Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Mr. Ironside was a different story. Callie’s dad never said much because he didn’t need to. He could terrify a bloke just by looking at them.
We sat in awkward silence as I waited for Callie to come home.
Then Mr. Ironside broke the silence. “Better you than Barr, I suppose.”
For Ironside, that was almost a blessing. Mrs. Ironside seemed to think so because she gave me an encouraging smile.
I cleared my throat. “Where’s Harry?” I referred to Callie’s brother.
“Sleeping.”
Right.
Because it was like ten o’clock at night and I was severely intruding.
Guilt filled me. And discomfort.
“Can I get you a drink?” Callie’s mum offered for the hundredth time.
“No thanks, Mrs. Ironside.”
“Lewis, please call me Sloane,” she pleaded for the hundredth time too.
The sound of a car pulling up outside made my heart leap into my throat. At least I knew with Michael’s stepmum in the car, there would be no good-night kiss. Although that didn’t mean there hadn’t been kisses at the cinema.
My hands clenched at my sides. Feeling someone’s eyes on me, I turned and saw Mr. Ironside looking at my fists.
I unclenched them.
He looked me in the eye, but his expression didn’t give away his thoughts. The man was a big affectionate giant with Callie and Sloane. I’d seen it. With everyone else, he was slightly scary and a lot intimidating.
My palms turned clammy at the sound of Callie letting herself into the house. She walked into the sitting room, lips parted as if about to speak, and then froze at the sight of me.
I drank her in.
Jealousy burned in my chest.
Her long blond hair was styled in waves, she wore a bit of makeup, and her legs went on forever in the long-sleeved mini dress she wore with ankle boots. She was so bloody gorgeous, it made everything inside me ache.
But it was more than those big blue eyes or the full lips I’d fantasized about kissing a million times … it was her. Callie. The person who knew me inside out and not only accepted everything that was me but liked it all. She’d made it clear that she was never going anywhere.
Until I’d hurt her.
I stood abruptly.
Her eyes flared. “What are you doing here?”
Her mum winced at the high-pitched question. “Why don’t you two talk outside so you don’t wake your brother?”
Callie glowered at me. “You’re unbelievable.”
I gave her an apologetic look, which only seemed to make her angrier, but she gestured for me to follow her into the kitchen and out of the sliding doors.
As soon as she’d closed them behind her, she crossed her arms defensively over her chest. “What the hell are you doing here, Lewis?”
Before I’d been nervous as anything, but now with her in front of me, I felt nothing but determination. “I made a mistake. Months ago, when you told me you wanted us to date, and then last weekend.”
Hurt flashed across her face. “What? You accidentally tripped into her mouth?”
I blanched. “Callie … it was stupid. I’d had too much beer, and I … I regretted it immediately. She’s not the one I want to kiss.”
“So, someone else asks me out, and all of a sudden, you have a change of heart?”
“No. I realized today that I could lose you for real. And the only reason I said no to dating was because I didn’t want to lose you. I didn’t want something to happen, for us to break up and I’d lose you for good. I can’t lose you, Callie. You’re the most important person in my life. I …” I let out a shuddering breath. “I love you.”
Her expression slackened. “What?”
I swallowed against my nerves and stated more boldly, “I love you, Callie Ironside.”
Doubt and fear crept in as she stared at me for a few seconds. Then she crossed the distance between us, grabbed my hand, and tugged me to follow her around the side of the house.
“What—”
She whirled and pulled me into her before she threw her arms around my neck. Her warm, soft body flushed against mine, and my skin was instantly on fire. “I love you too.”
And then her lips touched mine.
Utter relief flooded me, and I wrapped my arms tight around her, lifting her off her feet to meet my mouth more fully. I pressed her up against the side of the house for leverage and kissed her like she was fucking oxygen.
It felt right.
Perfect.
And I was an idiot for waiting so long to make this girl mine.
But I’d never be an idiot with Callie again. I’d never, ever let her slip through my fingers. How could I?
It would be like losing a part of myself.
Three
CALLIE
PRESENT DAY
Ardnoch, Scottish Highlands
Stepping back from the plate of patisserie cakes I’d created for my mum, I eyed her, feeling almost as nervous as when I’d baked anything for my teachers. I’d spent the better part of the last three years in Paris at a top culinary school, earning my bachelor’s degree in French pastry arts. Between classes and internships at some of the busiest restaurants in the city, I’d not only grown in experience but in confidence.