Page 31 of Falling

He tries to turn on the light to the oven and I dodge, blocking his hand. He grabs my wrists and holds them up, both of us laughing by now, but it dies quickly as our chests rise and fall against each other. He drops my wrists and steps back, leaning against the island. His eyes take a long stroll down my body—it’s not the first time he’s done this and yet, he hasn’t made a habit of it either. More often than not, I’ve wondered why he looks at me so little, but now, I feel the power of it and know he was doing me a favor.

I feel like the wind got knocked out of me.

“Are you just gonna stand there staring at me until I take it out?” I finally say, my voice more of a squeak. I clear my throat.

He smirks. “I might.”

I point at him. “You need a shower.”

His nose crinkles and he lifts his shirt like he’s about to smell himself and decides otherwise. His smell does not bother me one bit. I find it intoxicating if I were to be honest with myself right about now, but I know he usually showers before dinner…and it seems like before bed too, now that I think about it.

He lifts off of the island without another word and trudges down the hall.

“Brownies?” he calls.

“Nope.”

“Damn,” he mutters. “Cake?”

“Nope.”

After it’s baked, I tuck the pie behind the bread box to cool and hide from Callum, while I make the whipped cream and tuck it in the fridge and then shave chocolate shavings from the bar I found in his pantry into a small glass bowl. His family might not think he’s a good cook, but his kitchen has everything I could ever want. I don’t use much of the chocolate bar, hoping he wasn’t looking forward to eating the whole thing later. I haven’t seen him eat many sweets except when the family was over, but the way he perked up over the smell of baked goods has me wondering if that’s his soft spot.

His family stops by often and they call every day—I’ve even talked to them on the phone myself. I haven’t heard from my parents since I told them about overhearing Junior, and I’ve always considered us close, but Callum’s family has a different level of closeness and I find it so endearing.

Scarlett asked me to go to lunch with her and Sofie and Marlow yesterday, but I told them I couldn’t get away. In truth, I wanted to be sure I was helpful around here just in case Callum suddenly needed it, but I think he probably would’ve enjoyed the solitude. I’m supposed to have lunch with them on Sunday at the lodge.

Callum comes out wearing a taupe Henley and darker brown sweats, his hair dripping and tucked behind his ears. His eyes are predatory as he stares across the kitchen at me.

“Chocolate chip cookies?” he asks.

I laugh. “Wow. I think this is the most I’ve heard you talk since I got here.”

He frowns. “I’ve talked.”

“Mm-hmm.” I point at the table. “I put dinner on the table tonight.”

His face lights up and then falls.

“You don’t like curry?”

“I love it. I just don’t see the dessert.”

I laugh harder, loving this side of him. We sit down and he passes the rice for me to help my plate first.

“Thanks. This looks amazing,” he says.

“You’re welcome. I wish I could repay you for all of this…” I look down at my plate and then add the curry on top of the rice. “I don’t think you could know how…healing it’s been to be here.”

When I look up, he’s watching me, the bowl suspended in his hands. He clears his throat and finishes putting food on his plate.

“I’m glad. Broken hearts suck,” he says simply.

I take a bite and chew slowly, thinking about what he’s said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had my heart broken,” I admit finally. “Have you?”

His expression is one of surprise and then he takes a biteof the food and closes his eyes, letting out a long groan. I shift in my seat, uncertain of all the sensations he’s setting off in my body with that sound. Being around this man is a new experience for me, that’s for sure. I wish I could figure out what it is about him that makes me feel so…alive.

“That is delicious,” he groans.

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