He says his goodbyes and hangs up.
‘Discussing your villain origin story again?’ I suggest.
Callum slips his phone into his back pocket and regards me with disdain.
‘Very funny, Moss. I spent the weekend helping out on a building project for the charity I volunteer at. That was them, offering to pay for the kit I bought. I said it wasn’t necessary.’
I told you he’s the worst!
Callum appears to be looking around with relish as I narrow my eyes at him.
‘Salmon sperm?’ He quirks an eyebrow.
Oh no.
The colour rises in my cheeks as I shove the box back on the shelf, but in my haste I knock a handful of pots over and they clatter to the floor. I’m muttering under my breath as we both reach down to pick them up, Callum’s large hands scooping up all but one. I scrabble for the final box while trying to come up with a snappy retort.
Annoyingly, Callum gets in there first.
‘Hydrating,’ he reads approvingly as he stacks them back in place.
I scowl at him. His piercing green eyes skewer me to the spot.
‘Please, don’t let me interrupt,’ he adds. ‘You looked like you were about to make a purchase.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ I huff, frowning at his thoroughly amused look. ‘I was just … researching.’
The arched eyebrow suggests he does not believe me.
As if being caught pondering the benefits of rubbing marine sperm into my face wasn’t enough, I am immediately disarmed by Callum’s appearance. He looks different. His usual work wardrobe of trousers, T-shirt, and a denim shirt over the top has been replaced with deep blue joggers and a matching crew-neck jumper, a crisp white T-shirt peeping out from around the neckline. He looks like he’s modelling loungewear for GQ.
‘I like your hat,’ he adds.
This, it seems, tips me over the edge.
‘Oh for God’s sake!’ I huff, clean forgetting my promise to be cool and calm.
‘You know, it’s not very polite to grumble at someone who’s just given you a compliment, Moss.’
‘It wasn’t a compliment, though, was it? You were cueing upanother chance to take the piss. So come on, out with it. What’s next? Some joke about me heading off to Panama or something?’
‘It’s got more of a cowboy look to me.’
I nudge the hat further up on my head.
‘How apt,’ I whisper, feeling a lot like we’re in the middle of our own private Western. Me with my fingers twitching, waiting for the saloon door to swing open before I pull the trigger. Or is it the other way round? It’s always hard to tell where Callum’s concerned.
‘What are you doing here?’ I ask, flicking my hair back over my shoulder and trying to recover myself.
Callum peers down at me, his broad physique taking up most of my view.
‘Haven’t you heard? You get the pleasure of my company for this trip.’
‘Playing fast and loose with the word pleasure there, Callum,’ I retort, folding my arms across my chest.
‘Charming as ever.’
‘Iamcharming, actually,’ I protest, ignoring the fact that having to point this out kind of negates the argument. ‘Lots of people say so.’
