Page 44 of He Loves Me Knot
The roadsin Costa Rica had improved massively since the last time Callum had been here, but the general attitude of road and traffic signs being “optional” still seemed to apply to the Ticos on the street. Callum changed gears as a truck roared around him on a curvy two-lane road. Today was not a great day for driving off a cliff.
Liddy had been nervously bouncing her knee in the passenger seat. The raw skin on her cheek was pink, but she’d already collected a slight tan this morning. So had he, for that matter.
“It’s going to be fine,” Callum said in a calm voice, his eyes shifting back to the road. “We’re doing everything we can. Even if Elle finds out about the dress being stolen, she wouldn’t be able to ask much more of you.”
“I mean, I gave the comfort of my own bedroom up for her,” Liddy said with a chuckle. “And maybe my dignity. From now on, everyone I’m close to is going to assume we’ve slept together.”
“Yeah, that would be theworst.”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan. If you ever try to use this against me, I’ll just tell everyone you have a small dick.”
Callum guffawed at her, raising a brow. “You wouldn’t.”
She grinned. “Watch me. And, yes, it’s a threat.” She gave an exaggerated sniffle. “‘We would have stayed together, but I just couldn’t keep pretending I was satisfied anymore.’”
“You know, I always knew you were truly evil, but this just confirms my suspicions.” He shrugged. “Fine. I’ll tell everyone you’re flatulent in bed.”
Her jaw dropped in mock horror. Then she let a puff of air out from her lips with a shrug. “At least mine might be fixable. You’re screwed. Except . . . not really, on account of your itty-bitty member.”
He nearly choked with laughter.She’s entertaining, that’s for damn sure.“Having met your grandmother now, I know where you get your sense of humor from.”
“Oh God, I hope I’m not that bad. She makesmeblush.”
“She’s hilarious. Free. I appreciate her enthusiasm and complete lack of filter.”
Liddy leaned back in her seat, and the air coming in through the open window tossed some tendrils of hair framing her face. She’d tied it back and set a bandanna on her head to be more comfortable with the windows open. She looked like she belonged in the hippie town they’d just come from. “Granny doesn’t know where the line is, often to her detriment. But she also never loses.”
“Which you would love.” Callum grabbed a bottle of iced tea from the center console, then took a swig. He hesitated, then added, “You’re quite a force yourself.”
Liddy swung her gaze toward him, and he felt the weight of her stare. After a moment, she said quietly, “You don’t have to do that.”
He swallowed some more tea. “What’s that?”
“Compliment me. We both know you don’t mean it.” She stretched her shoulders back as though she was having trouble getting comfortable.
He winced.I have been cold to her for the past couple of years.
“Just because I haven’t patted you on the back doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed the quality of your work.” He frowned and recapped his tea, then set it down. “Then again, I never really thought you needed my compliments. You’d already nabbed an amazing job—one that showed your professionalism—when we first met. You don’t need me to tell you what you already know.”
She looked away. “Just because I think I do a good job doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to hear some affirmation occasionally.”
He studied her profile. “That’s fair. But if it helps, I rarely give anyone praise for doing the job they were hired to do. Your best efforts are expected.”
“True, but that doesn’t mean praise won’t elevate camaraderie on a team. Right now, the people who work beneath you are more bonded by their dislike for you than anything else.”
Wow, she didn’t hold back.
Callum blinked slowly, considering her words. “I’m reserved.”
“There’s a difference between being reserved and being unfriendly. I’m not the most outgoing person on the planet, but even I have friends at work.”
I have friends.
Though Mason and Aiden might not really count. He’d known them since he was a child because their fathers had been friends at Oxford.
“We’re different, then. I prefer to keep my business and personal lives entirely separate.”I learned the hard way that was for the best.Besides, he didn’t really care for one of her friends. His disastrous lack of judgment with Miranda Kaster a few nights ago aside, Miranda had also crossed the line of innuendo on more than one occasion—an HR disaster waiting to happen for whatever sorry bastard she might set her sights on next.
“Callum, not that this is any of my business, but what personal life, exactly? The entire office knows you practically sleep at work. You never take vacations. You rarely go out to any group functions, even the annual holiday party. I’m not saying this to make you defensive, but you even worked most of the plane ride down here and then went straight to work after arriving.”