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“Ta,” Callum says. “We’ve got some stuff to follow up on our end.”

“We’ll be keeping busy and going on dates,” I add cheerfully.

Liz coughs out a laugh. “So, is this… thing between you two official now? You’re together together?”

I reach over and take Callum’s big, warm hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. “That’s right, honey. He and I are like two peas in a pod.”

Callum’s cheeks flush, but the corners of his mouth curve up in a faint smile.

A-dorable!

“Oh, thank Christ for that,” Liz says in a rush. “Maybe getting laid on a regular basis will mellow some of that grump out of him.”

“Hey, now,” I protest amiably. “I happen to like his grumpy side, but I will say I’m quite proud of myself. I’ve managed to put a smile on his face several times recently.”

“O-ho!” Liz crows. “I can’t wait to see that. We definitely need to meet up again soon.” She hesitates. “When are you heading home?”

I clear my throat. “Well, I was supposed to leave next Tuesday, but I’ve already changed my ticket, so my departure won’t be until the end of this month.”

“That’ll give us a couple of weeks to figure out where we go from here, romantically speaking,” Callum adds.

“Brilliant! With Beau in the picture, I might actually be able to get you over to my place for dinner one night.”

“Ooh! I would love if we could come over. I’ve been wanting to meet your husband and your two adorable daughters,” I gush. “Tell us when and where.”

We immediately make plans for dinner in a couple of days while Callum leans back in his chair and rubs a hand over his face, shaking his head. But I can see the faint hint of a smile curving up the corners of his lips again. With me at his side, I think he’ll be just hunky dory.

We wrap up with Liz soon after and Callum ends the call.

He eyes me speculatively. “Am I to assume that you’re going to be the one in charge of our social calendar in this relationship?”

My heart does a happy little pitter-patter at him using the magical R-word to describe us.

“For the time being. Otherwise, your more antisocial predilections will put a damper on me getting to know folks. Besides, it’ll be good for you too. You need friends besides little old me. Don’t get me wrong; I’m incredibly fabulous, but we cannot be all things to each other. It’s important that we have other people in your life, and Liz is one of those people you need to restrengthen your previous connection with.”

He sighs. “Aye, you’re right. It’s like I waited too long and now I don’t know where to start.”

“I’ll help you, darlin’,” I say. “It’s never going to be quite the same between you two, but you trust one another and can rely on each other when the going gets tough, and that’s more precious than gold, honey. Trust me on that. As you know, folks like us, with the abilities we have, can find it mighty hard to keep close connections with other people.”

He studies me for a moment. “Do you have someone like Liz in Alabama?”

I smile, but it’s tinged with sadness. “Wish I could say I do, but I’m afraid not. I’ve always had The Gift, and while I played with some children when I was young—children can often be far more open-minded about these things—as I got older, I was ostracized by most of my peers. Ordinary folks stayed away from the spooky kid.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, his eyes reflecting clear sympathy.

I shrug. “It didn’t get a whole lot better when I went away to college either. Of course, it probably didn’t help that I was a commuter student, still living at home with Mama. Maybe if I’d lived in the dorms and been more involved in social clubs and activities, I could have established closer ties, but at that time, I felt like I really needed to be there to help Mama. She was still struggling because of the lupus, and I wanted to be sure I was close by in case of any emergencies.”

“You’re a good son,” Callum says. “She’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m the lucky one. She’s always been my anchor, the only person I can truly rely on.” I lift my gaze to his again. “Until you.”

There’s a moment of loaded silence and then Callum pulls me into his arms and kisses me.

Good golly, Miz Dolly, how I love that feeling! I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of kissing Callum Fraser.

I’ll admit, I’ve always liked locking lips with a handsome man, but with Callum, I experience it with my whole body and soul somehow, like some kind of sixth sense is telling me he’s the one, my person, my sweetheart, my other half. We haven’t said I love you yet, but I know it’s coming. On my side, at least. I’ve been holding back because I fear spooking poor Callum if I say it too soon. I’ve fallen hard and fast for the grumpy but gentle Scotsman, and I suspect he feels the same about me but isn’t quite ready to admit it yet.

So I’m not gonna push. No doubt I’ll hit a point when I won’t be able to hold back anymore, but the longer I have to help Callum get accustomed to being with me and experiencing the intimacy of our bond, the better.