“Does it matter?One time, a dozen, a hundred—it was embarrassing.I hated those fucking pageants, probably because I never won.”She paused, eyes boring into me.“I really like to win, Emmett.”
When the topic somehow shifted to our favorite childhood toy, we discovered we both had the same bizarre obsession.
“Ohmygod!I had Funky Furby.She was blue and purple and pink, and I loved her so much.”Callie mimicked the unmistakable Furby blink.
We erupted into laughter.I had never felt more at ease with a woman.It was refreshing as fuck and only served to confirm what I had been speculating for weeks.
* * *
“Callie,I need you to tell me what happened the other night at the club.”
Over the last few hours, we had inched so close together that she was practically sitting in my lap.Her knees were still tucked underneath her as she sat sideways on the couch, facing me.She’d rested her head on her hand and propped her elbow on the backrest.
“I, um—what?You don’t remember?”
I had shifted to face her, my arm slung along the back of the couch so my fingertips could trace featherlight patterns on the soft skin of her forearm.
“Of course, I remember,” I said, grinning.“Making you come on my fingers?Highlight of my year.”
Callie blushed.“It’s only March.I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities to surpass it.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it.But seriously.You pulled a 180 on me in the span of a few days, and while I am absolutely not complaining, I am a little confused.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what came over me.You were just there and looking like…that,” she gestured up and down my body.“Before I knew it, things had escalated.”
“And do you think things mightescalateagain?”I asked.
She stiffened at my question before letting out a sigh.“I don’t know, Emmett.This is …a lot.I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to?—”
“No, it’s fine.”She placed her hand on my knee.“You did nothing wrong.In fact, you’re completely right.I pulled a 180 on you.I don’t blame you for being confused.”She paused, and I waited, giving her the space she needed to sort through whatever was going on in her head.
“I like you, Emmett, if that wasn’t obvious.But I’ve worked really hard to get here, and Ijustbroke up with Hugh.I don’t know if I’m even ready for?—”
“I get it, Callie.I do.”I cupped the back of her head, toying with the soft strands of her hair.“Take your time.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CALLIE
“Gene is the fucking worst.”
We were nestled into the cozy cocoon of the cinema room.The plush gray couch had practically begged me to sink into its cushy embrace.We’d been talking for hours.Emmett had gracefully steered the conversation in a lighter direction, and we’d covered a broad spectrum of subjects—some serious and others not-so.But we managed to find common ground on nearly everything.Even if we didn’t agree, we seemed to understand the other’s perspective.
It was refreshing to talk to someone so openly and easily.The lingering glances were easy, too.Emmett wasveryeasy to look at.
Eye candy, indeed.
This trip had started to feeldangerous.Emmett insisted there was no good excuse not to pursue this, but I still had one.My career was on the line—a line I was not-so-carefully toeing as I looked at the ridiculously charming man sitting next to me.
What is my life right now?
“My dad said he wasn’t always like this.”Emmett’s smile had faded, and he shrugged.“I think he’s become a little jaded and bitter since his wife left him.But it’s no excuse to treat people like shit.A couple years ago, Alex’s wife had a second trimester miscarriage, and fucking Gene went around me and called Alex directly, demanding he come into the office.I was so fucking pissed.”
“Oh, God, that’s awful.They just had a baby not too long ago, didn’t they?”
“Yeah, a little girl.Charlotte.”Emmett looked more like a proud uncle than a boss.“Took them a long time, but they finally brought home a baby.”
