Free The Moment She Knew by Christine Farrey Page B

room and I told her that. She took off her clothes and tried to persuade me but that wasn’t working.  She got pissed at me. When we were younger our parents always said we should get married. I didn’t like her like that. As we got older I knew she had a thing for me but I didn’t cross that line. She had it rough in school, being picked on because she was thin and tall. She was always nice and now she is just, disrespectful and devious. She is looking for someone to take care of her so she can work on her social status. Well I’m not that person. I refuse to be used.” Callie was glad he turned her down. Bree didn’t deserve Connor, not that Callie thought she did, but she knew Bree didn’t.
    As they walked down the pier, Connor looked at his watches and told Callie the show should start soon. His hands then went into his pockets as they walked to the end of the pier where the barge stood awaiting to set off the firework show. Callie wanted to ask about the two watches but didn’t.
    “Can I ask why you stretch your hands and then put them in your pockets? Is it an insecure thing? Not that you have any reason to be insecure. Or like a n OCD thing?” She finished her question just as they reached the end of the pier. He turned with his hands in his pockets, facing her.
    “It’s so I don’t touch you ,” he said, in a deep voice. There was no hiding the shocked expression on her face.
    “I told you I was attracted to you and I get the urge to reach out and touch you. Sometimes it’s simple, like I want to hold your hand or kiss you. Other times it’s… not so simple and I want to take your clothes off so I can see those hidden tattoos again,” he chuckled. 
    “Oh ,” was Callie could muster and the smile on her face couldn’t be missed. The fireworks started and Callie turned in the direction of the red, white and blue sparks that lite up the sky. The air was warm and a light breeze was coming off the water. She glanced over in Connors direction and saw his hands left his pockets He stepped closer and brought one hand up to her lips. His thumb brushed along her lips as he leaned in to kiss her. His hands found her waist and he moved in closer. Callie kissed him back, keeping one hand on his chest and the other crept up his neck and into his hair, she lightly tugged and he moaned. She confirmed his hair was silky and his lips were deliciously soft. They stopped kissing when one of the fireworks made a loud crack. They turned to watch the rest of the show wrapped in each other’s arms. The worst trip ever had turned into the best trip ever.
    Chapter 11
    The rest of the summer was full of teaching and preparing for the fall. Connor lectured until the end of July. He was doing one lecture class over the fall semester which started late-August. After the kiss on the pier Connor didn’t make another move. Callie caught him on occasion flexing his hands and placing them into his pockets. They didn’t hang out as much either. Connor went back home for most of August. He and Callie didn’t communicate much. Callie had contacted him, but Connor was always busy; she took the hint.
    She thought something would have happened between them. She really liked Connor and thought the feeling was mutual, but she was wrong. It figures the one guy she did like, didn’t feel the same. Reed had appeared in a few dreams. They talked about Connor; Reed thought it was best to give him time. Callie didn’t think he needed time. She just figured it was going to be nothing and thought to dismiss it. Reed strongly suggested she didn’t. When Callie talked to Dani she seemed to have the same opinion as Reed.
    Dani was vaguely aware of R eed. Callie felt dumb but on one night of them drinking wine at Dani’s house, after the kids went to bed, they got into a conversation about the perfect man and dreams and Callie let it slip. She thought Dani was going to laugh but she didn’t.
    Ryan had been around a bit more during August.