Page 107 of Screwed
Callie wrinkled her nose. “True.”
Cash pulled her into his arms again. “I really am sorry. I was being such a dickhead.”
She smiled. “A little, yeah. You should have told me what was going on.”
“Yeah. I should have.”
“I’m sorry, too. I should have told you how I felt, instead of insulting you. I was hurt, and I lashed out. Also I was maybe a little drunk.” She held up her hand with thumb and forefinger nearly touching.
“No kidding.” He grimaced. “It did piss me off, thinking that you were using me to get back at Beau.”
“I’m sorry.” Anguish darkened her eyes.
“I get it, baby.” He stroked a strand of hair away from her face. “You were hurt, and I don’t blame you. I was an idiot.” His jaw tightened briefly. “I saw my mom get her heart broken because of my dad cheating on her and then leaving us. I saw you get your heart broken by Beau’s cheating.” He paused and pulled in a breath. “When I was a kid, after my dad left, I vowed I’d never be like that. Cheating and betrayal were the worst sins I could imagine. I promised myself I would be loyal to people I cared about and I’d always try to do the right thing. But…I was trying so hard to not be my dad…or Beau…trying to be loyal to everyone, and in the end I hurt you because of it. When you’re the one who most deserves my loyalty.”
She sucked in a shaky breath. “I love you for that loyalty. It makes you the man you are.”
“Christ.” He closed his eyes, gratitude for this woman and her forgiveness and unconditional love sweeping through him. “I’m not always good at talking about my feelings.”
She went onto her toes and kissed his mouth. Soft, warm lips brushed over his. “You’re good at other things.”
“Heh. And damn, baby, I want to do those other things to you. Hard.” He kissed her again. “Fast. And dirty.”
She moaned, and he rubbed his nose alongside hers. “Yes, please.”
“Been too long.” His hands slid down to her ass and pulled her up hard against him. His dick ached, and he pressed it against her softness. “Missed you so much.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and their mouths met again in a long, deep kiss. He licked inside her mouth, tasting her sweetness. “Oh God, Cash, I missed you, too.”
“Probably shouldn’t do this right in the windows of your shop.”
She gave a low laugh. “Probably not. But there are no windows in the back.”
He hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around him. He strode around behind the counter and glass display case and pushed through the white louvered swinging doors into the kitchen. It smelled fantastic, like cake and vanilla and chocolate. The counters were clean, just mixers and bowls still sitting there, presumably ready for Callie to start creating in the morning. He sat her down on a marble slab and kissed her again.
Their mouths devoured each other. He cupped her face in both hands to kiss her, then slid one hand around the side of her neck, his thumb rubbing her jaw, then closing so gently over her throat. Her jeans-clad legs hugged his hips, her ankles crossed behind him, and again his dick strained to press into her.
“Goddamn, Callie. I almost can’t believe this.”
“I know.” She moaned as his lips traveled over her jaw, then her throat. “I know. I can’t believe you love me.”
He held her face, leaned his forehead against hers, and pulled in a huge breath. Then he drew back to meet her eyes. Now was the time to be honest. “I’ve loved you forever.”
“Oh.” She pulled back and held his wrists. “That can’t be true.” She gazed up at him with questions and sadness in her eyes.
“It’s true. I know you thought I was…what did you say? A standoffish jerk. When I said I wasn’t good at talking about my feelings…I couldn’t…because I’ve always had this huge painful secret.”
“Wh-what?”
“That I was in love with you. My best friend’s girl.”
Time slowed, and the air thickened around them as she absorbed this. He watched her face change as she processed exactly what that meant.
“Oh.” She sucked briefly on her bottom lip, and a tear leaked out of her eye. “Oh God. I’m sorry.”
“Fuck no. Don’t be sorry. Shit happens, and there’s a reason for it.” That was all in the past and—holy, holy shit—they were together now. “I fell in love with you. It happened sort of gradually, and I didn’t even realize it. I knew I liked you…and you were hot as fuck…but that day you came to the hospital in that princess gown…and you were nearly crying over that little girl with cancer, but you were there, doing that for her…that was when I knew I loved you.”
She sniffled in a shaky breath. “Oh God.”
