Page 77 of Chasing Callie

“Doubt it,” I say too quickly.

The guy hums, rubbing his jaw. “Well.” He stands up, brushing off his pants like the bench might have contaminated them. “I should get going. Nice talking to you.” He extends a manicured hand. “I’m Theo, by the way.”

I shake his hand because ignoring him would be rude, but I don’t offer my name in return. “Safe travels.”

“Maybe we’ll see each other around,” he calls as he walks away. I don’t dignify him with a response. I watch him climb back into his BMW and drive away, a knot of unease in my gut. I don’t know who the hell that is, but I know one thing for certain.

I don’t like that man. Good thing he’s just passing through.

The school parking lot stretches before me as I pull in, my truck’s engine cutting through the afternoon quiet. Parents are gathered in clusters, waiting for their kids, and somewhere in the mix of voices and car doors slamming, I know she’s here.

There’s a flash of silver in my peripheral vision. I glance over and frown. The BMW from this morning is at the edge of the lot. What the hell is it doing here? I take a parking spot, glaring at the vehicle, jaw tight, and cut the engine.

The school doors swing open and every other thought evaporates as Callie emerges like she owns the place, her hair catching the late afternoon sun as she bends down to high-five a little girl with pigtails. The kid beams up at her, chattering about something that makes Callie throw her head back and laugh. That sound hits me square in the chest, knocking the breath out of me.

She waves to a group of parents, ruffles another kid’s hair, and for a moment I’m transported back to when we were seventeen and she was babysitting. She’s always had a way with kids. Always made everything brighter whenever she was around. Like the sun. The things I would do to fall into her orbit and burn.

Her gaze finds mine across the lot and the world goes quiet. No more car engines, no more kids shouting. Nothing but the way she looks at me. Callie stares at me as if I’m good. A man worthy of a woman like her. I won’t let her in on my secret.

I’m not even close to good enough for her, but I’m too selfish to let her go now that she’s back. She says something to the last parent, gives one final wave to a kid hanging out a car window, then starts walking toward me.

That car. I scan the lot, but when I look back to where I thought I saw it, there’s nothing but empty asphalt. Good. I don’t like the idea of that asshole being anywhere near my girl. My focus zips back to her. All sunshine and chaos. Each step she takes sends heat racing through my veins.

“What are you doing here?” she asks with a grin. “Stalking me?”

“Maybe.” I grin. “Nah, I thought maybe you’d let me take you on a date.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “A date, huh?”

I nod, resisting every primal urge screaming at me to pull her into my arms and kiss her until she forgets her own name. The kids probably wouldn’t appreciate the show. The parents definitely wouldn’t. Instead, I check her out, taking in the way her jeans hug her curves and how her shirt brings out the green in her eyes. Callie is perfect in every way. Her mischievous eyes glitter with something that makes me want to stake my claim right here in front of God and everyone.

“Hey, Knox.”

Brax’s voice cuts through my possessive haze. He appears so suddenly it’s like he materialized out of thin air. That’s how much Callie consumes me.

“What’s going on?” He glances between Callie and me. I brace myself for his jealousy. We’ve talked about how this would work, but talking is a whole lot different than action.

“I’m taking Callie out,” I say, ignoring her mutter about how she hasn’t actually agreed to anything yet. I study my brother’s face, searching for any trace of irritation or resentment. We used to compete for everything as kids. Who could run faster, who could eat more pizza, who could make Callie laugh harder and the competition always turned into fights.

But all I find in his expression is genuine warmth and maybe a hint of relief.

“Have a good time.” He smiles at Callie. “Try to behave yourself, Alley cat.”

She makes a sound. “Since when do I behave?”

“Fair point.” Brax heads toward his own car, calling over his shoulder, “Don’t keep her out too late, Knox. She has to teach tomorrow.”

“Okay, dad,” I tease, voice catching on the word. It’s getting easier to joke about that type of stuff, but I still miss him every day.

Callie studies me as Brax drives away. The parking lot is emptying out, leaving us suspended in quiet anticipation. The way she looks at me is as if she’s peering into my soul, stripping me bare in a matter of seconds. Part of me worries she won’t like what she sees, but her features soften, and she clears her throat.

“So where are we going?”

“I thought you didn’t agree?” I push off the truck and step closer, close enough to smell the faint scent of her rosemary and mint shampoo.

She lifts a shoulder and glances away with a smile. “Changed my mind.”

“Playing hardball, huh?” Chuckling, I reach around her to open the passenger door. “How do you feel about Thai food?”