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“I’m Callum Rose, ma’am.” Oh, he did southern gentleman well. “Is Wren home? She’s expectin’ me.”
I came up behind Jenny and shoved her gently aside. “I’m here.”
He looked me up and down, then his eyes landed on mine. He had that stone-cold look that made him completely unreadable.
“Hey.” He slid his fingers through the side of his hair. “Think we could talk?”
Jenny bumped me with her hip. “I’m going to make myself scarce.” She started to walk off but turned back. “You don’t need to heat the entire neighborhood, you know. Invite him in and close the door, babe.”
Then she was gone, and it was just Callum and me. “Do you want to come in?”
“Yeah.” He stepped up into the house, so close, my chest brushed his stomach, and closed the door behind him. Two fingers pinched the strands of hair that had escaped my ponytail. “I like your hair this way.”
“Oh. Thanks.” I tipped my face up. “You disappeared today and it made me feel really shitty. Now I’m in a crap mood and don’t know that I can be very good company. I know I said we’d talk, but I’m tired and crabby and—”
He covered my mouth with his hand. Damn him, I had a love-hate relationship with him doing that.
“Quiet.” I sort of loved it when he said that. “I told you I’d get in touch. I didn’t lie. This is the first chance I’ve had to get to you.” He let go of my mouth and gathered me in his arms to hold me flat against him. The groan that rumbled from his chest traveled directly into mine.
“Why’d you disappear?”
His nose tickled my scalp as he shook his head then he kissed my crown. “Didn’t disappear. I’ve been dealin’ with the fallout of last night.”
My head jerked back, but he wouldn’t allow me any more space than that. “What do you mean?”
His sigh was heavy. “Do you think I could come all the way inside and feel like maybe you’re gonna allow me to stay awhile?”
“Only if you plan on offering me a reasonable explanation for not contacting me all day.”
He studied me from under a furrowed brow. “Did you really believe I wasn’t comin’ for you, Little Bird? I left you hangin’ on that thought all day?”
“Yeah, you did.” I wasn’t quite happy with him, but I led him around the corner to the living area anyway. I tried to sit beside him on the couch, but he plucked me right up and plopped me on his lap like I was a feather. Truth be told, when he held me like this, I felt delicate and precious, and I was quickly becoming addicted to it.
Callum stroked my hair and dragged his knuckles along my cheek. I looked at him, really looked at him, and found the shadows under his eyes, the pinch around his mouth. He hadn’t had a good day either.
“I’m always comin’ for you.” Those words were so soft but unwavering, they settled in my chest and spread over my limbs. “I made a mistake not sending a text. I realize that now.”
“Is that an apology?”
He took my chin in his hand and pressed a hard kiss to my lips. “It is. I’m sorry I didn’t text. Now, I need you to tell me you’re sorry for not tellin’ me you needed that from me. As far as I know, the phone works both ways. You didn’t check on me either, Little Bird.”
Any indignation I’d had left flew away like a thief in the night. I hadn’t texted, that was true. Why hadn’t I? He told me he would always welcome me contacting him. I guess I hadn’t believed it. Or I’d been so ready for him to ditch me when he found out about Ezra, I’d just assumed that was what he was doing.
“I’m sorry too.” Leaning in, I gave him the same kind of kiss he’d given me, except when I tried to pull away, he caught me and plunged his tongue in my mouth. Callum’s kiss was so hot and deep, all the ice that had been building around my heart instantly melted. “I’m glad you’re here.” I rubbed my lips back and forth along his.
“Yeah?”
“Mmhmm. I had a crummy day, but this makes it better.” I pulled back enough to see his face. “Tell me what you had to deal with.”
“I will. First, you need to tell me you remember you have to text or call when you’re feelin’ neglected. I will always want to hear from you. You can blow up my phone and it will be welcome. I’ll only be mad if you want to text me and don’t. I’ll be pissed if you spend all day thinkin’ I disappeared on you.” He lifted my chin with his knuckle. “Tell me you understand, Little Bird.”
He’d told me this once through text, but it was an entirely different thing wrapped in his arms and looking into his eyes. It was pretty impossible not to believe he meant what he said.
“I understand. I’ll blow your phone up with memes every chance I get.”
His answering chuckle was enough to wipe away the rest of my bad mood. “I look forward to it.”
“Will you tell me now about your day?”
