Page 28 of Callahan's Haven

“Uh, yeah, um, sure thing, mister,” the kid said, his eyes going wide again when he looked way up at Cal while hefting the strap of his laptop bag over his shoulder. “So, uh, have a nice day,” he muttered before grabbing his cup and scurrying away.

Cal sat down on the low, leather couch and sighed before taking a sip of heaven. This was his fourth cup of the day, but he’d needed the extra jolts of caffeine to stay alert. And if there had ever been a time to be as alert as possible, this had been the day.

With the Colonel on campus, the team had had to take extra precautions and checks on anyone who might show unusual interest in him or his daughter. So they’d followed the duo at a distance from several points to give them the maximum amount of coverage.

All of them except Solace who, for her own reasons, had been resolute she stay close to the dorm to make sure no one was lurking around. She’d seemed more relieved than anything when he’d agreed. Cal hadn’t asked her why she was so adamant about it since it wasn’t the worst of ideas, but he’d insisted she follow Haven after the Colonel left.

The door opened and he glanced up.

Not her.

He’d gotten to the shop well before Haven after making the short drive from where he’d watched her and her dad saying their goodbyes—after ensuring Solace had her six—a good fifteen minutes before, but he’d figured she should have been here by now. It wasn’t that he was concerned. Solace was on her. He just wanted to see her.

To go over the plan, of course.

“What’s taking so long?” he whispered with his cup hovering close to his mouth.

Solace laughed in his ear. “She’s walkingreallyslowly and keeps glancing behind her. I think she’s onto me.”

He kept the edge of his cup close, muttering into it while checking to make sure no one was paying attention to him, “I have no doubt.” Haven probably had a good idea Cal and Declan weren’t the only ones watching, so he figured she was now being particularly hypervigilant.

The Colonel had been a little reticent over the plan when Cal had first proposed it to him. But after breaking his cover, they had to have some plausible excuse for his presence.

According to her dad, Haven had come through already on holding up their ruse, starting at the campus security office. He’d called Cal as he was driving off, saying although she’d successfully covered up her initial surprise at Cal’s new status in her life, she’d given the Colonellooksthroughout the rest of their time together. He’d laughed out his parting line of, “I don’t envy you when Haven gets ahold of you,” before hanging up.

Hopefully she would continue to agree with the role he had planned for her—a role that only had to last a few more days.

Overall, it was a simple plan and one he wasn’t too worried about except how they were going to get away with it when it came to her two best friends. He grimaced with thoughts of Hope and Destiny. It was going to be tricky, and he and Haven would have to discuss the best way to handle them. He glanced at the opening door. If Cal had anything to say about it, Haven’s friends would—

There she was.

He smiled when Haven stopped just inside the entrance with her nose in the air and took in a deep breath with her eyes closed.

Ah, a coffee woman.

Cal’s hungry gaze wandered over her while she searched the room—the slight smile curving her mouth changing to a frown as she visibly schooled her features when their eyes met. So, it was going to be like that. He might have his work cut out for him if they were going to be a believable couple.

He set his cup down. “Garrett, turn off the comm for the next thirty minutes,” he murmured before standing up and walking over to meet her.

“You got it.” Garrett snickered. “You hope.”

Cal ignored Garrett’s words like he ignored Haven’s speculative look when he took her in his arms. She was going to have to get used to him touching her until she was safe, so he might as well let it start now. He hugged her close and whispered, “I’m going to give you a kiss.” He grinned at her gasp. “But it’s just for show.”

“Okay,” she whispered back. “But, Cal?”

“Mmmhmm,” he said, enjoying the chance to nuzzle into her hair.

“Let’s make it a good one.”

He lifted his head and frowned at her but didn’t have time to process her words before she grabbed his head and pulled it down. His heart sped up when the kiss she gave him was heated and hard. He gathered her close and gave back as good as he was getting.

And it wasverygood.

“Get a room!” someone shouted, with a couple of other people clapping before she pulled away from him and licked her lips.

She looked up at him, her low words only for him as her eyes narrowed. “I figure since you’re supposed to be myboyfriend, we might as well make it look realistic.” She was aggravated, but he didn’t care at the moment.

He scowled and grabbed her hand before dragging her off like a caveman to where he’d been sitting. “Is that how you kiss your boyfriends?” he muttered, sitting on the couch and pulling her down beside him. He slung an arm around her and tried to relax his tense shoulders. It was ridiculous for him to be jealous, but the idea of her kissinganyoneelse the way she’d just kissed him had him seeing red.

---