“I think it’s my turn to ask if you’re okay?” Gemma says, dragging my focus back.
I scratch my chin. “Yeah, sorry. I zoned out there for a second.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I shrug. “Just wondering if I’m doing right by my daughter, you know.”
She puts her hand on my legs. “You are. You grew up without siblings,” she says, smart enough to know where my thoughts have gone. “You turned out all right.”
I grin. “You say that now. Wait until after you spend the weekend with me. You’re going to see all kinds of crazy.”
She laughs, and it lightens my mood. “I’m sure I’ll still like you, Callan. Wait, weren’t you voted most likeable in our yearbook?”
“I was able to hide the crazy. What were you voted?” I ask and cast her a glance.
She chuckles. “Most likely to end up on Broadway. Probably because of my music and dancing.”
“That’s right, you were in all the school plays.” I nod and relax into my seat. “I forgot about that. I forgot that look on your face when you used to dance.”
“You remember that?”
“Yeah, you were so happy. Dancing was an outlet for you, wasn’t it?”
“It was.”
“Like you could be free.” She nods. “You’ve sort of lost that, Gemma.” Her body tightens, and she looks away. “It’s okay,” I say. “You can tell me.”
“I haven’t felt free in a long time.”
My stomach coils. Her ex had taken a lot from her and dammit, if I don’t want to give it back. “Maybe you can dance for me sometime.”
“I take it you mean privately,” she says and whacks my stomach.
I grab her hand. “Of course, I mean privately and preferably with a pole,” I say to lighten the mood. But it doesn’t change the fact that I want happiness and the euphoria that comes from dancing back in her life. “How is it you always know what I’m thinking?”
“You’re a guy,” she states, and I laugh out loud.
“That I am.”
“But you’re a good guy, Callan. I need that in my life right now.”
“Yeah, you do,” I say.
“Just up left here. The one with the triple garage.”
“Every house has a triple garage,” I say. The homes here are gorgeous. Gemma takes a big breath and lets it out as I pull into the driveway, which is already filled with cars. I kill the engine, and we step from the car. “Nice place.”
“It’s gorgeous,” she says as I pull our bags from the trunk.
“Wait, I just thought of something. Are your parents going to make us sleep in separate rooms?”
“I’m a grown woman, Callan. Of course not.”
I take her hand in mine, and dip my head. “They’re not going to like this—us—though, are they? They want you back with Brad?”
“They do, but they always liked you, Callan.”
I glance around the big estate, take in the perfectly manicured lawns. “At least we don’t have to pretend.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re pretty good together.”
“Yeah, we are,” she says with a smile. “And really, they just want to see me happy.” She tries to take her bag from me, but I toss the strap over my shoulder.
“What kind of an impression would I make if I let you carry your own bag?”
“You’re kind of an old-fashioned guy, aren’t you?” She holds her hand up. “I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I actually like it.”
Without thinking, I lean into her and place a soft kiss on her lips. I break it and her fingers go to her mouth, lightly linger there as warmth moves into her cheeks, staining them a pretty shade of pink. “What was that for?”
I’m not really sure, and I probably shouldn’t admit that. A movement near the front door catches my attention. “It was for our audience,” I say.
Her gaze flies to the front door, and she grabs my arm. “It’s Brad,” she says through clenched teeth, her body tightening all over again.
“It’s okay,” I say and take her hand. Presenting a united front, we saunter up the driveway. Brad’s dark eyes are pinned on me.
He stands to his full height when we reach the bottom step. “I didn’t know you were bringing a friend,” he says.
“Brad,” Gemma says. “This is Callan Ward. We’re friends from high school.”
I laugh. “That was then. We’re a lot more than that now, babe.” I slide my hand around her and drag her close. She smiles up at me and I know we’re putting on a performance, but my heart beats just a little faster at the warm gratitude in her eyes.
“You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.” Brad squares his shoulders, his anger barely contained. What a fucking asshole to think she owed him any sort of explanation. He’s not her keeper. No one is.
I slowly drag my gaze from Gemma. “My fault,” I say. “I’ve been keeping her pretty occupied.” Brad glares at me, but I’m not afraid of the motherfucker. If he wants to pick on someone his own size, bring that shit on.
The door opens and a girl with similar features to Gemma comes out. “I thought I heard voices,” she says, and pulls Gemma in for a hug. I watch the exchange as Brad watches me, but I don’t pay him much attention.
“Amanda, do you remember Callan?”
“Callan Ward, of course.” She turns to me and brings me in for a hug. “So nice to see you again, and I’m sorry, we’re all huggers,” she says with a laugh, but I instantly like her. She steps back and her gaze goes from her sister to me back to her sister. “Wait, are you two…”
I pull Gemma back in. “Yeah, we are,” I say.
She gives us a big grin. “You two make the cutest couple. I always knew you would.”
“What are you talking about, Amanda?”
“Oh, come on, Gemma. Don’t pretend you didn’t have a crush on him in high school. He
