Taunting Callum (Big Sky Royal 3)

“What changed your mind?” he asks.

“Frankly, I don’t care what people say or think about me, Callum. I’ve had mud slung my way for most of my life. It’s not easy to be the poor kid or the pregnant teenager. People talk. As long as you and I are on the same page, that’s really all that matters. The rest is just noise.”

He frames my face in his hands and plants the newest kiss of the century on me. It’s full of relief, joy, and lust.

And when he pulls back to look down at me, his brown eyes are full of gratitude.

“Are you hungry?” I ask.

“Starving.”

“I’m taking you out for breakfast.”

“Not what I was going for, but that’ll work just fine.”

I smirk and gesture for him to follow me, but he holds his hands out at his sides.

“Am I dressed appropriately?”

Jeans, T-shirt, Nikes. He looks good enough to eat with a spoon.

“You might want to grab a sweater, but yes. Today is a casual day.”

“Brilliant.” He tugs a hoodie off a chair and raises a brow when he sees my grin. “What?”

“Royals wear hoodies?”

“And knickers,” he confirms with a teasing smile. “Most of the time, at least.”

“I definitely won’t fit in. I don’t wear underwear.” I turn to walk down the stairs and hear him mutter, “She’s trying to bloody kill me.”

Once in the car, I drive us right over to Ed’s Diner for breakfast. David agreed to let us drive separately from him, but he’s following closely behind. He’s going to be a discreet shadow today, which is perfectly fine with me.

“Good girl. You’re not taking us to your own business.”

“No way. They have it covered there, and I want greasy food for breakfast. Ed’s is the best. Have you been?”

“I don’t think so,” Callum says as we get out of the car and walk into the diner. We’re shown to a red vinyl booth by the windows and given menus. When we’re all alone, Callum grins. “This place is fun.”

An Elvis song plays on the jukebox. The whole place has an old fashioned Americana feel to it that I just love.

“And Ed himself is manning the griddle back there,” I say, gesturing to the kitchen behind the long counter. There’s a narrow window Ed passes orders through where he can keep an eye on the dining room. “He’s a big, burly teddy bear.”

I scan the menu and then set it aside when I make up my mind. After we’ve ordered, Callum reaches across the table to take my hand.

So it begins. Being seen in public together, clearly not just as friends.

“Someone might take a photo of us,” I say quietly.

“You came this morning, love,” he reminds me. “I took that to mean you’re okay with this.”

“I am. I’m just reminding you, in case you need to make a phone call to the palace and alert them to all the things that are about to be talked about.”

“My family knows I’m seeing you, or that I want to see you. It’s one of the things I spoke to them about when I was home last week.”

I stare at him in surprise. “You did?”

“Yes. Not to get permission, of course, but to make them aware. Out of courtesy. And that would be the case no matter whom I have in my life, Aspen.”

“I understand that. Wow, and here I thought you’d just disappeared again.”

“I’m a bloody moron.”

I laugh and pat his arm with my free hand. “Nah, you just have to work on your communication skills.”

Breakfast is delicious, and before long, we’re on our way to our next stop.

“Basically,” I say as I drive down Main Street, “I’m taking you to some of the places that made me fall in love with Cunningham Falls. Ed’s was the first place I ate when I arrived, and I loved it. We have one pit stop to make before we can resume our tour.”

“I’m all yours for the day. Thank you for this.”

“You’re welcome.” I park in front of Brooke’s Blooms. “Come on.”

I take him inside and buy thirteen sunflowers. I asked Brooke to make sure she had them on hand for me last week.

“These are lovely,” Brooke says as she wraps them in brown paper. “If you need anything else, just give me a shout.”

“Thanks, Brooke. Have a great day.”

“Darling, you shouldn’t have,” Callum says as we get back into my car.

“Funny. I didn’t. I have to deliver these.”

His eyes narrow on me, but he doesn’t reply as I drive past Sebastian’s house to my special piece of shoreline. I park, take the flowers, and gesture for Callum to follow me.

We walk down to the beach, and I squat as I pull the flowers out of the wrapping and toss one onto the water.

“Today would have been Emma’s thirteenth birthday,” I murmur as I toss another flower. “So, I brought her thirteen sunflowers. They were her favorite, and they’re happy blooms. They remind me of her.”