11. Callum
ELEVEN
CALLUM
Oh, I knew.
It was the kind of moment that should have had me crawling into a hole, swearing off humanity for a solid month. Instead, it had me pacing my room half the night, fists clenched, jaw tight, aching .
I told myself I was fine—that it didn’t matter.
But here I was, standing at the ballpark, still trying to shake her out of my head while going through warm-ups.
I needed to focus on the game. I was supposed to be getting my head on straight, dialing in, settling into the rhythm of the pregame drills, but my brain was still stuck on last week.
The knowledge that she’d been there, that she’d heard me, that she knew it was her I was thinking about—it made something sharp and restless claw inside me.
I rolled my shoulders back, exhaling hard.
Focus, Blackwood.
I looked around the field as the opposing team ran through their warm-ups.
Hayes was late. Again.
The first pitch was supposed to be in five minutes, and half the team was stretching while the other half stood around waiting for his inevitable excuse.
I whistled to Brody to get his attention. “Any word?”
Brody checked his phone. “He says he’s two minutes out. Something about a bird?”
I shook my head, sighing.
Wes arched a brow. “Did he get shat on again?”
Brody smirked. “Worse. Apparently a bird flew straight into his windshield. Just— bam —out of nowhere. He had to pull over, check the damage.” He looked up, eyes gleaming with amusement. “According to him, the bird even stared him down before flying off.”
“It’s like they seek him out.” I huffed a laugh, stretching my arm across my chest.
Hayes’s truck finally pulled into the parking lot, and he climbed out, looking like a man personally wronged by the universe.
Brody grinned, calling out toward the parking lot. “Rough afternoon, bud?”
Hayes slammed the truck door shut and pointed a finger at him. “Do not.”
Wes chuckled. “That bad?”
Hayes exhaled through his nose, dragging a hand down his face. “Some damn seagull flew straight into my windshield. Full speed. I thought I killed it. Pulled over, checked the road—the thing just dusted itself off and walked away like I was the asshole.”
I shook my head, smirking. “You are the asshole.”
Hayes scowled but didn’t argue, his mood already lifting. The guy never liked to talk about his epically bad luck, but we all knew it hovered over him like a storm cloud.
Brody clapped him on the back. “Yeah, well, worry about it later. We’ve got a game to win.”
Hayes shot him a flat look but said nothing. I turned back toward the field, adjusting my grip on my mitt. That was when I heard it—bright and unmistakable.
Ellie.
A burst of laughter cut through the warm summer air, light and full of something I didn’t know how to name. My spine went tight before I could stop myself, my fingers clenching around my glove.
I didn’t have to look. I definitely shouldn’t have looked.
But of course I did.
She was by the playground, her tanned legs flashing in the sunlight as she chased after Winnie, the kid’s high-pitched giggles carrying across the grass.
Elodie lunged, grabbed her niece around the waist, and tumbled into the grass, both of them dissolving into playful laughter.
I clenched my jaw.
She was wearing a stupidly cute red sundress, the hem flaring around her thighs as she rolled onto her back, breathless from chasing her niece.
She had nothing to do with this game. Nothing to do with me.
So why the hell was I still looking?
I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders back, turning away.
I shifted my weight at first base, pounding my glove once against my palm, keeping loose.
Hayes was at shortstop, scanning the field with that quiet, brooding intensity that made it look like he was plotting something other than softball.
Brody, the only guy who took this league semiseriously, was on the pitcher’s mound, already talking shit to the batter.
Wes, stationed at third, had his hands on his knees, grinning like he was having the time of his life.
We rotated positions sometimes, but tonight this was the lineup.
The game started, and I told myself I was done thinking about Elodie, but my body had other plans. I was acutely aware of her, my eyes sneaking glances to see if she was watching me just as intently as I was watching her.
During the game, everything clicked. My swings were clean, my throws were sharp, my reflexes were on . I wasn’t even thinking—I was just playing. For the first time in weeks, we weren’t losing and the team’s energy was high.
Every time I glanced up, Ellie was still there. Sitting on the bleachers now, shaded by the old oak trees, watching the game.
She was thigh to thigh with Selene, whispering and smiling as they watched us play. Winnie had lost interest and was twirling in the grass next to the field, completely unaware of where she was standing.
My senses prickled, danger alerting in my brain—the little girl was too close.
Crack.
The unmistakable thwack of a bat connecting with a foul ball.
The sound was too fast, too sharp—and I realized the ball was headed straight for Winnie.
I moved before I could think. My feet pounded against the dirt as I lunged, grabbing Winnie, twisting my body just as the ball slammed into my flank.
A sharp grunt of pain tore through me, but it barely registered. My focus was on the tiny human blinking up at me from the grass .
With a grimace, I looked down at her wide-eyed face. “You okay, kid?” I grunted. “I didn’t crush you, did I?”
Winnie, completely unfazed, grinned. “That was awesome .”
I huffed out a laugh, shaking my head as I steadied her on her feet. “Yeah, awesome. We’ll go with that.”
I barely had time to process what had happened before Ellie and Selene were there. Selene reached Winnie first, dropping to her knees. “Oh no, Win, are you hurt? You scared me half to death!”
Winnie shook her head. “Mr. Cal saved me.”
Selene looked at me, emotion thick in her voice as she held on to Winnie. “Thank you.”
I nodded. It’s what anyone would have done. I didn’t look at Ellie, but I could feel her eyes on me.
Fuck, my side hurts.
Selene glanced between Winnie and Elodie. “Maybe we should go.”
Winnie pouted, stamping her little foot in the grass and pointing. “But Uncle Hayes is playing.”
Ellie let out a shaky breath, smoothing a hand over Winnie’s hair before finally looking up at me. “Are you okay? Man, that must have hurt.”
I barely registered the question because her hand was suddenly lifting my shirt to examine where I had been hit.
My entire body locked up, and three things hit me all at once:
One: Her palm was warm against my bare skin, her fingers pressing lightly into the bruised muscle.
Two: My chest went tight, like my body was trying to barricade itself against the effect she had on me.
Three: She smelled like honey and vanilla and something that made my brain short-circuit .
Jesus Christ. I’d taken a direct hit from a softball at full speed, but this was what rattled me?
Before I could even wrap my mind around it, Hayes jogged over, tossing his mitt onto the grass, and the moment shattered.
Ellie pulled her hand back.
I rolled my shoulders, shaking off the tension, but the heat of her touch stayed with me.
Hayes thumped me on the back. “Jesus, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you run so fast. You good, man?”
I stretched my back again, knowing I was going to be sore for at least a few days. “Fine.” My attention snagged on Ellie, whose lower lip jutted forward in the tiniest pout.
Was she worried about me?
I cleared my throat and walked toward the field. “Come on, Hayes. We have a game to win.”
The game resumed, but for the rest of the night, all I could think about was the feel of Ellie’s hand on my skin.
Levi was in a damn good mood.
Which, in theory, should’ve been a good thing—except when that mood was directly related to her .
I watched from the edge of the property as my son moved across the farm with an energy I hadn’t seen in years.
He was wearing work gloves and carrying a wooden crate full of something—I didn’t know what, and I didn’t particularly care.
All I could see was how relaxed he looked, how much he was smiling.
And worse—how much of that had to do with Elodie Darling.
She was in the middle of the field, clipboard in hand, barking orders like she’d been running this place for a decade instead of a few weeks. A pair of black sunglasses was perched on top of her head, her hair wild from the coastal wind.
She looked obnoxiously competent.
Annoyance simmered low in my gut.
I didn’t want her to be good at this. I wanted her to be overwhelmed. I wanted her to realize she was in way over her head. But, from the way Levi was hanging on her every word, that sure as hell wasn’t the case.
Levi hustled toward her, laughing at something she said. She beamed at him, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. My teeth almost cracked from how hard I ground them.
I started off toward them.
I had no business there, I knew that, but I told myself I was walking over to check on Levi—to make sure she wasn’t using him as free labor or feeding him some sugarcoated bullshit about what this farmland was actually worth.
That was the only reason.
It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that my body had been wound tight ever since she touched me at the game. Ever since I’d turned my head and seen that stupid, worried little pout on her lips when she asked if I was okay.
I exhaled sharply, shoving my hands into my pockets.
This was fine. I was just here for another recon mission.
So why the hell am I already losing my mind?
I stepped onto the property like I wasn’t questioning every decision that had led me to this moment. Ellie was in the middle of marking something on a list when she noticed me. Her sunglasses slipped down her nose as she turned her head.
And then she smiled .
Not one of her cocky, taunting smirks. Not one of those smug little grins that made me want to kiss the challenge right off her lips.
No, this was different.
Soft. Open. Warm.
It knocked the damn air out of me.
She adjusted her sunglasses and turned fully toward me. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t my favorite grump.”
I scowled and gestured toward my son, who was walking toward the barn. “What the hell is he doing?”
Ellie’s gaze flicked toward Levi as she smiled. “Learning. Growing. Thriving.” She crossed her arms. “So, naturally, you hate it.”
“I don’t hate it,” I bit out.
“Are you sure?” She tilted her head, full of mock sympathy as she pointed toward my face. “Because that vein in your forehead is saying otherwise.”
I clenched my jaw and willed my body to not react to her.
It didn’t work.
Ellie turned toward Levi, who was hauling something across the field. “He’s a hard worker. And he actually listens when I tell him to do something.”
I huffed. “Yeah, well, maybe if I paid him a stupid amount of money like you are?—”
“I haven’t even paid him yet,” she cut in with a laugh.
I frowned. “What?”
Ellie grinned, infuriatingly smug. “He hasn’t even asked. I think he just likes it here. But don’t worry, I’ve got an envelope full of cash ready and waiting for him.”
I hated how much that got under my skin. I hated how easily she was pulling him into her world.
How she was pulling me in too .
Ellie lifted an eyebrow. “Would you like to pitch in, or are you just here to pout at me until you stomp away?”
“I am not pouting.” I huffed, but fixed my face.
She clicked her tongue, stepping closer, her voice dropping just enough to send something sharp and hot through my chest. “You sure about that? Now, beat it. It’s hard enough without having you lurking around, all broody and hot and miserable.”
My pulse hammered in my ears.
I did not like the way she said that.
I also didn’t like the fact that my gaze dropped to her mouth against my will.
Her smug smile grew.
Fuck.
She was taunting me.
A sharp whistle cut through the air. Levi waved wildly from across the field, jogging over.
I laughed to myself—saved by my own damn kid.
Levi looked between us, oblivious to the fact that I was having a full-body meltdown over the proximity of a woman I allegedly couldn’t stand.
“Ellie, I need to run to the store,” Levi said, out of breath. “Stan said we need more stakes for the pumpkin patch setup.”
Ellie nodded, checking her clipboard. “And zip ties.”
Levi pointed at her. “Yes. Right, zip ties. Got it.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re letting a fourteen-year-old drive into town for supplies?”
Ellie scoffed. “Oh, forgive me, Father of the Year. What was I thinking, allowing a teenager without a valid driver’s license to drive to a store?”
Levi rolled his eyes. “I’m going with Mr. Stafford, Dad.”
I didn’t actually think she would allow Levi to drive illegally, and I certainly wasn’t worried about him running errands with Stan. I was worried about being left here.
Alone.
With her.
Ellie turned to Levi and grinned. “You’re my hero. If you come back with snacks, I’ll add ten percent to today’s earnings.”
“Oh, heck yeah.” Levi shot me a grin and jogged off.
And just like that, I was alone with her again.
Ellie let out a deep sigh, stretching her arms over her head. Her white T-shirt lifted just enough to expose a sliver of smooth, sun-kissed skin.
I dragged my eyes away before I did something fucking stupid, like reach out and touch her.
Or fall apart completely.
“So.” She exhaled again, twisting her lips in thought. “Are you going to keep glaring at me, or are you going to help?”
“Help?” I scowled. “Help with what?”
She smiled, slow and sweet, stepping into my space. The heat between us crackled.
I held my ground, my muscles going tight as she tapped a finger against my chest.
“Don’t worry,” she said, voice soft, teasing. “I won’t tell anyone you actually like it here.”
I grabbed her wrist. Not rough, but not gentle. Just enough to remind both of us that we were walking a razor-thin edge.
Her lips parted.
Despite knowing better, I let my thumb brush over the inside of her wrist, slow and deliberate. Ellie swallowed hard. Her pulse jumped under my touch .
I leaned in, just enough to feel her breath on my skin. The tension coiled so tight, I thought I’d snap.
“Hey!” Levi’s voice rang out.
Ellie jerked her wrist free and I took a step back.
Levi jogged toward us again, holding up a yellow bag this time. “I forgot the keys, but I did find some Sour Patch Kids.”
Ellie laughed, reaching into her pocket to hand Levi a set of truck keys. He tossed her the candy as she beamed at him. “You do love me.”
She shot me one last look—one last smirk that promised I was thoroughly fucked.
And, damn it, I was.