My heart stammered. “And now he can?”
Maddox leaned in to kiss me. “As I said before, Callum is family. Yours as much as mine.” I then felt him smile against my lips. “But if he moves into the cottage, I still say he can sleep on the rug.”
“Be nice.”
He smirked.
The two of them took turns kissing me good night before Maddox went upstairs to wash up. Briar checked on Callum one more time and then returned to the other room, saying he had more work to do.
I rolled to my side and looked at Callum, watching the flicker of firelight on his face. Falling in love with another man probably wasn’t the best idea. I had so much on my plate already: keeping my secret, running a busy café, and preparing for the upcoming engagement ball.
But we’d waited long enough, battling hurt feelings and what we thought was one-sided love. I wanted to make up for lost time. Wanted to love Callum like he deserved.
Come morning, Operation Cinnamon Roll would commence.
***
A lightwhacksounded from outside the clinic. I stood in the kitchen that morning, having just pulled a batch of blueberry muffins from the oven, and nearly dropped the damn pan as I looked out the window.
Callum was beating a tree with a big stick.
“What the hell?” I set the pan aside and crept closer to the window.
Shirtless, he faced away from me, giving me a nice little show as the muscles flexed in his back. He rotated the stick in hishand before taking an offensive position and striking the tree. He then did it again, hitting the same spot.
“Oh no he’s not.” I took off my apron and headed for the front door. “He isnotout there training.”
Outside, the air smelled of morning dew and earth. Of spring. The breeze held a slight chill, but the sun blazed down, warming the top of my head as I charged toward him.
“Briar is going to kill you. Better yet,I’mgoing to kill you.”
Callum looked back at me, sweat glistening on his tanned skin. “Do I smell muffins?”
“Muffins are for good boys.” I put my hands on my hips. “Not ones who get out of bed to play with swords when they should be resting.”
“This is a stick.” He grinned.
“Put that dimple away. It won’t help you now.”
Said dimple became more evident in his cheek. “Are you sure? I’m told it’s quite charming.”
“Keep it up, and you’ll charm your way right into the lion’s den,” I said. “Because Maddox will kill you too if he sees you out here.”
“It was only light drills. Nothing too strenuous.” Callum tossed the stick to the grass and came over. “I haven’t missed a day of training in years.”
“You also haven’t been this injured before.” I grabbed his hand and turned back to the clinic.
“They’re only scratches.”
I heavily sighed. “How did you even sneak past me? You were still asleep when I got up.”
“Side door.” He nodded to it. “Found it in the hall outside the ward.”
“Such a rebel. What am I gonna do with you?”
The cinnamon roll smile I knew and loved teased his lips. “Feed me muffins?”
“I’ll feed you a knuckle sandwich,” I muttered, ushering him through the front door.
