Callum (Blue Halo Book 7)
Callum: Chapter 9

Fiona tugged at the hem of her gold dress, staring at her reflection in the mirror of the small bathroom. The garment felt tight and scratchy and uncomfortable. Which was ridiculous because it was the softest dang silk she’d worn in her life. The front fell low between her breasts, while the back was also low cut, and the material hugged her hips.

She looked good. Sexy. Fresh. She ruffled her hair, which fell to her shoulders in loose waves. So why did she feel nervous as hell about stepping out of this bathroom?

Was it because since arriving, she’d felt unbalanced? She hadn’t even cared about the one-bed situation when they’d stepped into the room, even though she’d done nothing but stress about it since asking Callum to do this with her.

Seeing Freddie had made her feel more than she’d thought it would. Not good feelings, God no. All bad. The way he’d hurt her. Stomped on their relationship like it was nothing. And now, she’d have to go downstairs and see him with her sister, surrounded by her family. The family may not have known that the man cheated on her, but they knew how long she and Freddie had dated. Would they look at her with pity? That I-feel-sorry-for-you expression people wore when they knew you were in the middle of a personal hell?

She just had to accept it. This was going to be god-awful, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Another tug on her dress. All right. Hiding time was over. With a resigned sigh, she turned and pushed into the room.

Two steps, and her feet stopped.

Holy Jesus… Callum stood by the window, buttons of his shirt undone, six-pack on full display. His chest had looked good earlier today, bare and dripping with sweat, but now, beneath an unbuttoned shirt, he looked distinguished and handsome…yeah, really handsome.

The chest—wait, no, the man—crossed the room, and her gaze met his. Her breath turned sharp as it sucked into her lungs…because his eyes were darker than usual. And so heated, she wondered how she didn’t turn into a puddle on the floor.

He touched her arms, and the burn scorched her skin. Then he lowered his head and his breath brushed her ear. “You look beautiful, Fi.”

Her brain short-circuited. Beautiful? This god of a man was calling her beautiful?

“Thank you.” The two words tumbled from her mouth.

Callum straightened. He started to button his shirt, and her gaze caught on those muscular hands. The thick, strong fingers.

Up, Fiona. Look up.

Humor danced in his eyes. “Ready to go?”

Slowly, the bronzed skin disappeared, but that did nothing to take away from everything else. The man was right, he did look good in a suit, jacket or no jacket. The shirt was form-fitting, and she could see muscles upon muscles cutting through the material.

Far quicker than appropriate, she turned and grabbed her heels, then sat to put them on. She’d just lifted her second shoe when Callum kneeled in front of her and took it from her fingers. He slipped it over her foot, and after he fastened the strap, his fingers ran up her calves.

Her belly dipped at the contact. At the way his hands skirted right up the outside of her thighs to her hips. “Ready?”

She nodded because she was completely out of words. If he was trying to distract her from her nerves about tonight, he was doing a great job.

It worked right up until they reached the bottom floor of the hotel. The wedding reception would be in the hotel function room, but the rehearsal dinner was in the restaurant.

The second they stepped out of the elevator, he slipped an arm around her waist and lowered his head. “Relax.”

Was she as stiff as she felt?

They stepped into the restaurant, and Amanda and Freddie stood right there by the door. Her sister wore a figure-hugging white dress that hit her knees. Her hair was up in a neat bun and her makeup immaculate. She was beautiful, but then, she’d always been stunning.

Amanda gave her a tight smile. “Hi, Fiona. It’s good to see you.”

Was it? Or had her sister been hoping she wouldn’t make it?

Fiona stepped forward and kissed her sister on the cheek. Just like every other time they’d touched in their lives, the embrace was awkward and stilted. She pulled back and gave a fake smile to Freddie. There was no way she was going to touch him again, and certainly not here, in front of a room filled with family.

She turned to Callum. “This is my…boyfriend. Callum.”

God, she needed to stop stumbling over the word boyfriend. Just get the lie out, woman!

Callum was a lot less awkward. For the second time that day, he shook Freddie’s hand, then leaned in and kissed Amanda’s cheek. It was a polite kiss, but there was still a zap of jealousy that shot through Fiona.

“Congratulations to you both,” he said warmly.

If possible, Amanda’s smile grew tighter. “Thank you.”

Fortunately, her cousin Stacey chose that moment to pop up and grab Fiona’s arm before pulling her into a hug. Hers was a complete embrace. It was warmth and happiness and joy.

She dug her head into her cousin’s shoulder in relief. “Hey, Stace.”

Stacey pulled back seconds later, gripping Fiona’s upper arms. “I’ve missed you!”

“You have no idea.” She turned to look beside her. “This is Callum. Callum, this is my cousin Stacey.”

Stacey’s eyes grew so large, they resembled saucers. “Holy crack on a cracker. You are beautiful!”

Fiona choked on a laugh. Stacey had never been one to hold back.

Callum chuckled. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Stacey.”

Fiona’s calm lasted about two-point-five seconds, until she found her seat beside her nosy aunt and uncle. Damn Amanda—the woman had done this to torture her. At least Stacey sat opposite.

After introductions between her family and Callum, came the questions. Where was she living? How long had she and Callum been dating? How often did she come back and visit her parents?

The second wine was set in front of her, she downed half the glass in one gulp. Thank God for alcohol. It might help her get through tonight alive. She was on her second gulp when her aunt’s next words came.

“We were all wondering how you’d handle this wedding after Freddie left you for Amanda.”

The alcohol caught in her throat like acid, and she choked. Once she was sure she wasn’t about to drown herself in wine, she gave the woman her sweetest fake smile. “Actually, I left him.”

There’d been no other option after replaceing the asshole in bed with her sister. Oh, he’d said he was sorry. Said the fling with Amanda hadn’t been going on for long and he’d stop sleeping with her…the lying sack of shit. Did he think she had no self-respect?

Aunt Trish’s brows rose. “Really? Amanda told us he left you.”

Of course she did. She was tempted to tell the woman that the two hadn’t actually waited for Freddie and her to breakup, but Callum’s hand moved to her thigh, and his thumb grazed her skin.

A calm she had no right feeling choked the words back. “Amanda gets confused with details sometimes. Probably all the Valium she takes for her episodes. I left Freddie. And I’m so glad I did. Seeing him and Amanda together, it’s like their souls were made for each other.”

Her aunt’s jaw dropped, words seeming to be lost on her. Well, there was a first for everything.

She sipped her wine again, this time the liquid slipping into her belly with ease. When she looked up, it was to see Stacey biting her lip to stop her laugh. Her cousin leaned in and pulled her aunt’s attention away.

Thank you, Stacey.

Her gaze moved down the table—until it clashed with Freddie’s. What the…? The man was very obviously staring at her. Which was not a smart thing to do at his own damn rehearsal dinner. Then his gaze shifted to Callum, and just like they had earlier that day, his eyes narrowed.

Callum leaned down, pulling her attention away from Freddie. “I meant what I said in our room. You look beautiful tonight.”

There was another swipe of her thigh. She looked up, a real smile curving her lips. And God, did she love the way he said “our room.” It felt…intimate. Which it was. She was going to share a room with this man tonight!

She swallowed. “Thank you.”

Noise hummed around them as the night proceeded. The chatter of family plus Freddie and Amanda’s friends. The dishes were brought out, and for the most part, the evening went smoother than she thought it would. It certainly wasn’t the mess she’d been expecting. But then, that had everything to do with Stacey saving her from her aunt and uncle every time their questions got too personal. Which was probably a good thing, because her tongue got a bit looser with each sip of wine.

And then there was the man beside her…touching her leg…making her laugh and smile.

They were just finishing their meals when Callum pulled his ringing phone from his pocket. She saw Liam’s name pop up. Callum’s finger hovered over cancel, but she touched his arm.

“Take it.”

His brows flickered. “Are you sure?”

“Of course. It could be important.”

He watched her for one more beat before squeezing her arm and rising. Even that small touch sent her blood roaring through her veins.

She looked up to see Stacey grinning at her. A massive I-see-what’s-happening grin, only there was nothing happening.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Fiona.

She set her napkin on the table. “I’m just going to the bathroom.” Maybe the short walk and separation from Callum would help clear her foggy head.

She rose and moved to the back of the restaurant. Soon it would be speeches, then dessert. She was kind of dreading speeches. Would they talk about how they came to be together? And if they did, would they lie about the timeline?

With a long exhale, she pushed into the bathroom. When she came out of the stall, she was looking at her reflection while she washed her hands, noticing that her eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed. Because of Callum? Or because she’d already had two and a half glasses of wine? Maybe both.

She exited the bathroom—and almost immediately collided with a large chest.

“Freddie. Sorry, I didn’t see you.” She tried to step around him, but his fingers curled around her arm, stopping her.

His voice lowered. “Hey, I just wanted to check on you. Speak to you alone.”

Uh, that was the last thing she wanted. Like dead last on the list. “Why?”

“Well, this weekend can’t be easy for you, based on our…history.”

She could have laughed…or maybe she did a bit, because his eyes narrowed. “We’ve been over for almost a year, Freddie. I’m happy for you both and looking forward to seeing my sister married.”

Well, that lie just rolled off her tongue. Thank you, wine. She almost wanted to give herself a little pat on the back.

“What’s with your date?”

Her brows rose at the way he sneered the word date. “What do you mean, what’s with him? He’s my boyfriend.”

Freddie’s light brown eyes sharpened, and he shook his head. “You wouldn’t date someone like him.”

“Excuse me? Don’t assume to know who I would and wouldn’t date.”

“You and I were together for six years. I know you.”

She scoffed. “You don’t know me. I’m not the woman you cheated on anymore. And even if I was, you barely knew who she was. You were always out. Always away for work.” She barely held back air quotes on that word. Trips he’d labeled as work but probably weren’t. “I changed before we ever broke up. And I should have ended things before you showed me the scumbag you really are.”

She wrenched her arm from his hold and stepped around him, but he cut her off again. “Freddie—”

“You’re in her way.”

Callum’s low, deep words sounded as he came into view. He stood behind Freddie, towering over him, with fisted hands and a granite jaw.