Page 51 of Legacy

He grinned then. “As will we. Okay, I’m going to take Rune out of here and bug the shit out of him. You let us know if you need any help?”

“Always.” I hugged my brother, and he hugged me right back, one of those deep hugs that reminded me that he would always be there to protect me.

Damn that brother of mine.

By the time Atlas had dragged Rune out, I found myself standing hopefully in my new living room alone with Callum, wondering if this was real.

“So what do you think?” he asked softly.

My teeth dug into my bottom lip, and I nodded slowly.

“I love it. It doesn’t seem real. But, if you’re serious, and if they will actually go for this rent, I’m in.”

“Good. You deserve the best, Felicity.”

I smiled then, and without thinking, I went to my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his in thanks. I should have stopped, shouldn’t have even been there, but by the time his firm lips were against mine, there was no going back.

I must have let out a little sound because then Callum’s arms were around me, one hand digging into my hip, the other around the back of my neck, holding me in place, as his tongue slid against the seam of my lips, and I was lost. He growled into me, taking me, and I let him.

Before I could put my hands on him, to deepen the kiss, to do anything, he pulled back, his chest heaving.

“Okay then.”

“Callum,” I said, not knowing what I should say.

“Let’s get you back to your car. We’ll sign the paperwork.” He let out a breath, not looking at me. “Okay then.”

And then he left me standing there, waiting for me in the truck, and I knew the most awkward ride of my life was about to come.

But I put my hand to my lips and let out of breath.

He kissed me.

He kissed me back.

And he hadn’t said sorry.

Chapter 8

Callum

The knock on my door didn’t surprise me, even though part of me probably should have been. I already had my shoes on, along with worn jeans, an old Henley with paint stains, and my ball cap that I flipped backward so I could look underneath the cabinet. Frankly, I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to leave the house. Because I knew once I did, I would be near her. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t a few hundred feet away from me, anyway. Because I was the damn idiot that was moving Felicity Carter across the street from me. She could walk across the street at any moment in those little pajamas I knew she wore and ask for a cup of sugar.

And I wouldn’t give it to her because it wasn’t as if I baked.

Damn it, I was an idiot, but it was the perfect place for her, and I could keep an eye on her. Yes, that was the reason. I could keep her safe and keep an eye on her. What other reason could there possibly be for me to want her to be close?

I was going to hell, and we all knew it.

However, the person at the door wasn’t who I was going to go help in a moment.

An aggrieved sigh slid through my lips as I opened the door and glared. “What do you want, old man?”

My dad held up his hands, the dark circles under his eyes as evident as always.

“I just want peace.”

I snorted. “You don’t even know what peace is.”