Page 30 of Callum
“You don’t want them to know about what Amanda and Freddie did?”
She shook her head. “It would kill them. It’s not their fault she’s the way she is, but they would shoulder the blame. All they’ve ever wanted is for their kids to be happy.”
Something flashed in his eyes. Admiration, maybe? “Areyou happy?”
Another surprised eyebrow lift. No one had ever asked her that before. Was she? “Most days.”
A slow nod from him. “Most days is good.”
“Are you?”
One side of his mouth lifted. “Right now? Most definitely.”
She swallowed, wanting to drown in those eyes. Drown in his words and gentleness and the way his voice made it seem like he really cared.
But she’d officially embarrassed herself enough for one night. She blew out a breath and went to push to her feet. Callum wrapped his fingers around her upper arms and helped her up.
“I might just brush my teeth and put my pajamas on before heading back to bed.”
“You got it.” He gave her one of his wide smiles before moving away. “Call out if you need anything.”
She nodded and turned to the sink. She had to stop herself from dropping her head into her hands. The man had watched her drink too much, then throw her guts up. He should be running. Jumping in his car and getting away from the mess that was her life as quickly as possible.
Once her teeth and mouth were clean, she went into the bedroom and rummaged in her bag for pajamas. Jeans, shirts, underwear…but no pajamas. She hadn’t brought them.
Jesus Christ.
“Everything okay?” Callum asked, making her wonder if she’d said those words out loud.
She scrubbed a hand over her face and straightened. “I forgot my pajamas.”
He didn’t even blink, just grabbed a T-shirt from his case and passed it to her. “Use this.”
Tentatively, she took it, already able to smell his masculine, woodsy scent on the garment. She wanted to say no, but the dress was uncomfortable as hell, and she didn’t have any shirts big enough to cover her. “Thank you.”
Back in the bathroom, she peeled off her dress. The shirt was huge, reaching her knees. And yep, she smelled Callum everywhere. It was suffocating, in the most torturous, erotic kind of way. She wanted to bathe in it.
She stepped out and moved to the bed. Callum was already there, lying on his side. His eyes heated as they locked with hers. He almost looked at her with…possession?
Quickly, she flicked off the light and slid under the covers.
“Your stomach okay?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.” Her ego on the other hand…not so much.
She was tempted to turn her back to him but didn’t. Something stopped her. Instead, she did the opposite. On her side, she scooched closer and touched her hand to his chest. She could feel the thumps of his heart beneath her palm. They were steady and even, almost aligning with her own.
“Thank you for being here with me. I’m not sure exactly why you are, but I’m grateful.”
His fingers curved around her hip. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
Her breath stopped. She told herself to move her hand, to shift away from his touch. But the lull of his pulse beneath her skin was soothing, and the heat of his hand to her hip an extra layer of warmth. So she remained where she was, letting everything that was Callum soothe her back to sleep.
CHAPTER11
Fiona wasn’t sure what she’d expected to feel during the ceremony. Dread? Unease? Definitely a level of discomfort. And sure, there was a bit of that. Tiny slivers here and there. But as she watched her sister marry Freddie, there was something else…something lighter.
Relief. That it wasn’t her standing up there.
