Page 56 of A Little Bit More

Jack burst out laughing and shouted behind him, “Ryan? I was right. You owe me money.”

“Ryan’s here?” Isobel muttered. “Great. Who’s going to babysit him?”

For once, Callum agreed. Ryan might have been years older than Jack, and a security specialist to boot, but he was basically an overgrown puppy—left alone too long, he’d eat the furniture.

“I’m sick of arguing about you overreacting.” Isobel picked up her tiny, beaded purse. “But I feel the need to remind you that this isn’t my first baby. I know what I’m doing here, and you should trust me.”

He was about to answer when Jack slapped a hand on his shoulder, smiling up at him before turning to his mother. “Give him a break, Mum. This is his first baby, and he’s only trying to take care of you both.”

Callum’s heart clenched at his words. Damn, but he loved his boy. He might not be Jack’s biological father, but as far as Callum was concerned, he was a father in every way that mattered, and he couldn’t have asked for a better son.

Isobel’s eyes softened. “I know. But please, Callum, I’m begging you, don’t ruin my night out.”

“He won’t.” Jack squeezed his shoulder and gave him a pointed look. “Right?”

“Aye.” All he wanted was to stay close and keep her safe. It was either that or go stir-crazy pacing the carpet while she was gone. No, he wouldn’t have done that anyway. He’d have tailed her at a distance instead.

As though reading his mind, Isobel came over to pat his chest. “I’d rather know you were there than have you follow me and skulk in the shadows.” She grasped his T-shirt and tugged him down to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “Guess this is what I get for falling in love with such a throwback.”

Jack smothered a laugh, but Callum thought it a fair assessment. “Let me get my jacket, and then we’ll go.”

“Where are you meeting everyone?” Jack asked.

“Ask your dad,” Isobel said as she passed them. “He’ll have checked out the restaurant and theater by now. He’s probably spoken to the managers and changed our seats to something he deems more suitable. Knowing him, he’ll have scared the life out of the staff, and they’ll be too terrified to come near us.” With a shake of her head, she disappeared.

Jack grinned at Callum. “I want to be you when I grow up.”

Callum didn’t likethe restaurant the women had chosen. It was too crowded, too noisy, and too dimly lit. He’d visited the place as soon as they’d made their reservation and picked out the table they were to be assigned. The manager had taken one look at his face and hastily agreed to all of Callum’s demands. Now he sat at the bar, not far from the sisters, sipping an iced water and scanning the room for threats.

His phone buzzed from where he’d placed it on the bar beside him. One glance told him it was a message from his wife. When he looked back over at her, she was frowning. She stabbed a finger in the direction of his phone, so he picked it up and read the message.

You’re terrifying everyone. Either sit in the corner out of sight or try to look less intimidating.

What the hell? He looked back at her. Was he supposed to text a reply? What were they? Teenagers?

His phone buzzed again, and when he glanced back down, it was to find a message from Agnes, Isobel’s next youngest sister.She’s right. Look at the distance people are keeping from you. Do you want to ruin Isobel’s night?

Oh, great. It was a group chat.

Maybe you could try smiling?Mairi, the youngest, joined in. She followed her message with several smiling emojis and two GIFs showing him how it was done. When he looked at her, she mimed instructions for smiling, pointing at her face as though the concept was alien to him.

He still didn’t smile, which she obviously found hilarious.

Callum frowned at the empty margarita jug in front of her. Great. Just what he needed—tipsy Sinclair sisters. He mentally upgraded them from kittens playing with grenades to chimpanzees juggling grenades.

I think it’s sweet that you want to look after Izzy like this.A message from Donna, the last sister, appeared on his screen.

It was quickly followed by three identical texts saying,Suck up!

Callum nabbed a waiter as he passed. “See that table? With the women all dressed in green?” For some reason, the sisters were all wearing the bridesmaid dresses they’d worn for his wedding. And, more baffling, they’d excitedly told him that was the plan, as though he’d want to know. “I need you to go over there and tell them to get off their phones.”

The color drained from the guy’s face. “I-I can’t do that.”

“Aye, you can. That’s my wife and sisters-in-law. Just tell them to stop texting me and get on with their night out.”

His eyes flitted between Callum’s face and the phone in his hand. “Couldn’t you just text them?”

“Do I look fourteen to you?” Callum growled.