Page 87 of My Song for You
The asshole’s mouth dropped open. I had no idea which of Callie’s assessments of the situation shocked him more. Either way, neither of us looked too hot in her view.
Hailey jumped up from her seat. “Okay, Callie, I think it’s time to get you home.”
Callie pouted. “What if I don’t wanna go home yet?”
“You don’t have to leave.” Chris eyed her like he was remembering one of their fuck sessions and had every intention of reexperiencing it with her…tonight. “I can drive you home.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I told her, doing everything in my power not to slam my fist in his face. I could guarantee that if I hit him, the media would pick up news of the assault. I couldn’t take that risk.
He glared at me. “Why don’t you run along? Callie and I have a lot of catching up to do. And from the sound of it, she’s not interested in being your live-in nanny with benefits.”
I shoved his shoulder hard. He stumbled back a step. “It’s not like that,” I snapped.
“Okay. I’m ready to go home now.” Callie stood up and gestured to the waiter for their tab. “Is Logan still with your parents?”
“No, Sharon’s looking after him.”
“Why are you here, Jared?” she asked, voice low and soft.
“Because I care about you.” I craved to tell her that I loved her, but she was drunk. The first time she would hear those three words from me would be when she was sober.
With my arm around her waist, I started to guide her to the exit. Hailey followed us.
“Wait,” the douchebag said. He handed her his business card. “Call me.”
I fisted my free hand but didn’t say anything. Not that I had to. As soon as we were outside, she crumpled up the card and tossed it in a trash can.
“I wanna walk,” she suddenly said. She broke free from me and stumbled in the opposite direction from where she lived. Then she paused and looked up at the sky. The rain had picked up since I’d arrived at the lounge and was coming down hard. She smiled and raised her hands as if in offering.
“Will you be okay with her?” Hailey asked.
“I’ll be fine. As long as she doesn’t trip and land on her face.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.” I placed my hand on Callie’s lower back. “C’mon, let’s get you to bed.”
“I’m not sleeping with you, Jared.” She wobbled on her feet. “This nanny with benefits is closed for business. Yep.”
“Exactly how much did she have to drink?” I asked Hailey.
“About four or five martinis.”
“How many did you have?”
“One. I’m driving.” She gave Callie a hug and told her she would talk to her soon, then ran to her car. Callie and I walked in that direction to make sure Hailey was okay. The rain still didn’t bother Callie. Her wet dress clung to her curves, revealing the outlines of her bra and pebbled nipples. My dick hardened in appreciation.
We walked in silence. I had no idea what she was thinking, and I was too nervous to ask. We needed to talk, but this wasn’t the way I wanted to have the conversation, with Callie soaked and drunk, and with me sporting a hard-on.
Ahead of us, a large puddle stretched across the sidewalk. Before I could grab her hand and lead her around it, she ran the short distance and launched herself into the water.
Her sandaled feet landed in the puddle with a big splash. Dirty water splattered her bare legs, but she didn’t care. She laughed like she used to when we were younger, back when she loved splashing around in puddles.
A smile tugged at my mouth. I couldn’t help it. I’d forgotten how adorable she was when she jumped in puddles. Sober or drunk, she didn’t care what other people thought. She splashed around in them because it made her feel good. Made her feel alive. It was something Tiffany and Alexis never would have done.
“I love this puddle,” she said, and splashed again. “You don’t know what you’re missing out on, Jared.”
And that was where she was wrong. I knew exactly what I was missing out on. This goddess of a creature in front of me was what I was missing out on. But I couldn’t tell her that now, not this way. So I did the only thing I could—I joined her.
