“Sure,” Ellery nodded and set to pouring two cups. She added a healthy dose of cream and sugar to mine, leaving Calum’s black. She popped the lids on and walked them over, holding them out to me. I took the paper cups from her and drew in a stabilizing breath before turning to face him again.
Calum was still standing where I’d left him, his arresting eyes pinned on me. He didn’t seem to notice Shelly loitering by the shelves near him as if she were trying to muster the courage to approach him.
Catching Shelly’s eye, I nodded, encouraging her to move forward. She shook her head, backing up a little, completely intimidated by the six-foot two rock star standing in front of her.
I knew the feeling. Calum had always had an intimidating presence, but the tattoos and the fame only added to it.
Inwardly sighing, I approached him, pausing and keeping a few feet between us.
“Would you mind saying a quick hello to our co-op student? Shelly is a fan of yours.” I felt a little awkward asking him, but the warm smile he gave the young girl chased that feeling away immediately.
“Of course,” he said, turning fully and holding his hand out. She took it, shaking it with a starstruck look in her eyes.
“Thank you so much! It’s so cool finally getting to meet you!” she gushed, ducking her head with flushed embarrassment.
“It’s great meeting you too, Shelly. Thanks for listening.”
“Oh always! Your music is so great!” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and peered up at him in wonderment, and for the first time, I noticed she was clenching a permanent marker and their latest album.
“Thank you so much! I’m glad you think so.” He smiled.
“My mom was a big fan, too. She passed away a few years ago…” She admitted, her voice going a little sad for a moment.
“I bet she’s watching now,” I said gently, and Shelly nodded, perking up.
“Did you want me to sign that?” Calum asked, tilting his chin at the album in her hand.
“Oh, right, duh. That’d be fantastic…thank you so much!” she replied, holding the CD out to him. He pulled the insert out and signed it quickly, sliding it back in. His gaze lifted, catching mine briefly before he gave his fan his full attention, along with a warm smile.
“Here you go,” he handed the album and marker back.
Shelly bit her lower lip, eyes darting from me and back to him with uncertainty. “Do you think you have time to take a quick picture with me?”
He hesitated, glancing at me again before nodding. “Sure, but could you maybe wait to post it until after I leave?”
“Of course.” Shelly nodded.
“Here, I’ll take it,” I offered, holding my hand out for Shelly’s phone. She pulled it out of her back pocket and handed it to me. I set the coffees down on a nearby table and waited until they were ready—Calum grinning cordially with Shelly beside him, beaming with delight at meeting her idol.
I snapped a few photos and gave Shelly her phone back. “All right, get back to work now,” I smiled, watching her nod and scurry off behind the counter. The easy smile slipped before I met Calum’s gaze. “Ready?” I asked him, holding his coffee out to him.
He nodded, taking the cup from me, his fingers brushed against mine. I nearly dropped the damn coffee at the unexpected touch. Luckily, Calum’s reflexes were quicker, and he’d caught it before it could spill.
My stomach fluttered, and heat flooded my core, ignited by the intensity of his eyes on me. Swallowing hard, I smiled, uneasily trying to conceal the effect he had on me. “Thanks for that, by the way,” I said, inclining my head to Shelly. “I think you made her day.”
I was hoping it would give me a moment’s respite from his regard, and it did—he blinked, nodding. “Don’t mention it.” He lifted a shoulder, his lips twitching with a repressed smile that caused a swooping sensation low in my belly.
Turning, I started for the back rooms, putting as much distance between us as I could. Not that it mattered, we’d end up in the same closed-off space soon enough—the attraction just as stifling as it was now.
My fingers trembled at his close proximity as I typed in the code and pushed open the door, stepping aside to let him walk through first. My heels clicked against the hardwood as I walked around him, flicking on the light to the office.
Spotting the sofa, Calum went to it and sat down, leaving enough room for me to join him.
Instead, I walked around my desk, pulling the chair out and plunking down into it. I could breathe a little easier with something solid between us. He exhaled audibly, pulling his eyes away from me to assess the office.
“So…what did you want to talk about? Specifically, I mean,” I added, catching his slight smirk as he studied the six-foot-tall cardboard cutout of Fabio with a raised brow.
Those salient eyes returned to me, and he cleared his throat, leaning forward to set his paper cup down on the edge of my desk. “I wanted to let you know that I’m meeting with a real estate agent this afternoon. I’m going to start looking for a place.”
