Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

“ T hat brings us to the end of our class. You’re welcome to stay and do some more stretches if you need, but otherwise, have a great day.”

Callie smiled as she watched everyone put their shoes back on and pack up after the yoga session.

She loved her job. Massive could-do-it-every-day-and-not-get-sick-of-it kind of love.

Yoga and Pilates had always been passions of hers, and being able to share those passions with others gave her purpose. And today…today it also gave her the perfect distraction from everything else happening in her life. In fact, over the last three hours, she’d almost forgotten that she’d barely slept last night. And not because she’d seen someone prowling in her backyard. No, that’s what would keep a normal person awake.

She couldn’t sleep because Lock had slept on her couch, a mere few feet from her bedroom.

Then she’d woken to see his perfect chiseled chest when he was shirtless in her kitchen, making pancakes. Freaking pancakes! Oh, and bacon, because you can’t be a perfect ex-boyfriend without also making bacon.

The guy knew she was a sucker for a good breakfast.

Gah.

She stepped behind the desk and waved goodbye to two women as they stepped outside.

At least some more security was being installed at the house today. An alarm and a camera that would feed to her phone. If some asshole was watching the house at night, what was their end game? To gain entry or just watch them? Could it have been Dylan?

She still hadn’t told her father. He’d done a class earlier that day, and she hadn’t said a word about it. She was going to put that conversation off for as long as possible.

“Hey. How are you?”

Her gaze shot up to Hamish. She hadn’t spoken to him since the party. “Hi, I’m good.” Well, she was kind of good, but Hamish didn’t need her messy my-ex-slept-on-my-couch story. “You did great today.”

“Thanks. I have a great t-teacher.”

“Great? I’m not sure about that. Tired though? Absolutely, but you can probably see that from the bags under my eyes.”

“You always look beautiful.”

She swallowed, not sure what to do with that comment. Was it appropriate for a male client to call her beautiful? Was she overthinking everything because of Aspen’s comments about him being into her? “Thanks.”

“I, um, was w-wondering…” His gaze lowered to the floor, and Callie got an uncomfortable pit in her belly at what was about to come. “Would you…I mean, if y-you’re free…I would love to, uh, have d-dinner with you some time.”

Okay. Maybe Aspen had been onto something. Crap. “Hamish, that’s sweet of you to ask, but I’m not really in the headspace to date anyone right now.”

It was kind of true. She hadn’t really been in the headspace to date anyone for years.

Hamish’s face fell, and she suddenly felt like the worst human on earth.

“Th-that’s okay. I sh-shouldn’t have asked. Sorry.”

“Hamish—”

But he was already hurrying out the door.

Oh, man. She hated upsetting people. Especially kind people like Hamish. But was there a way of turning down a date that wouldn’t have upset him?

Hamish had only taken a few steps when two guys stopped in front of him on the sidewalk.

She frowned. The brunette…he looked familiar. Where had she seen him before?

A cocky grin spread across his face, and suddenly it hit her. The bar. It was the guy who’d grabbed her while she was dancing at Meridian. The same guy Lock had hit in the face.

The guy shoved Hamish in the shoulder.

Callie straightened. What the hell?

Hamish shoved him back, and he shoved Hamish a second time, but harder.

Assholes.

Callie ran outside and stepped in front of Hamish. “What the hell are you doing?”

The guy’s brows rose, surprise flickering through his eyes. “Hey. You’re the girl from the bar. The one with that alpha-dick boyfriend.”

“Apologize to Hamish.”

“Why? This another boyfriend of yours? He gonna hit me too?”

Asshole number two scoffed. “He could try.”

The first guy’s cocky grin widened before he stepped forward and touched her hip. “If I recall correctly, we had some unfinished business.”

“Leave her alone,” Hamish said, stepping forward.

Callie shoved at the guy’s chest, but he didn’t budge. “You have two seconds to drop your hands.”

“Or what? You hurt me with your pretty face?”

“Or I kick you in the balls.”

He held her gaze for one more beat before laughing and stepping back. “Luckily for you, I have somewhere to be.”

The other guy shoved Hamish, who stumbled a second time as the two men walked away.

Jesus, why were they such dicks? She turned and touched Hamish’s arm. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yes. Are you?”

“I’m fine.”

Hamish scrubbed a hand over his face, bumping his glasses. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey, it’s not your fault they’re jerks.”

“But I should have…” He shook his head, red tingeing his cheeks.

He was embarrassed. He shouldn’t be. “Hamish, they’re bullies. You don’t need to—”

“I should go. I’ll see you next time, Callie.”

For the second time that afternoon, he walked away before she could think of anything to say to make him feel better. And now she felt double guilty, even though she had no idea what she could have done differently.

Running her fingers through her hair, she realized she was trembling. Even though she’d played it tough, the guy had shaken her. If it wasn’t broad daylight with people around, would he have done more than just touch her?

Argh, she hated that she was affected by those lowlifes.

She stepped back inside and moved to the desk. Lifting her laptop, she then took it to the back room, where she set it on the table before making coffee. Maybe some admin work would make her calmer.

Once her drink was ready, she sat at the small table and went through her emails. She was taking a sip of coffee when she saw an email from an unknown sender, untitled.

Frowning, she clicked into it.

He’s not good enough for you. He’s never been good enough for you.

She shot back from her computer like it was a bomb about to detonate.

He was sending her emails now? And about Lock ? Because it had to be about Lock.

“What the fuck?”

She jolted at the voice, her coffee sloshing over the edge, sending boiling-hot liquid spilling over her hand.

Fuck.

Callie gasped again and Lock shot forward, taking the mug from her hand. Without a word, he led her to the sink and ran cold water over her skin.

He wanted to kick his own ass. What was wrong with him, scaring her while she was holding a cup of coffee?

“I’m sorry.” The words came out through gritted teeth.

She shook her head. “It’s not your fault. I’m jumpy.”

It was his damn fault. He’d reacted without thinking.

He skimmed his fingers over her delicate skin, hating the redness on her hand. “Did you just get that email?”

“Yeah. He’s never emailed me before.”

“It’s your work address?”

“Yes.”

So, available to the public. Still, her home address wasn’t, and he’d found that.

Lock’s muscles tightened at the reminder, but he was careful to keep his features neutral. “I’m sorry I was late.” He’d driven her to work and told her he’d be here to pick her up, but his last job had run longer than he’d thought it would.

“It’s okay.”

Their gazes met, and he got caught in the green of her eyes. The way it reminded him of the grass in spring, when it was that vibrant color after plenty of rain.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Her eyes widened, and yeah, maybe he shouldn’t have said it. But his intentions had always been clear—he wanted her back.

“Lock…” Her mouth opened and closed, like she couldn’t get the next words out.

The action drew his gaze to her lips. Her very full peachy-red lips. “The need to kiss you is killing me.” It was fucking torment.

This wasn’t the right time…but was there really ever a wrong time to kiss the woman he loved?

Her breathing caught, her chest pausing on its rise. “If you do…I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to pull away again.”

His chest contracted, the hand on her wrist sliding down to her waist. He lowered his head, time almost slowing in that fraction of a second.

Then his mouth covered hers, her sweet lips welcoming him.

When he kissed her, it almost felt like something returned to him. Something he’d lost long ago. A part of himself, maybe. A little bit of sanity.

His hand slid up her waist. She gasped, and he slipped his tongue into her mouth, tangling with hers while palming her.

She groaned, and the sound threaded itself inside him, like a song composed just for him.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he growled, turning to push her to the wall, pressing his body into hers so her soft pressed to his hard.

Her leg lifted, slipping around his waist, drawing him closer. And the feel of her against him…God, it was breathtaking. Made time stand fucking still.

They were made for each other. No matter what had happened in their pasts, what damage he’d caused, they would always belong together.

He spun them and lifted her to the edge of the kitchen counter before stepping between her thighs, hands on her knees. Every inch of her made him want to explore more. Touch and taste.

He was just sliding his palms up her thighs, when the ringing of a phone sounded… his phone.

“I’m ignoring it,” he whispered against her lips.

But her body stiffened, and it was as if the call pulled her out of the fog and back to reality.

Goddammit .

Her hands slid out from beneath his shirt and pressed to his chest. He bit back a growl as he forced his mouth back from hers. It took him two breaths to look up at her.

“You should answer that,” she whispered.

It was the last damn thing he wanted to do.

With a click of his jaw, he gripped her hips and lifted her down from the counter. “This isn’t over.”

Her eyes flared.

He turned and moved back into the studio room and took out his phone.

Antwan. Well, fuck. He couldn’t be mad at his friend.

He waited one more second to get his breathing back to normal and then answered the call. “Hey.”

“Lock…did I catch you at a bad time?”

The worst fucking time possible, but it wasn’t like he could tell him that. “No such thing. You doing okay?”

His friend took a few deep breaths. “I just needed to talk to someone who understood.”

Lock straightened. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m struggling. Being here, in our old apartment, without her…it’s harder than I thought it would be.”

Lock ran his fingers through his hair. He was talking about Hollie. Antwan had kept the lease on their apartment because he couldn’t give it up. But now that he’d been discharged and had moved back there, he probably couldn’t handle the memories.

If the team hadn’t already killed Malone, Lock would have hunted him down and killed him a second time. “What can I do?”

“I don’t know. Talk to me?”

“I’ll do you one better. You still coming to visit with Jesse?”

“Yeah, flights are booked for the week after next.”

“Pack a bigger bag.”

There was a pause. “What?”

“Stay in Misty Peak longer. Hell, stay a year. Being in the same town where you lived with Hollie can’t be helping anything.”

Lock’s phone vibrated with a text, but he ignored it as he waited for his friend to respond.

“You sure that’s okay?”

“Hell yeah, I am. I’ve got four bedrooms and I’m only using one, so there’s plenty of space.” In fact, his house felt pretty damn empty right now.

“Okay. Thanks. I’ll see you soon.”

Lock hung up to see a text from a local asking him to patch a hole in a wall. He was about to respond when Callie’s voice sounded.

“Did I hear right? Was that Antwan?”

Lock turned to see Callie’s lips still red from his kiss. Fuck, that made him want to kiss her all over again. He clenched his fists to stop himself from grabbing her. “Yeah. He and Jesse are visiting in a couple weeks. Antwan might stay for a while.”

Callie’s brows shot up. She’d spent time with his team when she’d visited their base between missions. She knew all the guys.

“That’s great. It will be good to see them again.”

He stepped closer. “You know I’m sleeping on your couch again tonight, right?”

She shook her head. “The extra security should be in and—”

He touched her hip. “Please…one more night.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “Fine. On one condition.”

“Anything.” He’d give this woman everything he owned if she asked.

“No more kisses…for now. Let’s just be friends for a while, like you suggested at the party.”

Could he do that? “That will be hard.”

“I know. I just…I want to go slow.”

Slow…that meant they were going forward. Hope lit his chest. “Slow it is.”