Page 119 of He Loves Me Knot

“Well, actually, I think the airline rerouted it to the other airport . . . but it’s coming,” Liddy stammered. “Should be here today.”

Elle’s face fell. “Are you serious, Liddy? God, at this rate, I just should have had Logan bring it.”

Ouch.

“I’m sorry, Elle,” Liddy said, her throat tight.

Elle’s eyes softened. “No, it’s fine. I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have snapped. It’s just that I’ve been fielding some questions from Kat about when the dress will be here.”

Liddy reached for Elle’s hand, everything she wanted to say on the tip of her tongue.

“Elle, I know I messed up. I lost the dress. I haven’t been here for you when you needed it, and I’ve been lying about Callum and me. And don’t you think you’d be happier in the long run if you stayed in La Hacienda?”

But what would that accomplish?

It would just bring her sister more stress.

Maybe the best thing to do right now, no matter how much guilt she felt about it, was to let it go.

“Look who we dragged out of bed,” Aiden said from behind them, and Liddy and Elle turned to see Aiden and Callum approaching. Logan was steps behind them, a soccer ball under his arm. “Any of the ladies fancy a game of football?”

Liddy met Callum’s eyes, her heart giving athumpat the sight of him. She’d thought he was sexy before last night, but now her whole body seemed to be aware of his presence. A smile played at his lips as he exchanged a look with her.

I’m in serious danger of becoming addicted to that smile.

“You’re in a good mood for someone who got dragged out of bed,” Liddy teased.

Aiden wrapped his arm around Callum’s neck, then ruffled his hair. “Cal wouldn’t miss football, eh, mate?” He let him go, giving him a shove toward Liddy. Then he winked and jogged toward his other brothers farther down the beach.

“I am not playing soccer,” Elle said with a shake of her head. “Knowing my luck, I’d get elbowed in the face and wind up with a black eye for my wedding.”

“You’re playing?” Liddy asked, searching Callum’s face.Does he even play anymore?A career-ending injury didn’t mean he couldn’t play recreationally. But he’d spoken about the end of his football days with bitterness. “Are you?—”

“I’m fine.” Callum set his hands against the small of her back, tugging her against him. “If you can do yoga, then I can play football.” Dipping his mouth to hers, he caught her lips in a sultry kiss. He dragged his mouth to her earlobe. “I missed you.”

She laughed, her face warming as she stepped back.This feels so real.

“Oh, you should have seen my Callum when he was a boy,” Lety said, coming closer to them, pride beaming on her face. “All the kids would play on the beach. But he was the best.” She touched his cheek, turning his face toward her. “Carmen and I would sit and watch you get all the goals. We were so proud.”

Callum stiffened. “I honestly don’t give a fuck if Carmen was proud. I didn’t do it for her,” he gritted out.

Yikes.That was harsh, even for Callum.

His mom dropped her hand. “I only meant?—”

“Mum, don’t embarrass him,” Isla called from a few feet over. “Liddy knows from experience Cal is the best at everything he does.” She winked at them.

“Isla, por Díos,” Lety muttered.

Even Liddy knew what that meant. Her thoughts had been identical. She glanced around to see who might have overheard.Oh God. Isla.Liddy was going to kill her.She’s having way too much fun with this.But she had defused the tension between Callum and his mom.

What Liddy hadn’t expected though, was how Sophia would be staring at them all. She hadn’t acted jealous at all over the course of this trip, but the look on her face now was . . .sheer dislike.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Had Sophia overheard Callum?

He appeared to be occupied by his mom and their standoff. Maybe Lety had scolded him about the scene in the office the night before.

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