Page 25 of Endgame

My lips turn up into a small smile; the image of him with Mrs. Hayes brings warmth to my heart.

“She really does. Does she still have a Reese's stash? Last time I visited, I felt a crinkle on the couch and shoved my hand between the cushions to find out what it was—empty wrappers.” I’m giggling, and it feels good to allow myself the luxury.

Callaway doesn't look surprised at all, laughing and smiling at me as he crosses his arms over his chest. “That sounds about right.”

Realizing we’ve both been standing in the aisle going on ten minutes, I lead him off to the side while I have a quick realization.

“Have you ever tried one?”

I’m holding up a thick papered bag of Vanilla Creme Milanos.Don’t tell me he’s a Milano virgin.

Callaway shakes his head, and a gasp leaves my body quicker than I can think.

“No… absolutely not. We need to remedy this right now.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Right here, right now? Like on aisle 6?”

“This can’t wait, Callaway. Desperate times call for desperate measures.” I’m laughing to myself, deliriously excited that I get to introduce him to the greatest cookie ever created.

He’s nodding his head, being a good sport about it. “Alright, let's do this.”

He situates himself so that his entire frame is leaning against the shelf to my side, clearly waiting on my instructions. There are none. He just needs to try it. I make quick work of opening the bag and folding over the tabs that seal it back tight. My hand reaches in and pulls out a cookie before holding it out, silently encouraging him to try it.

He shakes his head, not moving an inch.

Does he want me to feed him? He’s a grown man.

“Oh, you want me to feed you?” My brows rise in surprise and amusement.

“I wouldn’t want to taint the experience. You’re the professional.”

Oh, he’s smooth.I’ll entertain it.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I reach my hand out in front of me and close the distance between us, bringing the cookie to his lips while nudging him to open wide. “Prepare yourself, big guy. They’re life changing.”

He devours the whole half of it, his slow chewing and moaning illustrating the way he savors it. “Fucking delicious.”

His mouth is stuffed full, crumbles tumbling out, and his murmurs sound muffled, but he couldn’t look more adorable if he tried.

Since it seems to be the only option, I bring the half-eaten cookie to my mouth and indulge.

Callaway doesn’t miss a beat, his eyes homing in on the motion.

“Mhm. So good.” He swallows heavily, taking slow breaths to steady his heart rate.

I don’t want to feel this.

We’re glued to the floor on Aisle 6, indulging in a bag of Milano cookies together. Who would have ever thought? Who also would have thought that Callaway Hayes would be reaching his massive hand out to wipe the corner of my lips?

No warning—just going for it.

His thumb catches the crumbs on my lips before they fall into a mess. He glides his smooth thumb over the edge of my mouth where the crumbs lay. Thinking he’ll pull away, he does the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my twenty-eight yearsof living: he brings the cookie crumb to his mouth and sucks. He sucksmycookie crumbs off his large thumb and eats them.

Mayday. Clean up on Aisle 6.

His eyes have yet to leave mine. Words suddenly come to me, and I shoot him a sharp look, whispering, “I have a thing for vanillaandcookies.”

I can’t let him know that action caught me off guard.

---