Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“I need a refill,” she says as sets her glass on a nearby table.
“I’m not sure —”
One of Sadie’s friends, seeming pretty tipsy herself, pushes her glass in front of Callie. “Have some of mine. It’s so yummy.”
Callie takes a big gulp of the drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand afterward, and I’m left wondering how strong that last piña colada was.
After she hands the glass back to the other woman, I reach for Callie’s hand. “Let’s dance more first.”
“Okay!” She practically jumps into my arms.
“It’s so good to see you having fun.” Sadie gives her sister an affectionate pat on the shoulder, before raising her eyes to me. “Thank you, Max.”
“My pleasure.” Callie twirls around, making herself dizzy, then wraps herself back into my arms and pecks a kiss onto my neck. Silly girl. I wholeheartedly agree with Sadie.
The other women wander away, and Callie and I dance to two more songs before the deejay shifts to a slow groove. I pull her closer, but she’s not ready to be still.
Her hands roam around my waist, my back, and my chest. “Aren’t you hot? You should take this shirt off.”
I chuckle and take one of her stray hands in mine. “I’m comfortable with it on.”
“Well, you’re making me hot. You’ve been making me hot all night.” My brows shoot up when she adds, “Hot and wet.”
CHAPTER 35
MAX
Ido my best to ignore the comment, only allowing myself a few seconds to bring up a mental image of what she’s describing. If I think about it any longer than that, I’ll have a much harder time sticking to my firm rule of not putting the moves on a woman who’s had too much to drink, even if she was clearly interested in me before she got drunk.
And though Callie was obviously turned on earlier, she put a stop to us kissing. I’d never push past that limit, especially while her defenses are down.
Plenty of people have left the party already. Aunt Iris has long been gone, along with most of the other older relatives.
I rub Callie’s back in long, soothing strokes through the rest of the song. “Want to head to the room and get some sleep?” I murmur as it comes to an end.
“I’m not tired,” she protests, though her body language says something different.
“It looks like the party’s wrapping up.”
“Okayyyyy.” Her eyelids are heavy, but there’s a pleasant grin on her face as I lead her past the bar and pool house toward the path that will take us back to the main building.
Her smile fades instantly and she freezes in place as we come across two entwined figures silhouetted along the wall.
“Callie.”
Shit, I should’ve been watching out for Rick.
“Callie, do you know my girlfriend, Alexis Hargrove? I’ll bet you’ve met her. The two of you are practically going to be related after this weekend.”
Alexis, for her part, has the decency to look uncomfortable. Not only have we caught the two of them making out here in the shadows, she clearly knows exactly who Callie is and what her relationship to Rick is.
“We know each other,” Callie says stiffly, nodding at Alexis.
“Let’s go, Callie.” I give her hand a squeeze before releasing it and sliding my arm around her waist to better support her.
“We’ll have to get together tomorrow and talk,” Rick calls after us as we hurry off. “We should catch up.”
All the fun Callie had dancing is gone, along with any happy effects from the alcohol. She’s trembling, though I’m not sure if it’s fear or rage until she speaks through clenched teeth.
“Why is he here? Hasn’t he ruined my life enough already? Why did he have to get involved with her?”
She’s not talking to me, and she’s not expecting any answers, not unless the universe finds its voice. The best approach seems to be to let her get it all out.
“All the years lost, all the money lost. I should have known better than to trust a man, and now I can’t get rid of him.”
The money comment catches my attention, and I’m curious enough to want to ask about it, but Callie continues.
“What if he marries Alexis? He’ll be in Sadie’s life forever. He’ll be an uncle to Sadie’s future children.” She wails in pain and starts to sob, and I steer us over to a bench where I can hold her and let her cry.
I don’t have tissues on me, so I pull my shirt over my head and offer it to her. She’s lost in her misery, and the feeling of helplessness that washes over me is cold and bitter.
In my head, I’m stalking back to the pool house and punching that asshole over and over until he can’t speak to her ever again. The thought of it is extremely satisfying, but the fact that I won’t let myself do it has me in almost as much pain as Callie.