Gemma glared at him. “We need to get a few things straight, Callum.”
He nodded. “Yes, we do.” He walked back over to her. “I’ve already told you why it’s my business and from a business perspective you see that I’m right, don’t you?”
It took her a full minute, but she finally said, “Yes, all right. I see that. I’ll admit that you are right from a business perspective. That’s not the way I usually operate but…”
“You were robbing Peter to pay Paul, I know. However, I don’t like being Peter or Paul. Now, as far as it being personal, you were right.”
She lifted a brow. “I was?”
“Yes. It was your business and not Ramsey’s concern. I admitted it and told you that you handled it. That was the end of it,” he said.
She gave herself a mental shake, trying to keep up with him. He had scolded her on one hand, but complimented her way of handling things on the other. “So you won’t mention it to Ramsey?”
“No. It’s not my place to do that…unless your life is in danger or something equally as dire, and it’s not.” He looked down at her and smiled. “As I said, from the sound of the conversation you just had with Megan, you handled this matter in an expeditious manner. By all accounts, you will be getting your money back. Kudos for you.”
A smile crossed Gemma’s lips. She was proud of herself. “Yes, kudos for me.” Her eyes narrowed. “And just what did you find amusing earlier?”
“How quickly you can get angry just for the sake of doing so. I’d heard about your unique temperament but never experienced it before.”
“Did it bother you?”
“No.”
Gemma frowned, not sure how she felt about that. In a way she liked that Callum didn’t run for cover when her temper exploded, as it did at times. Zane, Derringer and the twins were known to have had a plate aimed at their heads once or twice, and knew to be ready to duck if they gave her sufficient cause.
“However, I would like you to make me a promise,” he said, breaking into her thoughts.
She lifted a curious brow. “What?”
“Promise that if you ever find yourself in a bind again, financial or otherwise, you’ll let me know.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need another older brother, Callum.”
He smiled and his teeth flashed a bright white against his brown skin. “There’s no way you can think we have anything close to a brother-sister relationship after last night. But just in case you need a little reminder…”
He pulled her into his arms, lowered his head and captured her mouth with his.
Twelve
Gemma’s face blushed with anticipation as she walked into Callum’s condo. Dinner was fantastic, but she liked being back here alone with him.
“Are you tired, Gemma?”
He had to be kidding. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a wry look. He was closing the door and locking it. “What makes you think that?”
“You were kind of quiet at dinner.”
She chuckled. “Not hardly. I nearly talked your ears off.”
“And I nearly talked yours off, too.”
She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You were sharing how your day went, and basically, I was doing the same.” While sitting there nearly drooling over you from across the table. Now that they were alone, she wondered if she would have to tell him what she wanted or if he already had a clue.
“So Kathleen worked out well for you?”
“Yes,” she said, easing out of her shoes. “She’s a sweetheart and so efficient. She was able to find all the fabric I need and the cost of shipping won’t be bad. I really hadn’t expected you to set up the office like that. Thanks again for the roses. They were beautiful.”
“You thanked me already for the flowers, and I’m glad you liked them. I plan to take you to the movies this weekend, but how would you like to watch a DVD now?”
She studied his features as he walked into the living room. Was that what he really wanted to do? “A movie on DVD sounds fine.”