Page 57 of The Fun Part
I turn back and stride into the room. Cal’s looking out the window at Main Street. The view across the way is Happy Endings bar, the site of our first kiss. My mind flashes to strong arms lifting me, the all-consuming kiss as he pressed me against the door, all of the hard planes of his body deliciously meeting my soft aching places.
My shoulders sag. I’m doomed. Every time I see him, I’m going to have a highlight reel of our sexy times running through my brain. That’s why I had no plans to see him.
He turns. “Everything okay?”
“You know what? Let’s get Sutton in on this by video chat. That way I don’t have to bring her up to speed later.”
“Sure.”
Cal closes the distance, facing me across the meeting room table. My gaze roams from his serious expression to the column of his neck to his wide shoulders, that chest. My mouth is dry.
I take a seat. “I’ll get Sutton on chat.” He doesn’t seem upset in the aftermath of Saturday night. It just proves it meant nothing to him beyond the physical. I’m so mad at myself. I fellfor him. I did, even when every instinct told me to keep my guard up. My eyes get hot. Donotcry.
“You want me to call her?” Cal asks, taking the seat adjacent to me.
I shake my head and connect with Sutton a few moments later. As soon as she answers, I turn the screen so we can both see her. “Hi, Sutton, I’ve got Cal here with me today. We’re going to be working on that conflict of interest I mentioned. I thought you should be in the loop.”
Sutton, a pretty brunette with a bright smile, waves at us. “Hi! What a surprise. I didn’t know Cal would be working with us. Didn’t I tell you Mackenzie was beautiful and smart too?”
“You did,” Cal says warmly.
Now I’m warm. I’m not used to compliments like that. Well, Cal didn’t give me a compliment. His sister did. “Let’s get down to business.”
“You two have so much in common,” Sutton says.
“We do?” Cal asks.
I rub my temple. Sutton is starting to remind me of my matchmaking mom. The last thing I need when I’m trying to protect my heart.
Sutton starts ticking off our compatibility with her fingers. “Both from small towns, both veered from your first careers, and you’re both Hufflepuffs.”
My cheeks flush. Cal sends me an amused look.
I clear my throat. “I’m not sure what you mean by that but okay. I’ve got the—”
“Hufflepuffs are kind, loyal, and hardworking,” Sutton says. “You do so know. You’ve read the Harry Potter series more than I have.”
I rub the side of my neck. “When I was a kid. I feel like we’re getting off topic.”
“And Cal’s read them too.”
“I said the movies are cool,” Cal says. “I’m not actively participating in hufflepuffing.”
I smile despite my sour mood.
“What about your—” Sutton starts.
Cal cuts her off. “Okay, back to business.”
“He has a wand,” Sutton whispers.
I’d laugh, but I have one too. He sends me an embarrassed look.
“We don’t need to talk about this ever again,” I say. “Sutton, please take notes. Cal, let’s start with the nondisclosure section of the agreement.”
We get to work. Cal puts on reading glasses, and I pretend not to notice how sexy he looks with them as he displays all his legal competence. He’s all business, which is exactly what I’ll be for the rest of this work arrangement.
I’m going to kill Nathan and Owen for springing this on me.
