Page 43 of Playboy Husband

CALLUM

The flight should’ve worn Brody out, but he bounded off the plane with that same, unstoppable energy he always seemed to have. Chattering about hockey practice and what his class was doing for a fair coming up at school, he also still didn’t seem to have run out of things to talk about.

I smiled as I listened to him, juggling our bags and trying not to be nervous about meeting Maisie’s dad and brothers. Brody had reassured me a bunch of times that they were the best and that we were going to have fun with them, but I was more reserved, cautious and not necessarily optimistic.

At seven, there was no way he understood how badly this could go.

Their daughter and sister had agreed to marry a guy they’d never even met, and she was doing it not for love but for the sake of convenience.

That wasn’t exactly the epic love story or the happily ever after I was sure her dad had dreamed about for her.

Even so, I swallowed my nerves and followed him out to where three men were standing outside of baggage claim. Maisie’s brothers were unmistakable, broad-shouldered twins flanking an equally broad older man, who I assumed was her father.

They all carried the easy physicality of people who either played sports regularly, did farm work, or both. Their dad’s dark hair was shot through with gray, his stance and gaze steady in a way that made me straighten up a little bit without meaning to.

“Uncle Michael! Uncle Mason!” Brody’s voice was shrill with joy as he ran forward, and I realized I’d been holding my breath. “Grandpa!”

The twins’ faces softened instantly and even their dad’s armor cracked as he ran up to them. They bent over to scoop him up, holding him between them in a kind of group hug that seemed to involve a bit of tickling, a bit of wrestling, and a lot of love.

When I reached them, the introductions didn’t feel like I was facing a firing squad. Their Godfather-esque appearance when we’d first walked out was broken by their display of affection. One of the twins was the first to extend his hand toward me, his grip firm and measuring.

“Mason,” he said without prelude.

“Callum,” I returned, matching his intensity before turning to his brother.

“I’m Michael,” he said, half rolling his eyes at his twin before he shook my hand, seeming more curious than intimidating. “Thanks for getting Brody here safe. We’ve been dying to see him.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for coming to pick us up. I know it’s late.” I’d wanted to get here sooner rather than later, though.

All three of them hadn’t had to make the airport run, but I supposed they’d wanted to put up a show of force. I’d even offered to simply rent a car or Uber to a hotel, but Michelle, Maisie’s mom, had refused when I’d called, insisting that we stay with them.

Her dad studied me with that quiet appraisal only a father could manage. Finally, he shook my hand too. “Callum. It’s nice to have a face to put with the name.”

“Mr. Morgan,” I replied.

“Matthew,” he corrected. “If you’re marrying my daughter, you’d better start there.”

I nodded, but the knot in my chest loosened slightly. All three of these men were important to Maisie, and they had every reason to be suspicious of me, but Matthew turned his attention to Brody almost immediately and the twins each grabbed one of his bags while I wheeled my own along behind them.

We piled into an SUV apparently belonging to Michael, who Harrison wanted me to ask for an autograph, and weaved our way through the dark streets to Maisie’s childhood home.

Brody had finally run out of steam after telling his uncles and his grandfather all about the flight, and he was half-asleep against my side by the time we slowed to a stop outside the house.

Thanks to his enthusiasm, I hadn’t had to say much on the drive, but I could feel Matthew and Mason watching me all the way, quietly assessing while Michael drove. The house glowed with warm lights shining from the inside. Wind chimes tinkled on a wide porch.

The front door opened as we climbed out of the SUV.

Michelle appeared and jogged down the few steps to sweep Brody into her arms. She smiled at me as she hugged him.

“Hey, Callum. It’s lovely to see you again, honey.

Come on inside. You two must be exhausted.

” She ruffled Brody’s hair with grandmotherly affection, her arm around his shoulders as she led him inside. “Are you hungry, baby? Thirsty?”

“No, thanks,” he mumbled. The burst of energy he’d had to leap out of the car and into her arms had already faded. “We ate and drank on the plane.”

“Alright. Well, I suppose that means we can get you straight to bed.” She guided him to a staircase at the far side of the foyer. “Say goodnight, darling. I’ll dig through your things for your toothbrush and we’ll give Mommy a quick call before I tuck you in.”

Brody nodded and, to my surprise, came over to me first, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his head against my stomach. “Goodnight, Callum. Will you come check on me before you go to sleep?”

“Of course, bud. I’ll see you then, okay?” I returned his hug, stroking a hand through his hair.

After saying goodnight to his grandpa and uncles, he followed Michelle upstairs without complaint, leaving me with the welcoming committee in their living room.

The house wasn’t huge, but it was cozy and warm.

A fire crackled in the hearth and every inch of wall space was covered in pictures of the family.

Silence fell between us, not hostile but not comfortable either. I cleared my throat and forced an easy smile that wasn’t easy at all. “Thanks again for picking us up. Brody was really excited about getting to see you tonight instead of having to wait until the morning.”

Mason shrugged. “We figured we’d make sure you were who Maisie says you are if you were going to be bringing our nephew with you.”

Michael smirked. “You’ve already passed the first test. Brody clearly likes you.”

Matthew said nothing at first, just watching me with those steady eyes until finally he sighed. “Would you like some coffee? It must’ve been a long day.”

I didn’t really want coffee, but I did want to talk to Matthew. I’d come here to lay it all out for him, leaving him with no doubt that I would take care of Maisie, and assure him that I loved her no matter how this had started. So I nodded.

In the end, I never quite got to have that conversation with him.

Michael and Mason took it upon themselves to fill every silence, asking me questions while also telling me more about themselves.

Michael talked about his job as a sports broadcaster.

Mason was a broker. He seemed like the type who didn’t talk as much as his brother, but he listened carefully, probably tucking away every fact Michael pulled out of me for later assessment.

Even so, I didn’t feel like I was being interrogated. They were friendly enough but intentional about what they asked.

“So,” Michael said once we were seated in the living room, freshly made coffee in our hands. “How’s your hockey game, Callum?”

I lifted my eyebrows at him. “I manage.”

“There’s a rink in town,” he said. “Once I’m off air tomorrow, let’s go there. We’ll call it a tradition.”

I glanced at Matthew, who had been pretty quiet so far, just sipping his coffee as he nodded his agreement. Mason smirked, and I knew the invitation wasn’t really a request.

“Sure,” I said. It wasn’t like I had any other option, and besides, hockey was better than sitting around, trying to convince them I was good enough for Maisie. “That sounds good.”

“Awesome. I’ll be done at nine, so be ready just after that.”

Michelle came back downstairs, giving me a smile that was softer and more genuine than the rest of her family’s. “You’re in Maisie’s old room, Callum. Up the stairs, second door on the right.”

I nodded, finishing my coffee before I said good night and carried my bag up.

My heart was thumping, but I’d survived the first couple hours alone with the Morgans and I was still standing.

When I opened the door to the room I’d been directed to, Maisie’s childhood bedroom, I nearly burst out laughing.

I didn’t know what I’d expected from her, but it wasn’t this. Girly didn’t even begin to cover it. The walls were a shade of pink so bright, it hurt my eyes. The bedspread was floral patterned, with a mountain of pillows on top that looked like they belonged to a six-year-old.

Framed posters of Olympic divers and college banners lined the walls, and old, dusty but proud trophies sat on the bookshelves. This had been Maisie’s world before she’d gone to college, and it had been preserved like a time capsule.

I dropped my bag on the floor and sat down on the edge of the bed.

The mattress squeaked under my weight. As I looked around, I wondered if she’d stayed here when she’d been pregnant.

I wondered if this was the bed where she’d cried herself to sleep at night after walking away from a dream she’d spent her whole life working toward.

On the other hand, I also wondered if I’d just gotten lucky that her brothers had chosen hockey to test me. Smiling, I got up to check on Brody before I turned in. I decided that I would skate my heart out in that game—then I’d pour it out to her father later in the day.

As always, I was up before the sun the next morning. After a quick shower, I pulled on a sweatshirt and jeans, finding Brody in the living room with a bowl of cereal. Those green eyes found mine and he grinned, already practically buzzing for the day ahead.

“Is it true that you’re playing hockey today?” he asked right off the bat. “Grandpa told me.”

“It’s true, champ,” I said, veering toward the kitchen to grab some coffee. “Do you want to come with us?”