Chapter Forty-Eight
Callie
I turn after closing my apartment door to find Sean in front of my photographs. This is our first moment alone since he arrived at my apartment.
“I didn’t get a chance to thank you for the basket of pears.”
That turns him around to face me. “They’re your favorite. I’m hoping that I can feed you pieces of one later.”
I start walking toward him. “I think that can be arranged.”
The corners of his lips twitch, but they fall before he can form a smile. I know something is bothering him.
He was talkative during dinner, but his witty comebacks weren’t present.
At first, I thought his mood might be related to work, but he kept looking at my photographs. I regretted the admission about selling my camera as soon as it left my mouth, but by then, the secret was out.
“What’s wrong?” I whisper as I near him.
“Champ,” he says my name wrapped in a sigh. “Let me buy you a camera.”
“No,” I respond without giving it a second of thought. “I’ll buy a used one when I can.”
“Please.”
Shaking my head, I step forward until the toes of our shoes are touching. “When I can afford to buy a camera, I will.”
His gaze falls to the floor. “I’m in a position to help you.”
I know that he is, but that’s a slippery slope that I can’t slide down again.
I let Dagen ‘help’ me, and it’s turned into the biggest mistake of my life.
“I don’t need help.” I wrap my arms around him, tucking my hands under his suit jacket so I can caress his back. “I need something else.”
He runs a fingertip over my chin to lure my head up. With his eyes pinned to mine, he smiles. “Name it. I’ll do it.”
“Come to bed with me. “ I bounce up to my tiptoes to offer my lips to him.
He responds with a slow, sensual kiss that steals every thought from my mind. “I’ll never say no to that.”
Hours later, I crawl out of bed to find Sean wearing only boxer briefs.
He’s on the couch with his phone cradled in his hands.
I stop for a moment to admire him. It’s not just the sharp cut of his jaw or the depth of his brown eyes that makes him so utterly irresistible. It’s his heart. He offered to buy me a camera without a second thought.
I know that he did that because he cares for me.
He must sense I’m behind him because his gaze suddenly shoots over his shoulder.
He smiles when he spots me standing barefoot in my pink robe. “There she is.”
I hurry so I can snuggle in beside him. Once I do, he tugs me closer, so my legs are resting on his lap. He circles a fingertip over my knee. “Did you have fun tonight, Champ?”
Resting my head against his shoulder, I nod. “I did. How about you?”
“I had fun during dinner,” he admits. “What we did after was out of this world.”
I let out a laugh. “I agree with that.”
His hand skims over my thigh. “Delora is hell-bent on keeping you busy this week, and I’ve got to pick up some slack since Declan is working on a big deal. I’m booked solid for the next two days.”
Sighing, I drop my hand to cover his. “I can sneak into your office to say hi.”
His responding laugh shakes his chest. “How about I bring in lunch for us on Friday? Can you meet me in my office at one?”
“I think I remember where that is,” I tease.
“You remember.” He pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I’d also like to cook dinner for you on Saturday if you’re free.”
“If Delora lets me have the day off, I’ll agree to that.”
“She’ll let you have the day off,” he says with a chuckle. “You’re doing great things at Wells, Calliope. We’re damn lucky to have you.”
I lean back so I can gaze into his eyes. “Thank you, Saint.”
His hand jumps up to cradle my cheek. “I’m damn lucky to have you.”
“I’m lucky too,” I whisper before pressing my lips to his.
I kiss him tenderly, and with every beat of my heart, I’m falling more in love with him.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Callie
Before I enter Sean’s office, I already know what he ordered us for lunch. I’d recognize the aroma of my favorite fish tacos anywhere.
I take another two steps forward until I’m standing near the open doorjamb.
My hand skims over the front of the black jeans I’m wearing. I chose a white blouse and a red blazer to go with the jeans since Delora announced yesterday that she had made an executive decision to make today casual Friday.
I was all in since I feel like I’m running on empty. I’ve put in extra hours all week, and I picked up a late shift at Tin Anchor last night. I started that at nine and left the bar around two this morning.