Chapter 6
REID
“This is amazing!” She looks at the dinner spread on the table, and her eyes sparkle.
It’s just a normal sort of meal for me. Steak, potatoes, salad. Some vegetables. Butter and sauces and herbs on the side. And I realise at that moment that spoiling Callie will be such a joy. She’s a good person, who cares, and works hard, and deserves nice things done for her.
We sit down and eat, and I ask her about how her shift went.
It’s all quite careful and considered. We don’t go into any deep topics or awkward conversations.
I’m wearing the sling, because it pleases her, and although my arm throbs with pain, the most annoying thing is not being able to properly do things for Callie, even if it’s just passing the salad.
She seems happy with the house renovations, and I mentally tick through the other improvements that will make it more comfortable for us.
Us? Like we’re a couple?
Hmm.
I file that thought away with other impossibilities like a girl of twenty-three being interested in a man with more grey than black in his hair.
“Thank you,” she says when we’ve both finished, and polished off the crème caramel with fruit for dessert. “That was better than anything I’ve ever eaten. Particularly after work.”
“What do you normally do?” I ask mildly.
“Sleep,” she laughs. “Wake up so hungry I could eat my own arm.”
“Ah, that’s what happened to my arm. I was wondering. Shouldn’t have missed dinner.”
For a second she’s shocked, but then bursts out laughing. “Yes, try not to starve. It’s a lot of effort to fix once you’ve gnawed at it.”
We’re grinning at each other like kids, and honestly, I haven’t felt this free since I was a teenager. So light, so at ease.
“Apologies. It’s the lack of breakfast. You’ll have to help remind me. I have pastries and tea ordered for tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do.” I want to provide for this girl.
There’s a heated pause. Then Callie takes a deep breath. “We should change your dressing, and then go to bed.”
Immediately, her cheeks flame. Almost as quickly as my cock rises. It wasn’t an invitation, I know that. But my body responds as though it was. Swift, and hot, and desperate. Yes, I’d very much like to go to bed with Callie.
“Not like that! I just mean I’ve had a long day, and I’m tired.” Her face is bright, burning red.
“I understand what you meant.” I don’t smile or laugh, not only because I don’t want her to be any more embarrassed, and I respect her. But because the thought of being with her is far too close to what I most want in the world to be any joking matter.
“It’s my day off tomorrow,” she tells me some minutes later as she’s finishing up the now-familiar task of changing the dressing on my arm.
“How do you spend your free time?” I have visions of us going out together. For dinner, or… Well, I don’t actually know what normal people do. Whatever she likes, I’ll join her.
She gives me a naughty smile. “You’ll find out.”