Page 53 of Renegade Roomie

“What?”

“I’ve never seen you like this before.”

“Stuck in a tux? Sure you have.”

Piper shoves me lightly. “No. Like you actually care about someone.”

“Knock it off,” I roll my eyes.

“I mean it!” Piper says. “Your whole vibe with Callie… I love it. You deserve someone who’ll make you happy. And keep you on your toes,” she adds.

“Callie does do that,” I agree.

On my toes, waist-deep in swamp water, going out of my mind with lust…

“Just don’t screw it up,” Piper informs me, turning serious. “If I know you, you’re trying to pretend it’s all no big deal. So don’t.”

Before I can come up with an answer to that, she waltzes away, leaving me with my whiskey, and an unwelcome thought in my mind.

That maybe she’s right.

It is different with Callie. Sure, we bicker like nobody’s business, but hanging out with her these past few days has been the most fun I’ve had with a woman in…

Well, ever. And I once spent a week in Bermuda with the Olympic Women’s Volleyball team.

I down the rest of my drink, and head back inside. I know I’m supposed to be greeting guests and doing my part for whatever charity we’re fundraising for tonight, but I just want to find Callie. She’s not in the great room, or hanging out by the buffet—surprisingly—so I wonder if Zelda has already found her. Then suddenly, the music seems to stop.

Callie slowly walks down the stairs.

I stare. I mean, there’s nothing else I can do. She’s wearing this silver dress that kind of swoops over her curves, hitting just below her knees. Her dark hair is down, tumbling in natural waves, and I swear there’s some kind of spotlight shining directly on her.

She’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.

Callie reaches the bottom of the stairs and shoots me a look. “What’s up with you?” she asks, clearly not struck dumb by my presence, the way I am with her. “You look like you just swallowed a fly.”

“Uh…” I try to speak. She’s wearing bright red lipstick, and all I can think about is how I want to mess it up.

“Oh God, I’m going to have to make small talk with all these strangers, aren’t I?” Callie looks around, then gives a shrug. “Oh well. At least the food will be good. Your grandmother looks like she knows her way around a hors d’oeuvre. Lead on, I’m going to need some serious snacking before we get this show on the road.”

She links her arm through mine and drags me off.

And I’m going to need another drink.

The gala gets underway, complete with long speeches, small talk, and plenty of champagne. I’ve been to a hundred of these things, and usually they’re a major chore, but to my surprise, I’m having a great time.

Because of Callie.

She has a way of making everything fun, even all the tedious introductions to local socialites. She’s turning on the charm tonight, and all the old locals are eating out of her hand. Especially the guys.

“Sailing? How fascinating,” she coos, placing a hand on one guy’s arm. “And you’re a friend of Zelda’s? You must tell me all about it.”

“I’d love to,” he says, looking startled. “Would you like another drink?”

“Dash can grab them, can’t you, babe?” She smiles.

I don’t want to leave her alone with him—sure, he’s pushing fifty, but what if she’s into older guys?—but I don’t have a choice. “Of course, sweetheart. I’ll be right back.”

I give Bryce a warning look, and sprint for the bar, scooping up two glasses of whatever’s closest and returning in record time.

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