Page 18 of Callum
Holy hotness.
Callum stood in front of her, shirtless, sweat dripping from his body. Not only that, but his large muscles glistened, veins prominent under his olive skin like he’d just finished fighting lions in some arena.
“Hey,” he said, his deep, raspy voice causing her belly to do a little heated jingle. “I was wondering if you were ever going to knock.”
She opened and closed her mouth three times, trying to recall a couple words of the English language. It took five seconds. Five. Freaking. Seconds. “What are you doing?”
One side of his mouth lifted, showing a perfect dimple. “Opening the door.”
So he was a funny man too. “Yes, but why are you shirtless and looking like…well…all big and sweaty?”
Okay. Not the most elegant wording, and he was always big. But shirtless and sweaty? Was the man trying to kill her?
“I was working out. I stopped a few minutes ago when I heard you pull up out front.”
Oh, man. So he knew about her delay tactics. He didn’t know she’d been tempted to keep on driving and forget this crazy little deal. Or maybe he’d figured that out. Wouldn’t take much to connect the dots. Had he seen her jam her keys back into the ignition, fully prepared to run?
She cleared her throat. “You don’t look very ready to go.”
Understatement of the century.
“I’m all packed, just need a shower. I won’t take long. Come in.” He moved back, giving her room to enter. His biceps rippled with the motion, and she had to physically restrain herself from gawking at him like a desperate teenager.
What had she signed up for?
Carefully, she stepped past him, making sure to avoid any accidental touches. Even the smallest graze would probably turn her into a floundering mess. Or maybe she already was?
Not touching him was harder than it should have been. Not so much because there wasn’t enough space, but because her hands twitched to reach him. Feel his heat, slide her fingers against his wet chest.
Get a grip, woman,she scolded herself.
Her gaze caught on the expansive staircase beyond the foyer. Then the large open living and dining area to the right, which led to a huge, modern kitchen. So the man wasn’t just tall, funny and sexy, but he also had money.
Good one, God. You’re really going out of your way to torment me now.
“You live here by yourself?” she asked.
“I do.” The soft thud of the door closing echoed behind her. “I know. It’s a lot of house.”
“Well, you’re a lot of man.” The words fell from her lips before she could suck them in, and they fell like little explosions, detonating around her. She winced. “Oh God, I’m sorry.”
He laughed. “Don’t apologize, Fi. I like you uncensored.” He leaned his head toward her, and this time when he spoke, his warm breath brushed her cheek. “And you’re right, Iama lot of man.”
A shudder raced down her spine. When he brushed past her, he touched her hip, causing her skin to just about break out in hives.
He crossed to his coffee machine on the kitchen counter, and she could only watch as a shirtless, glistening Callum made coffee in his glorious kitchen. It kind of felt like a dream. One of those types you didn’t want to wake up from, because a god of a man was waiting on you in a mansion.
Only, it shouldn’tfeel like a dream. She’d promised herself shewould notfall for Callum. They were friends…kind of. And they could never be more because she said so.
“What are you thinking so hard about over there?”
She jolted. “Just that I should offer to help with that coffee.”
He gave her a knowing smile, which lit humor in his beautiful eyes. He knew she was lying.
When he handed her one of the mugs, their fingers grazed, and she had to hold in the gasp that tried to zip into her chest.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice quieter than it should have been.
