Chapter 20

Callum

Don’t get me wrong. Spending the day with Violet was incredible. It was better than I ever imagined it could be between us. Her laughter, the way her hair looked like a blazing fire in the sunlight, the quiet moments we shared, it was fucking perfect. But now that I’m looking back, I can’t shake this gnawing frustration simmering beneath the surface. The fact that my family orchestrated the whole thing just sets me off.

I’m not used to being manipulated, especially by the people who should know me best. I’ve always been the responsible one, the one who holds things together when everyone else is running around chasing whatever chaotic idea pops into their heads. They think I’m uptight, that I work too much, but what they don’t get is that I need order. I thrive in structure, in knowing what’s coming next. I’m not like them, thriving on impulsive decisions and spur-of-the-moment plans.

So, when they told Violet and me to meet them at the waterfall, and then conveniently failed to show up, it didn’t take long for me to realize I’d been set up. The whole thing reeked of one of their schemes, probably masterminded by Anya or Paxton, thinking it’d be hilarious to push Violet and me together.

And yeah, the day turned out pretty great, but that doesn’t mean I appreciate being played. I don’t like feeling like a pawn in some game I didn’t sign up for. I’m not the kind of guy who thrives on surprises or being tricked into something, even if the outcome was... well, amazing.

I glance over at Violet, still feeling that lingering warmth from our time at the lake. She had no idea either, and that just adds to the mix of emotions swirling inside me. The day was real, the connection undeniable, but knowing my family had a hand in it just makes me feel like I’ve been blindsided. And I can’t stand that feeling. Not when it comes to something as complicated as my relationship with Violet.

They just don’t get it, but either way I can no longer deny this insane attraction I have for her. I meant it when I asked her out on a date. I want to date my wife. I want to shower her with all the affection she deserves, but it’s weird, right?

Like I feel like we’re doing everything backwards. Marriage, and then dating. I’m sure the whole thing will probably end in a disaster, but I still can’t stop myself from wondering, what if?

What if it ends in something incredible?

My family’s all found their perfect happily-ever-afters. Why can’t I?

Everyone heads off to their tents, and Violet lingers at the entrance to ours. Every part of me wants to go in there and relive that kiss we shared earlier today, but I don’t want to move too quickly.

We barely know one another. And she’s my fucking wife. If things blow up, we’ll still be stuck together for two years.

I enter the tent, and we get ready for bed. We lie on the air mattress, and I toss the sleeping bag over us both, like a comforter. “Thank you for today,” I tell her.

She props onto her side. “For what?”

“You could have gotten really mad because my family orchestrated that little master plan. I’m sorry for that.”

She smiles, and it nearly takes my breath away. “You don’t have to apologize for that. I find it funny. I never grew up with siblings, so I guess I don’t get that dynamic.”

“Well, they’re all annoying, that’s for sure.”

She laughs at that, and snuggles closer. “I should be the one thanking you. You’ve been a great husband so far, and I feel like I can’t thank you enough for offering to help me.”

I brush a stray strand of hair from her face. “Violet, you don’t ever need to thank me for that. Anyone would be an idiot not to want to marry you.” My body heats up, every cell in my body vibrating with want. “And I can’t wait to take you on our first official date.”

Her whole face lights up like a campfire. “Where are you taking me?”

Fuck. I hadn’t even thought that far yet. I could be generic and offer to take her to the nicest restaurant in our small town of Magnolia Ridge, Moore’s, or I could think of something different. But would Violet even appreciate fancy? “The Rusty Spur?” I say, posing it as a question to see if she laughs the idea away.

“You want to take me line dancing?”

I shrug. “Could be fun. Millie and Hartford have been saying it’s their new favorite place.”

She nods. “Yeah, Millie mentioned it to me.” And then she smiles wide. “I’d love to go dancing with you. I’ve even got some cowboy boots.”

As we lay together on the air mattress in the dim glow of our tent, the space feels intimate, wrapped in the soft hum of crickets and the gentle rustle of the trees outside. The warmth of Violet’s body is just inches from mine, and the closeness stirs something deep inside me. My heart pounds in rhythm with hers, the air between us charged with an unspoken tension.

I lean in closer, the words escaping me in a low, threadbare voice. "I bet you do."

She shifts, moving an inch nearer, and I instinctively reach out, my hand finding its place on her hip. Her skin is warm beneath the fabric of her shirt, and the simple touch sends a jolt of electricity through me. "Violet," I whisper, her name slipping past my lips like a secret, one I’m dying to uncover.

Her blue eyes meet mine, wide and shining in the dim light. “Yes,” she breathes, her voice barely more than a whisper. There’s something in the way she looks at me, her gaze locking onto mine, like she’s been waiting for this moment as much as I have.

And then, before I can stop myself, I tell her the truth. "I want to kiss you again."

Her eyes widen in surprise, and she licks her lips, a nervous yet deliberate gesture that only makes my pulse race faster. The air feels thick with expectation, and she leans in, her breath mingling with mine. "I want to kiss you too," she admits.

It’s all the encouragement I need.

Before another thought can form, I close the distance, capturing her lips with mine. The moment our mouths meet, the world outside the tent seems to fall away. Her lips are soft, sweet, and everything I remembered from before. But this time, it feels different. More intense. More real. I deepen the kiss, and she responds, her hands finding their way to the back of my neck, fingers threading through my hair.

The way she melts into me, the taste of her on my tongue, the feel of her breath against my skin… has my pulse spiking. It’s like everything I’ve been holding back finally spills over, and I can’t get enough of her. The kiss is slow but burning, and as I pull her closer, it feels like this moment was inevitable, like we were always meant to end up here, tangled together on an air mattress in a tent beneath the stars.

And I’m loving every second of it.

She moans as I tug her closer, my hand slipping beneath the fabric of her sweatpants. My fingers trace over the waistband of her panties. And then something inside of me unleashes, and I break the kiss.

“Pants off, now,” I demand.

Her eyes grow bigger. “Yes, sir,” she says with a salute.

I don’t laugh, even though I think she’s adorable right now. Instead, I spank her ass. “Don’t sass me, or I’ll spank you even harder.”

A slow smile spreads across her face. “Ooh, promise.”

“You like it rough, don’t you?”

“I’m a cowgirl. What do you think?”

Now it’s my turn to smile. “I think you’d like to ride this cowboy, huh?”

She raises one eyebrow. “Are you calling yourself a cowboy, Callum?”

“Tonight I fucking am. And you’re going to ride my tongue.”

She shakes her head slightly. “I haven’t done this in years. I might be a bit rusty.”

“That’s fine. We’ve got all night.”

She leans in and kisses me once more, and I bring my hand to her center, running my fingers through her wetness. She’s soaked and the feel of it causes my whole body to harden in an instant.

I remove my hand from her pants, and lean back. “Pants off, remember?”

She gets to work, and I watch as she drags the material down her long legs. She’s fucking gorgeous. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Aren’t you going to take your pants off so I can see you?” She smiles. “Fair’s fair.”

“I never said anything about this being fair tonight. This is all about you and letting me taste you. Because I’ve been dying to get a taste of you since we got married.”

She tilts her head to study me. “Really?”

I nod, letting her know the truth. “Yes, really.” I move in between her legs. “Now spread your legs and let your husband get his fill.”