Callie is very much my type. If someone took the search history of my heart and created a woman, it would be her. But I’m not about to start up a romance with my cousin’s guest. Especially not one who’s staying in my house for a few weeks. She isn’t returning to America until after Hogmanay. That’s a whole other level of daft.
I’d like to think I have more respect for women than that.
I’m selective in how I treat people. I’m selective about the women I kiss and how I use them to assuage my bruised and battered heart. I select to only be physical with people I’m in a committed relationship with.
Does that make me a bit odd? Perhaps. Has it ostracized Callie within the first hour of officially meeting her? Most assuredly.
I scrub a hand over my face and glance around the interior of my house. She’s still pacing on the phone outside with her sister, and it doesn’t take Einstein to know she’s likely sharing the humiliation of our first encounter and begging Luna to drive faster.
My phone buzzes with a message from my cousin.
Hamish
We haven’t left yet. Rhys and Luna are being slow.
Well, that’s not ideal. I clench my teeth.
Gavin
You could drive separately
Hamish
Ruby wants to ride up together, save money on petrol.
Gavin
Fair enough
Hamish
We’ll hurry. Probably be there in the morning. Won’t make it tonight, I reckon.
Gavin
Mind the road
Hamish sends a thumbs-up emoji, so I put my phone away and let out a frustrated breath. By now, Callie probably knows they haven’t left yet, too. If Hamish was within reach, I could throttle him for leaving me alone with her for so long.
Instead, maybe I should make Callie something to eat. I know some people get hangry without food, and she didn’t eat breakfast.
The front door squeaks open—I really need to grease those hinges—so I run a hand through my hair and go to meet her inthe vestibule. Her cheeks are ruddy from the cold and her brown eyes are bright. Her wavy brown hair hits her shoulders, and she tucks it behind her ear on one side. Och, she’s bonnie.
A bit of a wreck, but bonnie. My stomach pitches when I think about how rude I was in the car, but trying to correct it now might lead her to think I’m coming on to her.
Best to leave it be.
“Hungry?” I ask.
“No.”
I don’t believe her, but I pick up her suitcase anyway. I have a feeling if I push it, she’ll dig her heels in more. “Follow me. I’ll show you to your room.”
Callie is silent as we make our way up two sets of stairs to the attic room. It’s the smallest bedroom but one of my favorites with an unbelievable view. It gets a little chilly though. I’m debating telling her this when an icy look stops the words before they can make an appearance.
“Thanks,” she says, in a way that puts a period on the end of our time together. She’s kicking me out.
I give her my best smile. “Come down when you want to eat.”
