Page 35 of Callahan's Haven

He glanced at a blushing Haven on the well-lit sidewalk. Had she told them about what they’d done in his car? He eyed the other two. Destiny’s slow grin was a dead giveaway. Heat crept up his neck despite the cold. Okay, so, she had.

He cleared his throat. “Why don’t I walk you guys back to your dorm?”

“Sure,” Destiny told him, stepping five-inch heel to sneaker and looking way up at him. Damn, she was tiny but mighty. Garrett had better be on his toes with this one. “I want to make one thing clear,” she whispered. “And I mean to you and anyone else who’s listening right now. You all had better make sure our best friend stays safe until this is over.”

“Please,” Hope said just as low, stepping up beside her. “She’s everything to us.”

He took in the earnest faces of the two young women and then Haven’s when she moved behind the two and put her arms around them, her pleading gaze going to her friends.

Haven wasn’t worried about herself.

“I swear on my life,” he said, his gaze holding first Hope’s then Destiny’s before going back to Haven’s where her concern reached out to him. “No one is going to let anything happen—to anyone.”

Haven nodded at him with a slight, indrawn breath, her tense shoulders relaxing before saying, “Okay, now that we’ve all met and gotten allthatcleared up, let’s head back to the room. It’s cold out here.”

They made small talk during the short walk, goingaroundthe perimeter of the parking lot instead of through it, with his arm wrapped around Haven’s shoulder. Destiny and Hope were linked arm in arm walking a step or two in front of them. Haven’s friends had surprised him bynotgiving him the third degree.

They stopped at the walkway in front of their building.

“You guys go on up,” Haven told them when the other two started toward the entrance.

They paused and stepped back to where he and Haven stood. “Oh?” Destiny said with a mischievous grin like the matching one spreading over Hope’s face.

Hope piped up and said, “Well, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“I wonder what shewoulddo,” Declan murmured in his ear while Solace and Garrett made no comment. Would wonders never cease?

“We won’t,” Haven said, grinning and shaking her head.

Hope’s speculative look went between him and Haven before she nodded. His brows raised when she stepped close and reached up to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “I approve,” she told him. “And just so you know, we’ve got our big girl panties on over this and we’ll make sure Haven stays safe when you’re not able to watch over her. You and…” She frowned, glancing around them before shrugging and looking back at him. “Well, whoever else is helping.”

“Panties?” Destiny said with a purely devious laugh. “Hell, I’m commando and ready to kick some ass.”

Cal had to grin at Garrett’s pained groan of, “No panties…” followed by, “Fuck me.”

“They can hear you,” Hope said in a fierce whisper before pulling Destiny away while laughter from Declan and Solace filled his ear.

“You’ll have to forgive my friends,” Haven said as they watched them go up the walk.

“Nothing to forgive. I like them.”

They waited while the two used their access card to open the door, since it was after hours, and went inside. “See you later, Cal,” Hope said over her shoulder while Destiny gave him a small wave before the door shut them safely inside.

“They love you.”

I love you.

“Yes, they do.” She stepped away from him and did her own visual once-over of the area. “Are they watching and listening right now?”

He nodded. “They don’t have to be. Garrett?”

“Gotcha,” Garrett answered. “Video and audio going off until you give the all clear.” Then silence.

“We’re alone.” He grinned at her. “Basically.”

“This will only take a second—or twenty.” Haven stepped into him and reached around his neck. “I need a goodnight kiss.”

Cal’s grin faded as he easily lifted her, taking her chilled lips and savoring each small taste they shared. He’d needed this too, even if her puffy coat and his denim jacket kept him from feeling all of her pressed against him the way he wanted. But this would have to do—this and her little sighs and clenching fingers tugging on the hair at the back of his head holding him close.

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