“Which is why,” Vivian said, “we want to move the attorney meeting up as soon as you can get there.No more messing around.Find out what’s going on.Deal with it and move on.”
“Now?”She wasn’t in the right headspace.Her clothes were dirty, and she’d been sweating through the hot August heat while shooting a gun and probably smelled as bad as she looked.Grace glanced over and could tell that Callum’s scowl was less about his clothes and more about the change in plans.
“The more we know,” Vivian continued, “the more we can anticipate the problems.Since no one will tell us a damn thing, this is our best option.”
“I need five minutes.”He ended the call without waiting for their response.
Tension flexed in his jaw.
“You don’t think we should go.”
“I think… if I trusted them, then yeah, we should.Their logic is sound.”
“But you don’t.”
“At this point, Grace.I don’t trust anyone but you.”
The air conditioning cooled as the car devoured the miles.They drove in silence, and she thought about his distrust and hers.They distrusted his headquarters for different reasons.Dominic could buy anyone, though they didn’t think he was involved.She didn’t see how he wasn’t.
Her stomach knotted.What had he said about after all this was over?Grace dropped her focus to her hands in her lap.The after would never come if they didn’t get rid of her ex.
“I want to call Dominic.”
He tore his gaze from the road.“What?Why?”
“I won’t tell him you’re with me.Just that someone is chasing me, and I want to know what he wants.”
“Screw him and whatever he wants.I’m so sick of his name.”
“Then call Vivian back and say we’re on our way.”
“Why?”
“I want to get it done because I wantthe after.After this crazy day from hell, I want to know if this is real between us, and I don’t want to wait to figure it out.”She stared at the road.For as bold and outspoken as she had been with what she wanted, this was too scary, and she didn’t have the guts to look at him.“I want to start my life over, and I can’t until this is done.”
Callum pulled off the road onto the shallow gravel shoulder.He shifted into park and reached for her face, turning her chin to face him.“This is real.”
“I know that…” She felt horrible for needing to hear it again and again.
“You don’t have to wait to clear things up with your ex.I had thought that too.You know that?I was waiting, but when I hear you questioning us?”He shook his head.“No.You need to know exactly what I think.”
“I already know you want to be with me.I can’t explain what I mean.”
“I’m in love with you.I’ve been in love with you.”
Her heart stopped.
“I didn’t want to tell you this now.If this could all be behind us, and I could fucking hold on to you while I make you understand… But now’s the time you need to hear it.I’m here for everything you need.Hear me like you’ve never listened in your life.This feels fast, but it’s a lifetime in the making.”
Her eyelashes fluttered.Emotion choked away her words.
“You know that,” he whispered, “and I know that.”
Tears sprang into her eyes.His thumb smoothed over her cheek.She should say something, but she couldn’t talk.
“You’re not ready to hear that, baby,” he said softly but with unwavering confidence.He believed in her.In them.“You’re about to panic.About to run.”His smile wasn’t hurt.It was more like understanding, and that scared her even more.“And we can’t have that.”
“Callum—”
