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Lastly, someone I just met last week at Coen’s going-away party, is Lilly. She is pure strength. A woman who raised and cared for a very sick brother and an alcoholic father, all while keeping the family business running. Her brother Aiden died a little over two months ago following a protracted battle with leukemia, and the mere fact that she can speak about him with such inner peace and without devolving into a puddle of tears astounds me. I spent some alone time with her last week, passing on my condolences, and then listened to her speak about Aiden for almost fifteen minutes. She talked about all the positives and laughed as she regaled me with stories about him. I’m sure she has her moments when grief will overtake her because I can tell she’s a sensitive soul, but her positive outlook rejuvenated my own. It’s one of the reasons I was so adamant about coming out tonight. I didn’t want to waste one single minute of this new life of mine.
Brienne arranged for us to sit in a private VIP lounge in this nightclub, which is roped off and protected by security guards. We’re able to leave our purses and drinks behind, protected by burly men as we hit the dance floor.
Tonight I’m wearing a cherry-red halter dress that plunges low between my breasts and a pair of pumps that had Callum’s tongue hanging out of his mouth when I exited our bedroom after getting ready. His eyes ran over me hungrily and he begged, “Please don’t go out tonight. Not because of safety reasons but because I really want to peel you out of that dress and fuck you all night.”
I have to admit… that gave me pause and I wondered if a night out with the girls was all that important when I had a man such as that looking at me as if I was life.
But I came to my senses and promised him all kinds of dirty things after I arrived home when I’d probably be drunk and all kinds of adventurous in bed.
The music changes and I don’t recognize any of it. I only know that it pulses with a vibrant, infectious energy. It’s mostly all electronic beats and deep bass notes with an insanely fast tempo that has us all jumping around and gyrating like teenagers. We laugh as we link arms, the overall effect exhilarating and euphoric. The smile on my face feels almost dopey I’m so happy and I know at the end of the night, this will go down as one of the most fun times I’ve ever had.
I spin on the dance floor, surrounded by my new girlfriends. Throwing my head back, I laugh as Danica twirls me faster. Faces fly by me, belonging to the women I’m coming to love as my new posse. Then hands on my shoulders stop me.
Brienne is there, a smirk on her face. She nods over my shoulder toward the VIP platform and I’m stunned to see Callum standing there with Drake. She whispers in my ear, “It appears some of the men don’t understand what a girls’ night out means.”
I drink Callum in, wearing a pair of well-fitted jeans and a crisp, white button-down shirt. He’s got a highball in hand, his head bent toward Drake as they discuss something, but his eyes are pinned on me.
He looks so sinfully good, but I’m also annoyed that he’s here. It’s not that he doesn’t trust me, but he’s here for my safety. I just know it.
“The nerve of that man,” I seethe and take one step his way, intent on telling him off.
“Oh no you don’t,” Brienne says in my ear, pulling me back by my wrist. “If you run him off then you’ll run Drake off, and I personally enjoy having my man here to watch me.”
All thoughts of Callum vanish. “You do?” I ask, raising my voice to be heard above the music, which has now turned into a slow, rhythmic tempo.
“Oh, I do,” she says with a sly nod of her head. Pulling me back onto the dance floor, she winks. “Let’s give them a show.”
I don’t understand what she means but Brienne raises her arms above her head and slowly sways her hips to the beat. I glance over my shoulder and see that Drake looks like he could eat her alive. He doesn’t seem to be listening to Callum.
I want to be looked at that way and I know it won’t take much. I follow Brienne’s lead, moving to the melodic beat. My hips tip back and for several beats, I dance with my eyes closed, wondering if Callum is watching. The thought that I might be making him crazy with my deliberate gyrations makes me smile, and I realize I’ve never felt sexier in my life.
God, I hope he’s watching. I’m just about to open my eyes when I feel hands on my hips.
Big, masculine hands and my first thought is someone on the dance floor has taken my private show for Callum as a license to touch. I start to draw away but an arm comes across my stomach, and I’m pulled back into a hard body I recognize.
Lips to my ear, Callum growls, “Naughty girl, making me want to drag you out of here.”
I smile and lean back into him, my arm covering his. “What are you doing here?” I try to sound annoyed but he can hear my amusement. “This is a girls-only event.”
“Drake invited me out. I’m just along for the ride.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Not buying it at all. I realize that Callum is holding me tight in the middle of the dance floor but we’re not moving. “And you need to go. This is for dancing.”
“Good thing I paid the DJ to put on a slow song,” he says, and before I can even turn my head to gauge if he’s serious, damn if the music slows down to a romantic flow.
I turn in his arms, my mouth open in surprise. “You paid the DJ?”
“Yup. When I first walked in. Slipped him a hundred.”
I shake my head, bemused as I put my hands on his shoulders. “Do you always get what you want?”
“Not always,” he says, pulling me in closer. He leaves one of my hands in place but wraps his fingers around the other, drawing it to his chest. Resting his cheek against my temple, he adds, “But I’m hoping that’s changing.”
Me.
He’s talking about getting me and the wistfulness in his words melts my heart. I tip my head away from his, forcing him to look down at my face. “I love you, Callum.”
Our swaying stops as Callum goes utterly still, his eyes stuttering back and forth between my own as if trying to ferret out any lie. “You mean it?”
