Page 26 of Dark Succession (The O’Malleys #1)

She thought over how even being within touching distance of the man was enough to raise the small hairs on the back of her neck, and the way Teague spoke of him.

Her father could be ruthless when the situation called for it, but she’d never once doubted that he loved her and her brother with everything he had.

And, when push came to shove, he was willing to let her make the decisions that ultimately impacted her life.

Like agreeing to marry a stranger. All Seamus cared about was his children’s compliance.

Their happiness didn’t even come into the equation.

Callie sat back. “I think that any woman who would go to bed with that man—and keep doing it—is someone I’m not inclined to underestimate.”

He nodded like she’d given the right answer on a test. “All the same, try to enjoy the preparations. I know you didn’t choose this, and after Brendan…”

She reached across the desk and covered his hand with her own.

She might want to air her confession to make herself feel better, but her father obviously didn’t want to hear it.

She wouldn’t burden him with her sins just to lighten the weight she carried.

“It will be okay, Papa. Though I can think of a thousand things more important than wedding planning.”

“Unfortunately, it’s necessary. The wedding itself is as much a statement as the marriage.”

“I know.” Which was why she’d gritted her teeth and kept her complaints to herself. She squeezed his hand again. “We’ll figure out a way out of this.”

“Sometimes the only way out is through, Callie. You know that.” His smile was tired. “But we’ll get through it. We always do.”

Guilt rose, threatening to choke her. She used to wish she could consider things as coldly and calculatingly as her father seemed to be able to when push came to shove, but now that she realized the ability was within her, all she wanted was to go back to how things were.

Before she’d agreed to her engagement to Brendan.

Before she’d let frustration and fear get the best of her.

Before her entire world had come crashing down around her.

It would have happened sooner or later .

She knew that, but the knowing didn’t make the guilt easier to bear. She pushed to her feet. “I’m going out tonight.”

“To see that boy of yours again.”

She didn’t comment on his knowing that she’d been at Teague’s. It went without saying that Micah would have reported back to Papa. The fact that he chose not to bring it up until now was surprising. She hesitated just inside the door. “I… I think I like him.”

“I’m glad.” The naked relief in his voice made her feel both better and worse.

“Good night, Papa.” She walked out of his office and closed the door softly behind her.

Once she was alone, the worry that had been plaguing her every waking moment since Teague left her sight rose up with a vengeance.

They’d shared short phone calls every night, but that did little to reassure her that he was taking care of himself.

He sounded as tired as she felt, which wasn’t comforting in the least. She dialed him before she could talk herself out of it.

“Hey, angel.”

“Hello.” She walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, closing it almost before she registered its contents.

The quiet sound of his breathing soothed her, but not nearly as much as the feel of his arms around her did.

She needed that—desperately. Words rose before she could think better of them.

“I wrapped things up earlier than anticipated. Can I see you tonight?”

“How soon can you be to my place?”

Relief made her knees a little shaky. “An hour.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

“See you then.” She hung up, the giddy feeling rising through her enough to make her wonder why she hadn’t suggested this before.

In the insanity of their lives, how safe she felt in Teague’s presence was a glowing constant.

It didn’t seem to matter how briefly she’d known him, because he looked at her with those dark eyes and she felt like nothing bad in the world could touch her.

That feeling was dangerous, to be frank, but she couldn’t resist hurrying to her room and throwing some choice clothing into an overnight bag.

She paused, considering her closet. Tonight, they would escape from the real world for a while.

Her hands hovered over the lingerie she’d bought the other day with him in mind, but she reluctantly put it back into the drawer.

As much as she wanted the reprieve that came from their physical relationship, they both needed something else right now.

Comfort. She’d stop on the way over and pick up some food.

Tonight was as close to an escape as they were allowed, and she intended to make the most of it.

The real world would have to wait until morning.

Teague wasn’t prepared for what the sight of Callie would do to him. He opened the door to find her standing there, her cheeks rosy from the brisk breeze, her hair windblown, and her eyes drinking him in the same way he couldn’t help but drink her in. “I missed you.”

Her smile was like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds. “I missed you, too.”

He kissed her, because going another moment without doing so was unacceptable.

She melted against him at the first brushing of lips, her arms sliding around his neck.

He nipped her bottom lip, and then soothed the spot with his tongue, the taste of her going straight to his head.

“You’d better come in before we do something to scandalize the neighbors. ”

“God forbid.”

He led her into the apartment, pausing only to lock the door.

“You look good.” And she did, wearing a white sundress with red flowers on it.

Her blond hair had an artful curl to it, but there were still faint circles under her eyes that were a mirror to his.

She held a bulging bag over each shoulder, and when he tried to take them from her, she slipped past him down the hallway.

“You’re lying, but thank you.” She set one of the bags down on the floor near the wall and put the other one on the kitchen counter.

Then she turned back to face him, her blue eyes narrowing.

Her fingers hovered an inch from his face, tracing the pattern of his bruise.

It had faded to a truly impressive yellow-green tint that made his mother shake her head every time she looked at him.

Callie motioned to his torso. “How are your ribs? I suppose it’s too much to hope that you’ve followed the doctor’s orders to take things slowly. ”

There was comfort in starting this night with a conversation similar to the ones they’d had the last few nights.

“It depends on your definition of slowly.” He laughed when she scowled.

“Ah, angel, I’m mostly joking. I’ve managed to go a whole five days without fighting or doing anything else that would injure me further.

” Mostly because Carrigan had threatened his life if he left the house, and Sloan and Keira basically pounced on him if he got within ten feet of the front door.

He’d had to conduct his investigation to find Brendan’s killer via Devlin and Liam.

The former he would have liked to avoid including despite the work being low-risk, but his youngest brother had insisted.

They hadn’t found much conclusive, but three of the dancers who worked at Tit for Tat were sure they saw a woman who wasn’t an employee leaving through the back door with blood on her.

On one hand, it would no doubt reassure both James’s and Teague’s conscience that it didn’t seem to be a case of self-defense that came about from some runaway.

On the other hand, it made it a hell of a lot harder to track the woman down.

Two of the three dancers said she was wearing a bright red wig, and he couldn’t exactly search Boston for a woman with “a body to kill for.”

No, he was temporarily stalled out, at least until a few of the feelers he put out came back. He paused in the kitchen. “Beer or wine?”

“Wine, please.”

He poured her a glass and then grabbed a bottle of beer for himself. If he was stuck for the time being in his search for the truth, there wasn’t anyone else he’d rather be stuck with. “Have I mentioned that I missed you?”

“It might have come up.” She smiled and moved to peer into his cupboards. “Sit down before you fall down.”

He’d half expected her to show up ready to seduce him—especially considering how the last time had gone when they were in this apartment. The fact that she so obviously had other priorities stung his pride a little. He stepped up to wrap himself around her from behind. “What’s the hurry, angel?”

“None of that.” She slapped his wandering hands away and turned in his arms to face him. “It’s been a rough week, Teague. Let me take care of you for a little while.” She pressed a light kiss to his throat. “It’ll make us both feel better.”

There was no rush. He’d wanted to prove to her that this meant more to him than hot sex, and dragging her off to his bedroom to show how much better he was suddenly feeling wasn’t going to do that. They had all night. Teague kissed her forehead and let her turn back around. “What’s for dinner?”

“Pizza.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Our cook, Emma, has tried to teach me the finer points of putting together a meal, but I’m a lost cause. I can do the simple things, but that’s about it.”

It didn’t matter if she was making mac and cheese. Callie was here, cooking for him, making sure he took care of himself. “How can I help?”

“Sit down and drink your beer. You might be feeling better, but you still look like you’re about to keel over.” She pulled out two jars of pizza sauce and started laying the various toppings out on the counter.

He sat. “You sure know how to make a man feel ten feet tall.”

“I just—”