Page 122 of Callahan

Nope, not gonna happen again, Lainey!

I chewed quickly, then swallowed before I proclaimed, “I didn’t realize you were there. Sorry. And you can’t call me princess.”

He blew out a breath as he stepped further inside the room and took a seat on the opposite couch.

“Yeah, I know. It’s gonna take some time to break the habit.”

I wasn’t going to let him get away with that. “I can’t imagine how much of a ‘habit’ it is. We barely know each other.”

“Aw, don’t say that, Lainey. You know that’s not true.”

Brian walked into the room and plopped down on the couch next to me before reaching for a plate.

“What’s not true?”

Neither Adam or I said anything for a second, but I finally mumbled, “Nothing,” while Adam shook his head and looked away. I couldn’t tell if he was mad or disappointed.

Because I barely know him!

But even as I thought it, I knew it wasn’t true. We’d spent the last ten days getting to know each other—intimately, both physically and emotionally. I’d shared a lot of things with him that I hadn’t shared with anyone else, not even Shawn.

Maybe that’s why his rejection had stung so badly.

Or maybe it was more than that.

Chapter Forty-Four

Adam

Our shift the next day started at nine, and when I walked in the kitchen at eight-thirty, Lainey was sitting at the island with a cup of coffee, dressed and ready, like she was going somewhere.

“You regretting that three a.m. feeding?” she asked with a grin as I wiped the sleep from my eyes and poured coffee in my travel mug.

“Never!”

That was the truth. I freaking loved that little boy and cherished my middle of the night time with him. When it ended, I was going to be crushed.

I think being under the same roof and continuing to spend time with Lainey had lessened the blow of our fling ending. Although the thought of her going on a date with someone else still made me queasy, I at least got to be around her.

It didn’t make not being able to touch her any easier though.

“I’m still liking that uniform on you, Officer Callahan,” she teased as she brought the mug to her lips.

“And I’m still liking those jeans on you, Ms. Beaumont. Although I liked them better on the floor next to my bed.”

Her eyebrows raised in surprise at my reply.

“Wow, that escalated quickly.”

“You started it.”

She gave me a saccharine smile.

“And like you, I’m ending it.”

“That’s not fair, Lainey.”

“What’s not fair about it?”

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