Chapter Thirty-Three Lexie
I have a date with Callum tonight—our first date. How is it that we’ve had sex and live together before even going on an actual date?
Following Callum’s instructions, I pick out one of the dresses we bought during our shopping spree.
It’s tight, low cut, and completely impractical.
The moss-green, velvet corset top fits my chest like a dream—a miracle in itself.
The velvet skirt falls right above my knee, the ruching on the front gathering the hem up higher on my left thigh and pulling the fabric to hug my curves.
The shoes I pick are strappy and black, with an open toe and beautiful monarch butterfly appliqués across the toes and scattered up the straps that wrap around my calves.
They feel whimsical, even though they’re not the most wearable with the four-and-a-half-inch stiletto heel.
But they’re so pretty, and I feel like I’m wearing little works of art.
Armed with a gorgeous outfit like this would usually make me feel unstoppable. But of course, today would be a bad body day. The dress feels too clingy and unflattering, and I can’t stop picturing a hippo on stilts while wearing these heels. I feel too fat to wear this, and overall unattractive.
But I get ready anyway.
Callum knows what I look like, I remind myself, from every angle imaginable. And he very clearly likes what he sees, brazenly and obsessively. And when I step into the living room where Callum is waiting, he proves it again.
He turns at the sound of my heels clicking on the floor, and whatever he was looking at on his phone is completely forgotten.
“Fuck.” There’s a rasp in his voice, his eyes touching every part of me. “You’re absolutely stunning.” A blush warms my cheeks, and I offer him a sweet smile.
“Thank you.” My eyes take him in, a vision in his all-black attire.
He’s not wearing a suit coat tonight; he’s in his true form.
Dress shirt, no tie, strong tattooed forearms on display with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He’s not wearing his camouflage that’s usually paired with his fake smile, and I like it.
“And you look…” My eyes move over him in open appreciation. “Damn.”
Something colorful catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. A large white vase sits on the kitchen island holding the most beautiful bouquet of flowers I’ve ever seen. Pink peonies, soft blue hydrangeas, yellow ranunculus, and white poppies. “Where did these come from?”
“They’re for you.”
“No way.” I’m getting excited. “You got me flowers?” I look back at the arrangement in disbelief. “These are all of my favorites.”
“I know.”
I can’t help but squeal in excitement, bouncing over to hug him.
“I love them so much. Thank you,” I announce enthusiastically. I press my lips to his in a soft peck, careful not to smear my lip gloss. “Wow, you’re really pulling out all the stops tonight, huh?”
“Just you wait.” Callum gazes down at me, his eyes as passionate as ever. “If we don’t leave now, we won’t be making it out of this apartment tonight. Not with how you look in this dress.”
“Lead the way.” My eyes flirt with him, even when my tone shifts to taunting. “I wouldn’t want you ruining all of the special plans you made for tonight because you’re too distracted staring at my ass while I walk.”
“Don’t tempt me.” Callum’s large hand skims up my side before sliding into place at the small of my back. “Our night is just getting started.”
We use the elevator to ride down into the parking garage, where Callum helps me into the passenger seat of his vintage muscle car.
He says it’s a 1972 Gran Torino. All I know is that it’s loud, powerful, and sexy as hell.
Maybe a little obnoxious too, but who am I to judge someone for being a little extra?
Riding through the city, I accept the fact that I have no idea where we’re going and settle in for the ride.
We’re seventeen minutes into the drive when I notice it.
Something is different, but I can’t quite put my finger on what.
But then I cross my legs, and it hits me.
My thighs aren’t sticking like they usually do.
Looking down at the seat, I’m surprised to see it’s made up of smooth black suede instead of leather.
Am I going crazy, or is this different now?
“Is this a new car?” I ask, looking around at the dashboard and into the back seat. I feel like I’m missing something. Callum shakes his head and glances over at me.
“No, why?”
“The seats are different. I thought they were leather.” My fingers run over the fabric covering the seats. It’s smooth as butter and feels expensive.
“They were. I had them reupholstered.”
“You did? Why?” I ask, surprised.
Callum’s eyes look pointedly at my bare thighs. “Do you like your little dresses?”
“Yes, I love them.”
“So do I. Now you don’t have to stop wearing your short skirts.
” He places a hand on my exposed thigh, giving it a telling squeeze.
I stare at him, shocked and touched by this gesture.
I’m honestly at a loss for words. But when I finally open my mouth to say something, we’re turning into what looks like an airfield. My eyes widen when we pull to a stop.
That’s a fucking helicopter.
“Is that for us?” I’m in disbelief. Callum flashes me a grin that I feel all the way to my toes.
“Like I said, our night is only getting started.” With that, he climbs out of the car and walks around to open my door. I accept his hand and step out, my eyes glued to the sleek black aircraft perched on the landing pad, the rotor blades already starting to spin while it waits.
For us.
Walking towards the helicopter, our fingers intertwine to lock our connection. My other hand wraps around his thick bicep, squinting against the wind caused by the propellers. Callum only releases my hand to grip my hips in support while I step up into the back door he opens for me.
The soft gray interior is really nice with two individual seats behind the pilot seats that face backwards across from the connected seats that face the front.
I move in to sit on the forward-facing seat, making room for Callum to climb in behind me.
The door closes behind us and I can hear the propellers picking up speed as the pilots prepare for takeoff.
Callum’s insistent on helping me with my seat belt, making sure it’s securely fastened before we lift off the ground.
The flight is smoother than I would’ve expected as we fly over the city, weaving through skyscrapers and monuments.
The view is spectacular of picturesque New York City in the golden hour of the sun getting ready to set.
I’m absolutely giddy, my eyes never stop moving. Callum points out landmarks and specific buildings that we pass over, after reclaiming my hand in his. When we touch down, I’m surprised that we’re not back where we came from.
“That wasn’t the date?” I ask, stunned. Callum looks down at me, his grip on my hand flexing on our way to the waiting car.
“No, Dewdrop. That was our ride.”
“Then where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
Jane’s Carousel—a classic antique carousel with horses carved with incredible detail, encased in a sleek glass structure.
When the driver parked at the end of a private road between brick buildings, and I saw it, the excitement was absolutely overwhelming.
I’ve always wanted to experience Jane’s Carousel, but this is so much more.
My eyes roam across what I can only describe as the most romantic setting I’ve ever seen. An incredible sunset surrounds the glass box in breathtaking colors, the approaching twilight allowing the lights of the carousel to illuminate every intricate detail. It’s nothing short of magical.
My gaze moves to the table in front of me, taking in how picture-perfect it is from the flickering white tapered candlesticks to the cloth napkin by my cutlery folded in the shape of a butterfly.
If Callum had climbed into my head and pulled out the perfect date, I couldn’t have come up with something half this incredible.
Callum sits across from me, patient as usual as I gape in awe.
Like a parent watching their child experience the magic of Disneyland for the first time.
When my focus moves back to him, our eyes collide and I’m struck by the intensity of our connection.
While I’ve been taking in every detail around us, he’s only been watching me.
When he starts to speak, I know the question before it even leaves his mouth. “What are you thinking?”
“I don’t think there’s ever been anything more beautiful than this,” I say, indicating to our surroundings.
“Oh, I can think of a few things.” His eyes move over me slowly, stopping where my body disappears below the table, before lifting back up to my eyes. My teeth catch my bottom lip when I smile, drawing his attention to my mouth. The air around us buzzes with chemistry.
“You like it?” Callum leans forward in his chair, his eyes never leaving me. I tell him what I’m sure he can already read all over my face.
“It’s… perfect.”
“Good.”
“I had no idea you were such a romantic,” I tease, lifting my wineglass.
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know yet.”
“Well, since this is a first date, that means I get to ask first date questions,” I say, taking a sip of my wine. It’s perfect, just like everything else tonight.
“I’ll answer yours if you answer mine.”
“Of course, truth for truth.” I agree easily, it’s only fair. I pause to look at Callum across the table, admiring the way he looks under candlelight and in the glow of the carousel. Damn, he’s attractive. “What did you want to be when you grew up?”
“A butcher. I was going to work at the shop with my father.” He takes a sip of whiskey, speaking over the rim of his glass. “That’s the official answer.”
“What’s the real answer?”
“A Power Ranger.” My laugh of surprise is immediate.
“That is really cute.” Super adorable. “You wore a costume around too, didn’t you?”