Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
PARKER
I ducked through the street-level door to my flat the next morning, praying no one had seen me make the run from Callum’s SUV. He’d tried to walk me to the door, but I knew if he did, he’d kiss me again, and then we’d be giving the town grapevine even more to gossip about. We were unquestionably together now, but I still didn’t want people speculating about our love life or talking about how I’d arrived home in the same outfit I’d left in last night.
I crept up the stairs, finally free to give in to the wincing. I was sore in places I hadn’t known I could be sore. But for once it wasn’t from a flare. My body felt deliciously used, and I couldn’t deny that I was absolutely thinking about when we’d get to do it again. Which was crazy, because we’d literally just had each other again in the shower before Callum brought me home. I didn’t have any idea how I was going to get through the workday without remembering every second of our time together. And after my admission about what his voice did to me, I suspected he’d be doing much the same. At least I had a little while to change and search out the scraps of my composure before I had to face Finn and Alex.
Just before I reached the top of the stairs, the door swung open. Guess there’d been no hope that Jade would still be asleep. I was saved from having to meet her gaze when Falkor bounded down the last few steps to greet me, his big floof of a tail swishing back and forth. He licked my hands and arms and whined.
“I know! I missed you, too, sweet boy. C’mon. Let’s go back inside.”
With a low woof , he scrambled back upstairs.
Feeling more than a little awkward, I followed, clutching together the lapels of the fleece I’d borrowed from Callum against the early morning chill. I’d texted Jade last night, of course, to let her know I wouldn’t be home. Now I didn’t know what to say. There was no question what Callum and I had been doing. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t had boyfriends I’d been intimate with in the past. But there hadn’t been many, and the last one had been quite a while ago.
And everything about this relationship with Callum was different.
For her part, Jade wore an amused, knowing smirk as she shut the door behind me. “So, good night?”
My cheeks heated instantly, but I couldn’t stop the simultaneous grin.
Jade grinned back. “Want coffee?”
“Please, God, yes.” Callum and I hadn’t taken the time for that life-giving beverage, being far more interested in squeezing every last drop of pleasure we could out of our limited alone time.
“I can see you’ve already showered. I’ll go make a fresh pot while you change.”
Self-conscious, I touched the wet tendrils of hair that trailed over my shoulders. “Thanks. That sounds fantastic.”
By the time I came out dressed for work, the enticing scent of roasted beans perfumed the air, along with the rich, warm aroma of the Scottish butteries I’d gotten addicted to. A pair of them popped up from the toaster as I poured myself a mug of coffee.
Jade set the butteries on a plate and grabbed the raspberry jam from the fridge. “I figured you’d probably worked up an appetite.”
Feeling awkward again as the heat in my cheeks dialed back up to about an eight, I clutched the mug between my palms. “Thanks.”
Her dark eyes searched my face. “All I’m going to ask is if he treated you right.”
As yet another memory of exactly how right he’d treated me scrolled through my brain, I shivered and smiled into my coffee. “Yes, definitely.”
Jade nodded, settling back against the counter and picking up her own cup of coffee. “You’re in love with him.”
I startled hard enough that coffee sloshed over the side. I thought about denying it as I reached for a dishtowel to wipe up the spill. But this was Jade, my best friend, who knew me better than anybody.
“Yeah. Yeah, I think I am.”
She nodded again, evidently satisfied with the admission. “Well, that works out, because he’s sure as hell gone over you.”
My heart gave a decidedly hopeful, giddy leap in my chest. “Do you think so?” Much as we’d shared, we hadn’t said those words. I wasn’t worried about where we stood. Where we were was so very good. But a girl never minded some reassurance.
Jade just arched one of those perfectly shaped brows. “Girl. After everything he did to impress your parents? Yeah, that man is gone over you. Hook, line, and sinker.”
He had said I mattered more than anyone ever had. In Callum-speak, that was tantamount to a definite declaration.
I spread jam over one of the butteries. “I know he’s probably not what you or anybody imagined for me.”
“I mean, no, but he treats you well. He looks out for you. That’s the important thing.”
“I know he can be gruff and taciturn and a little grumpy, but he’s so different with me. He’s not like that when we’re alone.”
“You’re happy. That’s what matters most to me. That, and that you’re safe.”
Abruptly, the elephant in the room that I’d been determinedly ignoring since last night popped back out of hiding. “Why didn’t you tell me? About the stepped up security? Everything?” I didn’t know if I would have changed how I’d handled my “escape” if I’d known, but I wanted to think I would’ve at least factored it in.
Discomfort flashed over her features. “I nearly did a million times. But for better for worse, your father is technically my employer, and he expressly asked me not to.”
“What changed?”
“Honestly, it just reached a point where what they were suggesting was ridiculous. I meant what I said last night. You’re safer here.”
“The idea that anyone would know or care about me seems very out there to me, but either way, I’m grateful for everything you’ve done to make sure I can stay.”
“Of course. You fit here. This may not be what anybody would’ve expected for you, but you fit.”
I did fit, but that hardly assuaged the guilt I’d been feeling since Jade had joined me here. I dropped my gaze, tearing pieces off the second buttery. “I’ve been a crappy friend to you.”
“What are you talking about?” Her girl-you-crazy tone made it clear she didn’t agree.
“Your life has been tied to mine for ten years now. And I not only up and decided to change mine in a huge way without consulting you, I made your actual job harder and put that position at risk in how I decided to go about it. I’m sorry for that.”
She angled her head. “I appreciate that.”
“I shouldn’t have made this big decision without taking you into account. Your life, your family, are all back in the States. You didn’t sign on to pick up stakes and move across an ocean. If you’d prefer to be back in Nashville, or if there’s something else you’d rather do, I’d completely understand.”
I’d been afraid to ask what she wanted, but especially now, it was clear I was staying, and she deserved the chance to live her own life, independent of mine. Even if it meant I had to say goodbye to having one of my very best friends in my world every day.
Jade sighed. “Did I ever consider moving abroad? No. But I’m not opposed to relocating. Scotland’s growing on me.” One corner of her mouth quirked. “And if there are any more hot guys in kilts out there, I wouldn’t be opposed to taking one for a ride.”
I laughed, feeling the tension loosen. “Do you want me to put Ciara on that? Because I feel certain that if there’s somebody available, she’d know.”
“Let’s put a pin in that for now. I’d rather get through the next few weeks without incident before I start thinking about anything else. Although I probably should start looking for a place. Your sofa’s not bad, but I miss having a proper bed.”
“Oh my God, yes, you need a real bed. We will figure something out.”
Her eyes sparkled. “You could do a girl a solid and just move into Callum’s bed and leave me yours. I feel like that’s a win-win for us all.”
“Damn it. I’d only just stopped thinking about sex, and now you’ve put it in my head again right before we need to leave for work.”
“Sorry. Not sorry.” She laughed. “Do you want to walk the whole way and see if you can work those kinks out of your system, or do you want me to drive?”