Page 12 of Flights and Sights

I smiled, pleasantly surprised that he’d even remembered Tommy’s name. “He’s off on Thursdays. Just me all day.”

He glanced at his phone and nodded. “I should probably get going. Get out of your way.” Instead of standing, he hesitated, looking at me.

“You’re welcome to hang out here as long as you like. Anytime, but especially today. Thursdays are slow. I like having the company.”

He shook his head. “I appreciate that. It’s just… I need to head into town and start making a list of other businesses I want to feature.”

“Of course.” I grabbed the bottle he’d requested and bagged it up. As he passed me his card, he took a breath, looking as if he were on the edge of saying something important. “You okay?”

“I was wondering if you were serious about that fake boyfriend thing.”

I frowned, brow dipping low. “Of course I was.”

“You’d really hang out with me and my family for a few weekends?”

“Sure. Why not?”

He shook his head. “You probably have something more important going on. Besides… what’s in it for you? I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness and not give you anything in return.”

You. I restrained myself from blurting that out. “Well…” I thought back to the day before, to Barbara Traylor and her warning that I only had a month to get my shit together, the proposal, the grant applications, everything, or I’d lose the chance to buy the lot and expand. He was a travel writer. He could probably get eyes on the meadery, right? Maybe that would buy us some time. Maybe he could even help with writing the grant applications. “I do have something you could help me with.” I explained the situation quickly.

Cal nodded once, smiling at me, looking genuinely happy for the first time that day. “It’s a deal.” He held out his hand and I took it to shake. His skin was soft, his grip firm, and his palm warm. My heart did a somersault as we shook on the deal. We made a quick plan for the following day, that he’d pick me up at the taproom in the late afternoon, and we’d head to his family dinner right after. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then, boyfriend.”

My heart fluttered again. “I can hardly wait.”

Chapter 6 - Callum

What had I done? Somehow, I’d convinced the hot mead maker to pretend to be my boyfriend for a month. Now, here I was, trying to focus on my next article, when in reality all I could think about was how I had to pick Paxton up in less than an hour and bring him to meet my family. Besides, how was I going to explain to my mom who he was?

I gave up on work and rummaged through my clothes to find something that felt appropriate to wear on this “date,” and as I was searching, someone knocked at my bedroom door.

“Callum? Honey, are you in there?” Mom’s voice called.

“Come on in.”

Mom opened the door slowly and stuck her head in. “You doing okay in here?”

I gave her a warm smile. “I’m great.”

She stepped into the room and perched herself on the edge of my bed. “Charlie says he told you about Jacob.”

I hummed and nodded.

“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t know until Angie said she was bringing a plus-one.”

With a soft sigh, I waved away her apology. “It’s fine, Mom. I’m over it. Long time ago.” I saw my opening and took it. “Actually… I’ve been seeing someone.”

Her eyes lit up. “You have? You should have brought him. Tell me everything.”

“He’s from around here, actually.”

She frowned, brow furrowing. “He is? That’s a strange coincidence.”

I understood her confusion. I lived on the opposite coast and I’d never had an affinity for long-distance relationships. It probably seemed out of character for me. “His name is Paxton. He owns the meadery on the edge of town. Out by the fruit farm and the honey farm.”

She didn’t seem convinced. “You’re dating him? For how long?”

I really should’ve thought the backstory through better before lying to my mom. “Um… it’s kind of new. We met a while ago, and we’ve kept in touch since, and we just recently decided to start dating.” It was as close to the truth as I could manage.