“I won’t be a pawn in your mom’s game,” Cal said from behind me. Turning, I saw him, his face tight with anger. “I don’t want you to be either. You have enough of that shit in your life.” He leveled his eyes with mine. “Ford’s a smart man. He doesn’t tolerate it.”
It was in that moment that it dawned on me that Ford and Cal had spoken. I bet Ford had warned Cal. I opened my mouth to speak, and Cal held a hand up in the air.
“For you, Willa, I give in to almost everything. You don’t want to marry me? Fine. You want to keep me at arm’s length with what we are going to do after our baby is born? Fine again. I have to swallow all of that. But your mom?Nah—that’s where I’m not bending.” I’d never heard Cal speak so gruffly.
“I didn’t ask you to bend for her. I mean, the photo, but that’s part of life with me. I’d never want you to be involved with Beatrice and her clan. My mom is her own mess of an island…maybe a continent. I try not to head out to it too often. Again, I’m sorry about the photo…” My words rushed out frazzled and disorganized.
“This wasn’t about the photo. Hell, like I told you, I’m inPeopleevery time I look in that rag. My patients let me know they see me inUS Weekly. All worth it because of you. But your mom’s cronies asking me to think about joining this committee and coming to this function— Maybe I will buy a table next to your mom? There could be two tables of Conways? What the fuck? First of all, I’m not a Conway. My name is Rand and I’m having a child with you. Second, I don’t do what your mom says or wants. I do what you want, don’t you get that?”
Running a hand over my head, I felt a tension headache coming on. I knew Cal wasn’t picking a fight. This weekend had been taxing; my way of living didn’t fit with Cal’s, and I wasn’t sure I could make it work.Itmeaningus, but I desperately wanted to.
“I didn’t ask any of that from you,” I still countered. “They did. My mom likely set them up to do it.”
“I know, but the way she dragged me around like a dog made me furious. For you and Ford. If that’s what you endured,Christ…no one should have to.”
“We got out of it. Mostly.”
He moved from his perch against the far wall and approached, gathering me in his arms. “I’m adjusting. Frank telling me I couldn’t drive yesterday, your mom acting like I’m a sort of novelty today—I didn’t like any of it. I’m just a man trying to love his woman.”
He kissed my temple, and I felt the pressure begin to dissipate, except when I thought about my mom.
“Shh, don’t think about her.”
“What?” I asked Cal, wondering how he read my thoughts.
“You were murmuring. I guess you’re not such a great actress after all.”
His mouth met mine, and I knew he was joking, but all of a sudden going back to the place I called home felt nothing like a safety net. I seemed to be only out of harm’s way when I was in the arms of this man.
Chapter Twenty
Callum
I ran my hand over Billy’s breasts, making my way to her rounded belly, lingering over her navel for a beat before finding her heat below.
“Mmmm,” she murmured in her half-awake state.
I traversed her most sensitive spot with the tip of my finger, taking my time teasing her and plotting in my mind what I’d like to do.
Her head fell back onto my chest on a moan, and I continued to work her up with my finger, adding another.
After our fight, we’d spent the night together before watching a movie. Billy had said she didn’t care about Fourth of July fireworks, and I’d apologized for arguing.“Let’s salvage the day, please?”Her words tore at my soul. Time wasn’t on our side and the trip was coming to a close. While I wanted to dig my heels in and fight for my right to be my own man when it came to Beatrice and Frank and every other goddamn person running Billy’s life, I wanted to be a part of it more.
Frank stayed in his rental house and let us have space. I didn’t know if that was a result of my words in the morning or the fact that we were behaving, according to him.
“Cal.” My name came out on a long whoosh of breath from Billy as she started to fall apart.
I didn’t let up entirely; pulling back on my pressure, I wanted to think on my next move. No way was I letting her go back to California unsatisfied. We’d made love in the middle of the night, but this moment was all about her.
I gently tugged her onto her back, and she whimpered at the loss of my hand until I slid down the bed. Finding myself in between her legs, heat radiating off her core, I was heady with unknown feelings. I equally hated and loved the caveman tendencies that bubbled up in me over Billy.
“I adore you, Willa,” I whispered before devouring her. I ran my hand under her ass to keep her from squirming. I wanted her to feel every sensation. Of course, I understood this felt more intense while she was pregnant, and I wanted her to ride the climax. She deserved to feel me in every nerve of her body…
“Oh my, Cal. Oh,” she said as I drew out each ripple of pleasure.
I rode it out until she lay sated on the bed, eyes closed. Traveling back up her body, I kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry we had words. I’m not sorry I had them with your mom.”
She turned, bringing her palm to cup my face, her thumb tickling the hairs above my ear. “I’m sorry too…”
