38. Miles
CHAPTER 38
MILES
“ T hings have gone too far with Callie.”
Bent over the monitor in our adjoining room, Max looks over his shoulder at me. “You’re certainly not innocent.”
“I didn’t say I was.”
He turns back to the screen, typing in his login.
“She’s going to get hurt, Max.”
Heaving a sigh, he looks at his watch. “I don’t have much time before I need to leave.”
“This is important.”
His eyes glance to the screen, conflicted, but then he turns fully toward me. “Things will be different when this is over.”
“At this point, we have no idea when that will be, and Callie will be even more tied up in it after tomorrow.”
He lets out another sigh as he rubs the back of his neck. “I know. I’m not prepared to cut her loose, though. She’s not just some girl.”
“Is there any way we can tell her?”
His laugh is rueful. “You know that’s not an option.”
I pace around to the other side of the bed and back. “I know. I was hoping there was some wild solution I hadn’t thought of.” Max watches me pace, not saying anything. “We never should’ve involved her in the first place.”
“We couldn’t pass up this opportunity. You know that.”
I’m not sure I do. There could have been another way that didn’t involve her, though it’s unlikely we’d have ever had access as good as this.
“Besides, we’re helping her,” Max says. “She needed a date, and we’re providing.”
“A little too well.”
“Only because she turned out to be so special. That’s why we need to ride it out. Girls like her don’t come around often. Not ever, in my experience, and I know you feel the same.”
“That’s what makes this whole thing so fucked up.”
Max strides over and clasps my shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’ll work out. We just need to be sure nothing fucks up the wedding, which, with the way things are going, shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Not unless that bastard makes a move.”
“He’s shrewder than I thought.”
“Or he’s taking time off from business during his son’s wedding.”
“Things could take a turn at any time.” Max crosses back to the laptop. “We need to stay vigilant.”
“I know that.” This comes off sounding defensive, because I’m usually the more focused of the two of us, but I can’t deny that Callie’s been a distraction.
And Max is right; she’s a distraction I’m not willing to ignore. She’s amazing. So strong, yet so vulnerable, caring, funny as hell, not to mention absolutely gorgeous.
We need to get through this without her getting hurt.
“All the bugs are still active,” Max says after checking the recording equipment.
“Good. He has no idea. Or he’s playing along.”
“That’s always that chance, but I don’t think so. Our cover is perfect. With luck, he’ll be comfortable enough to slip up.”
We work in silence for several minutes before Max stands to leave. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Enjoy the whiskey. I’ll be here until Callie’s due back.”