Page 80 of Both Sides Now

"Exactly. But this was a nice distraction. You had fun, right?”

But Calli focuses her gaze downward as she fingers the edge of her plate. "Sure."

Not the response I want. At all.

I pray regret isn't settling in now that she's had a few hours to mull over what happened between us.

"Withthatlevel of excitement, I hardly believe you.”

She forces a smile, but the air remains thick with tension. Time to get out a knife and cut through this crap.

Even if I don’t want to hear her answer.

"Callista, what's wrong?"

A soft sigh sounds from her mouth, and she rolls her shoulders, her gaze focused out the window. "Did you mean what you said the other night?"

I pause with the food halfway to my mouth, my throat as dry as the Sahara. She's wading right into the serious side of the conversation. No training wheels needed. Most women play coy, forcing you to pull the reason from them. Not Calli. "You mean the night we arrived?"

“Yes. Were you drunk?"

"I was drunk," I begin, watching her face fall, "but I meant every word."

Okay, I hadnotplanned on admitting that again, but how I can deny her the truth?

Hell, how can I deny her anything?

“I needed to know that. I needed to know I wasn't just a weekend rendezvous." She rubs her palms together, but it’s obvious something else is on her mind.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about this weekend."

I catch the roll of her eyes, despite her best effort to maintain a neutral expression. "I already know, Keegan."

"I somehow doubt you do."

“Let’s see how I do.” She pivots in her seat, her eyes bright with emotion. "Back to reality, right? You're footloose and fancy-free, dating all sorts of women. You’re not looking for anything, but you hope I understand and don't take it to heart."

I bite back a smile. Talk about beingwayoff.

“You find this funny?” she demands, and now her gray eyes thunder with barely restrained anger.

I cup her face, sliding my fingers along her jaw. “A little, because despite being brilliant, you’re also dead wrong.”

"I am?"

“I don’t want this weekend to be the end of us, because I enjoy every second with you. You make me happy, and you're a goddess in bed, which sure as hell doesn't hurt."

Her smile will be the death of me. It not only lights her up, it shines brightly onto everything around her. "I am pretty great if I do say so myself."

"You're fabulous." I twine our fingers, pressing a kiss to her palm. "What do you say, Calli? Be my girlfriend for real this time?"

"You know, I wondered how I would feel the first time someone asked me that question. Would I feel guilt, anger, or sorrow? But I feel none of those. Not with you. You make me happy, too. So, yes, I'd love to be your girlfriend for real. However, I do have one request.”

Oh, boy.

“Go ahead.”

She jerks her chin toward the backseat. “I’m still a bit chilly. Any chance you might warm me up back there?”

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