Since they’d eaten a large lunch at one of the restaurants downtown near the Sydney Harbour, he decided to keep dinner simple—a salad and an Aussie meat pie.
He couldn’t help but smile upon recalling her expression when she’d first seen his home, and her excitement about decorating it just the way she liked. He had gone along with every suggestion she made, and although she had teased him about the cost, he knew she was intentionally trying to keep prices low, even though he’d told her that doing so wasn’t necessary.
His cell phone rang and he pulled it off his belt to answer it. “Hello.”
“How are you doing, Callum?”
He smiled upon hearing his mother’s voice. “I’m fine, Mom. What about you?”
“I’m wonderful. I hadn’t talked to you since you were here yesterday with Gemma, and I just want you to know that I think she’s a lovely girl.”
“Thanks, Mom. I think so, too. I just can’t wait for her to figure out she’s my soul mate.”
“Have patience, Callum.”
He chuckled. “I’ll try.”
“I know Gemma is going to be tied up with decorating that house, but Shaun and I were wondering if she’ll be free to do some shopping with us next Friday,” his mother said. “Annette and Mira will be joining us as well.”
The thought of Gemma being out of his sight for any period of time didn’t sit well with him. He knew all about his mother, sister and sisters-in-law’s shopping trips. They could be gone for hours. He felt like a possessive lover. A smile touched his lips. He wasn’t Gemma’s lover yet, but he intended to be while working diligently to become a permanent part of her life—namely, her husband.
“Callum?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m sure that’s something Gemma will enjoy. She’s upstairs changing for dinner. I’ll have her call you.”
He conversed with his mother for a little while longer before ending the call. Pouring a glass of wine, he moved to the window that looked out over the Pacific. His decision to keep this place had been an easy one. He loved the view as well as the privacy.
The house Gemma was decorating was in the suburbs, sat on eight acres of land and would provide plenty of room for the large family he wanted them to have. He took a sip of wine while his mind imagined a pregnant Gemma, her tummy round with his child.
He drew in a deep breath, thinking that if anyone would have told him five years ago that he would be here in this place and in this frame of mind, he would have been flabbergasted. His mother suggested that he have patience. He’d shown just how much patience he had for the past three years. Now it was time to make his move.
“Callum?”
The sound of her voice made him turn around. He swallowed deeply, while struggling to stay where he was, not cross the room, pull her into his arms and give her the greeting that he preferred. As usual, she looked beautiful, but there was something different about her this evening. There was a serene glow to her face that hadn’t been there before. Had just two days in Australia done that to her? Hell, he hoped so. More than anything, he wanted his native land to grow on her.
“You look nice, Gemma,” he heard himself saying.
“Thanks. You look nice yourself.”
He glanced down at himself. He had changed out of his suit, and was now wearing jeans and a pullover shirt. She was wearing an alluring little outfit—a skirt that fell a little past her knees, a matching top and a cute pair of sandals. He looked at her and immediately thought of one word. Sexy. Umm, make that two words. Super sexy. He knew of no other woman who wore her sexuality quite the way Gemma did.
His gaze roamed the full length of her in male appreciation, admiring the perfection of her legs, ankles and calves. He had to have patience, as his mother suggested and tamp down his rising desire. But all he had to do was breathe in, take a whiff of her scent and know that would not be an easy task.
“What are you drinking?”
Her words pulled his attention from her legs back to her face. “Excuse me? I missed that.”
A smile curved her lips. “I asked what you’re drinking.”
He held up his glass and glanced at it. “Wine. Want some?”