Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
I lean over so only Callie can hear me. “Miles told me to be on the lookout for your aunt Iris.” This draws a smirk out of her.
“Did he? I thought he was going to tell you to seek her out.”
I bark out a laugh. “Was he? No, I got a full report on her, skating skills and all.”
“She really likes Miles,” Callie says before taking another sip.
Reading between the lines of everything Miles told me, I don’t think Aunt Iris is the only one who likes him, but I keep that thought to myself. My goal is to make Callie smile, not send her into her shell.
“Would you like to dance?” A small cluster of people, mostly bridesmaids and a few kids, are gathered in front of the deejay table, moving to the music.
She shakes her head. “Not right now.”
“Ready for another drink?”
“Not yet.”
Something’s definitely bothering her, but I don’t want to push.
A few minutes later, Ms. Baker hurries over to us, a frown on her face. “Callie, can you go find the events manager? There aren’t as many servers passing food as they promised.”
Callie gets up immediately, a quiet sigh huffing out of her. “Will do.”
“Do you remember where the meetings office is?”
Callie nods before turning to me. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you, Max,” Ms. Baker says. “Maybe they’ll be more apt to listen if a man is doing the complaining.”
Callie adjusts her wrap around her waist, unfortunately covering those tantalizing bikini strings, and slips her feet back into her flat sandals.
As we make our way down the path that leads to the main building, I say, “There was plenty of food. The servers almost came by too often, in my opinion.”
She lets out a bigger sigh this time. “I agree, but in my experience, it’s easiest to just do whatever she wants.”
Before we reach the building, a woman in a silk blouse and skirt comes along, and Callie apparently recognizes her as the events manager. Callie communicates her mother’s issue, clearly but very politely, and the manager nods and continues toward the party, moving at a faster pace.
“All taken care of,” Callie says, not sounding any happier as she turns to reverse our route.
“No need to go back right away, is there? Want to take another walk?”
She seems happiest when she’s away from her family, but selfishly, I just like being alone with her.
She shrugs a shoulder. “Sure. Where to?”
“This place is huge. Let’s explore more of the grounds.” She doesn’t protest when I take her hand and lead us down a path that cuts between manicured trees and curves toward the far wing of the building. “I’m sorry for not participating earlier today. I hope Miles was okay.”
When she gives me a confused look, I remind her of her concerns that Miles is too quiet and stiff, and that our energies wouldn’t match. “I also recall you saying that he didn’t have any charm.”
Her mouth curves into a small, private smile. “I suppose I’ve changed my mind about Miles.”
Intentionally, I keep my gaze on the path ahead. “Do you like him?”
After a few beats, she says, “Similar to what you said yesterday, it’s easy pretending he’s my boyfriend.” Her steps slow, and I match her pace. “The confusing thing is that I feel that way about both of you.”
I bring us to a stop altogether, then, spotting a recessed doorway, I tug her toward the building, where we’ll have privacy. I can’t fully read her eyes, so I need to find out how her body responds.
CHAPTER 32
CALLIE
Imelt when Max wraps his arm around me, but when he bends his head to mine, I shrink back. “Miles and I have kissed.”
Max nods, unsurprised.
“More than once.”
This lifts his brows. “Okay.”
“First, it was because of my aunt—I’m sure he told you all about that—but we kissed again today at the roller rink.”
He doesn’t pull away. “I had no idea my brother moved so fast.”
I grin at that, and he can probably see it written clearly on my face, how much I enjoyed those kisses.
He tugs me closer. “Then I need to kiss you, too. So you can compare.”
I tilt my head. “Why, exactly, do I need to compare?”
He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip, so slowly, that I think it might kill me. When he speaks, his voice pulses under my skin. “I don’t know. I just wanted an excuse to kiss you.”
This time, when he descends, I don’t pull away. I couldn’t if I wanted to, because I need to taste his kiss more than anything.
He goes slow, so slow that it feels like a tease, and when he’s hovering less than an inch above my mouth, his breath mingling with mine, I wrap my hand around his neck and pull him down, mashing our lips together.