Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Fuck me.

What the hell did I just do?

Breaking into his mum's office had been the last thing on his mind tonight, and—honestly—it was nothing compared to the cataclysmic event that had led to it.

I fucked Liddy.

And not a romantic, holding hands sort of fucking.

Thoroughly fucked. Hard. Fast.

But as he stared across the small table in the office at her, where she was thoroughly enjoying the leftover gallo pinto he'd reheated in the microwave for her, he knew one thing.

I'm in trouble.

Not because of work, because, goddammit, that was complicated enough. He'd definitely dipped his pen in the company ink, and it wasn't just some coworker either. Liddy Winnick was practically family to the Camdens. The Camdens were as loyal as they come, but if there was any choice between Callum and Liddy, she'd win, no contest. They weren't down here for a getaway with the Winnicks, a big jolly holiday.

They were down here because Quinn Camden, heir to the Camden estate, title, and fortune, was marrying Elle Winnick. That made the Winnicks closer than even their business partners.

And he wasn't in trouble because Liddy was glowing in post-coital bliss—which she was. Fucking glowing. She looked radiant and beautiful. She'd worn just one of his long T-shirts and flip-flops, as though she didn't have a care in the world if anyone saw them wandering around the hotel property looking like they'd just had sex.

She'd been wild and free.

Hadn't cared about being a fuck and not a thing.

If anything, it'd made her even bolder.

She was bold, outspoken, smart, loyal, kind, and funny. Even her score of an eight had made him laugh. And that's rare for me. He had told her he was bad for her. He had warned her. Yet she'd risen to what had seemed like a challenge. And he was terrified that he would hurt and ruin her.

I'm in trouble because I care about her.

No question.

He wouldn't have broken into his mum's office for just anyone.

Wouldn't have traveled all over this country for anyone.

Wouldn't have spent almost eight thousand pounds trying to help save Elle and Quinn's wedding . . . for anyone else.

From the moment he'd met her two years earlier, he'd known she was trouble.

And once he'd found out who she was, he'd put that wall up. Kept his distance.

And now she'd broken through as though that armor had been paper thin.

Seeing her happy, though, that had been his undoing.

How can I go back after this?

"This might be the ultimate comfort food. Mashed potatoes and chicken soup have nothing on this," Liddy said, licking the spoon. She smiled. "Though that ice cream we got in La Fortuna might give me wet dreams for years to come."

His gut clenched.

He wanted to kiss the dirty words right off those luscious lips. "Keep talking like that and I'll have to drizzle myself with ice cream."

She set the plate to the side, then left the table, coming over to where he had leaned back against the counter. She set her hands on either side of the counter, then kissed his jawline. "Go on."

Her fingers teased at the waist of his mesh shorts, sending shivers up his skin.

She's insatiable. Callum interlocked his fingers with hers, staying her before she could take it further. "You're going to get yourself in trouble that way."

Squeezing his fingers, she let his hand go, then slipped her hand down the waistband. "What if I want trouble?"

Her lips collided with his, effortlessly, magnetically, her tongue diving into his mouth as her hand stroked him. All thought went out of his brain except that damned word trouble pulsing with each caress.

She's trouble.

"I don't have a condom here," he whispered as she pulled away.

She smiled, then pulled her shirt off. "We don't need one."

Oh fuck, those tits. He needed to add that to the list of things to do with her. "We don't?"

Full, with rosy-pink nipples that were hard already. "I'm going to have my way with you, Callum. First, I'm going to kiss you." She pushed those perfect tits against his shirt front and he groaned, hands reaching for them.

"You make me feel free," she whispered against his lips. "I want to kiss you hard, fast, and— oh. . ." she moaned as he pinched her nipple. "God, yes, more."

He rolled her nipple hard between his fingers, then dipped his head to kiss the other one. Her throat rested against the top of his head and she released a whimper. "And then I'm going to take your cock in my mouth, suck you until you come in my throat . . .oh, yes . . ."

Trouble.

He squeezed her tit hard, and she groaned again. His tongue flicked her nipple, his need for her overtaking him at the sound of her pleasure.

"And then we're going b-back. . ." she panted as he moved to the other nipple. "Back to the room and you're going to fuck me, bare, until we can't walk."

Everything about this woman was surprising. Even her ability to talk dirty and still look like a perfect angel.

I'm fucked.

She drew her hair back, pulling it into a hair tie around her wrist, then knelt in front of him. Pulling his shorts off his hips, she took his length and licked him.

Drawing him into her mouth, she stroked him with her tongue, twirling it around him. Her hands connected with her lips, taking him deeper.

My God, this woman.

He panted, any ability to think gone as she worked her magic, taking him deeply, rhythmically, with all the skill and confidence in the world.

Until he groaned.

Fuck.

Trouble.

He was coming. In her mouth.

His fingers were tight on the top of her head.

Click.

He could barely process what was happening until the back door to the kitchenette was already open.

Mum and Isla stood there, blinking.

Isla— God love her —slammed the door shut again.

Liddy pulled away, scrambling for her shirt as Callum turned from the doorway, bare-arsed, then reached for his shorts.

"Shite," Callum said, yanking his shorts up. He glanced at Liddy, who had somehow pulled the shirt on already—albeit inside out.

She stood, red-faced, then covered her face. "Oh my God, your mom."

From outside the door, Callum heard Isla cackling. "Can we come in now, lovebirds? Or is there still sex going on? I wouldn't want to interrupt before Callum gets his happy ending."

"Callate," Mum hushed in Spanish, her voice sounding farther away. "Jesús! Nunca lo hubiera creído." I never would have believed it.

Holy fuck.

Callum drew an embarrassed Liddy into his arms as Isla opened the door again. No getting around this one now.

His sister strode in, a grin on her face. "Mum decided to take a little walk." Isla tossed her hair—dyed red—over her shoulder, then came up to Liddy, hand outstretched. "I'm Isla. Callum's sister."

"Liddy," she managed.

"Oh, you're Liddy. Nice to put a face to a name." Isla wrinkled her nose. "You don't have to be embarrassed. I've seen loads of breasts before. And you have nice ones—I should know, I work in theater. Everyone's half-naked part of the time backstage. And as for that peen"—she gestured toward Callum—"Mum used to have us take baths together when we were kids, so I've seen that, too."

Callum rubbed the back of his neck, not sure if he should be more embarrassed for Liddy, who still looked mortified, or for the outrageous behavior of his sister. "Nice introduction, Isla."

"Well, we may as well acknowledge what's what. Though, from the looks of it, you're—what? Lovers? Callum wasn't exactly clear on what was going on."

Liddy cleared her throat. "Um, why don't I go back to the room? Let you and your sister catch up?"

Callum nodded. "See you soon."

Liddy gave Isla a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Isla."

Isla watched Liddy go and then arched her brow. "Damn. I was hoping she'd be spunkier."

"She's plenty spunky, you just embarrassed the shite out of her."

Laughing, Isla gave Callum an impressed look. "Wow, you must really like her. Defending her and everything. Clearly, she's more than just a good lay."

"Watch it, Isla." Callum hardened his gaze against her.

Yet she's not wrong.

"If this was the first time I'd walked in on you, Cal, it would be different. I wouldn't have a yardstick to compare to. You were quite an arse to that poor girl who yelled at me when I stopped by your flat that night Charlie broke up with me. I believe you yelled right back and then tossed her out."

"This is a totally different situation." Callum went over to the sink and turned it on. He splashed water on his face, cooling his skin.

"Yes, you like this woman. That's the difference." Isla came up beside him and put her arm around him. "I'm so proud, big brother. You've finally opened your heart up to love again."

Callum chortled. "I do not love her." He turned and narrowed his gaze at her. "Things are just complicated with her because of Mum and Sophia. I told Mum we were dating to keep her from spending every waking hour trying to convince me to get back with Sophia while I was here." Although, I am absolutely certain Sophia has never shared Mum's optimism about us. Sophia's words were clear. "But she's a colleague and Quinn's future sister-in-law?—"

"And you're clearly intimate." Isla crossed her arms and turned her back to the counter. "Was this before or after you arrived?"

"After. And after I spent the last few days trying to help her track down Elle's wedding dress—we thought it was stolen—only to find out that it was at the airport all along."

Isla smiled. "Oh, big brother, you have no idea what you're doing, do you? You must really, really like her." She reached over and pinched his cheek. "You're so cute when you're a real person with feelings."

Her words were like a blow to his gut, and his chest tightened.

He knocked her hand back. "Stop it."

She ignored him and squeezed his side. "Callum and Liddy. It's cute. Has a nice ring to it. And if you wanted to convince Mum that you're involved, you did an excellent job there. She might be at the house bleaching her eyeballs."

"Probably praying to God that somehow lightning strikes Liddy dead, more likely."

Isla draped herself on his arm. "Oh stop. I swear, Callum, if I have to spend this entire trip hearing you whine about how terrible Mum is, I'll shoot you myself."

Seeing an opportunity to shift the conversation away from Liddy, Callum took it. "Did Mum tell you she's thinking of selling La Hacienda? Sophia said business isn't going so well."

Isla's demeanor changed in an instant. "Wow, she brought you up to speed faster than I thought." She chewed on her lower lip. "I knew," she admitted to his hard stare.

"Mum told you she was struggling?"

"She probably would have told you—you just refuse to talk to her. Or to me about her. When was the last time we talked about Mum? You rarely let her name pass my lips."

That's true.

Then as he'd expected, Isla said, "I want to buy it. But I don't have the money. So I was thinking maybe you could lend it to me?—"

"Absolutely not."

"Callum, this is Mum's dream. She built this place with the love of her life, and you, what, just want to see it die?"

Callum frowned, her words hitting him hard.

Love of her life?

"What?" He gave Isla a confused look. "What ‘love of her life?'"

"Carmen." Then Isla scanned his face, horror coming into her expression. "Are you telling me you . . . didn't know?"

"Didn't know . . ."

Isla covered her mouth. "How could you not know? Oh my God, big brother, I never imagined you were this naive."

He was quickly putting the pieces together, but less quickly than he should have for something that should have been more obvious. "Mum and Carmen . . . were best friends." His words sounded empty, even from his own lips.

"They were a couple, Cal. Mum left Dad to be with Carmen."

"S-she . . . cheated on him . . . with Carmen?"

Isla nodded.

What. The. Fuck.

Unfiltered rage curled through his veins.

All this time, he'd thought Dad was the one who broke up their family.

But Mum?

And La Hacienda —and everything they'd built here—had been based on that betrayal.

A sick feeling crested through him.

No wonder Mum hadn't batted an eyelash at Sophia's cheating. It takes one to know one.

Although, that wasn't really all it was either. His mother considered Sophia an actual daughter. Because she's Carmen's daughter. She had literally been like a goddamn daughter to Mum for more years than he'd known.

" How can you make me choose?" Mum's words make far more sense now.

Callum raised a hand to his throbbing temples. "I need to sit." He stumbled toward the chair at the table and sat, unable to think straight and feeling sick.

How could his mum never have said anything? How could she have been so happy to see her son in a relationship with a girl she viewed as her own daughter? He felt incestuous as fuck. The whole thing was sick.

Everything he'd ever known about his mother was a lie.

A mixture of emotions played on Isla's face. She was clearly flabbergasted but also. . . sad? "I can't believe you never knew," she said softly. "Didn't Sophia ever say anything?"

"Sophia?" Good God. She'd known about it, too? Callum raked his fingers over his scalp. "Carmen got so sick right after we'd started dating. Sophia never wanted to talk about her. She'd just start crying. Then she died, and it was even worse."

"I guess that makes sense. You weren't here that often after you went to university, anyway. And you were a kid before that, really."

He scanned Isla's face. "It's hard to believe you have a relationship with Mum after all she's done. She's even worse than I thought, Isla. She destroyed our family. Cheated on Dad. Encouraged my relationship with someone she thought of as my stepsister? "

"I know." Isla set her hand on his. "And I get it, I do. I get why you're mad. But she's also our mum. And the way I see it, I can either have a mum and accept that she's human and imperfect or I can cut my family off and be lonely and miserable like you. And this is my home. I don't want to lose it. Not when I could save it...if you'd help me."

"It's not my home. And in my case, Mum has spent the last five years whitewashing the same sort of betrayal that she dealt out, telling me I should forgive and forget. Making me feel like I was less important to her than the daughter of her bes— her partner."

Isla fidgeted in her seat. "Maybe it's not Sophia that she's eager to have you forgive, Cal."

Callum stood. "It doesn't matter. I don't forgive her. Not for picking Sophia and especially not for picking Carmen. And I have no interest in saving her little dream here, no matter how attached to it you are." He gestured toward the office. "So don't ask again."

He left Isla there, his blood boiling.

Veering off the path to the bungalows, he made his way down toward the beach, stopping short when he came to a clearing in the jungle.

He drew in a deep breath, the sweetly scented, humid air filling his lungs that they had been desperately deprived of.

Goddammit.

He didn't want to hurt Isla. She was the person who mattered the most to him. The one constant in his life.

But it had all started here.

All the hurt.

Confusion.

Betrayal.

Being a scared nine-year-old kid who no longer had a home, no longer had a family altogether in the same place at the same time. Who shuttled from one place to the next, never feeling like any place was his.

Rootless.

He sat on the path, drawing his knees in as he wrapped his arms around his legs.

And I'm just supposed to forgive all that?

Mum's dreams had destroyed his life.

He caught sight of one of the scars on his leg.

And then this place destroyed mine.