I guide him towards the door and turn to give Callie a grin. She’s mouthing something smart at me. I ignore it and say, “Breakfast?”
“Toast, please,” she says as I close the bedroom door and give my attention back to Sean.
Best start to the day.
* * *
Me: What are you doing?
Callie: Is that code for what are you wearing?
Me: That could work, too.
Callie: I’m not telling you. You called me a bed hog this morning.
Me: I’ll go first then. I’m not wearing anything.
Callie: You don’t play fair, Luke Hardy.
Me: You love playing with me.
Callie: Dude, you haven’t even seen my A-game yet.
Me: I’m free on Saturday.
Callie: Really?
Me: Yeah, Paris is taking Sean out.
Callie: You’re on.
Me: What are you doing tonight?
Callie: I’ve got a hot date.
Me: Who the fuck with?
Callie: Settle. It’s with my neighbour. She’s cooking me dinner. Roast.
Me: You’re cheating on me. I’m your roast dealer.
Callie: What can I say? She makes it so good.
Me: I bet she doesn’t follow it up with your favourite dessert.
Callie: No one makes that dessert as well as you.
Me: Drop by the bar before you go home.
Callie: I don’t think I’ll have time.
Me: Make time.
Callie: I was wondering where bossy Luke was hiding.
Me: I’ll see you then.
* * *
“Make me a cosmo please, Luke,” my mother says as she settles on the stool in front of me. She has recently started visiting the bar more often. Dumping her handbag on the counter between us, she adds, “It’s been a bitch of a day and I need a drink.”
I raise a brow. “You haven’t had one yet?” I find that hard to believe.
She purses her lips. “Don’t be a bastard to your mother. I’ve only had a few, and that was at lunch.”
Avery moves behind me and says, “I’ll make it, Estelle. Luke’s been a moody asshole for the last hour.” She avoids my glare as she makes the cocktail.
“Why are you moody?” Mum asks.
“No rea—”
Avery cuts me off. “Oh, here she is now.”
I follow her gaze to see Callie walking towards us. When she is standing in front of me, I say, “You’re late.” She’s at least an hour late, if not more. I actually expected her not to show now.
She drops her bag on the counter next to Mum’s and takes the stool next to her. “It’s been an atrocious afternoon, Luke. You need to make me a vodka.”
My mum is watching her with great interest. When she mentions vodka, Mum nods and says, “A woman after my own heart. Make her a vodka, Luke, and make it snappy.”
Callie faces Mum. “Thank you. Finally, someone who bosses him around.”
I smirk and make the drink.
I’m not even getting involved in this. I want to see where it ends up.
“Oh, honey, I’ve been bossing him around for twenty-eight years. Anytime you want something out of him, you just come to me.”
Callie’s eyes widen and she coughs. “Oh, my goodness, are you Luke’s mother?”
“I am. And I presume you’re dating my son?”
Callie’s wild eyes meet mine. “Make that a double, buddy. You did not prepare me for this.”
Mum laughs and places her hand on Callie’s arm. “In his defence, he didn’t know I was dropping by tonight. I have to say, I’m impressed with your skills.”
“Which skills would those be?” Callie asks.
“Getting a double anything out of my son is impressive. He usually refuses to give me any alcohol, let alone a double.”
“Tell me what you want and I’ll order it for you.”
Mum extends her hand. “Estelle Ashcroft. So pleased to meet you.”
Callie takes her hand. “I’m Callie, and it’s lovely to meet you, too.”
I place Callie’s vodka in front of her. “I’m rationing these tonight. Now tell me, why was your day bad?”
She takes a long gulp. “Mrs Harper had a fall. I had to get her to the hospital, which meant I had to leave work early, which means I’m behind on my article. I’ve got a long night ahead of me now.”
I frown. “Mrs Harper?”
“My neighbour. She’s about ninety. They’re keeping her in hospital for a few days at least to monitor her because she hurt her hip pretty badly.”
“Ah, so no roast for you tonight,” I say.
She pokes her tongue at me. “No roast, smarty-pants. And no dessert either.”
I smirk again. “Definitely no dessert. You’ve had a rough day today. Nothing good for breakfast and no dessert.”
She takes another long gulp of her vodka. “Oh, screw you, Mr Hardy. I might go home and make my own dessert. And send you a photo.”
Mum chokes on her drink. “Callie, you and I must really get together one day. Any woman who is willing to take on my son is a woman I need to get to know.”
Callie holds her drink up to clink my mother’s glass. “We can drink cocktails and swap notes.”
“Jesus,” I mutter.
I leave them to their conversation to go and take care of some waiting customers. When I return twenty minutes later, Avery has made them both another drink and they’re getting on like a house on fire.