Her red lips part, expecting a kiss but I brush a quick one across a cheek. It’d be much more heated but I can’t risk pissing off her mum any more than I’ve already done. If glares were a weapon, Penelope Bradford-Clarke would have a bazooka pointed at my forehead.
“Your mum, is she part gypsy?” I grab a glass of water at the bar and offer one to Callie.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“I’m quite sure she’s putting a curse on me.”
Callie glances across the room. “Oh-oh, you’re right. You are in trouble. I just remembered my great-great-great grandmother survived the Salem witch trials.”
“Why does that not surprise me?” I chuckle at her adorable giggle.
She grabs my hand. “Ignore Mom. Looks like dinner is being served. Let’s go. I assume you should sit next to me?”
“It would be safer.”
“Mother will be incensed.” Eagerly, she leads me into the dining room and moves around the name tags in order to sit close.
As predicted, her mother glowers across the table, so I lean over and whisper in Calliope’s ear. “That look is fierce.”
“You have no idea.”
“How old are you, luv? Why put up with it?”
She takes a deep breath, picks up a salad fork, and stabs a leaf. “Until I get my degree, I need to keep her happy. More than once she’s threatened to hold back my tuition.”
“You could get a loan, a scholarship...”
“I can’t take that risk. My work is important. Real important. Like the extinction of all mankind important.” Wide eyes meet mine imploring me to believe her and I do.
Holy shit. Doesn’t that put another spin on the evening?
I drop my napkin, duck under the table, and I speak into the mic at my chest. “What the fuck, over?”
Grayson responds, “Checking it out. Give me a few.”
Before I can raise my head, a fork flies by my head and lands at my feet. Cassie grins. “Watcha doin’ down here?”
“Boring bodyguard stuff.”
Her lips meet mine and fuck if it isn’t the best under-the-table kiss I ever got. When rising, her hand clamps high on my thigh, too high to be polite and my cock jumps.
Sorry lad, working.
I force him to half-chub with thoughts of my old granny’s false teeth in a jar. However, as soon as those earrings are back in the bank, Willie and I are going to explore what she meant by her grope.
The rest of the meal goes without incident until Yuri taps me on the shoulder. “Mind if I sit next to our hostess for a moment?”
I almost tell him to fuck off but Grayson says into my ear, “Let him. We need to talk.”
“If you will excuse me?” I give Calliope a wink, give my chair to the Russian, and park myself next to my boss.
“What’s up?” Eyes still on her pretty earlobes, I grab a spoon and break the crust of the crème brûlée.
“You’re pissing off her mother.”
“How can you tell?”
“Just keep your hands to yourself.” I thank God he didn’t see how she kissed me under the table.
