Chapter Twelve
CALLIE
It was still dark when my alarm went off. Winter in Ohio was brutal. I groaned. The merciless pounding in my head reminded me of last night’s festivities. Even free champagne had a downside. With a heavy sigh, I rolled over and slapped at the phone on my nightstand to snooze the alarm.
My mind kept replaying the events of the previous evening: dancing with Emmett, his hands on my waist, the way his blue eyes seemed to see right through me.
And then that kiss—unexpected, electric, setting every nerve ending on fire.
Then I’d panicked. I’d fled from him, from the intensity of it all.
The room spun as I sat up, and realized I was still wearing Emmett’s jacket.
The soft fabric held his scent, a mix of cologne and something uniquely him.
My stomach fluttered. In the aftermath of the kiss, I had completely forgotten about Marco.
He hadn’t even crossed my mind until now. Guilt twinged.
“Marco!” No response. I called his name again.
He had always been my rock, my steadfast friend through thick and thin. And I went and abandoned him at an event I invited him to.
I fumbled for my phone again, its screen a blinding beacon in the still-dark morning.
Emmett’s name caught my eye. An unread message stared at me accusingly.
I swiped the notification away, not quite ready to face him in the aftermath of my cowardice.
I was preparing to call Marco when the sound of a key turning in the front door cut through the silence of the apartment.
Marco’s footsteps resonated along the hallway, a familiar cadence that usually brought a comforting sense of normalcy. Today, it just reminded me of the mess was in. I heard the clink of his keys hitting the table and the soft thud of shoes being discarded.
“Callie?” He peeked around my bedroom door, hair tousled and eyes bleary.
“Hey,” I managed, smiling wanly. “You’re back.”
“Yeah, sorry about bailing last night.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Met up with a friend after you...you know, vanished with Mr. Moneybags.”
I winced. The nickname was a reminder of the barriers between Emmett and me. But Marco didn’t need to know about the kiss or what happened after. How was I going to navigate this? My job, my career—it was all precariously balanced. A relationship with the boss was a complication I couldn’t afford.
“Hope you had fun,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. I was relieved Marco hadn’t been alone because of me.
“Fun’s one word for it,” he replied with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Good. That’s good,” I said, rubbing my temples in an attempt to smooth away the pounding headache. He disappeared to his room, leaving me feeling both relieved and uneasy. Marco was okay. But what about Emmett? And me?
I flopped back onto my pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Last night’s decisions loomed over me like a dark cloud until I finally forced myself out of bed. I groaned and shouted to Marco, my voice gritty with sleep. “Need coffee!”
“On it,” he called back, his voice trailing from the kitchen.
I also needed a shower and maybe a miracle to get through the day. I’d have to face Emmett at some point, but, for now, I clung to the solace of routine. Shower. Dress. Pretend everything is normal.
“Work awaits,” I said, stumbling past the kitchen toward the bathroom. The hot water pelted against my skin, and, for a moment, I closed my eyes and let the comforting warmth envelop me. When I exited the shower, a steaming cup of coffee waited on the vanity, but Marco was nowhere to be found.
With each step of my morning ritual, I tried to shake off the haze of confusion and desire.
It wasn’t just Emmet’s status or the fact that he was my boss.
It was the fear of being vulnerable, of letting someone in again after everything with Hugh.
But, despite my reservations, part of me yearned to feel his touch again, to lose myself in him.
After dressing in a pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse that screamed professionalism and poise—two things I desperately needed—I checked my phone again. Another text, this time from Meghan.
MEGHAN
Breakfast before work? My treat! Emmett’s cool with it.
I frowned. Meghan was sweet, but her timing sucked. Before I could reply, another message from Emmett popped up.
EMMETT
Enjoy breakfast. Don’t worry about coming in late, even though I know you will, anyway.
His casual tone and flirty emoji did little to ease the butterflies in my stomach. Did he send messages like this to everyone, or was there something more?
When I stepped outside the building’s front doors, the city air was sharp and cold.
I clutched my purse under my arm and set off at a brisk pace.
Meghan had chosen a spot halfway across town.
Despite Emmett’s laissez-faire text, the thought of being reprimanded by any of the higher-ups nagged at me.
Get it together, Callie. It’s just breakfast.
But it wasn’t just breakfast, was it? It was a private invitation from the sister of the man who occupied too much space in my mind. The man whose jacket still hung in my closet. The man who—
Stop, I scolded myself, pressing the crosswalk button with more force than necessary. I didn’t have time for a romantic entanglement, especially not with my boss.
When I pushed open the door to Café Lumière, a little bell jingled to announce my arrival.
The interior was tasteful and elegant. Soft amber and gold light reflected off polished mahogany furnishings and intricate brass fixtures.
The aroma of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked pastries wrapped around me like a comforting blanket.
My eyes landed on Meghan, nestled in the corner booth, her blonde hair catching the light. Two steaming cups of coffee sat on the table.
“Hey,” I said, sliding into the seat across from her.
“Morning, Callie!” Meghan’s voice was almost obnoxiously chipper. She nudged one of the cups toward me. “I took a stab at your coffee order.”
Suspicion flitted across my mind as I eyed the drink. It looked exactly how I liked it—right down to the artfully swirled caramel drizzle on top. “You guessed this?” My tone hovered between incredulity and amusement.
“Guilty as charged. Double shot espresso, oat milk, one pump of vanilla, and a little caramel on top. Right?”
“Right.”
But how?
Meghan laughed at my expression. “Okay, full confession—I asked Emmett.”
My cheeks flamed as I wrapped my hands around the warm cup. “Wow, he remembered that?”
“Emmett has a thing for details.” Meghan’s eyes twinkled. “Especially when it comes to people he cares about.”
I sipped the coffee, letting the rich flavors distract me. It was perfect. But then, Emmett had a knack for getting things just right. Still, I couldn’t afford to focus on how considerate he was. I was here to have breakfast with his sister, not a stroll down what-could-be lane.
I swirled the creamy surface of my drink; the spoon made a delicate clinking sound against the fine china.
“Callie,” Meghan’s excited voice cut through my reverie. “I have to tell you—I saw you and Emmett at the fundraiser.”
I choked on my coffee. “You saw nothing,” I sputtered, dabbing at my mouth with a napkin. My heart raced from sheer panic.
“Come on, it was pretty hard to miss.” She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of gossip. “The way he looked at you during that dance, and then that kiss. I mean, wow!”
“Listen,” I said, setting down my cup with more force than intended. “Whatever you think you saw, it wasn’t—it’s not what it looks like.”
Meghan raised an eyebrow. “So, there’s no spark between you two?”
“Absolutely not. We’re colleagues, Meghan. That’s all we’ll ever be.”
“Okay, okay, if you say so.” She held up her hands in surrender, but the mischievous glint never left her eye.
I shifted uncomfortably. Her gaze lingered on me, as if she were peeling back the layers of my careful composure. “You’re worried about your job, aren’t you?”
I stared into my cup, feeling the heat creep up my neck. “It’s not just a job, Meghan. It’s my career. Everything could come crashing down because of one stupid moment of weakness.”
She reached across the table, placing her hand over mine. “I promise, Callie, I won’t tell a soul. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, the knot in my stomach loosening slightly.
“Actually,” she said, biting her lip, “there’s something I’ve been keeping to myself too.” She paused, drawing in a deep breath. “I may just ever so slightly be in love with my brother’s best friend.”
My eyes widened. Wick, the tattooed pillar of strength who always stood by Emmett’s side? That brother’s best friend? “Does he know?” I asked, leaning in closer.
She shook her head, her blonde bob swaying. “Not a clue. And I intend to keep it that way. Emmett would lose his shit.”
“Emmett told me Wick was like a brother to you.”
“A smokin’ hot brother I’d love to bone.” She cringed. “Oh, god, that came out wrong.”
I winced in sympathy. “That has to be hard on you. I mean, I remember how he was at lunch on your birthday.”
She let out a long suffering-sigh. “Honestly? It’s awful.
The man flirts with anything in a skirt.
And I know he has his reasons for…being the way he is.
But my heart breaks a little bit more each time I have to witness it.
I’m trying to move on. But I’ve known him since I was nine-years-old.
And I’ve loved him nearly as long. He’s my person, maybe even more-so than Emmett. ”
“Wow,” I said. “I’m so sorry. But thank you for telling me, Meghan. It means a lot.”
“Now you have a secret of mine and I have a secret of yours. So, tell me about this super romantic kiss you shared with my brother.”
I groaned. “There’s not much to tell. He’s…perfect. But he’s also my boss. He kissed me. And I bolted.”
“Ouch.”
“Yep.”
“Kind of undermines the romance when you go and ruin it by running.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Anytime. Always here to lend an ear.”
I shook my head, fighting a smile. Meghan was nothing like the bitchy rich girl from freshman year. I hadn’t lied when I told Emmett I could see us being friends.
Perhaps we already were.
“So, now what? Are you going to talk to him?”
I chewed my lower lip. That was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? “I don’t know. I obviously have to talk to him, but I just…we can’t go there. So, let’s just forget about it, okay?”
“Sure, Callie.” She sipped her coffee. Her smirk told me she wasn’t convinced. But, for now, she seemed willing to drop the subject.
“Good.” I breathed a sigh of relief, taking another cautious sip.
The coffee really was impeccable. The complex flavors danced on my tongue, reminding me of Emmett’s attention to detail. But I pushed the thought aside.
I had to.
* * *
Even though I walked into the office an hour and a half later than usual, I was still only the third person to arrive. The other two?
Glenn and…Emmett.
They were leaning over a table looking at drawings, probably of the community development. We had some tweaks to make based on last week’s meetings.
“Oh, Callie, perfect timing,” Emmett said, looking up. I froze and broke into a cold sweat.
“Can you come take a look at this for a sec?”
“Yep. Sure. Happy to,” I said in a pitch far too high to be considered normal. Emmett grinned at me, and I felt sweat trickle down the back of my neck as I approached the table.
He was talking, but I was just staring at his mouth, not processing a word. I dragged my gaze from his full, soft lips and forced myself to meet his eyes. They contained more than a hint of amusement. Busted.
“Glenn, could you give us a minute?”
“Sure. Time for my morning appointment with the loo, anyways.”
“Is he British?” I asked when Glenn was out of earshot. Emmett stood looking at me, delighted by my awkwardness.
“Don’t laugh at me!”
“Who’s laughing?” Those beautiful blue eyes twinkled, and I had the urge to stomp my foot.
Instead, I steeled my spine and let my professional mask slip back into place. “What was it you needed, Mr. Price?”
The gleam in Emmett’s eyes instantly faded. “I just wanted to make sure we were okay after last night. I’m sorry if I crossed a line. I just thought—”
“Everything is fine. Let’s just pretend it never happened.”
Hurt flickered across his face, and I immediately regretted my words. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Emmett when he had been so supportive and kind.
But that wasn’t entirely true, was it? The last thing I wanted was for that kiss to destroy my career. Maybe a few hurt feelings were unavoidable.
“I’m going to drop my things off and grab a coffee. Send me an email if there’s something you need me to review?”
His brows furrowed. I felt his eyes on my back as I walked away.
It’s for the best.
I hope.