I pull Avery aside. “No more drinks for either of them.”
She pulls a face. “Really, Luke? You’re going all caveman now?”
“If I see them with a drink after this one, I’m gonna be pissed off, Avery. Mum’s had enough for today and Callie needs to get home to do her work.”
She rolls her eyes and wanders away muttering some shit I can’t hear.
“Well, look at this cosy little party.” I turn to find Tyler standing between Mum and Callie; his arms draped over their shoulders.
“Have you called your father, Tyler? He’s been looking for you this afternoon,” Mum says.
“No, I’m avoiding him,” he says, annoyance flashing across his face. “And you should stop seeing him if that’s what is going on.”
“I’m not seeing him. Why do all my sons think I’m seeing him again? I’ll have you all know right now that I have a new man.”
I lean on the counter. “Really? Why haven’t we heard anything about him?” Whenever she has a new guy, we’re the first to know.
She sips her drink. “Because I’m serious about this one and I wanted him to myself until I knew for sure.”
“Knew what for sure?” Tyler asks.
“That he’s the one.” Her shoulders straighten as she says this and her face lights up with happiness. I’m not convinced, though. Estelle Ashcroft meets “the one” at least twice a year.
“How long have you been seeing him?” Tyler demands.
“Four months and seven days.”
Tyler scoffs. “That’s a blink. How can you know anything in four months?”
Callie joins in. “Time means nothing when love is involved.”
Mum raises her glass to Callie. “Thank you, Callie. I wholeheartedly agree with that. I met Luke’s father when I was nineteen and knew within a week that I loved him.”
“And look how well that turned out,” I say.
Callie shoots me a dirty look. She’s clearly taken with my mother and is siding with her tonight.
“We may have divorced when you were six months old, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t love him. Max Hardy was my first real love and I loved him until the day he died. Loving someone doesn’t always mean you’re front and centre in their life. Sometimes we love from afar because that’s all we can manage. Sometimes love hurts too much up close,” Mum says.
I stare at her. This is the most she’s ever said about my father. Usually, she’s tight-lipped about their relationship. Before he died, my father told me their relationship was passionate and turbulent. He also mentioned that he’d always loved her, but they couldn’t be together.
Callie finishes her drink and slides off her stool. Breaking the silence that’s descended on us after Mum’s outburst, she says, “I better get going so I can write this article. It was so good to meet you, Estelle.”
Mum gives her one of the warmest smiles I’ve ever seen her give anyone. “And you too, Callie. Remember, we need to do lunch one day. Soon.”
I move around to the other side of the bar. Eyeing Avery, I say, “I’ll be back soon.”
She nods and waves goodbye to Callie before I walk her outside. When I have her alone, I pull her close and plant a long kiss on her lips. “Fuck, two days is too long. I can’t wait until Saturday to have you again.”
“I’ll make it worth the wait. Remember, I’m bringing my A-game. By the way, I like your mum.”
“She likes you, too.”
“How do you know that?”
I chuckle. “Trust me, when Estelle Ashcroft doesn’t like someone, they know, as does the rest of the world. You’d be feeling it if she didn’t like you.”
She sags with obvious relief. “Thank, God.”
“Were you worried about her?”
“Of course. Every girl wants their boyfriend’s mother to like them.”
“That word sounds good on your lips.”
“Which word?”
“Boyfriend.”
She stands on her tiptoes and gives me a quick kiss. “Okay, I better go.”
As she lets me go and takes a step away, I grab hold of her arm and pull her back to me. “Not so fast, baby.” At her frown, I say, “You forgot this.” And then I kiss her long and deep. When she comes up for air, breathless, I growl, “We don’t do quick kisses. Ever.”
She blinks as she gets her bearings. “Bossy Luke, almost as good as dessert.”
And then she’s gone and I’m left with a raging hard-on.
23
Callie
“I’m so sorry about today,” Paris says as she grabs her bag and keys off the kitchen counter.
I wave her away. “It’s no worries. Work’s gotta come first. Besides, I think Luke’s gonna spend some time in the garden and I’m all for sweaty, hot men. I’ll hang out with Sean and then after lunch, we might get lucky if he goes down for a nap. However today pans out will be fun.”
And I might still get to bring out my A-game.
“I think they might let me finish around midafternoon, so hopefully, you two can catch some time together then.”