“Yeah, I've just done something stupid. I've managed to lose the key to the filing cabinet and I need some papers from it. I want to give Daniel the draft contract before his flight leaves tonight. I don't suppose you have the spare key, do you?”
I glance over at my bag, which I've put on the bookshelf. Max has a bag fetish and if you leave it within his reach, he'll empty the contents everywhere. The last time he did it, a box of condoms spilled out. Alex wasn't impressed; no man wants the evidence of his sister's sex life thrown in his face. In this case, literally.
“Yeah, it's on my key ring.”
“Thank Christ.” He sighs. “Can I come over and pick it up?”
For some reason, I don't want Callum coming here. His jibes about me coming from the east end of London make me reluctant for him to see where I’m from. “I can bring them over,” I suggest. “Where are you?”
“I'm at the office. Are you sure you don't mind? I have my car...”
“It's fine, I'll hop on the bus. I should be there in half an hour.”
“Great.” He sounds relieved. “I owe you one.”
Over the next forty minutes I discover that getting a baby ready, strapping him into his pushchair and manoeuvring it onto the bus takes considerably longer than I’d anticipated. By the time I make it to Canary Wharf, I'm harassed, worn out, and regretting agreeing to meet Callum at all. Max fell asleep at some point in the bus journey, and his head lolls against the back of the buggy as I push it across the concrete square.
Turning the corner, I spot Callum pacing up and down in front of the office building. He looks up and sees me, and shock moulds his expression.
“Amy?” He doesn't sound so sure.
“I'm sorry it took so long,” I say, talking quickly to cover my embarrassment. “I know he looks cute but I think Max might actually be the devil in disguise.” I gesture at my sleeping nephew.
“I didn't realise... I'm sorry. I would never have asked you to come over here if I knew.”
I shake my head, confused. “He only fell asleep on the journey. He was awake when we left.”
“No, I meant I wouldn't have expected you to come at all. I didn't know you had a baby.”
It dawns on me that Callum thinks Max is mine, which makes me blush madly. I open my mouth to put him straight when he drops on his haunches to gaze at Max.
“He's beautiful,” he says quietly. “He looks just like you.” His eyes flick to me when he says the last bit.
“Thank you,” I reply, wondering if he realises he just paid me a compliment. “But he's my nephew, not my son.”
It's Callum's turn to be embarrassed. He laughs and stands up, towe
ring over me. I'm wearing a pair of skinny jeans with a pair of red flat shoes, so I'm a couple of inches shorter than when he usually sees me.
For some reason, I like the way he makes me feel petite.
“Well, he still looks like you.”
“You should have seen him earlier when he was covered in chocolate.” I smile at Callum. “He looked like a monster.”
“He seems pretty cute now.”
I reach into the pocket of my handbag. “I have your keys here.” I pull my key ring out and remove the key to the filing cabinet, placing it in his hard, leathery palm. “Go get your contract.”
“Thank you.” His fingers curl around the metal. “If you wait here while I run upstairs I can give you both a lift home.”
My eyes widen in alarm. His offer seems too... personal. “It's okay, I bought a return ticket.”
“I insist. It's the least I can do.” His expression softens. “To say thank you.”
I'm torn. Part of me wants to take him up on his offer just to spend some more time with him. But then I remember last night and the tension between us, the way I felt when he touched my wrist. This infatuation with him is embarrassing, not to mention dangerous. Especially when I know it's one-sided.
“You don't have a car seat. It would be illegal.” I shrug in an attempt to feign nonchalance. “We'll be fine.”