Page 110 of He Loves Me Knot

“Shite,” Callum said, yanking his shorts up. He glanced at Liddy, who had somehow pulled the shirt on already—albeit inside out.

She stood, red-faced, then covered her face. “Oh my God, your mom.”

From outside the door, Callum heard Isla cackling. “Can we come in now, lovebirds? Or is there still sex going on? I wouldn’t want to interrupt before Callum gets his happy ending.”

“Callate,”Mum hushed in Spanish, her voice sounding farther away. “Jesús! Nunca lo hubiera creído.”I never would have believed it.

Holy fuck.

Callum drew an embarrassed Liddy into his arms as Isla opened the door again.No getting around this one now.

His sister strode in, a grin on her face. “Mum decided to take a little walk.” Isla tossed her hair—dyed red—over her shoulder, then came up to Liddy, hand outstretched. “I’m Isla. Callum’s sister.”

“Liddy,” she managed.

“Oh,you’reLiddy. Nice to put a face to a name.” Isla wrinkled her nose. “You don’t have to be embarrassed. I’ve seen loads of breasts before. And you have nice ones—I should know, I work in theater. Everyone’s half-naked part of the time backstage. And as for that peen”—she gestured toward Callum—“Mum used to have us take baths together when we were kids, so I’ve seen that, too.”

Callum rubbed the back of his neck, not sure if he should be more embarrassed for Liddy, who still looked mortified, or for the outrageous behavior of his sister. “Nice introduction, Isla.”

“Well, we may as well acknowledge what’s what. Though, from the looks of it, you’re—what? Lovers? Callum wasn’t exactly clear on what was going on.”

Liddy cleared her throat. “Um, why don’t I go back to the room? Let you and your sister catch up?”

Callum nodded. “See you soon.”

Liddy gave Isla a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Isla.”

Isla watched Liddy go and then arched her brow. “Damn. I was hoping she’d be spunkier.”

“She’s plenty spunky, you just embarrassed the shite out of her.”

Laughing, Isla gave Callum an impressed look. “Wow, you must really like her. Defending her and everything. Clearly, she’s more than just a good lay.”

“Watch it, Isla.” Callum hardened his gaze against her.

Yet she’s not wrong.

“If this was the first time I’d walked in on you, Cal, it would be different. I wouldn’t have a yardstick to compare to. You were quite an arse to that poor girl who yelled at me when I stopped by your flat that night Charlie broke up with me. I believe you yelled right back and then tossed her out.”

“This is a totally different situation.” Callum went over to the sink and turned it on. He splashed water on his face, cooling his skin.

“Yes, you like this woman. That’s the difference.” Isla came up beside him and put her arm around him. “I’m so proud, big brother. You’ve finally opened your heart up to love again.”

Callum chortled. “I donotlove her.” He turned and narrowed his gaze at her. “Things are just complicated with her because of Mum and Sophia. I told Mum we were dating to keep her from spending every waking hour trying to convince me to get back with Sophia while I was here.”Although, I am absolutely certain Sophia has never shared Mum’s optimism about us. Sophia’s words were clear.“But she’s a colleague and Quinn’s future sister-in-law?—”

“And you’re clearly intimate.” Isla crossed her arms and turned her back to the counter. “Was this before or after you arrived?”

“After. And after I spent the last few days trying to help her track down Elle’s wedding dress—we thought it was stolen—only to find out that it was at the airport all along.”

Isla smiled. “Oh, big brother, you have no idea what you’re doing, do you? You must really, reallylikeher.” She reached over and pinched his cheek. “You’re so cute when you’re a real person with feelings.”

Her words were like a blow to his gut, and his chest tightened.

He knocked her hand back. “Stop it.”

She ignored him and squeezed his side. “Callum and Liddy. It’s cute. Has a nice ring to it. And if you wanted to convince Mum that you’re involved, you did an excellent job there. She might be at the house bleaching her eyeballs.”

“Probably praying to God that somehow lightning strikes Liddy dead, more likely.”

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