Page 65 of Your Place or Mine

Callum’s voice came from behind me—low, quiet, dangerous in its casualness. “Didn’t realize we were running a social club now.”

I turned on my stool to face him, calm on the outside, but oh-so-aware of the heat that flooded me at the sight of him.

He looked tired, but in a rugged, just-finished-splitting-wood kind of way. Shirt sleeves rolled up. Hair mussed like he’d run his hands through it too many times. Eyes trained right on me, unreadable.

“Well, we were trying to keep it low-key,” I said sweetly. “But then someone brought the torrential weather system with them.”

His jaw flexed, just once. Drew sat back like he was watching a tennis match and enjoying every second.

Callum’s eyes flicked to his brother, then back to me. “Didn’t realize you were taking dinner recommendations from Drew now.”

I raised a brow. “Is that a problem?”

He didn’t answer right away. Just stood there, looking like he was fighting some kind of internal battle.

“No,” he said finally. “Just… unexpected.”

I turned back to my menu. “Guess thenewReckless River will keep surprising you.”

“There’s nothing new about the place.”

My eyes stayed on his. “I’m new.”

Drew chuckled, low and amused. “You want a drink, big brother, or you just stopping by to radiate tension?”

Callum ignored him and stepped behind the bar, grabbing a rag like he had something to do, even though the counter was already clean.

“Burger?” Travis asked me, wisely cutting in before the air got any thicker.

“Yeah, extra cheese and bacon,” I said. “And fries. Extra crispy. Please.”

Callum didn’t look at me again. But I couldfeelhim.

Could feel the weight of whatever that stare had been. I could feel the pull, the frustration, and the tension that crackled under every word between us like a live wire.

I didn’t know what this was.

But I knew it wasn’t over.

Not even close.

I was halfway through my burger—delicious. Drew was right. It was definitely some kind of spiritual experience, but then I felt Callum’s eyes on me again.

He hadn’t spoken to me directly since my burger arrived, but his presence behind the bar felt like a storm front rolling in that was quiet, charged, and very much not over.

Drew had wandered off at some point to check on something in the back. Or maybe he just sensed the emotional barometer dropping and decided to bail. Either way, I was alone again at the bar… except for Callum.

He was at the far end, pretending to organize liquor bottles that didn’t need organizing. Every time he straightened one, he stole a glance at me. And every timeIlooked up, his eyes darted away.

Childish.

I might've laughed if it didn’t make my pulse stutter like a hiccup every time.

I picked up my drink and leaned back on the barstool, taking my time. I didn’t know why I was suddenly so aware of how my legs crossed or how my bare arm brushed the polished wood. But I knew he noticed. I couldfeelhim noticing.

And I was done pretending I didn’t care.

I waited until he was close, maybe too close, wiping down a clean bar section like it had insulted his family. I set my drink down with a soft clink and spoke.

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