Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
He nodded like she’d given the right answer on a test. “All the same, try to enjoy the preparations. I know you didn’t choose this, and after Brendan…”
She reached across the desk and covered his hand with her own. She might want to air her confession to make herself feel better, but her father obviously didn’t want to hear it. She wouldn’t burden him with her sins just to lighten the weight she carried. “It will be okay, Papa. Though I can think of a thousand things more important than wedding planning.”
“Unfortunately, it’s necessary. The wedding itself is as much a statement as the marriage.”
“I know.” Which was why she’d gritted her teeth and kept her complaints to herself. She squeezed his hand again. “We’ll figure out a way out of this.”
“Sometimes the only way out is through, Callie. You know that.” His smile was tired. “But we’ll get through it. We always do.”
Guilt rose, threatening to choke her. She used to wish she could consider things as coldly and calculatingly as her father seemed to be able to when push came to shove, but now that she realized the ability was within her, all she wanted was to go back to how things were. Before she’d agreed to her engagement to Brendan. Before she’d let frustration and fear get the best of her. Before her entire world had come crashing down around her.
It would have happened sooner or later.
She knew that, but the knowing didn’t make the guilt easier to bear. She pushed to her feet. “I’m going out tonight.”
“To see that boy of yours again.”
She didn’t comment on his knowing that she’d been at Teague’s. It went without saying that Micah would have reported back to Papa. The fact that he chose not to bring it up until now was surprising. She hesitated just inside the door. “I… I think I like him.”
“I’m glad.” The naked relief in his voice made her feel both better and worse.
“Good night, Papa.” She walked out of his office and closed the door softly behind her. Once she was alone, the worry that had been plaguing her every waking moment since Teague left her sight rose up with a vengeance. They’d shared short phone calls every night, but that did little to reassure her that he was taking care of himself. He sounded as tired as she felt, which wasn’t comforting in the least. She dialed him before she could talk herself out of it.
“Hey, angel.”
“Hello.” She walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, closing it almost before she registered its contents. The quiet sound of his breathing soothed her, but not nearly as much as the feel of his arms around her did. She needed that—desperately. Words rose before she could think better of them. “I wrapped things up earlier than anticipated. Can I see you tonight?”
“How soon can you be to my place?”
Relief made her knees a little shaky. “An hour.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“See you then.” She hung up, the giddy feeling rising through her enough to make her wonder why she hadn’t suggested this before. In the insanity of their lives, how safe she felt in Teague’s presence was a glowing constant. It didn’t seem to matter how briefly she’d known him, because he looked at her with those dark eyes and she felt like nothing bad in the world could touch her.
That feeling was dangerous, to be frank, but she couldn’t resist hurrying to her room and throwing some choice clothing into an overnight bag. She paused, considering her closet. Tonight, they would escape from the real world for a while. Her hands hovered over the lingerie she’d bought the other day with him in mind, but she reluctantly put it back into the drawer. As much as she wanted the reprieve that came from their physical relationship, they both needed something else right now. Comfort. She’d stop on the way over and pick up some food. Tonight was as close to an escape as they were allowed, and she intended to make the most of it.
The real world would have to wait until morning.
Teague wasn’t prepared for what the sight of Callie would do to him. He opened the door to find her standing there, her cheeks rosy from the brisk breeze, her hair windblown, and her eyes drinking him in the same way he couldn’t help but drink her in. “I missed you.”
Her smile was like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds. “I missed you, too.”
He kissed her, because going another moment without doing so was unacceptable. She melted against him at the first brushing of lips, her arms sliding around his neck. He nipped her bottom lip, and then soothed the spot with his tongue, the taste of her going straight to his head. “You’d better come in before we do something to scandalize the neighbors.”