I couldn't wait to post this chapter, coz I love it so much and want to share it with you. And I did keep you waiting a while for the last update. But this chapter does come with a very serious warning – extreme fluffiness and romance is about to hit you! Enjoy Zoe
Nell stood in front of the full length mirror attached to the back of her bedroom door and scrutinised her appearance. She was due to meet Callen for dinner in a little less than forty minutes and she was having second thoughts about her choice of outfit. She had already changed twice, the first outfit she decided was too casual and the second was too formal. It's just dinner she told herself as she tugged on the neckline of the black silk dress she had settled on. Nell knew she would be less nervous if she had seen Callen earlier in the day like they had planned because it would have seemed less like an actual date and more like the casual lunches they usually had when out running. But Callen had called early to tell her that he and Sam had to spend a couple of hours working new aliases into a tight knit group of marines and he wouldn't be able to go running. He had assured her he would be done in time to take her to dinner but at the back of her mind Nell worried that she'd be left waiting – she knew how easily simple assignments could take a dramatic turn.
Nell brushed down the front of the dress and turned to look at herself from every possible angle. The dress was simple with a rounded neck, short capped sleeves and a loose skirt that fell just above her knees. She placed a white flower clip into her hair and added a pair of pearl earrings and a string of pearls around her neck. Not too much, just enough she decided. After slipping her feet into her favourite black ballet pumps (she didn't do heels despite her petite stature), Nell picked up her purse and went to the window to look out for the cab she booked.
Callen was in a rush. He and Sam had spent the afternoon 'befriending' a couple of marines suspected of being involved in arms dealing out of Camp Pendleton. It was one of those cases where slow and steady wins the race and after a few hours of hanging out in the bar with them, they had made small talk with the marines and secured the first step into their group. But it had taken longer than expected and he was now rushing around his house, looking for a clean shirt. He recalled the conversation he had with Nell earlier that morning when he had to cancel their run. She had sounded disappointed, and he knew she was wondering if dinner might also get cancelled. He would have done anything to prevent that happening but fortunately they ended their operation just in time for him to get home, shower and change. He searched through his closet and pulled out a dark blue dress shirt. A quick glance confirmed it had been ironed and he quickly put it on before slipping on his watch and jacket, then tucking his wallet and cell into his jacket pocket. Hearing two beeps from outside, Callen did a quick check in his head that he had everything he needed and hurried outside to the waiting cab.
Nell looked anxiously out the window of the cab as it approached the Moroccan restaurant down by the beach that Callen had made reservations at. She was pleasantly surprised at the choice, half expecting him to choose somewhere traditional like a French or Italian place. As the cab drew closer to her destination she spotted him waiting outside, leaning casually against the wall, his hands in his jeans pockets. A smile crept onto her face and when the cab pulled up to the kerb, she slipped the driver the fare and stepped out.
"Hey." Callen stood up straight and walked the few feet over to Nell. He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked, thinking to himself she really ought to dress up more often if this were the result.
"Hi." She replied.
"You ready?"
As I'll ever be she said to herself as she nodded to him in response.
Several hours later Nell was having the time of her life. All the nerves she had felt about going through with this had dissipated minutes after sitting down at the table. Callen had an incredible way of making her feel at ease and though she was worried they would run out of things to talk about, she had nothing to fear. They actually had a lot in common, from a shared love of literature and languages to their similar taste in movies and music. Their second bottle of wine was almost finished and desert was long over. The restaurant was empty except for he and Nell, and Callen could tell the wait staff were wanting them to finish up so they could close up for the night. He reached across the table and took Nell's hand in his, his thumb gently stroking back and forth over her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
"Feel like a walk?" he asked softly.
"Sure." Nell nodded quickly, not wanting the night to end. With his free hand, Callen signalled for the waiter to bring the check. It was only when the waiter placed a plate with the check on the table that Callen pulled his hand back so he could get his wallet out and pay. Nell wasn't one of those women who expected the guy to pay but there was something romantic about being wined and dined, especially by G Callen. She just made a mental note that if this went somewhere and they found themselves out again, she would pay.
"You ready?" Callen asked. Nell shook herself from her thoughts and noticed that he had paid in cash and was standing beside her with his hand extended. She slipped her hand into his and let him help her up. As they walked towards the exit, she felt him place a hand on her lower back, steering her through the maze of tables.
Once outside, Nell breathed in the cool night air. The boardwalk was busy and she wondered where Callen was taking her as he weaved a path through the crowd. She suppressed a giggle when they reached the beach, thinking how much of a cliché a walk on the beach was. With any other guy she would have thought it a ploy, but with Callen she knew he just wanted to walk where it was quiet and peaceful. As he stepped down onto the sand, Nell paused and slipped both her shoes off, bundling them together and stuffing them into her purse, then put the strap over her shoulder so she wouldn't have to carry it. Then she joined Callen on the sand and they began to walk in comfortable silence.
Callen led Nell closer to the water, finding the sand there firmer and easier to walk on. They were pretty much alone, with just the moonlight lighting their way. A cool breeze was sweeping in off the water and Callen saw Nell shudder slightly. He slipped his jacket off and gently draped it over her shoulders. She came to a halt when she felt the material cover her and with a grateful smile she slipped her arms into the jacket, relishing the warmth. They continued to walk and just when Nell was about to reach for his hand, she felt him drape his arm around her shoulders, drawing her to his side. In return, she slipped her arm around his waist and leaned into him, letting her head rest in the crook of his arm. Callen glanced down and placed a spontaneous kiss on the top of her head.
"I'm glad we did this." He said.
"Me too." She replied.
They continued to walk in comfortable silence for a few minutes, then Callen stopped and turned to face Nell. As she looked up at him, she found he was staring at her with an intensity she had never seen before. Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned closer, anticipating a kiss she had wished would come all night. But all of a sudden he grinned, scooped her up into his arms and began jogging towards the water. Nell shrieked and wriggled in his arms. Like every girl wishes but most would never admit out loud, she had always dreamed of being swept off her feet, just not like this.
"What are you doing? Oh my god, no!" she laughed, knowing he would never actually throw her in the water. "Callen! Stop!" He came to a stop just short of where the waves broke the shore.
"It'll cost you." He told her suggestively. Nell fell silent having felt the situation become suddenly serious. As Callen he held her tightly and close to his body, he dipped his head down and placed a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. Nell instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Without breaking apart, Callen lowered to Nell the ground and as her feet met the cold sand, she stretched up and her hand gripped the back of his neck pulling him down closer. Callen's arm wrapped around her back and he tugged her against him possessively. As their lips parted for just a moment, Nell gasped in a breath before Callen's free hand tangled in her hair and he kissed her again with a passion he didn't realise he had inside of him.
Nell felt the bristles of Callen's short facial hair tickling her soft skin and she pulled away from him, a cheeky smile crossing her face. Then, in a move that took him by surprise, she extracted herself from his arms and took off running, letting out a laugh. Callen shook his head, realising he could never underestimate this woman, then he took off after her. He caught up to Nell easily and overtook her. Wrapping his arms around her waist he lifted her off her feet as she squealed and threw her head back laughing. He spun around a few times then set her back down and before she could say anything, he captured her lips with his again. His kiss was soft, romantic and Nell just melted in his arms. She had never felt this way kissing any other man and she wondered if this was what it felt like when you connected with 'the one'.
Callen finally drew back from Nell, his hand cupping her cheek as he stared into her hazel eyes.
"Sit with me a minute." He said in a low husky voice, as he manoeuvred them both to sit on the sand, her nestled between his legs with her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms across her chest and held her close, and she raised her hands and gripped his arms, as if to make sure he was really there and would stay.
"We need to talk about what this means." He said.
"I know." She nodded. "Later."
They sat together on the beach for a while, staring out at the vast ocean before them. It had taken a while to get there but they both knew they were exactly where they were supposed to be. Now they just had to figure out where they were going and how to let the rest of the team know.
Umm, thoughts?