Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Of course, all I can think about is when Callum crashed into my bathroom to save me from the spider, half-naked and looking just as good as he did fifteen years ago. He has a strong, sculpted body filled with smooth muscles and skin that begs to be touched.
I realize I’m somehow standing at my door with my hand on the knob. I don’t even recall walking across the room but all the thoughts of sex with Callum propel me out the door.
“Get a hold of yourself,” I whisper, trying to force myself to chill out. But my girls’ words echo in my head.
You should jump his bones.
Trust your gut.
Maybe I’ll just go down and offer to help cook dinner.
I consider putting on some makeup or at the minimum some lip gloss. Maybe a pair of nice jeans and a blouse versus the sweatpants.
But then I decide against it. The less attractive I try to make myself, the less I’m likely to make a move on the man. I know one thing that has been dinged over the years under Joshua’s abuse is my self-confidence.
I know Callum still loves me—I believed him when he said that—but I don’t think I’m the attractive young girl he once loved.
I hear Callum before I see him as I creep down the stairs. He’s singing an Eagle’s song, the music playing in the background.
“Peaceful Easy Feeling.”
I love this song. Callum and I used to listen to it in the summer with the windows down and we’d sing at the top of our lungs. It epitomized our relationship.
I stand just inside the entrance that separates the living room from the kitchen and watch him at the stove. He has something sizzling in the pan and it smells delicious. He’s wearing the same outfit he had on when he picked me up. A pair of track pants and a well-fitted T-shirt. His thick hair was damp at Brienne’s, indicating he showered at the gym, but it’s now dry and in his casually swept-back style. His beard lends maturity to his overall aura and I felt the tiniest prickle from the hair over his lip when he kissed me at the wedding. I want more of that with a deeper kiss, maybe brushing over my neck or between—
“Hey, you,” Callum says, glancing over his shoulder, a pair of tongs in hand.
I blink away all thoughts of his beard and manage a smile. “Need some help?”
“Got it all under control.” He turns back to the pan and flips what I now see is a pork chop dusted in fragrant seasoning. A pot boils on the back burner.
“What are you making?” I ask as I move to a stool at the island.
“Pork chops, sweet potato mash and sautéed spinach. I know you’re an adventurous eater, so I figured those were safe bets.”
Sounds amazing. It’s a meal I would never have been allowed to make for the Willard men. “That’s gourmet for me these days.”
The words themselves are benign, but it’s my tone that has Callum turning around to face me. His expression is neutral, but I can tell he’s concerned because his attention is so lasered on me. “What does that mean?”
I shake my head and brighten my smile. “Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.” There’s no hiding that tiny flash of irritation so I’m compelled to add, “It’s not worth talking about. Joshua and Preston were very rigid in what they liked to eat and I had very little room to play around in the kitchen. It was the same thing over and over again.”
It should be enough to send Callum’s attention back to the stove, and it briefly does. But only to turn off the burners and place the tongs on the counter.
When he turns back, he comes to stand opposite me at the island, leaning his elbows on it. I expect him to poke and prod, wanting to understand more about my life away from his. I expect him to then want to give me reassurances and reiterate his love and that I’m safe.
Instead, he asks me a singular question that, despite its simplicity, will allow for an answer that could change the course of my life.
“If you could ask for one thing, knowing the answer would be yes, what would you ask for, Juni?”
My mind spins with the potential because I know whatever I say, Callum will do his best to give it to me.
There are things I could wish for that are beyond his control.
Rewind the clock to the day we broke up so I could change things.
Erase the memories of the past fifteen years.
Make Joshua and Preston go away so we never have to deal with them again.
All valid. Callum would be pleased with any of those wishes.
Rather, I decide to ask for something I know he can give. My gaze drops to his mouth and the beautiful, soft beard framing those full lips.