Page 41 of Playboy Husband

CALLUM

My meeting wrapped up right on schedule and I didn’t linger once it was over. The last few days had been a blur of prep work to get my team ready for the time I would be away.

A week in Scotland.

For my wedding.

If anyone had told me a couple months ago that I’d be excited to be flying across the pond for my fucking wedding, I would have laughed them out of the building. When I’d placed that ad, I’d really thought this would all be simple.

Courthouse. Signatures. Some chick I would learn to get to know over the next few years.

This was not that.

I strode to the elevator and took it up to Sterling’s floor, my head spinning.

Maisie had gone along with my family’s surprise plans, turning this week so far into a whirlwind of planning and preparation.

Sterling was insufferably pleased that he could surprise Laney with a trip to their estate for this, but strangely, I’d somehow found myself looking forward to it, too.

Not necessarily the castle or the trip but the actual nuptials. Making it official. Making it real.

The elevator doors slid open in front of me with a low, digital ding and I shook myself out of it, stepping onto the executive floor determined not to look like a lovesick fool.

Up here, our offices were always buzzing with a different kind of energy than mine, controlled execution rather than creative chaos.

It always made me feel like I had to be more serious when I visited. Obviously, I had never actually followed through on the urge but still. The last thing I wanted was for these people to think that their marketing director was some idiot with his head stuck in the clouds.

I might never be their commander in chief, but I was a Westwood. An executive in this company. I’d never taken that quite as seriously as I probably should have, but I wanted to try. To be a man Brody could be proud of and look up to.

When I strode into the main conference room where Sterling had asked me to meet him, my dad and all three of my brothers were already there, gathered around the massive table like this was some kind of council meeting.

Or a war room, perhaps.

I cocked my head as I shut the door behind me. “What’s all this about?”

Sterling frowned as if he didn’t quite understand the question. “Scotland. Obviously. We’re leaving in three days. We need to make sure we’ve got our army of ducks in a row.”

War room, then.

“Okay.” I glanced at Harrison, who was looking surprisingly comfortable in a suit now that he’d traded airports, backpacks, and fraternity parties for the family business.

“My offer stands if you’d like to come join us down in marketing instead.

We never convene impromptu Knights of the Round Table sessions. ”

He laughed but glanced around the table before he snorted. “They do kind of look that way, don’t they?”

I nodded slowly, turning my attention on my dad. “Why’d you put him in Jamie’s department anyway? Marketing is where it’s at.”

“Where what’s at?” Dad asked, brow furrowing in confusion. “He’s with Jamie because he’s interested in acquisitions.”

I frowned at Jameson. “Seriously? You managed to make that sound enticing?”

He shook his head and shrugged. “Don’t look at me, man. If the kid wants to liquidate some assets and thinks it’s fun to slice away the rot, who am I to argue?”

“Enough.” Dad sighed. We all fell silent and turned to him, but his eyes were locked on me. “As Sterling was saying, the jets take off in three days. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I reached for my tie and loosened it a little, suddenly feeling some pressure I hadn’t felt at all until I’d walked in here. “What’s going on?”

“We just need to make sure that legally, we’re good to go before the ceremony.” Dad folded his hands on the table. “The papers are all signed?”

“Yep, but you already knew that.”

“Then perhaps the more accurate question is whether everything is in order with the papers you signed. Have you followed up with the lawyers? Have they filed everything? Are they creating the trusts? Opening the necessary accounts?”

“Yes to all of the above,” I said confidently, realizing that there was no need to feel all that pressure.

Maisie and I really were ready—legally and personally.

“We’re all good, Dad. They’ve executed the paperwork and I’ve been receiving updates almost by the hour.

Everything is progressing smoothly. No hold-ups, no issues. ”

He gave me one of his rare, approving nods, a flicker of satisfaction passing over his features. “Good. That’s excellent news, boy. Stay on top of them.”

He rose and glanced at Harrison, inclining his head toward the door. “Let’s go. You’re in this next meeting with me.”

“I am?” Harrison asked but stood up without waiting for an answer.

Jameson let out a dramatic sigh. “I thought he was supposed to be my lackey.”

Dad lips curved into a smirk, which was almost as rare as his approving nods. It seemed he really was happy with us at the moment. “I made this lackey. You’ll have to wait until your twins are born before you get the same seniority.”

Jameson’s eyebrows shot up and he snorted trying to hold back laughter. Before any of us could ask why Dad was in such a good mood, he disappeared with Harrison in tow.

Sterling groaned once they were gone. “I have no idea what that means for us, but I’m not looking forward to finding out.”

Jamie wrinkled his nose. “I wouldn’t worry about what it means for us. We’ve done what he asked. Harrison should probably start running through.”

“Nah,” I said, my head shaking. “If anything, he’s safer now than he was before. Dad’s in a great mood. He might allow the kid to turn twenty-four before he marries him off.”

Sterling scoffed. “No way, man. I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again, Dad is serious about this.

All of us have to be settled before he retires next summer.

It snowed last night, which means winter has officially arrived.

Before we know it, spring will be here. Harrison will be hitched by then. ”

“We’ll see,” Jameson said, then turned to Sterling. “Was there anything else you wanted to talk about? I’ve got a lot to get done before we leave.”

Sterling nodded and brought his gaze back to mine. I considered asking if he was sure he hadn’t slept with Maisie years ago. His resemblance to Brody really was striking, and after I’d seen that picture, it was getting more and more difficult to keep letting it go.

“Besides trying not to hyperventilate when the bagpipes start playing, is there anything you still need to do for the big day?” Sterling asked.

I rubbed the back of my neck, mentally reviewing my list. “I don’t think so.

The paperwork is all squared away. My department knows who’s handling what while I’m gone.

I want to look into buying Brody a snowboard, but I need to talk to Maisie about that first. So yeah.

I think I’m ready. The only thing I haven’t done… ”

I trailed off, honestly only realizing it as I spoke.

Sterling arched an eyebrow at me. “Well? Don’t leave us in suspense.”

I grimaced. “Don’t judge me for this, but I haven’t met Maisie’s dad or her brothers. We’re flying them to Scotland. I’m marrying the man’s daughter and I’ve never looked him in eye or shaken the man’s hand.”

Jameson let out a low whistle. “That’s a pretty risky strategy, bro.”

“Take it from me, it’s downright fucking suicidal.” Sterling grinned. “I can’t wait to see how that plays out. Did you not learn anything from the mistakes I made with Laney’s dad?”

“Shut up.” They weren’t wrong though, and now that I’d realized what a complete asshole this would make me, there was no way I was letting the situation stand. “I’m going to fix it.”

Before either of them could reply, my phone was in my hand and I was looking at flights. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my brothers exchange a look, but when Jameson opened his mouth, I shook my head.

“Don’t say anything,” I warned him.

“Wasn’t going to,” he lied, the twitching at the corner of his mouth giving him away.

Sterling just looked back at me, lowering his chin in a decisive nod. “My jet’s not going anywhere until Scotland.”

“Neither is mine,” I said. “Let me talk to Maisie. I might just fly commercial, though. I need to talk to her before I make any decisions. Taking other people’s feelings into consideration is new for me. I need to get it right.”

An hour later, I was at her school. The halls smelled faintly of floor wax and whatever they’d served in the cafeteria for lunch. I caught sight of Brody through his classroom window as I passed through the elementary school wing.

He spotted me immediately, waving so enthusiastically that I paused for a beat and grinned, but when his teacher frowned at me and started for the door, I quickly kept walking before I got us both in trouble.

The high school section of the school was on the other side of the property, and by the time I got there, Maisie was in a free period.

I found her in her classroom, a stack of papers in front of her and a red pen in her hand. She looked up and saw me, surprise registering on her beautiful, heart-shaped face. Her smile was like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.

“Hey, you,” she said quietly, standing up as I shut her door behind me. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

As her eyes found mine, it suddenly felt like I could breathe right for the first time all day. “Do I need an excuse to visit my soon-to-be wife? Maybe I just missed you.”

Her smile widened. “What am I going to do with all that charm when we’re married, huh?”

I closed the distance between us without hesitating, immediately hooking an arm around her hips and pulling her into me. Her head tipped back as mine descended. Our mouths met in a soft, unhurried kiss and she melted into me like she’d been waiting for it all day.

For a second, all I could think about was this. Her. In my arms. Maisie fucking Morgan, my fiancée. Against all odds, the only crush I’d had in college, the only serious crush I’d ever had, had come back to me. I was on the cusp of making her mine.

When we finally pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed and her pupils were a little larger than they had been before.

She cleared her throat, blinking a few times until her gaze cleared.

“Sadie’s taking me shopping for a dress this afternoon.

Do you think you could take Brody to hockey practice for me? ”

“Sure,” I said, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Is there a rink in Michigan where your family lives?”

Her expression shifted instantly, going from soft and maybe even a little excited to horrified in less than a second. “What? Why?”

I laughed and caught her hands. “There’s something I need to do before the wedding.”

“In Michigan?”

“Yeah, well, that’s where your dad and your brothers are, and I need to have a conversation with them. Preferably before we’re all stuck in a castle in Scotland together.”

Her lips parted and her mouth opened before it closed again. Her eyes widened like I’d suggested we jump naked off the Golden Gate Bridge. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Maybe not, but I want to. It’s important for me to look them in eye at least once before we fly them halfway across the world for our wedding.”

Maisie groaned, burying her face in my chest. “My mom has already told them what’s going on. You really don’t have to worry—”

“I do,” I said firmly, brushing my thumb across her knuckles. Then I released her hands to slide my arms around her again. “I want them to know I respect them enough to come in person. To meet them on their turf before we’re all together on Sterling’s.”

She searched my face. The fight slowly drained out of her. Finally, she sighed. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Alright, then,” I said, relieved that she’d agreed.

This meant more to me than I had realized until she’d tried to talk me out of it.

“I’ll take Brody with me if that’s okay with you?

He and I can head to the airport after hockey and you can shop with Sadie and do whatever needs to be done over the next few days without stressing about shuttling him back and forth. ”

Her eyebrows shot up. “I don’t know, Callum. I’ve never—”

“I know, but you deserve a break and it might be easier if I fly straight from Michigan to Scotland with your family anyway. Brody can travel with us and you come over with my family. I’m sure he’d love a few extra days with his grandparents and his uncles. I know he misses them.”

Her eyes widened, then narrowed. It was like she was trying to decide whether to argue or thank me. Eventually, she settled for muttering, “You’re impossible, but okay. On the condition that if he’s not comfortable without me at night, you bring him back. Immediately.”

“I guess we’ll take my jet, then. It’ll be useful having the pilot on standby if I’m going to take your condition seriously, which I am.”

“Wait, your jet?” She blinked rapidly. “I thought it was Sterling’s.”

I shrugged. “He’s got a jet. I’ve got a jet. We’ve all got a jet. Well, no. Not really. I don’t think Harrison does yet and Mom definitely doesn’t. She doesn’t want one. You should see the size of her yacht, though.”

“I—what?” Maisie squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “Never mind. We’ll unpack that sometime, but this doesn’t feel like the place to do it.”

I bent down and kissed her one more time before forcing myself to step back. As I turned to leave, she gave me a worried look and it stuck with me long after, gnawing at the edge of my thoughts.

Maisie knew her family better than anyone. Certainly better than me. If she was looking at me like that, maybe I really had no idea what I was walking into in Michigan—and maybe, it should’ve worried me just a little bit more.

No turning back now.