Page 9 of He Loves Me Knot
And, maybe in a small way, he’d been after it, too. Her company, while unexpected, hadn’t been entirely unwelcome. With each drink, he’d told himself to go home, and now he was here, dealing with a furious woman.
This won’t go over well at work either.
“I shouldn’t have allowed it to happen.”
Miranda whirled around and threw him a glare. “Don’t you dare bullshit me with some ridiculous attempt at ‘values,’ Callum. You may be discreet, but you still have a reputation. You arrogant wanker.”
Her words hardened his resolve, and he drew his core in. “I don’t fuck women I work with. Especially not if I’m drunk.”
“I’ve felt the energy between us. We could be good together. I wouldn’t tell anyone we’re together if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He nearly choked at her suggestion.Together?She was getting ahead of herself. “I don’t do relationships either. Unless you’d like to hand in your resignation to me, I’m at a bit of an impasse.”
She flinched, then stalked closer. “I’m not going to give up my career for a one-night stand, Callum. No matter how good it might be.”
“And I wasn’t asking you to.” He narrowed his gaze at her. “Good night.”
Miranda didn’t move. “Or you could recommend me for a promotion. To the position Luca Harris vacated last month. Then I wouldn’t be working directly under you anymore, anyway.”
He didn’t want to believe that this was what her attempt to seduce him had been about . . .but could it be?
Chuckling, Callum shook his head. “Or I could just tell you no. Like I already did.”
Fury lit her eyes, and her hand rose. He stepped back before she swung to slap him.Thatwas something he didn’t want to deal with tonight. “Good night, Miranda. If you’re lucky, I may even forget this happened.”
He went the opposite way down the alleyway, away from her, the spins hitting him hard. As he reached the other side of the alley, he stepped out of it, then threw up on the pavement.
He hoped Miranda had gone on her way and hadn’t heard him. Not that it mattered.
Right now, the only important thing was getting back to his bed.
He had an early flight to catch the following morning and only a few hours to sleep.
Pulling out his phone, he dialed his sister.
Isla picked up after the first ring. “Why are you calling me so late?”
“Because I’m sloshed, and I want you to keep talking to me. Make sure I don’t wind up deciding to take a nap on the tarmac and get run over.”
“Callum.” Isla’s scolding tone was gentle. “You promised me last night you were fine.”
“I lied.” The taste of vomit hung in his mouth, and he suppressed the urge to throw up again. Too many nice rose gardens on this street for that.
“That’s it. I’m changing my flight. I’ll come with you tomorrow.”
“And miss the audition you have on Saturday? Don’t you dare. Besides, the flight is probably booked.”
“You know, right now I feel like the elder sibling. And I don’t like feeling like the elder sibling. It makes me cranky. This is going to be fine, Cal.”
“I doubt it. Did I tell you Mum sent me photos of Sophia today? Not new ones, of course. Old ones. She took photographs of old photographs with her phone. Live view and everything. And not one or two. Over twenty of them.”
“She lays it on so thick.” Isla groaned. “I’ll talk to her and tell her to give it a rest. But I really think she wants you to forgive her. So everything can just go back to the way it used to be.”
“The way it used to be is that I was going to marry Sophia andthat’swhat Mum wants. Hold on.” Callum pulled the phone away from his ear and retched again, this time behind a parked car.
I’d hate to be the owner of the car in the morning.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he returned the phone to his ear. “I’m back.”