Page 114 of Callahan

After starting a college fund for Conor, I still had some money from Shawn, but that was my nest egg, and I’d done everything in my power not to touch it. I hated the thought of dipping into it, but it didn’t seem like I had a choice.

“I’ll get the money. It’s going to take a few days because I have to cash in a CD.”

My landlord seemed to take pity on me.

“How about I front the money, and we come up with a payment plan.”

I let out a long sigh of relief.

“I would really appreciate that, Earl.”

“Yeah, of course. Anything to help you get back in your place. I’ll let you know what time to expect them tomorrow.”

I needed to get to the bakery and begin the cleanup process. With any luck, I’d be open in time to feed the lunch crowd tomorrow, minimizing my financial hit.

And once they found the asshole responsible, I was suing him in civil court for the money I was going to be out.

Sell my son on the black market and put roaches in my kitchen, my ass.

Next, I sent Teresa a text and asked if she was available to watch Conor for a few hours that afternoon.

Of course she was willing to help.

Then I dialed Kristy’s number and held my breath as it rang. This conversation was going to be a little more difficult because she was going to lose her shit when I told her what had happened.

~~~~

My friend took the news of yesterday’s events surprisingly well, and I worried that it was simply a ruse until she saw me in person at the bakery later.

I decided I’d worry about it then; I had other things I needed to get done. Maybe if I kept busy enough, I wouldn’t even have time to think about Adam Callahan.

Which might prove to be easier said than done when he came downstairs looking like a snack in his policeman’s uniform.

****

Adam

Ever since joining the Marines, I knew women were attracted to a man in uniform, but I was not prepared for the eye-fucking I received from Lainey when I walked in the kitchen in my Haven Springs police one.

And to think, just yesterday, I’d fucked her for real in the shower. If I’d known it was going to be our last time together, I would have taken my time and savored every inch of her.

Lame, I know. I should’ve done it then, too.

But we’d been in a hurry because the O’Briens were going to be bringing Conor back. And frankly, I thought there’d be a next time.

“You need to stop looking at me like that, princess,” I quipped as I pulled a coffee mug from the cupboard.

She shrugged unapologetically.

“And you need to stop calling me that.”

“Fair enough.”

“You probably should get used to people gawking at you. Women all over Haven Springs are going to be slipping you their phone numbers once they get a look at you in that uniform.”

The idea held no appeal. The only woman who I’d even been remotely attracted to in the last six months, was the same one who was off-limits. The one I’d been unable to resist.

Even now, I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss the hell out of her.

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