Page 6 of Callum
Her brows rose further. “A pen?”
One side of his mouth lifted. “Yeah, Fi. A pen.”
She swallowed, grabbing a pen from the trolley. He slid it from her fingers, then took her hand and turned it over. Damn, her skin was soft. And better yet, she didn’t pull away as he wrote his phone number on her palm.
“I’ve given you my number before,” he said softly, “but in case you threw it out”—which was something he suspected—“here it is again.”
He was almost certain she didn’t breathe the entire time he touched her. He finished writing the digits, but like his thumb had a mind of its own, he gently caressed her wrist. He lowered his voice further. “You still doing okay after the bar incident?”
His chest burned at the memory of that night. A bit over a month ago, a gun had been held to her head at a bar. Every muscle in his body had seized, and all he’d wanted to do was protect her.
That was the night he’d decided to pursue her. Figure out what this damn attraction meant.
That pale skin turned whiter. “I didn’t get hurt.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re okay.”
Not only had a pistol been aimed at her temple but the man holding her had been shot in the head—while Fiona was still in his arms. Callum’s heart had stopped when that shot fired. How easy would it have been for the civilian to hit Fiona instead of his target? Too damn easy.
“I am.”
Callum could usually detect a lie, thanks to his enhanced abilities. Little things gave people away. The dilating of the pupil. A hitch in their breath and alteration in the heartbeat…but for once, he couldn’t tell. Becauseshedidn’t know if she was okay?
One more swipe of her wrist, then he lowered her hand and stepped away. “Text if you change your mind on the date thing, honey.”
Then he winked before heading to the desk.
CHAPTER3
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Fiona swallowed as she crossed the parking lot with Jenny. It was dark, but that wasn’t the reason she was afraid she might trip. It was the nerves. The ones skittering through her belly, causing her knees to feel weak and her ankles to wobble. Because this was the bar where, a little over a month ago, she’d been grabbed in the bathroom and dragged out by a criminal with a gun.
She swallowed. “I’m okay.”
It was a half lie. Shehadbeen feeling okay. Right up until the building came into view and nightmarish memories started to taunt her. But that was exactly why she needed to do this. Why she’d asked Jenny to come get a drink with her. She hated feeling weak or like she couldn’t do something. Yet, every time she passed this bar, that was exactly how she felt. The fear, the nausea…the helplessness. Yeah, there was definitely a bit of helplessness. It sucked. Hell, she’d even started taking longer routes to get places just so she didn’t have to pass this bar.
Nope. All of that needed to stop, and it needed to stop now.
“Okay,” Jenny said carefully, watching Fiona closely from behind her large frames and bangs. “But if you’re not okay, we can go at any time. Really. Just say the word.”
Jenny had only moved to Cradle Mountain after that terrifying night. Fiona had told her bits and pieces, playing it down like the entire event hadn’t left her traumatized. But the night had been plastered all over the news and social media. Some people in the bar had even taken videos during her traumatic ordeal.
People were sick.
She swallowed as they stepped inside the bar, then paused.
Interesting. No pounding heart. No shortened breath or trembling limbs. She just felt…normal. In fact, the hum of people talking was almost soothing. The clinking of glasses against tables. The beat of the music.
A small smile curved her lips. See, this is why she’d needed to come here tonight, to show herself it was a safe place again.
She linked her arm through Jenny’s, a new lightness in her chest. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”
She weaved through the crowd, only coming to a stop when they reached the bar. Jenny tugged at her skirt, and Fiona felt a flash of guilt for bringing her here. She hadn’t been against it, just hesitant. Fiona had a feeling she didn’t get out much.
A man with a lip ring stepped in front of them from the other side of the bar. He had a sleeve of tattoos down his right arm and piercing blue eyes.
“What can I get you, ladies?” His gaze paused on Jenny, one side of his mouth lifting.
