Page 29 of Hold Me Tight

And in the quiet that follows, something delicate settles between us.

Something that feels dangerously close to a softening I didn’t think was possible.

13

Callie

By the time I finally make it to the bakery the next morning, I’m running on caffeine and nerves. Nora woke up with a low-grade fever. Even though it wasn’t anything serious, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that clawed at my insides. She seemed fine by the time I dropped her at my parents’ house, but I’m still bracing for a phone call.

So when I walk in and see a glittery purple banner that reads Congratulations, I stop short. There’s a cake on the counter with bright pink frosting. Before I can jumpstart my brain, I’m swallowed up in a group hug.

Rina squeezes me hard enough to crack a rib. “We’re so proud of you!”

Sloane grins. “I knew you had him in the palm of your hand. By this time next year, you’ll be opening a second location in the suburbs.”

Lilah offers me a mug of my favorite mint tea. “You’ve earned this, Cal.”

It’s almost a shock when tears fill my eyes and a lump rises in my throat. All I can do is press a hand to my chest and try to contain all the emotion attempting to break loose.

“Thank you. Seriously. I really appreciate this.”

The four of us squeeze into the back table by the window and dig into the cake while Rina waggles her brows.

“So… Beau. Talk about one hot man.”

“He’s definitely handsome,” I agree.

Sloane leans forward. “Tell us everything. Was this a business dinner…” She waggles her brows. “Or a business dinner?”

I laugh. “It was just a business dinner. Although, the restaurant felt more romantic than I expected, and he ordered wine. Then, at the end… it kind of seemed like he might try to kiss me.”

“And?” Rina demands, sitting up straighter. “And then what happened?”

It’s almost embarrassing to admit the truth. “I might have told him that I didn’t think it was a good idea to mix business with anything personal before fumbling with the door handle and launching myself out of the car.”

Lilah giggles. “Oh no.”

Rina throws her hands in the air. “Girl. I would’ve been all over that man like glaze on a donut.”

“Yeah, well…” I shrug. “It didn’t feel right. Not that he did anything wrong. I just wasn’t feeling it.”

Sloane tilts her head. “Hmmm… Is that because you were too busy thinking about a certain blond hockey player with muscles for miles?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course not. He watched Nora for me and nothing more.”

“That was so sweet of him,” Lilah says.

It was.

It’s impossible to fight the smile that lifts my lips. “Okay, I’ll admit it. He was really great with her. I thought she’d be upset when I left, but she barely noticed I was gone. They colored, played with toys, and watched a show. When I came home, I found Nora passed out on him.” A beat of silence follows that admission. “Seeing how good he was, how kind and patient he was with her, meant more than I expected.”

Sloane arches a brow. “Go on. I’m totally loving this.”

Rina smirks. “You mean it melted your icy, independent heart just a little?”

Before I can respond, the door chimes behind me, and just like that, he’s standing in the entrance, as if I conjured him straight out of my thoughts.

He’s tall, golden, and infuriatingly hot in a worn hoodie and pair of jeans. His gaze settles on me, as if I’m all he sees. I feel the spark of electricity we always seem to generate down to my toes.