“I’m not worried.I can predict the future when it comes to us.Not this mess of today.Not with your ex.Not the attorney general’s office or the leak with my team.But I know you and I work out.”
“Everything had moved so fast with Dominic, and this is faster than that.”Comparing the two men made her stomach turn.Callum was nothing like Dominic.He wasn’t taking away her independence or folding her into another person like some kind of make-a-wife origami.
He didn’t flinch at the comparison.“Weare a long time coming.”
Callum wasn’t talking about moving in together or marriage like Dominic had.Grace had thought she’d fallen for Dominic when he hadn’t given her a chance to breathe.That wasn’t what Callum was doing.Still, the slamming staccato of her heart screamed for her to slow down.They needed speed bumps.
His phone rang.
How about that for a speed bump?Not what she wanted, but she needed the interruption to catch her breath.Grace read the display on his screen.It was his office calling back.“It’s been five minutes.”
Callum tipped her head to his and casually kissed her as if she weren’t panicking.He answered the call.“We’re taking the meeting.”
“Sending a location and directions to you now.I’ll have someone meet you there and take care of whatever car you’re driving.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Therestofthedrive was quiet, but as the miles passed, Grace’s adrenaline high crashed.Her hands shook, and a tremor moved through her that she couldn’t control.She flexed her muscles, balled her hands, then shook out her fists.“I feel sick.”
Callum glanced around their new car.“Do you have any candy in your bag?”
“No.”
“Gum?”
“No.”A headache thumped at the back of her head.“Why?Are you hungry?”
“Your system could use a hit of sugar.”
“Maybe I could use an iced coffee.”That would wake her up but wouldn’t stop the shakes she could barely hide.Now that they were driving through a populated area, there had to be places they could stop.“Do you think we could find a coffee shop soon?”
“Eventually.”
It didn’t take long before they spotted an exit with fast food and coffee options.Maybe she was hungrier than she realized.
Her legs shook when they got out.Callum took her hand as they crossed the parking lot and walked into a coffee shop with a full bistro menu.
Grace leaned against him in line, her back to his stomach.His hands locked around her waist as they waited.This was sweet.It was real.It was entirely too cutesy for a man who looked like he was better suited for an action movie than suburbia.
They stayed locked together until they ordered, and he paid for their order in cash.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”She needed to wash the smell of gunpowder off her hands.It was probably in her hair and all over her skin as well.She’d have to see what could be done in the restroom.
His gaze skirted around the coffee shop, and she realized he was searching for a threat.Had he held her that way in line to keep her safe?Or because he wanted to?Doubts that hadn’t been there before were sprouting, and her jittery stomach turned upside down.
“Give me a second.”Callum knocked on the bathroom door and, not hearing anyone respond, opened it.His hand perched precariously close to his concealed gun.
“No one’s in the bathroom waiting for us.You don’t have to do that.”
He ignored her and checked the stalls.“Now we know for sure.”
“Please don’t do that, Callum.It makes me feel like a crazy person.No one knew we would stop here.”
He shrugged and semi-agreed, but left her alone in the bathroom.She stood in front of the mirror and—whoa, she looked worse for wear.Her disheveled hair was tangled on one side.Dark circles formed half-moons under her eyes that looked like they’d been crying.She actually hadn’t been crying.Maybe she’d teared up a few times.But notcryingcrying.
Grace scrubbed her hands in the soap that had little scent, then splashed her face with water.A little under-eye cream, concealer, and a hairbrush would go a long way in changing her appearance.She could do that in the car.
Grace returned to find Callum holding their coffees and food.She pointed to her hair.“You didn’t tell me I look like roadkill.”
