
“It’s a family trait. Well, me and my brother at least.”
“Tell me about your family. And the business, as I’m assuming they are one and the same.”