Total pages in book: 11
Estimated words: 10631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 53(@200wpm)___ 43(@250wpm)___ 35(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 10631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 53(@200wpm)___ 43(@250wpm)___ 35(@300wpm)
“I thought you weren’t going to be here until next week?” I ask, enjoying his warm embrace.
He shrugs. “I was packed, and the place I’m renting here was empty, so I figured why not. It gives me some time to acclimate to small-town living before I start at the clinic.
“Are you excited?” I ask as meet his intense gaze. It’s not a look I’ve seen from him before, at least not directed at me.
He nods. “It’s still a little surreal that I’m back here in our hometown, working as the vet. It was just a dream all those years ago.”
“Dreams come true if you work for them.” I repeat the line my mom has told me since I was a little girl.
He drapes his arm over my shoulders. “You sound like my mom.”
“Nope, that’s a Roni Davis original.”
“That’s a mom thing in general,” Tiffany adds.
“Hey, Tiff.” Callum keeps his arm around me but offers my best friend his free hand. “Good to see you.’
“Welcome home.”
“Thank you.”
“Right…. Oh, hey, there’s Beck. I’m going to go say hi.” She rushes off before I can remind her that we’ve already seen and talked to Beck. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’s consumed more of that bottle of Jack than what she has. But I do know her. My best friend knows I had a crush on Callum growing up, and today… well, let’s just say he’s definitely easy on the eyes. She’s trying to play matchmaker, and as much as I love her for it, it’s just not going to happen.
We’re adults now. He didn’t want me then. He’s not going to want me now.
Callum and I are friends.
“So, how does it feel to be home?” I take a drink of the warm beer and try not to grimace.
Callum studies me as his eyes roam over my face. “Damn good, Elena. I never knew that I could miss Charmed Cove.” He reaches toward me and takes the Solo cup from my hand. “Whatever this is, you hate it. Come on”—he laces his fingers through mine—“let’s get you something that will turn that grimace into a grin.” He winks, and I feel the weight of that simple gesture deep between my thighs.
Callum leads us to the keg of beer. We’re stopped several times on our journey. Everyone wants to say hello to him and welcome him home. The entire time he never lets go of my hand. When we finally make it to the keg, he tosses the contents of my cup and refills it before handing it back and filling one for himself.
It’s another fifteen minutes before we can leave the keg from everyone stopping to talk to him. My new beer is already empty, and he doesn’t fail to notice. “Dance with me.” He takes my cup, stacks it with his, and tosses them into a nearby trash can.
“Dance?” My eyes scan the field. The sun has long since set, and the only light is from the moon and the blazing bonfire. There are a few people dancing to the left of the fire.
“Come on now, Miss Davis. You know you want to show me your moves.” He grins as he slides his arm around my waist and pulls me in close.
“The dance party is over there.” I nod to the left side of the fire.
He leans in close, his lips a breath away from my ear. “I think we’re just fine right here.”
I open my mouth to object but find that I don’t want to. I’m perfectly content to dance here in the shadows with this man.
My body’s on fire, and it’s not from the alcohol running through my veins. Callum has been glued to my side all night. As in, we dance, we stop for a beer, then rinse and repeat. He’s always touching me with these small traces that have me ready to drag him into the woods and throw myself at him.
“You ready for another drink?” he asks. Callum’s body is molded to mine, and his large hand rests on the small of my back. His head is dipped, placing his lips next to my ear, and his hot breath sends shivers down my spine.
“I’m good.” I smile up at him. At least, I hope it’s a smile. I’ve had way too many red Solo cups tonight, and I’m feeling it. It’s been a long time since I’ve consumed this much alcohol.
“Hey, you two.” Tiffany staggers over to us. She’s clearly had one too many Solo cups tonight as well. “Fancy meeting you here,” she slurs.
“She’s had one too many.” Beck laughs. “I’m taking her to my truck to let her sleep it off. She insisted she stays and cleans up so that her cousin doesn’t fly off the handle.”
“He doesn’t know,” I remind Beck.
“Oh, he knows.” He chuckles. “He drove out about an hour ago. He heard all the noise. He’s pissed, but what’s done is done. Tiff promised it would all be cleaned up first thing in the morning. So yeah, she’s going to sleep it off in my truck.”