“It really is,” I agree. “Can you believe we’re going to be an auntie and uncle?”
Callan’s grin stretches wide, his gaze fixed on Knox and Juliette. “Aye, I’m so happy for them. They deserve it.”
He takes a slow sip of his drink, but then his eyes drift over to mine, holding my gaze longer than necessary. “How have you been, Bree?”
“I’ve actually been really good,” I finally say. “I’ve been on a few dates, but my life mostly consists of work and my dog. You already knew that, though.”
His smile falters for a moment. It’s almost unnoticeable, but I catch it. The brief crack in his easygoing facade. “Dates, huh? Didn’t know about that.”
I can’t help but notice the slight tightening around his eyes and the way his fingers flex around his glass, like he’s trying to keep a grip on something. Is he…disappointed?
I want to ask him, but before I can even open my mouth, his resolve softens. It’s like the whole thing never happened, and he’s back to that easy smile, the one that always disarms me.
“So, dates? Anyone special?”
“Honestly? No. It’s been horrific.” I dive into the story of my disastrous dates, the ones that made me question if the universe had a secret vendetta against me. I tell it all, from the awkward silences to the terrible pick-up lines. It feels good to joke about it, and when Callan laughs, that familiar comfort eases back into place.
He’s shaking his head now, still trying to catch his breath. “Wow, Sunshine. Sounds like you haven’t dated a real man yet.”
The words land heavy. His piercing gaze locks onto mine. He’s not just talking about the dates. He’s saying something else entirely. And thewayhe says it, that challenge in his tone, makes my pulse jump.
Oh, great. There it is. That heat building between us, that irresistible pull. We both know I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. So I smirk, leaning in closer until the space between is almost nonexistent. I match the gleam in his eyes with one of my own.
Somewhere in the back of my brain, there’s a little voice whispering,You know how this ends.
Only, another voice—louder, cheekier, definitely fueled by booze and curiosity—is like,Okay, but what if it doesn’t end badly? What if it’s just fun?
What would it hurt to give in?
“Careful, Callan,” I murmur, my voice soft and teasing. “You really shouldn’t test me.”
I genuinely don’t know if I’m leaning closer because I want to or because he’s making it impossible to stay away. His pull is magnetic in the most inconvenient way. Either way, I’m all in.
He leans in even closer, his breath a whisper against my ear.
“But where’s the fun in that?” he murmurs.
Oh.
Oh no.
His chest brushes against mine, and my heart forgets how to beat like a normal organ. Just like that, any last scrap of restraint I had?
Gone.
Torched.
ten
CALLAN
Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to pick her arse up and haul her to my truck like some damn caveman. It’d be reckless. Wild. And yet…it’s all I can think about.
But I don’t move. Not a step. I know better than to act on the desire without thinking about the fallout. I know what it’d mean if I pushed, how fast we’d burn through something that’s already hanging by a thread. I don’t want to be another decision she regrets.
So I stay rooted, even though my hands are twitching at my sides and my heart’s thudding like it’s trying to knock itself loose from my chest.
I need her to look away, sit back, laugh it off. Hell, shove me if she has to.
