AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, but people will think that you Callahans are assholes.”
He shrugged. “Who cares what other people think? That’s the problem with the world, everyone is so worried about what someone, who doesn’t even know them, thinks. As long as you don’t think I’m an asshole, then I’m fine.”
“What makes you think I don’t?” I crossed my arms.
“Would you have preferred to come all the way here and wait in line for an hour?”
He had a point and he knew it. I agreed.
“Fine. You’re not an asshole to me.”
“Perfect. Now tell me about the idiot who broke your heart.”
I groaned as I glanced out at the pier. Why had I brought that up? Oh right, I was worried that he would’ve walked away for good, and I didn’t want that.
“Coraline, you said you were jaded, but we all are,” he whispered.
“Two years ago, while at Stanford, I met this basketball player, which really should have been the first red flag. I knew he liked to party a lot, but I thought he was different, and I thought we were dating, but as it turns out, he only acted like we were together when we were alone and it was great. But around his friends, or at his games, he acted like I was just another girl he knew. Then the season got really intense. I knew that other girlfriends would sneak to their hotels during away games. So I decided to surprise him.”
“And he was with someone else?” he asked like this was the most common story in the world, but then again it felt like it was.
I smiled. “He was with two other girls. I stood there staring in shock before I turned and ran—I’m a runner in case you haven’t noticed. He did chase me down an hour later, I’m guessing after he was finished with them. He told me that I was his long-term chick, the girl he would bring home to mom and that I shouldn’t be bothered by the other girls, that he was just playing around before we got too serious. That’s when I punched him and took the bus home. The end.”
“Did you love him?” His eyes were soft, and he looked my face over like he was trying to read me.
“Yeah. I think so? I’m not sure. I think I was in love with believing in love.”
“So after that, you just cut yourself off from any sort of affection whatsoever?”
I didn’t want to go this deep into my emotions.
“You said we’re all jaded, so tell me, who hurt you?”
He smiled, and under the light of the Ferris Wheel, he looked sinful and devious.
“I’ve never been in love before.”
“But you said—”
“I said we are all jaded. But not everyone is jaded by love, Coraline. I’ve never given my heart anyone, which should prove that there is something wrong with me. People should fall in love and deal with heartbreak, I think it’s healthy.”
“But…”
“But I’m not going to force myself to love anyone or anything. When it happens, it happens.”
“Then what makes you jaded?”
“My past. My present. My future.”
“Sometimes I feel like you’re trying to tell me something without really telling me anything.”
He snickered as he pulled off his gloves. “I like you, Coraline. I have no idea why, but I do, and I want to get know you more because I feel like it’s happening…at least for me anyway. I’m going on a trip in a couple days, so come with me. And promise to make sure you have fun from the moment we get there.”
“Okay.”
FIVE
“And she was terribly aware that she was alive. Not just living and breathing, but ...alive.”
?Mary Balogh
DECLAN
“I would like to remind you that you only met this woman a week ago and you’re already bailing out on our plans,” Liam said over the phone.
“Aren’t you in bed with a model right now?”
“That’s beside the point,” he said. “We don’t ditch each other for women.”
“In all honesty, I’m tired of seeing your face, Liam.”
“You know what? I hope she breaks your heart into ten thousand pieces.”
“I’m hanging up, ass.” I hung up before he could reply.
I pulled up in front of the WIB cooperate office just as she came out dressed in a cream-colored jacket, jeans, and flats. I’d offered to pick her up at home, but she said she had a quick errand to run at the office.
“Hey,” I said as I stepped out of my car and walked towards her.
“Sorry to make you drive all the way downtown. I didn’t want to have to reschedule this.”
“It’s no problem.” I held the door open for her before I headed back over to the driver’s seat. “Is everything okay?” I asked her when I sat down.
She nodded. “The WIB is voting on something today, so I had to be there. Don’t worry though, your money is safe.”
“Glad to hear that. Is this why you studied business? For your father’s bank?” I asked.
“Yeah. I used to have so many people try to explain things to me when I was younger, either that or I would have to withdraw my vote for things. My father started this with his own hands. I, at least, wanted to keep it running.”
“It’s admirable. Most people would just take their cut and not worry much about where it came from.”
“I’m not most people.”
I looked at her. “No, you are not.”
She smiled, as she glanced out the window as the city faded behind us. I stepped on the accelerator, eager to get to the airport so that we could begin our trip.
“Where are we going?”
“To let loose,” I replied. “You cleared your week, right?”
“Yeah, but you only said to dress comfortably and bring my passport without packing.”
I could tell she was nervous again.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. You’re taking a calculated risk, and that’s when the fun starts,” I replied, as I drove towards the private plane.
“What about clothes?”
“We’ll buy some when we get there. First lesson, Coraline, don’t think about it, just enjoy it,” I said, as we came to a stop on the tarmac.
The pilot and our flight attendant stood waiting for us.
“When I said fun, I meant dancing and stuffing our faces with all kinds of different foods,” she whispered, as she stared at the plane.
“We’re going to do those things, just not in Illinois.”
“Welcome aboard, Mr. Callahan,” the pilot said.
“Take care of us, Oliver.”
“Of course.” He followed us inside as we took our seats.
Coraline’s eyes glanced over every inch of the jet, from the polished wooden tables, to the tan leather chairs, to the television that hung up two seats behind me.
“There’s a bedroom in there if you get…tired.”
I waited for her eyes to drift back to me.
“How long are we going to be in the air?
“Not long. Do you want to run before he closes the doors?” I really hoped she didn’t.
She grinned. “Would you let me?”
“Would you want to?”
