Page 114 of The Proposal Pact
“Stop it!” I plead.
“That’s not what you said last night.” He smirks. “And this morning. And at lunch.”
“I swear to God, I’m gonna murder you if you don’t stop it right this second!”
“Tsk tsk, threatening a police officer, little menace? You know there’s a punishment for that.”
“You know…I think that badge is creating an unhealthy power dynamic over here.”
“That’s because I do have all the power.”
I snort. “Keep telling yourself that, buddy.”
Clover shakes his head with an amused smile. “You little—”
“Callum! Stop hogging Sophie all to yourself! We’d all like to talk to her,” his mom calls out, and I roll my lips at his exasperated expression that no one else can see.
“I don’t share,” he grumbles back as he turns around and steps behind me, hugging me to his front protectively.
I chuckle when he nuzzles his nose into my hair, drawing stupefied expressions from all around.
“Jesus Christ.” Luke sighs. “And I thought Griffin was bad.”
“Shut it, asshole,” Clover shoots back, but doesn’t attempt to deny it or step away from me, and a wild, dangerous warmth spreads across my blood.
Smiling, I close my eyes, reveling in his scent, touch, and protectiveness.
Callum is still so hot and cold. He still hides so much that I wish he’d tell me. But for now, I will cherish all of these small moments because I’ve given up telling my heart to hold back.
Now, I moved on to this hopeless hope that eventually—maybe—Clover might feel the same.
“Callum! Let go of her! I have something for Sophie,” Lily snaps, and with yet another sigh—and a chuckle from me—he steps away but immediately grabs my hand instead.
“Sweet heavens,” shetsks, shaking her head at his behavior, but I don’t miss the teary smile she has on.
I also don’t miss my own heart skipping a beat. Sometimes he makes me believe that I’m not the only one who stopped pretending a long time ago.
But then I wake up…
“I made something for you!” Lily says, walking around the couch to pick up a box.
“Oh, you have?” I ask, surprised.
“Yep.” She smiles brightly and pulls out a beautifully handmaid vase, handing it to me.
It’s…
Clover snorts so hard, he starts choking on the beer his dad just handed him.
“What a beautifulcoralvase, Lily.” I roll my lips, plastering a sweet smile onto them as I smack my husband on his back as hard as I can.
“Mm-hmm, Mom. Sophie’s favorite color.” He coughs, and I fight the urge to kill the man.
“Really?” Lily’s green eyes, identical to the dead man standing beside me, light up. “Oh, I will make a whole dining set for you like that!” She claps her hands, excitedly.
“Oh no, Lily. That’s all right, I don’t want to be a bother,” I try.
“Oh, no such thing.” She pats my cheek. “I always have time for my kids. See, I just had a feeling about coral when I was choosing that paint color.”
