Chapter 22 Zandra
TWENTY-TWO
Zandra
I stared at the words on my screen, as if they would magically shift into something less horrifying.
Mom
We’ve been waiting long enough, Zandra. You’re coming to Sunday dinner tomorrow. No excuses.
While I contemplated what to do about this impending disaster, the door to Grandpa’s office opened and closed. I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.
Strong arms closed around me, and a kiss pressed to the back of my neck. “Hey,” he said quietly. “Miss me?”
“We’re at work, Callum. I was doing some filing.” I stuck my phone back in my pocket and shut the filing cabinet, where I’d been organizing vendor contracts.
“Yeah, and work lasts hours. I need a fix. Just a small one. I trust you not to jump me and do anything too inappropriate.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t. Remember the storage room?”
He snickered and rubbed his nose against my hair. “But I do enjoy taking the risk. Win-win either way.”
I turned my head so I could see him. “Maybe just a few kisses.”
Who was I kidding? I was an absolute sucker for this man.
I’d woken in his bed this morning, but I still couldn’t get enough.
I’d moved my things to Callum’s place on Tuesday, and today was Saturday.
Living with Callum and his roommates had been…
not what I’d expected. While I’d envisioned something like a party house of overgrown frat bros, Callum’s roommates were mostly quiet and polite.
The most raucous we’d gotten in the last few days had been a Mario Kart tournament on their big screen TV.
Rosie and Jimmy hadn’t minded my absence much. Especially when I brought over a batch of brownies after Callum and I made them again. Rosie had saved my butt by letting me live there for those weeks, and I was beyond grateful for it.
Even Chloe was settling in to her new surroundings.
I’d set up her fountain in the kitchen and her litter box in a quiet corner of the laundry room, and she hadn’t hesitated to explore the rest of the house.
Last night, I’d found her curled up on the lap of Niko’s girlfriend while the guys were making dinner.
And somehow, even though I had my own room at their place—a much larger one than my former closet at Rosie’s—I’d spent every night so far in Callum’s. Naked.
There was the fact that his room had an en suite bathroom, and mine didn’t. But also, I had zero self-control when it came to this man.
Exactly why it was so dangerous to start a make-out session at work.
Nobody at Hearthstone could know about this thing we had going on. Coworkers with benefits. Callum had agreed. We couldn’t let word get back to my grandfather, and we didn’t want to make things awkward with anyone else at work.
Yet when Callum started rocking his bulge against me while we kissed, what I wanted most was to hike up my skirt and see how quick and quiet we could be.
Then I remembered Mom’s text, and that was as good as an ice-cold shower.
“What is it?” Callum asked. “You tensed up.” His hands went to my shoulders to knead the muscles there. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing like that.”
I knew he was thinking of the creepy note on my windshield.
But I’d had someone with me whenever I went into Hearthstone or left at night.
Usually, it was Callum, but Darius and Connor had made appearances too.
No one else aside from Callum’s roommates knew about my harasser, and I wanted to keep it that way.
Tommy Pickering hadn’t been seen at the brewpub or anywhere else in my vicinity either. Whoever had been harassing me, I just hoped they were done. Hopefully scared off by my new twenty-four-seven bodyguard patrol.
The worst was thinking about Hearthstone being vandalized because of me. If anything happened to this place, I couldn’t bear it.
I turned around and sat on the edge of the desk, lifting my phone. “Just a text from my mom earlier, weaponizing Sunday family dinner.”
“Sunday dinner doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Yet it is. I’ve been avoiding it since I got back. My parents will use it as an excuse to grill me about all the ways I’m failing. It wouldn’t be so bad if Grandpa or Rosie would be there, but they only turn up on special occasions or holidays. This is my mother’s show.”
Mom usually invited a couple or two from the Hart County Golf Club. I’d heard more than I ever needed to about putters and real estate at these dinners.
Callum sidled closer, putting his hands on my hips. “I’ll come with you.”
My heart leaped. I told it to stay down. “You don’t need to do that. It’s going to be miserable.”
“Then we can be miserable together. I hear it’s not as bad.”
“But why?” I sputtered. “We’re coworkers with secret benefits. Not…”
The corner of his mouth lifted with a smirk. “Not friends?”
I crossed my arms. Maybe pouting, just a little. “I wasn’t going to say that. We’re friends.”
I didn’t even know what I’d been going to say. Just that we weren’t the kind of involved where the guy wanted to meet the parents. He hadn’t introduced me to any of his family, and that was fine.
We weren’t dating. It was all fine.
“I should hope we’re friends.” Callum pinched my chin playfully. “Friends support each other.”
“Yes, we’re friends,” I said with a huff.
“Besides, rich people usually have tasty food.”
“The food’s good,” I admitted.
“Then it’s settled. RSVP for me. Is this black tie?”
My snark resurfaced. “What do you think?”
“Shit, white tie? My white tux is at the cleaners.”
My lips fought to keep from smiling. “You can wear whatever you want. Do not cater to my parents. Most of the time it backfires.”
“Got it. I’ll wear my favorite G-string and nothing else.”
“Please do. At least I’ll be entertained.”
He brushed a kiss to my cheek. “I promise, Z, with me around, you will be entertained.”
I circled my arms around his waist, wishing I didn’t feel anything deeper for him than that.
Callum whistled. “So this is how the other half of Silver Ridge lives. Fancy.”
He’d just pulled his truck past my parents’ open gate.
I’d been stressing since yesterday about Sunday dinner at my parents’ place.
The anxiety had wound me so tight last night that Callum had given me a massage, which had turned deliciously filthy in the best way.
He’d delivered a very happy ending that finally allowed me to sleep.
But I still had to face this dinner, so was the relief really worth it in the end?
At least I was well-rested for whatever fresh hell awaited me.
“Not too late for you to bail. You could just drop me here and flee. I would.” I was tapping nervously at my leg, so Callum reached over to grip my hand.
“I’ve got this. Parents always love me.”
“You’re not accounting for the fact that my parents’ favorite hobby is being disappointed in me.”
“Which makes no sense at all, because you’re you. But aside from that, I’m here as your buffer. I can compliment your mom’s cooking. Every cook appreciates that.”
I scoffed. “You think Eliza Alvarez is going to cook our meal tonight? No. That’ll be the housekeeper, Gladys. Mom plans the menu.”
Of course, Mom had taken it as a personal offense when I stopped eating the menus she planned after I figured out my allergies. Thank goodness for Gladys. She usually set aside portions for me without flour or cheese or cream added.
Which drove Mom crazy whenever she noticed.
I’d texted ahead that I was bringing a coworker tonight. Mom had just texted back, Very well, which was mildly foreboding.
“Then I’ll compliment the menu planning,” he said. “And I’ll make you something afterward if you’re still hungry.”
He parked next to my dad’s massive SUV. At least I’d have eye candy tonight. Callum was wearing a pair of khakis I’d never seen and one of his polos that managed to look put together while hugging his pecs perfectly.
“Come here,” he said, tugging my hand. “Let me relax you.”
“But my parents will see.”
“Nah, I’ve got tinted windows.” He patted his thigh. “Come here, baby. You’re beautiful and brilliant, and just thinking about how awesome you are makes me need to kiss you.”
I crawled over into his lap. This man could truly talk me into anything, couldn’t he? And I’d go willingly. Like melted chocolate pouring into a bowl to make brownie batter.
Callum kissed me slowly, somehow making me zero in on the present moment like nothing else existed. I’d always meant to get into meditation, but this had to count, right?
“I want you to remember this for the rest of the night. You’re perfect.” He gave me a few more slow pecks, each one more chaste.
“You’re pretty perfect too.”
“I know,” he said lightly. “Now, we better stop or I won’t be presentable. Either that, or I’ll have to get you undressed right here, and we’ll be late. I know you hate being late.”
“But my parents will complain no matter what I do.” I went in for another kiss, and he smiled against my lips.
“Naked time later. Let’s get this over with, and we’ll have something to look forward to. I just need to grab something.” He stretched to reach into the back seat, producing a small white box with a silver ribbon around it.
I scooted off his lap. “What’s that?”
“A gift for your mom.”
My eyebrow raised. “Good luck with that. My mother is impossible to please.”
“You need to sit back and let the master work.” His grin was far too confident for someone about to meet my parents.
As we approached the entrance, I was straightening my blouse and pencil skirt, trying to smooth away invisible wrinkles. “We’re just friends tonight,” I reminded him, then felt my face heat. “I mean, obviously we are just friends. That’s not—I meant—”
“Relax, Z. I knew what you meant.” His hand briefly touched my hip. I exhaled.
Get it together, woman.
Before we even reached the door, Gladys was opening it, looking curious. I made the introductions, trying to act casual and normal. “Gladys keeps this place running and my parents fed.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Callum said warmly.
She smiled. “Please come in. They’re all on the patio.”
As we walked toward the patio doors, I wondered if I already had pit stains on my blouse. I was definitely sweating. “Fair warning,” I whispered to Callum, “my parents will have friends here tonight from the golf club.”
“Didn’t even know we had a golf club,” he whispered back.
“The one course in the county. Most of the members have a third or fourth home here in Hart County and have never heard of Hearthstone, much less tried a beer there.”
“Got it,” Callum replied, completely unfazed.
We reached the patio, and my parents were standing with two other couples dressed in far nicer clothes than you usually saw on Main Street.
An actual waiter passed around a tray of appetizers like this was a swanky event at the ski resort.
My parents looked polished as always, Mom in her silk blouse and pearls, Dad in his pressed slacks and golf shirt.
All conversation stopped when we walked out.
“Oh, here’s Zandra,” my mom said smoothly. “And her…friend.”
“Coworker,” I blurted.
“Callum O’Neal.” He strode over to my mom and held out his hand.
“From the brewery. Of course.” Mom barely touched his fingers. “Lovely.”
I cringed at her obvious dismissal. “Mom, Callum is the one who helped Grandpa after he fell.”
“We certainly appreciate that,” my dad chimed in. “I think Pop has mentioned you.” Dad came over to shake his hand next. Unlike my mother, he usually wasn’t overtly rude. His digs were more subtle and came later, once you dared to let your guard down and thought it was safe.
“But Zandra hasn’t mentioned you once.” Mom glanced slyly at me.
Callum laughed, and it was eerily close to the way my dad and his golf buddies sounded when they were sharing a joke.
Damn. He was good. “I was on the football team in high school, and Z just tolerated my antics. But I wouldn’t have passed senior English without her.
” He held out the gift. “Appreciate you having me, Mrs. Alvarez.”
Everyone leaned in, watching as Mom pulled open the ribbon and stared skeptically at the contents. “Chocolates?”
“Made here in Hart County,” Callum said.
One of the golf club wives came over to peer into the box.
“Oh, Eliza, are those from Scarlett’s Sweet Shop in Hartley?
Those are nearly impossible to get these days.
They only make small batches.” She was giving Callum an appreciative look that I didn’t care for, but at least Mom seemed to warm up to him a few degrees.
He just shrugged. “I know a guy.”
While Mom drifted to fuss over the chocolates with her friends, Dad clapped Callum on the shoulder. “What’ll you drink? We’ve got a nice selection.”
“Anything with a respectable rating from Wine Spectator,” Callum replied seriously.
I almost choked on air, covering it with a cough.
But my father nodded. “I like you, Callum. You’re quite a surprise.”
While the others gravitated toward the bar area, I whispered to Callum, “Wine Spectator? Really?”
“I did some googling,” he said under his breath. “The chocolates are vegan and gluten-free, by the way.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. “Oh my goodness, I love you.”
Then I replayed them. What had I just said?
“Good to know,” he murmured. Callum’s eyes danced with amusement, and I felt my face flame.
While I fumbled for something sensible to say, Dad called him over to show him the wine selections.
“Duty calls. I’ll be back.” He left me standing there, drowning in my own mortification. I was a mess of nerves. Nobody could trust anything I said tonight. He had to know it had been a turn of phrase. A colloquialism. Right?
This was going to be a very long night.