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Confusion flashed across his face, which wasn’t even remotely enjoyable as the previous expression.
I watched as he shook his head and furrowed his brows. “I have no clue what she has to do with any of this. Tilly is not my girlfriend. I mean, we were casual once, but we never dated.”
“You’re lying.” Skeptically, I surveyed him. “I saw her ring.”
His hands reached up to cradle my face, his eyes capturing mine with their intensity, holding my gaze. “No, baby, I’m not. From the moment I heard you were back in town, you were all I could think of… the very prospect of you being back in my life. I couldn’t believe it was true until I saw you. I’m not a cheater, Alina. I would never hurt someone like that. I would never hurtyoulike that.”
I couldn’t help but feel the truth wash over me. I felt foolish for believing someone else. I felt ashamed, my eyes casting down.
“Alina, baby. Look at me.” Callum’s voice pleaded, but I couldn’t. I kept my head down, embarrassed by my behavior. “Did Tilly say something to you?”
I nodded.
“Is that why you left?”
I released a ragged breath and nodded again.
Immediately, his hands fell from my face before his arms pulled me into his chest. “You silly, beautiful girl, I wished you’d just talked to me. We’ve already wasted so much time, and these past couple of weeks have been the worst.”
“I’m sorry.” My words sounded muffled against the fabric of his shirt, and he hugged me tighter.
“I am too, darlin’. Let’s go home.”
I tensed again at the sound of that one word, and I knew he felt it. “I can’t go back there, Callum. Not ever.”
“It’s okay. I finally understand. I get it.” A small chuckle escaped him, and my temper sparked.
He said he understood, yet he treated it as a joke?
“I just meant to your apartment.”
ChapterForty-Four
Alina
It felt like home between the sheets and back in Callum’s arms.
We’d spent the rest of the night talking, and it felt like now that the storm had passed, everything the rain had touched was revitalized and nurtured. The droplets had restored the love while simultaneously washing away the doubt and hurt that had festered for so long.
* * *
My head rested on his naked chest as he weaved his fingers in and out of mine. “I have to admit I wanted to punch that Ryan asshole right in the face as soon as he opened the door.”
Tilting my head back, I smiled up at him. Violence was not in Callum’s nature at all. Jealousy, though, I kind of liked the color green on him.
“After speaking to him when I returned to the city and laying it out for him, I explained how he owed me one. He has some new contacts in the lab who are helping me cultivate beauty and homeopathy products with my momma’s lavender. I’ve decided to keep the fields but have listed the house for sale.”
“I noticed the sign,” he remarked dryly. “But owning and farming the fields, won’t that mean you’ll need to go back?”
I shook my head. “I thought that too, and for a while, it felt like a roadblock to me. But then I did some research. I reached out to a few people, some already established farms until someone finally called me back. A lovely couple they are, so I met with Joan and Mal and showed them my momma’s book. They were very excited. So now I am part owner of Wisteria Pine Lavender. Joan is…” I searched for the right words to describe the older woman. “She’s passionate and such a unique soul, Callum. She reminds me so much of Momma. It just feels soright, you know?” I ended with a sigh.
“Hmm…”
“What?” I shuffled myself up into a sitting position next to him, so I could take all of him in, and read his expression as he answered my question.
“You are so fucking clever, so beautiful and sexy, and I love you so much, darlin’. Don’t ever leave me again.”
“I love you too, McArthur, and I won’t. I promise. Not ever again.” I planted a kiss on his lips. “You’re my shining light.”
