The house was quiet when we returned.Grayson shut the door with more force than necessary, the thud reverberating through the hallway. He tossed his keys onto the console table, his movements controlled only by the thin edge of his discipline.I hovered near the stairs, arms crossed over my chest, trying to breathe past the knot that had been choking me since the cafe.He turned. His eyes, still storm-dark from earlier, locked onto mine. “You should have told me.”My stomach clenched. “Told you what?”“That Mary’s been circling you for weeks. That she’s asking questions, digging into things she has no right to touch.” His voice was low, restrained. “You let her corner you without saying a word to me, Callie. Why?”The accusation stung, not because he was wrong but because it was close to the fear I’d been hiding. My chin lifted, stubborn. “Because I didn’t want to make it real. If I ignored her, maybe she’d stop.”His l
CallieThe bell above the cafe door chimed softly as I stepped inside, and for a moment the warmth of the place wrapped around me like a blanket. The air was thick with the scent of roasted beans and cinnamon, chatter floating lazily between tables, punctuated by the clink of mugs against saucers.It should have been comforting. A normal morning in town, people gossiping over pastries, students hunched over laptops. But my stomach twisted as if I had swallowed stones.I kept my head down while I ordered, my voice barely audible above the noise. Then I slipped into a corner seat near the window, hoping the world would forget I was here.It didn’t.Through the glass, across the street, Mary stood with her hand looped casually through a shopping bag, chatting animatedly with Mrs. Maxwell from the post office. Her laugh was bright, but her eyes didn’t belong to her smile. They flicked toward me once, twice, too many times for coincidence.I gripped the coffee mug between my palms, heat bu
Callie The door clicked shut behind me, the thud echoing in Grayson’s study. Immediately, the tension that had built all morning seemed to melt around us, replaced by anticipation. Every nerve in my body buzzed as I took an hesitant step inside, acutely aware of the scent of his cologne. My pulse pounded in my ears as I took in the sight of him, his dark gaze sweeping over me with a ferocity that made my skin prickle. Every glance he gave was like a magnet, pulling me closer, daring me to close the distance between us.“Close the door,” he murmured, his voice commanding, yet soft enough to make me tremble.I obeyed without hesitation, letting the click of the lock behind me be the final barrier to the outside world. As he stepped closer, I could see the subtle shift in his posture.“You have been on my mind all morning,” he said, voice rougher than before, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face with a
Callie I moved through the kitchen, my fingers brushing over the cool countertop, but my mind wasn’t on breakfast. The smell of coffee lingered in the air, and the morning sunlight slanted across the countertop. Every corner of the room blurred around me as I replayed Mary’s smile. I could still feel her prying at my insecurities, making me doubt myself in ways I hadn’t felt in years. My stomach tightened at the thought, a mix of frustration and unease twisting inside me. And then there was Grayson. His dark, unreadable gaze haunted my memory, following me with an intensity that left me shivering in ways that had nothing to do with the air conditioning. “Callie,” Grayson’s voice cut through my thoughts. He was leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed, watching me like he could see straight into my chest. “You have been quiet this morning. Something on your mind?” My pulse skipped a beat. I forced a casual shrug, trying to sound normal. “No… just tired.” I hated the
Mia's Aunt had left but I still couldn't shake the unease.I tried to convince myself I was overthinking. That her polite smile and carefully placed questions were harmless, but I wasn’t stupid. That look she gave me, it hadn’t been curiosity. It felt like she had already placed me under strict observation and took note of my every move. Who I was. Where I came from. Why I was here. And worse, why Grayson wanted me.I shuffled books around my desk for the third time, pretending I was organizing, but really just trying to keep my hands busy. Grayson had noticed me fidgeting at breakfast earlier. He’d slid his hand beneath the table, brushing mine. It should have calmed me like it always did, but it didn't.I had the intuition that it wouldn't end with one visit.The first sign came in town.I was at the coffee shop, waiting for an iced latte, when I caught a woman at the
Callie I slipped from Grayson’s room as quietly as I could, heart beating fast from the intensity, the possessive claim he had in every fiber of me. My braid hung loose, damp strands sticking to my neck, and my thoughts tangled in the way his hands and lips had owned me completely. I had to move, Mia could be back from the festival at any moment. I walked down the hallway, careful with each step. My fingers held the doorknob of my room, and just as I was about to slip inside… “Going somewhere, sneaky?” I froze. Mia stood in the doorway of her room, one eyebrow raised, the corner of her mouth tugging into a teasing smirk. “Uh… nothing,” I whispered, trying to smooth my expression. She stepped closer, rolling her eyes. “Really? Because you look like someone just got caught doing something very interesting.” Heat flushed my cheeks. “I just… needed a little air,” I mumbled, moving past her. Mia’s laughter followed me softly as I shut the door behind me. I pressed my back again