Page 27 of Callahan's Haven

Her cell dinged with an incoming text. It couldn’t be Hope or Destiny. She’d insisted they go to their afternoon classes. She pulled her phone from her purse and looked down at the unfamiliar number but opened it anyway.

MEET ME AT THE COFFEE HOUSE. CAL

She frowned down at the screen as another text came through.

PLEASE

Haven glanced around and spotted the SUV sitting a good distance away.

Her face flamed. He was watching her. She didn’t want to make any obvious show of interest, so she turned and went down the sidewalk away from her dorm toward the quad. It was a walk she usually enjoyed, with the stark branches of the once white dogwoods lining the main and bisecting walkways crisscrossing between student housing, but didn’t pay much attention for once. She took her time and ignored the questioning looks from some of the students she passed.

It wasn’t a long walk to The Quadlife Coffee House on the opposite end of the quad next to the Student Services Building, but it was a crowded one. She just hoped none of the curious looks she was getting turned into questions about last night.

Last night. Haven slowed her pace even more.

Oh, God, she was about to face Cal.

After practically begging him to kiss her and—as Destiny had aptly put it—climbing him like a tree, she was a little embarrassed. She shivered at the memory. But something told her it wouldn’t have been the same with anyone else. Only Cal.

She shook her head. Who would have thought going through a traumatic experience with a would-be rapist would have her dry-humping her rescuer in the middle of a parking lot where anyone could see?

Certainly not this girl.

She shivered again. And dear God, there had been a lot of hard flesh to grind against.

Thankfully no one had filmed any ofthataction. She had a feeling her dad wouldn’t have been amused, even though he was in on whatever was going on. She chanced a glance over her shoulder. At least no one seemed to be talking about her behind her back. But…

She frowned and kept walking. The older student who spent a lot of time at the library wasn’t far behind her. She’d spoken to the woman several times. What was her name again? Something unusual…

S-s-s-Solace. She was working on her master’s thesis.

Or was she?

Haven focused ahead to see her destination was in sight. Cal had better have some answers for her.

9

Cal entered The Quadlife Coffeehouse,the aroma of fresh ground coffee filling his appreciative senses. The place was packed, with everyone conversing loud enough to compete with each other and the whir of blenders and grinders. He and Haven needed to be seen together, and he’d supposed this was as good a place to start as any. Now to find the right location to take up position. He scanned the spacious shop and frowned over the lack of seating. Was it always this crowded on a Tuesday afternoon?

A couch in the back corner offered the best view of the door and kept anyone from being at his back, but it was occupied by a guy who had taken up the whole thing with books, a laptop, and his coat. Too bad he was about to have to move, but not before Cal got a cup of coffee. He placed his order and leaned against the nearest wall while giving his best menacing glare at the much younger man on the couch. A few seconds later, the kid took a break from whatever he was doing to pick up his cup, pausing with it halfway to his mouth when he caught sight of Cal. His eyes went wide.

That’s right. You’re in my spot.

Cal grinned when the young man put down his cup and started gathering his things.

Damn, I’m tired.

He stifled a yawn with the back of his hand. It had been long day—made even longer due to his exhaustion after the previous night’s lack of sleep. His early morning conversation with the Colonel had gone about like he’d expected. The man had been shaken at first and then furious.

After hanging up, Cal had tried to relax, but hadn’t been able to getthe kissout of his mind. The damned thing kept playing over and over each time he’d closed his eyes—on a loop, no less. Add that in with his hard as a pike dick tenting the sheet, his sleep had been fitful at best. He’d ended up taking a cold shower at daybreak just to get awake and stroke one out. His soapy hand had given him some relief, but not enough.

So, he wasn’t only still tired but horny as hell.

“Simpson,” one of the baristas called out. Cal slipped around a couple of other waiting customers and picked up his dark roast Quadbuster—the coffee house’s version of an extra-large—with a shot of espresso and made his way over to the now mostly vacated couch.

Perfect timing.

“Thanks, buddy,” Cal said, smiling down at the young man and nodding as the kid hurriedly finished stuffing his laptop in a case and stood to put on his coat.

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