Page 38 of Hidden Truths

He reaches for my hand and squeezes. “Tell me you’re staying.” His words are steady, but the worry in his eyes is clear.

“If you’ll let me.”

He lets out a breath. “Let you? I think Cora would leave with you.”

We both laugh and then settle quietly into the silence that follows. I gave him until I figured out my next step when I interviewed, but I don’t think that’s what he’s asking. I can read between the lines and see he wants me for much longer than that, but the lines are messy, and we’re too confused to explore it.

“Cal?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know, Firecracker.”

fourteen

CAL

“How comeyou haven’t released a statement about Cora’s mom?” Harlow asks as soon as she steps into the kitchen. It’s too early for serious conversations. Not that it stops her.

“I don’t want them digging up any skeletons from Bailey’s closet.”

“She had skeletons?” Harlow asks, stealing the coffee I just poured myself. I glare at her, but she just grins.

“No idea. I didn’t know her that well, but I kind of feel like I owe it to her since she’s not alive to defend herself,” I admit.

Harlow tilts her head as she mulls that over. “Makes sense,” she agrees.

“Have you heard from your dad?” I ask, curious about Ezra’s phone.

She sighs. “Yeah. He said he wants to talk with you guys in person later.”

“Is that good or bad?”

Harlow shrugs. “Could be either. He didn’t give anything away.” She looks around the kitchen. “Where’s Cora?”

“My dad had the day off, so he took her over to Belle’s.”

Which leaves me alone in my house with the woman I can barely resist. Even when I was angry with her yesterday, I still wanted her. I think that just infuriated me even more.

She has my balls in a vise, and I just want to thank her for it.

What the fuck is happening to me?

When she said she was staying last night, I almost crossed that line. Part of me really wishes I had. I still think about the way her lips felt against mine and the sound she made when she came all over my hand.

I clear my throat and sidestep so the island is hiding the tenting in my pants.

I watch as Harlow takes a sip of my coffee and spits it right back into the mug.

“Callahan Elizabeth Griffin! Is there rum in this coffee?”

I bark out a shocked laugh. “My middle name is not Elizabeth.”

“Rum at eight in the morning?”

I shrug. “It’s the first time I had an actual day off, and I was celebrating.”

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