“Callie? Are you coming down now? I want Daddy to see you,” Delilah called.
“Yes. I’m coming right now,” I shouted back.
I grabbed my purse and gave myself one final look in the mirror before heading downstairs. As I reached the top stair, both Delilah and Aaron were waiting at the bottom of the stairs, and the entire situation was more awkward than a junior high dance.
Aaron stood there, mouth hanging open and seemingly unable to speak. Of course, my mind jumped to the worst-case scenario.
I look like a stuffed sausage in this outfit, right? I knew it.
“Wow,” Delilah exclaimed. “Callie’s pretty.”
“Yes, she is,” Aaron said, continuing to stare.
Relief washed over me when I realized that he didn’t think I was a fat ass trying to shove myself into a too tight dress.
“Thanks,” I said, descending the stairs.
Once I reached the bottom, Aaron’s blanket stare was replaced with something that looked like anger. I waited for him to say something and justify his reaction, but the doorbell rang, breaking the tension.
“And she smells nice, too,” I heard Delilah say as I headed down the hallway.
I didn’t hear Aaron respond to her. Instead, I smoothed my hands down the front of my dress and tossed my hair over my shoulder as I reached the door. Before opening it, I took in a deep breath.
“Hi,” I said, pushing the screen door open. “Come in.”
Abel grinned, stopping to look me over from toe to head in a very overt way. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or creeped out. After stepping inside, he took me in a hug, resting his hand a little too close to the top of my ass to make me comfortable.
“You look amazing,” he whispered.
“Thanks,” I said. “You, too.”
He did. A navy-blue blazer was over the plaid shirt and dark denim jeans he was wearing. His hair was coiffed into a perfect pompadour and appeared to have more product in it than mine.
My head turned to see Aaron and Delilah watching us from down the hall.
“Bye, Callie.” She waved. “Bye Uncle Abel.”
“See ya, squirt…Aaron.”
I leaned over to grab my coat that rested on a hook by the door. Abel took it from me, holding it open to put on me.
Nice touch. He definitely has moves.
“Callie, a moment before you leave please?” Aaron asked sharply.
“I don’t really want to keep Abel waiting,” I said.
“The kitchen,” he said through clenched teeth, “now.”
Heat and anxiety rose over me at his indignation. His tone and the way he commanded me, in front of Delilah no less, wasn’t cool.
“Yes, sir,” I said sarcastically. I turned to Abel. “Give me one second.”
He nodded and stood behind as my heels tapped loudly against the marble floor of the hallway. I followed Aaron as he pounded into the kitchen, stepping to the other end.
“Do you mind telling me what you’re doing wearing that?” he asked.
“First of all, don’t talk to me like that in front of Delilah,” I said.
“Well…it’s just…okay,” he stammered. “Sorry.”
“Second, what do you mean about what I’m wearing?” I asked.
“What do I mean?” he asked, raising his voice. “Do you go out on all your dates looking like that?”
I placed my hands on my hips. “What are you talking about? What exactly do I look like?”
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, pulling at the ends. “You look like you’re a walking invitation for sex.”
The wind whooshed out of me. Yes, I wanted him to get a little jealous, but now he was implying some not-so-nice things. “Are you saying I’m dressed like a slut? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, of course not. You look…nice. It’s just you don’t even know Abel and you’re giving him quite a preview.”
“Ohhhh,” I said. “That’s what’s bothering you. Not what I’m wearing, but what I might do when I’m not here.”
He bit down on the side of his lip, not willing to either confirm nor deny what I’d accused him of.
“I was under the impression that I was free to do what I wanted when I was off for the night. If that isn’t the case, please say so.”
“Of course, you’re free to do what you want, but—”
“What do you care?” I snapped. “You made things very clear to me yesterday. Did I miss something?”
“No, you didn’t miss anything, but I’d like to remind you that there is a very impressionable little girl in this house who seems to worship you. You might want to consider that when you dress and act like this around her.”
Rage and tears filled my eyes. “I’ll remember that. Anything else?”
“I know my brother. I’d be cautious. He goes through women like gum.”
“Good. Maybe I’ll finally get lucky for once.”
With that, I turned on my heels and exited the kitchen. I stopped in the living room to tell Delilah good night before I continued down the hall.
I opened the front door and waited for Abel to step out to follow him. Just before I did, I glanced at the other end of the hallway. Aaron was standing there, glaring at me.
“Have fun,” he shouted.
“I plan on it. Don’t wait up,” I yelled as I slammed the door shut.
“Damn,” Abel said.
“Sorry about that. I shouldn’t—”
He took my hand. “No worries,” he said with a wink before walking us to his car parked in front of the house. “Let’s just have a good night.”
He stopped to open the passenger-side door for me, and once I was seated, he closed it. I glanced around his car, taking in how incredibly clean it was, except for the faint smell of cigarette smoke.
Once he was in the driver’s seat, he started the car and turned to me. “So, I have two questions before we start out our evening. Crimson 23. Have you ever been there before?”
I nodded. “Yeah. A few times.”
“You okay with going there? I think they have the best mojitos in Chicago.”
“That sounds great.”
“And I have one more question.”
“Then there’s technically three questions.”
“Technically,” he said, leaning over in his seat, bringing his face close to mine, and placing his hand on my knee. His face inched toward mine, slowly and calculatedly. My senses were completely overcome; the scent of his cologne, the ache in my stomach, and the vision of another man were clouding my mind.
My heart beat frantically as I came to a realization of the situation crashing down around me. I couldn’t do this.
“Abel…I…”
He placed his index finger on my lips to silence me. “Shhhh,” he whispered. “Please let me ask you this one question.” He dipped his head down, his hot breath close to my ear.
“Callie?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Exactly how long have you been fucking my brother?”
* * *
We were sitting at Crimson 23, and after a mojito each and a plate of appetizers, I spilled my guts out all over the table. To say the night turned out the opposite than the way I’d anticipated would be an understatement.
“I still don’t understand,” I said. “How did you know something was going on between Aaron and me? I mean, like I told you, we aren’t sleeping together, and he’s made it very clear to me he isn’t interested.”
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, resting his hands behind his head. “Callie, I know my brother better than he knows himself, and I have never, ever seen him react like he did with you today.”
I snorted. “React like what? A PMSing jackass?”
“No, reacting like an out of his mind with jealousy man who saw the woman who he’s claimed as his own go out with another guy. And not just any man, but his brother for Christ’s sake. He was so fucking incensed I’m surprised he di
dn’t spew venom all over his pristine, marble foyer.”
“How do you know this stuff?”
He picked up his glass, downing the rest of his drink. “Guy code. Those looks he was giving you and me are reserved only for extreme circumstances. Circumstances like when another guy invades your territory.”
Guy code? Venom? Territory? Where did they learn this stuff? Is it a secret class they take? Perhaps there were refresher books I could find. Mental note: Check when you get home and look for books: How to Be an Asshole to Women in Ten Easy Steps, Finding Your Inner Caveman, and Dickheadness for Dummies.
“You know,” I said. “For as much as guys claim they don’t understand women, you guys are as equally screwed up. Plus, we create and carry life, so that makes us all around better.”
He shook his head and then signaled to our server. “It’s all a game. You know that as well as I do.”
“Oh, I know. I worked behind the bar at Venom for three years. Huh. Now that you mentioned venom, I get the pun in the name. I saw mating rituals that made the primates look civilized.”
“And Aaron used to be part of it,” he said, with a wink. “But no shit. You worked there? I don’t think I ever saw you. Man, I’ve met a few girls who worked there. Did you have to wear those ruffled pink things under your skirt and those hooker boots?”
“Yes, I did. By the way, I have a sense of humor so I’m not easily offended, but you might want to get a filter for that mouth of yours.”
“Yeah, I know. I lost my filter around the time I lost my virginity.”
“And when was that?”
“Ahh…Stephanie McCallister…,” he said, drifting into his own thoughts. “I thought she was the hottest little thing, and while I didn’t want to know where she learned it, she’d suck my dick with the enthusiasm of a fat kid at an ice cream eating contest.”
“How sweet,” I remarked sarcastically. “How old were you?”
“Fourteen.”
“What? Fourteen.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? Even then I was irresistible.”
“I’m sure you were. Both of you, Aaron and yourself, must have been quite a handful for your parents.”
He waved over our server for a second time. “Nah. We were good kids. Aaron more so than me, but I was still manageable. We are very different, though. I would chase skirts and Aaron would read about how they were made.”
“I don’t buy that for a second.”
“What?”
“You mean to tell me Aaron never entertained a ridiculous number of women? I’m not stupid. He’s very attractive, successful, and really the whole package. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out he had more tail than a dog in heat at the dog park.”
He took in a deep breath, crinkling his brows together as his chose his words. “The thing you have to know about Aaron is that who he was ten years ago isn’t the same Aaron you see now.”
“How do you mean?”
“He had it all, or at least I thought he did. He was smart, never a shortage of women, and he was on his way to a stellar career. He met Lexie and everything changed.”
I looked down and twisted the white linen napkin in my lap. Aaron lived a lifetime before I even set foot inside his house. It was something I couldn’t even begin to comprehend.
“Look, Callie, it’s not for me to tell you all about Lexie and Aaron. What I can tell you is Aaron is the oldest thirty-one-year-old you’ll ever meet. He’s had virtually no life since Lexie took off because he has had to compensate for her not being around for Delilah.”
His daughter and her happiness was and should’ve been his only concern. It wasn’t screwing the nanny. He had no room for that. I wasn’t sure what was happening between us except it was this connection I’d never had with anyone, ever. Even if he did feel the same way, why would he? His life didn’t need the chaos. His life didn’t need me.
“Don’t look like that. He may have brushed you off so far, but I’m really feeling it for you two. There is something there. Besides, you’re superhot. A man would have to have a malfunctioned dick with an OUT OF ORDER sign on it to pass you up.”
I laughed, not only at him, but also the absurdity of the entire situation. “You’re quite charming in a very sexually defective kind of way.”
“Thank you,” he said proudly. “And you’re a spitfire. Man is Aaron going to have his hands full with you.”
“I try to keep myself much more dignified in the workplace and around Aaron.”
“Yeah. Me, too. Well, except for the Aaron part. But I have to keep all my inappropriateness in check as a teacher.”
My lip curled in curious disgust. “You are not a teacher.”
“I certainly am,” he said sternly. “Just waiting for the right position to open up.”
He paused and snorted to himself. I wasn’t even going to ask him why, and our perky server with the pleather skirt and bad boob job came bouncing over.
“Another round for you guys?”
“Sure thing, gorgeous,” Abel said, giving her a wink.
I rolled my eyes for the thousandth time because really there was no end to Abel’s quest. He knew he wasn’t going to get between my legs, so he figured he’d move along to the next ones available.
“Do you, like, work at the Merc?” Abel’s new friend asked.
“No. I’m a bartender.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s so cool.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist. “What time do you get out of here?”
“Two. Will you still be here?” she asked, eyes darting to me.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said.
I decided to save him the trouble. I stood up, and leaned down to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you, Abel. Best date I’ve had in a long time,” I said, grabbing my coat.
Chapter Twelve
AARON—
I stared at the bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label on the table in front of me for God knows how long before I decided to pour myself Scotch number three. The ice cubes at the bottom of the glass were slowly melting, condensation running down the side.
I took a long swig, the slow burn of alcohol coating my throat and trying to cover up my overwhelming anger for what had happened earlier in the evening.
“Fucking idiot,” I muttered.
I figured that after I’d tucked Delilah in for the night, the next step would be drowning my sorrows with a few Scotches. It wasn’t working.
I had no one to blame but myself. No one to blame but my stupid, play-by-the-rules self. Look at where playing safe got me. I was sitting here, alone and half in the bag, while the girl I wanted was out with my brother.
The girl I wanted. It sounded so trivial and barbaric. Like I should pound my chest and drag her back here from wherever she was because I wanted her. But this deep, primal attraction I had for her exceeded anything I’d ever felt before.
And it all happened so damn fast tonight.
I knew I was in trouble the moment I saw her. I’d never seen another woman look as beautiful and as sexy as she did in that moment. She was wearing a tight-fitting, short black dress that dipped down to a V right between her breasts.
When she got close enough, I noticed how amazing she smelled. It was sweet and hot all rolled into one, and judging by the way she was dressed, that was exactly the message that she was trying to send. It fucking killed me to know that all she had done, her dress, the shoes…all of it…wasn’t for me, but for another guy. It wasn’t just another guy, either. It was my brother.
While I always knew when she was near, tonight was different. The want and desire I had for her was amplified where the only thing I could do besides fuck her was to be mad at her. I focused on all the things that drove me wild with desire for her and threw it right back in her face. I accused and spewed ugliness at her, doing everything short of calling her a whore.
I’d stepped so far over the line with her again after I’d told her the day before that I woul
dn’t. I led her in every which direction, telling her one thing one moment and changing my mind the next. I kept doing it over and over again.
Overthinking, overplanning, over and over. That was all I ever did.
Why didn’t I realize up until Callie walked out the door that no matter what I said or did, I couldn’t shut down my feelings for her? I could try to rationalize how it was inappropriate to date an employee who lived in my house. I could even try to accept the fact that it was totally irresponsible for me as a father to bring someone into my daughter’s life who wouldn’t be anything less than a permanent figure.
Logic could be found in any explanation I had for not following my feelings, but I wanted to follow my heart.
My stupid fucking heart.
I gave up the right to lead with my heart when I became a father. I hadn’t chosen this life. It chose me.
Delilah.
It was always about her. No matter what my heart wanted, or how I longed for Callie, it still always came back to that little girl.
What was happening to me, to Callie and me, was something out of our control and it didn’t happen every day. It was a deep, chemical, cosmic reaction that demanded I be near her. Could I live with myself knowing a once-in-a-lifetime was looking me right in the face and I walked away?
Here I was thinking of once-in-a-lifetimes, and hell, we barely knew each other.
I didn’t know her middle name or what her favorite color was, but I knew what her face looked like when she laughed deeply. I wasn’t sure if she had any siblings or if she liked the Cubs or the Sox, but I knew she had a tiny, little heart tattoo on her hip I dreamed endlessly of tracing my tongue around.
All of this became very clear to me as the evening went on and the Scotch settled.
I looked down and noticed my glass was empty once again. As I began to refill it for the fourth time, my eyes focused on the clock: 1:09 a.m.
Shit.
Please don’t do something that I’ll regret pushing you into, Calliope.
I sat and wallowed a while as I drank my Scotch. Once my glass was empty and I was numb enough, I decided I’d had enough for the night. The fact it was getting later and later only fueled my foul mood. I had to accept the fact that maybe it was too late. That I had pushed her away for good.
So Twisted Page 10
