“Okay, yep, no problem. I’ll see you a bit later then. Okay, bye!”
She hangs up and leans her head back with a groan, her face practically glowing with embarrassment, and I can’t hold it in anymore. A laugh bursts out of me, loud and full of amusement. She’s just too adorable, and I’m eating it up.
“Stop it! It’s not funny,” she protests. “Let’s call one of your aunts and give her a play-by-play, see how much you like it!”
I raise an eyebrow. “If I know Rose,” I start, “then she probably congratulated you but asked you to spare her the details, considering I’m kind of one of her bosses.”
Her eyes narrow, and that’s all the confirmation I need. I hit the nail on the head, and she knows it.
“Right?” I tease. “That’s probably why she was so diplomatic. She didn’t want to hear all of it. Just the highlights.”
Her eyes narrow even further, suspicious delight warring on her face. “You’re terrible,” she mutters, but there’s no real heat behind her words.
“Only for you, lass.” I flash her my most charming smile. “So, what’s your plan? Going to see Juliette today?”
She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. I’ll give her one day of wedded bliss before I go bothering her with my antics.”
“Back to Rose’s, then?” I ask, though I don’t want her to leave just yet. It’s a rare thing, having her here, and I’m not ready to give that up.
She offers a subtle nod, taking a sip of her coffee, eyes darting over to me. “Yeah, I guess so. She said she’s going to be out most of the day, but she’ll be back later in the afternoon.”
“It’s my lucky day then,” I say, resting my elbows on the table. “Unless you’re wanting to get back?”
A sly smile spreads across her face. “What did you have in mind?”
“How about a ride? I kinda missed having you on the back of my bike.”
I say it casually, but that ride six months ago still haunts me in the best way. Her body pressed close to mine, her laughter in the wind, the rush of adrenaline that came as the world fell away. But I’ll never forget the way she looked when we stopped, the bruises on her body that didn’t belong there. It stayed with me.
I can’t get that moment out of my head.
Now, I want a do-over. I want to give her the ride of her life, where nothing but pure joy fills the space between us. No worries. No past hurts. Just the freedom of the road and her laughter in my ear.
She raises an eyebrow, glancing down at her bare legs with a smirk. “Only one problem there, danger boy. I’m currently pantless and have nothing else to wear.”
She’s cute. I definitely didn’t forget about that.
“Don’t worry,” I say with a wink. “I might’ve picked up a few things for you, just in case we ever found ourselves in this situation again.”
Curiosity dances in her eyes. “Well, color me intrigued,” she says, propping her chin on her hand. “Whatcha got for me?”
thirteen
BREE
Apparently, Callan had a little chat with Juliette, and voilà, everything fits just right. I’m rocking a fitted black leather jacket, tight black jeans, and ankle boots that scream,Who is this girl?Not exactly my everyday vibe, but honestly, I’m not mad about it.
I give myself one last once-over, tugging the leather into place, anddamn. I look good. Callan knew exactly what he was doing.
“Damn, Sunshine,” Callan mutters, his voice full of that mischievous spark I’ve come to expect from him. His eyes roam over me, like he’s appreciating a rare, expensive piece of art. “You look like you were made to be on the back of my bike.”
I can’t help myself. I give a little spin, letting the leather catch the light. “Not gonna lie,” I say. “I’m inclined to agree. You might’ve just created a monster.”
His lips curve into that infuriatingly charming smile, and I damn near melt into a puddle right there. But I don’t. I’m stronger than that…mostly.
“That so? Sounds like a challenge, lass.”
I step closer, letting my gaze linger on him longer than necessary. The way his own jacket stretches across his broad shoulders, clinging just enough to make me wonder what’s underneath… It’s lethal. The way his jaw shifts as he smiles does things to me that I’m not prepared to handle. He’s pure temptation.
