Page 122 of He Loves Me Knot

Liddy drew her brows together. After all, they had a right to be here if the rooms were paid for.

“By three would be perfecto.” Sophia smiled, clearly missing the point of Elle’s inquiry. “I just want time to turn the rooms over before?—”

A soccer ball whizzed between Sophia and Liddy, nearly hitting Sophia. Both Liddy and Sophia let out startled cries, springing back as the ball tumbled harmlessly onto the sand behind them.

Then Liddy whirled back in the direction the ball had come from. Callum jogged toward them, his stride relaxed. “Sorry about that.” Callum stopped in front of Liddy. “The ball went off my foot the wrong way.”

She could practically see the smirk in his eyes.If he kicked it, he did it on purpose.“Yeah, well, try to be more accurate, Mr. Scott.”

Callum bent down and scooped her into his arms. His chest was damp with sweat, his skin scorching to her touch. He kissed her hard.

Just for show.

It’s just for show.

But her heart was slamming against her ribs.

She pulled away and tipped her lips to his ear. “You better not be kissing me to make your ex jealous,” she whispered.

“What ex?” Callum’s lips grazed her earlobe. “I’m kissing you because Iwantto kiss you. Kicking the ball over here was just my excuse to sneak away to kiss the most gorgeous woman on this beach.”

Her legs were unsteady as he set her back down again. Liddy caught the approving expression on Elle’s face as she stared at Callum.

It shouldn’t matter to me if Elle likes him for me.

But she also wanted her to.

She wanted Callum to fit with her crazy family. To show him off to her parents and aunts and uncles. They’d all been whispering about “Liddy’s new man” this whole trip.

She looked over her shoulder. Sophia had disappeared.

Elle nestled her head against Liddy’s shoulder. “I like seeing you happy.”

Liddy murmured a response, letting them slip into silence as they watched the game. With the sea sparkling in front of them, and the sound of family laughing, it was so easy to push away the troubled thoughts that had plagued her during yoga.

But a voice at the back of her head wouldn’t stop chattering either, reminding her how quickly things could change—will change...when I return to London.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Quite possibly thebest thing about getting so sweaty playing football on the beach had been the shower with Liddy afterward.

Callum stretched his shoulders back as he pulled a fresh T-shirt over his head. His leg hadn’t ached while playing today, which was a satisfying reminder that his daily weight training was helping him.

But that satisfaction wasn’t what bubbled near the surface right now.

He knew this feeling.

Not that it was unfamiliar or that he hadn’t felt this way during the past five years . . . it was justdifferent.

He was happy.

Lydia exited the bathroom, wearing a summer dress, her wet hair twisted up in a clip, light makeup—not that she needed it. She was naturally pretty, and the hours spent in the sun this morning had given her a healthy, tanned glow. She set her makeup bag on the bed, her gaze falling on his board shorts. “You going swimming?”

“Kyle asked me if I could help him work on surfing for a while.”

Her face registered surprise. “Kyle?”

“What’s that look for?”

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