Page 38 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

"Or another bagpipe delivery," I sigh, standing."Sorry, Mom.Duty calls."

"Of course."She waves a grape-leaf-sticky hand."Go rescue your Scotsman."

"He's not my—What's the point?I'll call later."

As I gather my things, my mother catches my arm, her gnarled fingers surprisingly strong."Karina.Be careful, yes?With all of it."

Something in her tone makes me pause."I will."

I swallow hard, suddenly overwhelmed by the weight of everything.

Hell, the torn-up kitchen floor.The mounting bills.The deception I've maintained for far too long.

And now this…

This strange, unsettling awareness of Callum Abernathy.

"I need to go," I say, kissing her cheek."Viktoria, can you?—"

"Finish dinner, help Mom, keep digging through the digital trail?Got it.Go."

Outside, the July sun beats down on the quiet neighborhood street.

I scan for the car Callum mentioned, wondering what new development could require my Saturday presence.

Probably another viral trend.Another ridiculous product.

Another complication in an already impossibly complicated situation.

My phone pings with another notification from the ridiculous dating app.

I'll have to delete it later.

Right now, I need to focus on the job, on maintaining the professional façade that's kept me employed, kept the bills paid, kept my family afloat.

I spot Callum's black car pulling to the curb, window lowering to reveal only his driver.

As I slide into the back seat, my phone buzzes one more time—a message from Viktoria:

Digital trails updated.Now just don't fall for the guy who'll fire you if he finds out.

Simple advice.

If only the pounding in my chest at the thought of seeing Callum again were equally simple to explain away.

10

ONE FOR THE MONEY

CALLUM

Saturday night, Seattle's skyline glitters against an inky July sky as I pace the perimeter of my hotel suite—all twenty-seven hundred square feet of it.

The Four Seasons' Presidential Suite would normally feel spacious enough for a small army.Tonight, it feels confining.

I check my watch: 8:37 PM.

She's late.