Chapter 36 Zandra
THIRTY-SIX
Zandra
Waking up in my parents’ house with Callum in bed beside me was not something I could’ve predicted at the start of the summer.
First of all, how did he manage to look so sexy after a night of sleep? My skin was always puffy and weird in the morning. Today, add in a headache and a raw throat that probably had me squishing my face up some kind of way.
But Callum looked like he was ready for a photo shoot. He was lying flat on his back, one arm thrown above his head, wearing nothing but tight boxer briefs. I rested my hand on the warm skin of his stomach, feeling it rise and fall.
He’d even placed the ceramic gnome dressed as a football player on the dresser. A little touch of home and a reminder of how far we’d come.
Before now, the only man I’d ever shared a bed with in this house was Ian.
Ugh. I wanted to erase that man from my memory.
Pretend I’d never fallen for his lies. But I knew all too well that erasing bad memories was impossible.
The only thing you could do was try to heal.
And make new memories to fill up the hollow spaces that the emotional wounds left behind.
Chloe meowed near my pillow. “Coco,” I rasped. I’d missed her. Felt good to have another friend back. After bumping her furry head against mine, she jumped down to explore the room, probably eager for some breakfast.
Blinking the last traces of sleep away, I had a sudden longing to tell Jessa everything that had happened. The awful parts, because best friends always listened when you needed to share things like that. But even more, the wonderful parts.
I’m in love with him, Jessa, and he loves me. Callum O’Neal.
Yes, that one.
Can you believe it? I was so wrong about him. He’s the most amazing guy in the world, and he loves me back, and I wish you’d had the chance to find someone like him too.
I still hadn’t really talked to Callum about the way I’d freaked out on him the other night. Getting upset when he’d taken himself out of the general manager competition. We didn’t even know what Grandpa had decided.
But Callum was right. A job title didn’t matter. I loved Hearthstone. That was why I’d stayed in that burning building to try to save it, no matter how foolish that was. I wanted to build Hearthstone back stronger than ever after this.
But not without Callum. Never without Callum. As much as my fears still had a voice in my head, I couldn’t let them stop me from loving him and accepting his love in return.
My perfect guy had been waiting for me in Silver Ridge all along.
Callum stretched his arms over his head and yawned. “How you feeling?”
“Okay.” Then pointed at my head and throat with a wincing expression.
“Still hurting,” he said.
“But,” I whispered, barely audible, then pumped my eyebrows as I ran my hand to his bare chest. “Good view.”
He grinned and flexed his muscles for me, making his pecs dance and me laugh. My subsequent coughing fit interrupted the show. Worth it though.
“Sorry, baby,” he murmured, sitting up with me and rubbing my back.
Smoke inhalation was brutal. Not being able to speak easily was so frustrating, and not just because I couldn’t have the deeper conversation I needed with Callum. There was a lot I needed to say to my parents too. Even to grandpa.
Yes, I’d managed to convey a lot of it on the notes app, but my thumbs were tired.
And aside from unloading all the words in my head, there was also a lot I needed to know. Had the police found Ian and arrested him? How about my phone, which he’d stolen? Had they discovered who or what had caused the fire?
This waiting around stuff was b.s. It reminded me of the investigation into Jessa’s death, when I’d felt so alone, and the lack of answers just made things worse. Thank goodness for Callum. Instead of feeling isolated and heartbroken, I was loved and supported.
Callum filled my water glass and grabbed my medications for me. “I’ll go down and get some breakfast for us. There’s still half a fridge of pureed soup down there for you.”
I smiled and nodded. After he threw on some sweats and a shirt from his duffel, I got up and went to the bathroom for a shower.
One thing to say for my parents’ house. It had excellent water pressure.
When Mom had begged me to come stay with them, I’d almost said no. But I did appreciate her apology. Even if it had taken Ian’s complete betrayal to finally open her eyes.
For once, she actually seemed to be on my side.
So I said yes to coming home with them, Jessa, I thought as I lathered body wash. They’d let Callum come, and they’d put up with his family too. Seemed like progress.
Last night, after my nap, I’d gone downstairs for dinner. Watching our families together had been a trip. I hadn’t realized Auntie Rosie and Piper were close, but it made sense. The market was just down the block from Silver Linings.
On the other hand, Mom had stayed suspiciously clear of Grace. Like she was intimidated. Really? Eliza Alvarez, President of the Hart County Golf Club? Whether it was something Grace had said, or the simple fact that Callum’s sister was dating a billionaire, I couldn’t say.
But last night had probably been the best dinner I’d ever spent at my parents’ place. Aches and sore throat and all.
This physical pain was making me want to finally let go of the mental stuff I was carrying. I was sick and tired of holding grudges and guilt.
Even with Ian, I just wanted to see him face the consequences for his actions and then leave me alone. Get out of my life for good, so I didn’t have to waste another spoon of energy on that man.
I wanted all my energy for loving Callum. After all, he was a handful, always finding new ways to surprise me.
Speaking of surprises.
My head was tipped back, water running through my hair, when colder air hit my skin. Then warm hands found my hips. “Want some company?”
I blinked my eyes open to Callum standing naked in front of me. He pulled me close, pressing our bodies flush together and dipping to kiss me gently.
For a while, we let the steam build. It irritated my lungs a little, but I could handle it. Being close with Callum like this, after all that had happened, had to be healthy for me. I was sure of it.
His cock stayed half hard, not thickening more until I reached down to stroke him from base to tip. “Don’t get me going. There will be none of that.”
My lips curved with an exaggerated pout, which made him laugh.
“Z, I can’t imagine you’re feeling up for it. You’re hurting.”
I shrugged, my thumb rubbing over the tip of his cock again. “Show me I’m yours,” I whispered.
And it was like my exact thought beamed into his brain, making him understand, because his pupils suddenly dilated, swallowing up the golden flecks in his irises. “You want to watch me?”
A nod.
Callum turned me so my back was to the cool tile of the shower, and I could rest against it. His palm flattened against the tile by my head, while his other hand gripped his shaft and squeezed. “You just watch how hot you make me. I’m gonna come so hard for you.”
Another nod from me, more vigorous this time.
Callum’s darkened eyes devoured my body as he started to stroke. I loved watching his cock swell and jump in his fist. His soft moans as he teased himself.
After a minute, he added some conditioner and picked up his pace. His gaze was like a physical touch. I felt it as much as the droplets of water that traced my naked curves.
“Fuck,” he groaned, just before pulses of his release splashed my stomach, and he bent to rest his forehead against mine. “That’s all for you. Do you feel like mine, Sunflower?”
I did. And I loved it.
Callum had set up Chloe’s water fountain and food dish on the tile floor of the spacious en suite.
He and I had breakfast in bed. I sipped lukewarm butternut-squash soup while Callum ate leftover lasagna from last night.
He told me my parents had asked about me downstairs, and he’d told them I was resting.
“Your mom’s grumpy about you not coming down this morning, but she can deal with it. Your dad seemed more chipper. One sneeze, but no signs of cat allergy attacks.”
Good. I was glad to hear that. As a woman with allergies, I wouldn’t have wanted my dad to be uncomfortable. But if he was okay with Chloe’s presence, then I was eager to have her with me.
At some point, my mother was probably going to come knocking on the guestroom door. For now, keeping Callum as a buffer between me and my parents was exactly what I needed. I wanted to heal our relationship, but I had a lot more to say to her, and I needed my voice for it.
However, there was something else on my agenda for today besides sexy showers and cuddle time.
I set down the soup bowl and picked up Callum’s phone, which was already unlocked for me.
Any updates from police?
“Not yet. If Teller were in town, he’d be able to get us the latest.” Callum tapped his chin. “But I have another idea.” He took his phone. Pulled up a number. Then said, “Hi, Dixie. How are you?”
He’d called Dixie Haines, one of the town’s most reliable gossips. Also a sweet lady with a biting sense of humor, based on the few times I’d met her.
“Is that right? Yeah, I’m here with Zandra. You heard about us already?” He grinned. “Good news travels fast. Yeah, bad news too. That’s true. But I’m actually calling to see if—Oh.”
Callum hummed a lot and didn’t say much while Dixie talked his ear off. I only caught every few words. Then he said, “Dixie, I’m gonna put you on speaker so Zandra can hear what you just told me.”
“Hello, Zandra dear.” Dixie’s cheerful, rapid-fire voice came through the speaker.
“Just awful about what occurred at Hearthstone. That fire could’ve spread all over Main Street, and from what I’m hearing, the fire investigator thinks it was a clear case of arson.
But if anyone asks, you didn’t get that from me. ”
My eyes widened, my gaze landing on Callum’s.