Callahan stood a few feet away, leaning lightly against the wall. He was dressed more casually than I had ever seen him. Grey sweats hung low on his hips; a simple t-shirt, house slippers. His usually immaculate hair was slightly tousled. Sleeves pushed up casually. I had never seen him like this. No tailored suit. No cufflinks. No perfectly sculpted businessman mask.
He looked... human.
And the sadness reflected in his eyes made my chest tighten—a stinging ache that felt like regret and longing tangled together.
A sad little smile curved his mouth.
In that moment, he resembled a puppy someone had accidentally left out in the rain.
I stood frozen, surprised by his appearance and even more surprised by the expression he wore. My mind jumped straight to today’s endless shopping, not just for me but for my sisters. Before I could apologize or form the words, he held out his hand to me.
My eyes flickered from his hand, hovering and open, to his face, searching for some explanation. He said nothing. Instead, his gaze softened, and he gestured again—palm up, fingers gently curling—inviting me to take his hand. The tension in my shoulders eased just a fraction. Slowly, I stepped forward and placed my hand in his. His fingers closed around mine immediately, firm yet careful. His touch was unfamiliar but warm. Without a word, he turned and began to walk ahead, gently tugging me along as he silently guided me through the house.
He didn’t speak as he turned, gently guiding me to follow him. I didn’t ask where we were going. I didn’t pull away. I just walked beside him in silence, trying to read his expression from the side.
We passed the kitchen.
So he wasn't about to feed me. I could only hope I hid my disappointment well.
He led me toward the back doors instead. My brows furrowed slightly as he pushed them open, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The backyard was softly lit, the pool reflecting the moonlight in ripples of silver. Crickets hummed quietly in the distance, giving it an earthy feel.
He continued walking, still holding my hand, leading me toward the building I had noticed on my first night here. A separate building at the edge of the property, half hidden by trees. I’d assumed it was a guest house, a storage space, or some kind of billionaire hobby room. I had no idea if any of my speculations were right, though it seemed I would find out soon enough what was inside.
He still hadn’t let go of my hand. As we reached the small building, he stopped in front of the door and turned to face me. Up close, under the soft glow of the exterior light, he looked vulnerable in a way I had never seen before.
That alone stunned me.
My lips parted slightly as his free hand rose, fingers brushing gently against my cheek.
The touch was so soft it made my breath catch.
“Callahan…” I whispered, unsure of what I was asking.
Just as quickly as he touched me, his hand started to fall away from my face.
It was subtle—the quiet resignation in the way his fingers loosened against my cheek, his eyes briefly clouding with self-doubt, like he’d already decided he didn’t deserve to touch me.Heart pounding, breath catching, I reached up and grabbed his wrist before I could reconsider.
I kept his hand exactly where it was—cupping my cheek.
Callahan froze.
His eyes widened slightly, startled by the move. The sadness that had been weighing down his expression shifted. It didn’t disappear, but it cracked open, replaced with something fragile and, dare I say, hopeful.
He swallowed, like he wasn’t sure if I was about to push him away next.
I wasn’t.
He let out a slow breath through his nose, his thumb barely brushing against my skin again. “I was just—”
“Don’t,” I said softly.
His gaze locked with mine.
“I understand,” he began, voice lower now, steadier than the look in his eyes. “I understand where I went wrong.”
“Tell me,” I whispered.
“I should never have thought of you as a gold digger,” he spoke quietly. “Not even for a second.”
