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He scans me, and my body heats up wherever his eyes are. Then he gets out of the car, comes around to my side, and opens the door to lift me out before I have to figure out the step situation in front of strangers.

“Come on, Doc,” he says. “Let me show you off.”

Chapter Eighteen

Bea

Today I’ve learned that walking into a room on the arm of Callum Fox means that everyone looks at you.

Cal’s hand finds the small of my back as we clear the entrance. He leans in and whispers, “You look fucking amazing, by the way.”

My entire spine tingles and I don’t know how to respond. His hand is warm through the fabric, steering us slightly left toward a waiter with champagne. I take a glass and a big gulp right away. Damn, that’s good champagne.

“They’re at the table by the window,” he says, low, near my ear. “My mother is the one in blue.”

I find them following his gaze. His mother is elegant and looks very well put together. His father is taller than I expected, silver at the temples, handsome, no doubt. But he doesn’t have the same easiness that Cal does. Cal’s shoulders have already tensed, and we’re not even at the table. I’m beginning to wonder if I realize what I’ve signed up for.

“My brother’s already winning them over.” He points out Drew, in the corner with a group of older people surrounding him.

We cross the room. His mother’s name is Catherine Fox darling, she tells me as she kisses Cal on the cheek in a way that’s more habit than warmth.

Then she turns to me with something that is warmer, which I wasn’t expecting.

“And you must be Beatrix,” she says. “Cal told us you’re going to be a doctor Very impressive, dear.”

“Bea Walker,” I say, and shake her hand. “Yes. Third year. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, call me Catherine! How wonderful,” she gushes. “Richard, this is Bea. Cal’s date from college. She’s pre-med.”

Richard Fox shakes my hand with the grip of someone testing me. I hope to god my tennis lessons help me out here. “Pre-med,” he says, looking at me with an attention that feels like assessment. “Excellent. What’s your focus?”

“I’m interested in cardiology,” I say. “But, I’m undecided.”

His face approves, and he releases my hand.

“And how did you two meet?” Catherine asks, looking skeptically between us.

I open my mouth.

“Coffee shop on campus,” Cal says, easy as anything, his hand finding my back again. “CC’s. She was stealing the last good table, and we just hit it off. She had little croissant crumbs on her face. It was adorable.”

I look up at him and smile, playing the part. I wish he’d have told me about our fake backstory though. I was moments away from explaining that we’re just friends and I’m tutoring him.

“Oh, CC’s.” Catherine’s face lights up. “The Cross family chain—that’s going very well, by the way. They’re franchising out, did you hear?”

“Is that so?” Cal says.

“Eli didn’t mention it?” Richard asks, clicking his tongue.

“We don’t really talk business,” Cal says.

“No, I suppose you don’t.” His father frowns.

The words themselves are harmless, but disappointment radiates off of him.

Cal doesn’t move. But I feel his hand press, just fractionally, against my back.

* * *