Page 4

She turns on her heels and makes a beeline straight for the door. I fight the urge to smile as she struts away from me. I stare, stunned for a second longer, telling myself that I’m giving her a head start. Then, I push from the barstool and catch up to her in a single stride. My reckless thoughts take center stage as I reach out and grab her arm. She turns, eyes flicking down to my hand around her wrist. Her lips part as she lifts her gaze to mine, the fire within them quickly transforming to something cold as ice. I instinctively drop my hand, backing up.

“Um. I’m sorry. I … you … let me get your stuff,” I say, flustered.

She nods once, her eyes softening a bit. I turn and head toward my bedroom to grab her things. What the fuck was I thinking? This is not a game. The longer we spend in each other’s presence, the worse this becomes for both of us.

Once I have her clothes and purse, I rush back and thrust them toward her. She grabs them, her hand brushing against mine for the second time this morning. I drop my gaze as my breath catches, and then I watch her retreat in slow motion. I try to fucking ignore the way my pulse skitters in response to her touch, and the way it sends a shiver along my flesh and straight down my spine. My eyes find hers, and inside them I see all the things I wish that I didn’t. She clears her throat, breaking the trance once and for all, as if I’d imagined the entire thing.

“Okay, then. I’ll see you around, sunshine.”

She winks, turning and walking toward the door. Why does she have to keep doing that? As her hand reaches for the doorknob, I feel a thread tugging her back toward me. No, that can’t be right. I clearly need some fucking sleep.

“Wait,” she whispers, turning my way. I hold my breath, and when my eyes lock onto hers, I feel a sense of peace that I wish I didn’t. “I don’t have a car here, do I?” she asks, laughing softly. It’s that sound again, the one from last night. I feel it dance along my skin, burrowing right alongside her bratty attitude.

“I called our driver, Caleb, while you were asleep. He should be here now,” I say, my voice strained.

Her eyes flick between mine in question as I hold her gaze. Does she want to stay? That’s too fucking bad, because I need her gone. No, I want her to stay. No, what hell am I thinking? The unfamiliarity of my contradicting emotions leaves me stunned. I don’t trust myself to say a single fucking word right now. So, I say nothing.

“Oh, okay. Thank you,” she says, a look of curiosity crossing her features as she studies me one last time. And then her eyes drop to her feet, and she’s turning away from me as she mutters, “Goodbye, Callum.”

She reaches for the door, swinging it open as she steps out and closes it behind her. She doesn’t look back, not even once. I pretend not to notice the way the room grows colder in her absence as I stare at the closed door—the thread pulling taut until it nearly snaps.

2

Lydia

Callum Thorne so wants me.

I know this to be true. I know it in my very soul. After all, I am a Leo sun, Pisces moon, and Sagittarius rising. I get my intuition from the little fish, of course. I’d be willing to bet that Mr. Sunshine is a Capricorn. His serious, broody vibe screams Cappy through and through. The tough guy act may be fooling everyone else, but I’ve got him pegged.

I know there’s more to Callum than what meets the eye. He’s built a wall around himself to keep everyone at arm’s length, but I get the feeling that he’s guarding something deep within. If anything, it would certainly shed light on the steel in his posture and his ever-present reflex to resist. I want to see what he’s hiding underneath all that corded muscle and tension. I know that I’ll have to work for it, but if he thinks he can scare me off, he’d better think again.

My twenty-minute ride through the winding back roads of Hollowcrest comes to an end as Caleb pulls up to my house. Much like Mr. Sunshine, I don’t fancy city life. I might be all caffeine and rainbows on the surface, but there’s a deeper part of me that craves the wilderness. I crave the stillness of nature and the feel of the earth beneath my feet. I enjoy the way the leaves brush my fingertips as I marvel at their quiet beauty. I revel in the solitude and serenity that only the homes tucked deep within the forest can bring.

“Thanks, Caleb. I appreciate it,” I say, climbing out of the back of the Mercedes Sprinter and heading toward my front door.

My home, which feels more like a cottage, is a mirror image of my persona, and I’d have it no other way. The structure is tucked deep within the redwoods, where the earthy giants surround it. The overhanging leaves and branches give way to the soft light filtering through as I make my way to the porch. I marvel at the way the structure sits in the middle of its surroundings as if grown from the soil itself. The moss-covered cedar shingles are a bit weathered, clinging to the sloped roof like aged armor.

Stepping onto my porch, I run my fingers over the ivy-tangled banisters on either side of me. The fairy lights cast the space in a warm, welcoming glow as I listen to the vintage wind chimes overhead dancing in the warm summer breeze. My eyes fall closed as I inhale deeply, the scent of the moss and pine overcoming my senses. At my front door, I read the ‘come as you are’ sign hanging above it and unlock it to step inside.

This is home, and there’s truly no place like it.

Once I cross the threshold, I instantly feel at ease with the universe. Nyx, my black tabby cat, comes bouncing over to rub against my ankle. She purrs loudly as I pick her up, nuzzling against her soft fur and planting a kiss on her head before putting her back down.

“Hey there, girl. How was your day?” I ask, stroking her fur a couple of times before scratching behind her ear.

She answers by purring loudly and giving me a couple of little chirps before running off. I discard my shoes and look down at my shirt—Callum’s shirt. I can’t help myself as I gather the fabric in my hands and bring it to my nose, inhaling the scent of vetiver, black tea, and something a bit smoky.

Stars, how I’ve missed that smell.

It’s a tad bitter and earthy, yet there’s something so primal about it. I’m instantly transported back to the photo op with Reverb where I first stood close enough to him to catch the scent. Recalling Callum in his stage mask and outfit ignites heat that travels down my spine and straight to my core. The shirt slips through my fingers, draping my thighs once more.

Damnit, Mr. Sunshine.

My phone rings, pulling me from my thoughts. It’s my coworker, Carly Joe.

“Hey, girly, what’s up?” I answer.

“Hey, Lyd. I hate to do this, but I need you to cover for me in the shop in like … an hour?”