Chapter 14

Callum

When the pipe burst in Atta Boy Brewery this afternoon, it felt like my world imploded. We had to shut down immediately, and I was livid. Pissed. The kind of frustration that makes your vision go red, your jaw clench so tight it hurts. After countless phone calls and getting the runaround from the city’s water department, I finally learned the devastating news: we’d be shut down for at least a week. A week. Just the thought made my blood boil even more.

By the time I got home, I was practically vibrating with anger. I was already mentally preparing to dig into the mountain of logistics needed to manage this mess when I walked through the door and everything changed in an instant.

There she was—Violet—in nothing but a pair of light-blue panties and a matching bra, completely oblivious to my presence. She was singing and dancing around the living room, her hips swaying to some upbeat tune, her voice soft and carefree. It was like she was in her own little world, twirling in the light spilling through the window, her hair catching the golden glow.

Every ounce of frustration evaporated from my body. I stood frozen, watching her, completely captivated. It was impossible to look away—the curves of her body, the way her skin shimmered under the light, how her laughter filled the space like the sweetest music I’d ever heard.

I’d love for a million pipes to burst if it meant I could come home to this.

Violet spins around, her eyes widening as she suddenly realizes she isn’t alone. She stumbles slightly, catching herself before landing in my arms, her face inches from mine. Her cheeks flush a deep shade of pink, but her smile doesn’t waver.

“Oops,” she giggles, breathless from dancing.

“Oops?” I murmur, my voice coming out rougher than I expect. My hands instinctively tighten around her waist, feeling the heat of her skin under my fingers. Her scent—warm and sweet—is enough to send my heart racing.

She’s so close, too close , and the sight of her in that matching set... well, let’s just say, I have my own pipe about to burst.

I know I should step back, give her space, but I can’t bring myself to move.

“I didn’t know you’d be home so early,” she whispers, her big eyes gazing into mine.

Without even thinking about it, I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. What am I doing? I’m kissing my wife, and everything about today disappears in an instant. The way her lips feel pressed against mine is the best feeling in the world. I can’t stop myself as my hands roam over her soft skin.

She moans, and I swallow it down, tightening my grip on her.

Her hands fly around my neck, and I deepen the kiss. It’s been a long time since I’ve kissed a woman, and it’s been forever since I’ve kissed a woman like this. With so much heat. Desire. It’s all pumping through my system at lightning speeds.

My body hardens in an instant, and I know this should be the moment I break the kiss and step away, but I can’t.

Violet’s just too damn cute, and sexy, and I can’t stop kissing her. I can’t stop kissing my wife .

Fuck that thought turns me on more than it should. I keep kissing her when I suddenly realize, she’s not breaking this kiss either.

She’s kissing me with the same amount of fervor I’m kissing her with. I press my body closer to hers, and I move my hands down her body, cupping each ass cheek in my hands. Her body feels so good against mine.

I’m about to haul her off the ground and to her bedroom in the back, when she pushes one hand against my chest and breaks the kiss.

Her wide eyes gaze up at me with a look of shock. “I’m so sorry,” she says, stepping out of my hold.

I immediately drop my hands from her, stepping back. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that.”

She runs a few fingers over her bruised lips and blinks. “Oh, I’ve got no clothes on.” She darts down the hallway, and I nearly rush after her, but instead my feet stay planted to the floor.

I shouldn’t be crossing this line with her.

My shoulders slump slightly as I make my way into the kitchen. It’s not normal for me to be home from work this early, and it almost feels strange.

A few minutes later, Violet enters the kitchen wearing a pair of jeans and an orange t-shirt.

“I didn’t realize you’d be home this early.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying my best to ease the tension about my day. “Yeah, we had a pipe burst and it’s a big mess. We have to be closed for a week. Maybe longer.”

Her eyes show pity as she frowns slightly. “I’m so sorry. Are you hungry? I was just about to make dinner.”

I run a hand along the kitchen counter, buying time before I say, “Violet, about the kiss…” my words fall away.

She cuts in, “It’s fine. Seriously. We can just forget about it.”

The thing is I don’t want to forget about it, but I can tell Violet does, so I drop it. “It’s forgotten,” I say, my voice devoid of any emotion whatsoever.

Violet’s right. We should forget about it. We’ve got two years to try to navigate this marriage, and we don’t need feelings getting involved. They only screw things up and complicate everything.

My phone breaks the silence in the room. I pull it out of my pocket and glance down at the message from my brother.

Paxton: Callum, now you can come camping with us. Restaurant’s closed.

“Who is it?” Violet asks.

I lift my eyes to meet her curious ones and I nearly stumble on my ass. She’s just so beautiful. I could stare at her all day long. I shake my head. “It’s just my brother saying I can go camping now because the restaurant’s closed.” I begin typing the same thing I tell Violet, “Just because it’s closed doesn’t mean I have a week off. Somebody has to be there to let in the workers, and such.”

Violet nods. “Right. We have responsibilities. We can’t just take off on a whim.”

“Right.” I love that she gets me. She understands.

Shepherd: I can stay with the restaurant. I’m not going anywhere, and honestly it’d be a nice break from baby duties.

Anya: Please come, Callum.

I show the phone to Violet, and she steps closer to read the thread on my phone. I lean in slightly, sniffing the lavender shampoo she uses. It smells so good, and I get dizzy from it.

She gazes up at me, slowly, and time stands still. I’m transported back to that kiss we shared minutes ago. The way her lips felt pressed against mine.

“Maybe you should go,” she whispers. “You could use the break.”

“I’d never go without you, Violet.”

Her smile graces her features and I can’t stop staring. “Maybe we should both go,” she says with a little shrug.

“Are you serious?”

She nods, like she’s not quite certain at what she’s suggesting. “I think so. I’ve had a stressful day too, and I don’t want to look back on my life and realize all I did was work this ranch until the day I die. My father did that, and I want to live… if only for a little while.”

“Are you sure?” I pocket my phone and pace the kitchen floor. “We’d be gone all week, and what if something happens here at the ranch?”

She shrugs again, and I smile. “YOLO.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “What the hell does that mean?”

She laughs and the sound fills the kitchen. “It means, you only live once, silly.”

I rub at the back of my neck. “Oh, right. You really want to go camping with me?”

She nods. “Next week I don’t have many horses to be boarded, and if we can get the fence fixed by tomorrow I can slip away for a bit.”

“I can help you fix the fence.”

She smiles wide. “Really? Ever fix a fence before?”

“No,” now I’m smiling wide with her, “but I’m sure you can show me.”

“Text your family, tell them we’re going camping.”

I grin. “You’re a bossy little wife, aren’t you?”

“And you’re a grumpy husband.” She sashays her hips momentarily and my eyes watch with hunger. “C’mon, camping will be fun.”

“If you say so.”

But all I’m thinking about is how I’m going to sleep under the stars with this woman and not want to kiss her again. Because all my brain can process at this point is how amazing that kiss was and how badly I want another. Soon.