She had never been a coward.When life threw cow crud at her, Auggie had always made sure to meet it head on, with a handy umbrella.No matter what happened next, she was going to go for life with everything she had.
But...she felt like she was actually breathing again right now.For the first time in months.
She waited through the meeting for the right moment.He had sat down right next to her.His hand was on the back of her chair.Aaron Masterson had shown up with Jack.And that was all it had taken.
Calloway was trying to claim her.Possessive ass.
She had a message to send to that man.
Finally, when he was at the counter, covering the bill, she stood.Looked at Gil, Aaron, and Jack—and Jack’s sister Nora, who had been taking notes for her father.“If you’ll excuse me, I have a point to prove here.”
Nora snickered.“Go for it.I want to watch.I really want to watch.”
Auggie walked up to him, right there in the middle of the diner.
Junie was right there, a contemplative look in her big blue eyes.Just watching.The Talleys in the diner were watching.Sage was turned around, watching.Gil was watching—glowering, though she half-thought he’d accepted Cal after the other night.
Everyone was watching.
“Just what do you think you accomplished today, Calloway?”
“I love how you say my name, Augusta Dawn.I’m sure you know what I am after.Masterson can find his own woman.What are you going to do about it?”
She trailed the fingers of one hand over his almost prissy, staid businessman’s shirt.Her fingers wrapped in his tie.She pursed her lips and looked up at him.As sexily as she could.
Damn it, he was a seriously beautiful man.The humor in his eyes as she challenged him was almost her undoing.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”She almost purred the words in his face, gratified when his green eyes widened first and then darkened.“One thing to remember, sweetheart…no one speaks for me but me.I will be…with the man I want to be…when I want to be.Not a moment before.Remember.”
She deliberately flicked the button beneath her nails open.Right in front of everyone.
“And if I forget?”He captured her hand in his.
She hesitated.
Maybe she’d miscalculated.Maybe that had been a mistake.
She knew it was, when the fool man refused to let her go when she tugged.
“You’ll probably end up regretting it.”
“Will I?Just what game are you playing, woman?”He pulled her against his chest quickly.
His free hand had hooked around her waist without her realizing it.And he lifted.Just that quick.
Until she was practically plastered against him.She felt every inch of him.The diner around them hushed.Or…at least…it seemed like that to her.
Or maybe they just didn’t matter?Maybe all that mattered was her.And him.“Calloway…”
He leaned down.“No matter what you think you can dish out, Augusta Dawn, I can take it.You have my word on that.I’m in this for the long haul.I’m thinking forever.Be forewarned.Just something to keep in mind.”
That darned man pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss far too hot for public consumption.
“I’ll meet you and the girls at six on Friday.I’m looking forward to it.”Then he just turned and walked away.Whistling.He was actuallywhistling.Jerk.
Everything was just...paused…for a moment.While she tried to catch her breath.
Her eyes met her younger sister’s.“That man…he’s going to be trouble.I just know it.”
