“You’re stunning, Callie.”
“Thank you.”I blushed and looked away.Glancing over his shoulder, I spotted Marco talking to Meghan.Out of loyalty to me, he had always disliked her, but I knew they were a lot alike and would probably get along well.He was grinning, and she was laughing.I was grateful that he had company while I was...otherwise engaged.
“And I’ll have you know,” Emmett whispered, “that Ms.Timbleton’s fortune was inherited from her great-grandfather—not her great-uncle.”
“Ohmygod.You heard that?I’m so embarrassed.It’s just some dumb game Marco and I used to play.It’s really immature and stupid, and we shouldn’t be?—”
He chuckled, cutting me off with a finger to my lips.
“Callie, relax.I was teasing.Haven’t you figured out by now that I love making you squirm?”
Was it me, or was that comment distinctly suggestive?My stomach fluttered, and I did, indeed, squirm in his arms.Emmett smirked, like he knew how his words affected me.Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
But did I?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EMMETT
“So, tell me,”I said.“What’s the deal with you and Marco?”
“We’re friends.”
“Looked like a little more than that from where I was standing.”
I had spotted them the moment they entered the event.Meghan had outdone herself as usual.The once dull and empty space had undergone a remarkable transformation.Velvet drapes cascaded from the high ceilings, twinkling fairy lights adorned every corner, and decadent desserts beckoned from gilded tables.
But amidst the opulence, Meghan had managed to infuse a touch of whimsy without it feeling tacky.It was a dream come true for any lover of romance novels—a grandiose Valentine’s Day event, perfect in every detail.
My mouth went dry at the sight of Callie in a crimson ball gown.It clung to her like a second skin, accentuating every curve and dip of her figure before bursting out into a sea of tulle.Her long, brown locks cascaded down her back in wild curls, framing her exquisite face.But it was her lips that drew me in, painted the same shade of red as her dress.They seemed to beckon to me, begging to be kissed.As quickly as my mouth had gone dry, it began to water.I imagined pressing my lips to hers, sliding my tongue along the seam, exploring the soft heat of her mouth with my tongue.
My feet propelled me towards her.When Marco leaned in and whispered in her ear, I didn’t miss the challenge in his eyes.I picked up my pace.Callie’s head whipped around, eyes searching the crowd.She found me in seconds, like she was just as drawn to me as I was to her.What had Marco said to her?Did I mistake the look on his face?
I needed to get to her—to be near her.Something primal was urging me to claim her.As I closed the distance, I smiled at her, and she smiled back.That’s when I heard my mother’s voice.
“Emmett, dear, I want to introduce you to someone.”
I maintained eye contact with Callie for as long as I could before I was swarmed with a crowd of my mother’s friends.They spoke animatedly at me, prattling on about God knows what.I wasn’t listening; I was distracted by the siren in the red dress whom I had now lost sight of.
After what felt like an eternity, I extricated myself from my mother’s social circle and looked around, hoping to spot Callie again.Instead, I ran into Meghan.
“Meg, you should be so proud of yourself.Everything looks amazing.”
She beamed.“Thank you.It really did turn out great, didn’t it?Hopefully, we raise enough money for the renovations to the children’s wing.Itdesperatelyneeds a makeover.”
“Well, my pledge has been made.I hope the sum pleases you.”
“From you, anything with less than five zeroes would be downright offensive.”
I shook my head and laughed before pulling her into a hug and kissing her temple.“Have you seen Callie?”I asked when I pulled away.
“Yeah, she and Marco are dancing.They’re cute together, I guess.I always thought they were just friends.I also thought she was still with Hugh, but...”She trailed off, shrugging.
“They are just friends,” I said.Hopefully.And who the hell is Hugh?
Meghan pointed across the room to the dance floor.“That hand placement looks less than innocent.”
I peered over my shoulder and saw Marco’s hand dangerously close to Callie’s ass.A low growl rose from my throat.
