Page 78 of Untroubled Heart

Callie gasps as I study the name again. Pennington. I grab my phone to send an email. Earlier in the week after hitting a dead end, I decided to hire an investigator. My snooping skills can only go so far, and Callie and I were both desperate to know the end of the story.

Callie pouts as she rereads the words. “I hope they ended up together. The fact that the ring was in the box, and now this letter, is making me nervous.”

“Read the next one,” I urge her.

She shakes her head. “Maybe we should just make up the ending ourselves. If your investigator finds out what happened and it’s not that they lived happily ever after, don’t tell me. Okay? Lie to me and say it all worked out.”

I reach forward for the next letter, reading it first to myself.

My dearest Florence, I am to depart with the morning light, yet I do so not without resolve. A notion has taken hold of me—one I cannot deem folly, should it grant us even the faintest hope of being together at last. I cannot stand idle whilst this marriage is carried through. Should fate decide that I must lose you, then let it be known that no other shall ever command my heart as you have done. My life, in all its breath, is bound wholly and irrevocably to you. Forgive me for what I must do, and know, I would sooner suffer any consequence than willingly bring you pain; for it has ever been my sole desire to love you with the utmost devotion. Yours, Greyson.

I look up at Callie, and my face alone must give my feelings away.

“What?” she asks. “Is it bad? Don’t tell me. No, do tell me.”

I press the letter to my chest. “Maybe we should wait until my guy’s looked into it more.”

“They live happily ever after, Mason.” I chuckle at the way she commands it.

“Okay,.” I lean forward, letting my lips hover before hers. “They live happily ever after.”

Chapter twenty-seven

Callie,

I spent months trying to find a place that was going to hold my happily ever after, without knowing exactly how it was meant to look. I always assumed I’d walk inside and just know it was the one. When you came with me, you described it perfectly. It’s that feeling of nostalgia; familiarity, security. That’s the same way it feels when I’m with you. I think I was always meant to meet you, Callie Moore. I think nothing in life was meant to feel right until I was ready to meet you.

Mason

I flick the sawdust off my arm before I step out of the elevator and make my way over to my office.

Callie and I aren’t needed at the house for a few weeks while the crew makes the finishing touches to the extension. With Callie in the office, it meant I was able to start a secret part of the project, converting the attic into the playroom she described when we first saw the place. A special place for the other girl who has stolen my heart.

“I’m meeting Tenley for lunch, be back later,” my sister says as she catches the elevator doors before they close.

“You remember we have the meeting at two with Tara and Celeste to go through next quarter’s marketing plan?”

“Yep. I’ll be back in time.” She gives me a finger wave just as the doors close, and I quicken my steps, eager to see Callie.

My shoulders sink when I see she’s not behind her desk, but as I continue through the open space to my office, I pause in the doorway, finding her sitting behind my desk, wearing her glasses.

“Hi.” She smiles. “Sorry, my computer decided to freeze right when Caleb’s assistant called to reschedule a meeting.”

Callie picks up the handset of my desk phone as I close the door behind me. I’m so glad I stashed some condoms in my wallet over the weekend. I didn’t want to miss a repeat of something happening while we were working at the house… but this, I didn’t even think of as a possibility. I’ve never hooked up at work. It’s unprofessional. Fucking your girlfriend who’s also your assistant during work hours—well, that’s just an efficient use of time and surely good for workplace morale.

“Riley? Hey, yeah, Tuesday the eighteenth at ten is perfect.” Her brows pull together as she hears the snick of the lock as it’s engaged.

“You too. Bye.” She slowly hangs up the phone, her gaze set on me with confusion. “What are you doing?”

“Beth just left. She’ll be gone for a few hours,” I say, rounding the desk as I pull my shirt over my head.

“Here?” Her eyes fly to the door.

“It’s locked.” I turn the chair until she’s facing me and drop to my knees.

I need to buy her some skirts and dresses; these pants are going to get in the way if I make this a part of my regular work schedule going forward, which I absolutely intend to. Callie bent over my desk? Yes the fuck please.

My eyes stay locked on hers as I pop the button on her jeans. Her hands grip the armrests, and she leans back, lifting her hips and giving me the permission I need to continue.