Taunting Callum - Kristen Proby Page 0,28
myself so I have yours, as well. We should have done that years ago. Maybe we could have avoided all that miscommunication.”
“You gave me your cell phone number.” I blink down at the digits in my phone.
“Yes.”
“Like, your private number?”
He drags his knuckle down my cheek. “Indeed.”
“Okay, then.”
“How have you been?” he asks as he lets me go so I can resume putting away the groceries.
“Busy,” I say. “And, honestly, I hate it when people use busy as the response to that question. I mean, that’s not a good answer. But in this case, that’s all I’ve been. I lost an employee and hired two more, so I had to train them. Gretchen found herself a new boyfriend, which would usually be none of my business, but he’s kind of a dick and has decided he likes to hang out in my café when Gretchen’s working.”
“What’s his name?”
My head turns at the steel in Callum’s voice. “Why?”
“Because I’m going to have him investigated.”
“Oh.” I wave him off and shake my head. “He’s just a guy who’s latched on to Gretchen. But the warning signs are all there that he’s a controlling, obsessive jerk, and all she sees is that he’s paying attention to her.”
“You’re worried.”
“Of course, I am,” I say, folding up my reusable grocery sacks and storing them in the pantry. “She’s my employee and my friend, and she’s chosen a big jerk to fall in love with. Actually, scratch that. She’s not in love at all. She’s infatuated, and she has rose-colored glasses on.”
“She’s an adult,” Callum reminds me. “And as frustrating as it is, all you can do is speak your mind. She has to make the decisions for herself.”
“She’s bad at it,” I reply with a sigh. “Enough about me. And her. How are you?”
“Frustrated,” he says and rubs his hand over his face. “I was called home unexpectedly, and I should have called you to tell you I was going. I missed you while I was away.”
“Oh.” I smile at the thought of Callum missing me. Maybe Gretchen needs to see that this is how missing someone should work. Sure, a phone call would have been nice, but hearing that he thought about me while he was away is wonderful. “I might have given you a passing thought or two over the past week.”
His dark eyes narrow. “Just one or two?”
“Maybe three.”
He rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Well, I guess that’s better than no thoughts at all, isn’t it?”
“How long are you in town for? I assume you came to spend more time with Sebastian, Ellie, and the others?”
“I came to town to spend time with you,” he says. “Yes, it will be nice to see the others, but you’re the reason I’m here, Aspen.”
I’m not sure what to say.
“What did you think the past few weeks were?” he asks.
“Well, I thought we were being civil with each other because of Ellie.”
His eyes flash hot, his temper simmering just below the surface. “I don’t kiss women simply to be civil for my baby sister’s sake, Aspen. I don’t go out of my way to spend time, to get any bloody moment alone I can, so I can try to get to know them better for her. This has absolutely nothing to do with Ellie.”
“So noted,” I say slowly, watching the frustration move over him. “I’m sorry I assumed.”
“I’m here because staying away from you isn’t a fucking option for me anymore. You’re in my dreams. You’re constantly in my thoughts. I wonder what you’re doing, if you’re okay, if you need anything. I picked up the mobile to tell David to get your number for me a dozen times, but I restrained myself because I wanted to see you and talk to you in person.
“So, yes, I flew back across the ocean to spend time with you, not my family.”
I swallow hard, my pulse thumping as my blood rushes through my ears. I thought I wanted to hear these things two years ago, but I know now that I wasn’t ready for them then.
Am I ready now? Well, if the butterflies in my stomach are to be believed, I’d say yes.
“Can I trust you?” I whisper.
The frustration dims, and regret replaces it. “Yes. And, Aspen, I’m going to say it once again. I deeply regret that I ever lost your trust in the first place. It was never my intent.”
I nod and bite my lip. “Well, welcome back to town. Would you like to stay for