Michael kept his hand on the small of Calliope's back as they made their way through the crowded mansion on Starr Island. If they had stayed in her apartment, he'd have wanted to rip her clothes off, but her words 'I love you' haunted him. Calliope deserved more than him, but the thought of letting her go sent bile up his throat. Going out meant he had a delay in responding.
The clink of glasses as a group in the distance laughed made Calliope turn her head. She should have been at parties for the past few years and not in hiding. He pointed her toward the back and she reached out and squeezed his arm.
He stood taller and led her toward the bar. He motioned for service, when he spotted his sister and her new fiancé. He ordered a glass of Pinot Gricio for Calliope and a whiskey neat for himself. Her touch lingered on his offer of the glass, and then she withdrew her fingers despite how she wanted to hold him. Without a word, she composed herself and nodded at his sister who hugged her right away. "Hey, it's been a long time."
"You're here with Michael?"
His face felt hot. Sandy would have an opinion.
Calliope put her hand on his shoulder. "He invited me."
Sandy placed her glass in front of her lips in attempt to block the huge grin on her face. "I knew he liked you."
No. Michael stepped in front of Calliope and blocked his sister from her view. "Sandy, when is your wedding?"
The grin on her face flickered and she crossed her arms. Without a word, he understood that she needed to back off. She dropped her arms and reached out for Colt's hand. She stared into his eyes as she said, "We're still picking venues. Once I know the place and their calendar, we can make a final decision."
Calliope bounced forward. "I remember seeing you kissing at the senior breakfast at the Rusty Pelican."
High school. Michael stood taller. His sister had been visibly upset her freshman year of college and acted like someone broke her heart. She never mentioned who. His hands curled into fists. "Wyatt, how long have you been making my sister wait?"
Sandy stepped in front of Wyatt. "Michael, what matters is that he asked me to marry him and I said yes."
Calliope shrugged and his attention went toward her as she played with her necklace. "I like the Rusty Pelican, Sandy. It's overlooking the intracoastal and has that giant room for a reception."
Then over her head, he saw Peter Morgan and his wife. He’d let this thing with his sister and Wyatt go for now. It was time to say hello to his potential investor so he could get Calliope out and no one would know anything. He reached out and squeezed her hand. "Glad Calliope could help. Talk to you both later."
He led her away from his sister and into the crowd. Calliope bumped into Jennifer Gonzales who then gave her a dirty look. He quickly tugged Calliope’s arm and managed to her away from the other woman as Calliope asked, "Where are we going?"
Home. The thought made no sense. He slowed. "I want..." to be alone with you wouldn't make sense, since he’d brought her here. He pressed his lips together and felt someone tap his shoulder. He glanced over. "Let me introduce you to Peter Morgan and his wife Belle."
Her gaze narrowed. "Yes." She then held out her hand to shake Belle’s and Peter's hands as she said, "It's a pleasure to see you both."
"Belle, this is Calliope Campbell. I met her in the bank today. She has a seat on the board at Morgan Enterprises."
Her eyes widened. "I never go."
He glanced at the clock, and his palms felt sweaty so he made a fist and hoped no one noticed.
Peter said, "Calliope, Michael will ask you to make an exception for tomorrow afternoon's meeting." He tapped his wife's shoulder and pointed toward the Hawke sisters as he told his wife, "We must go. Please let me know."
Calliope stepped away from him and lifted her chin. "What's he talking about? I refuse to be pushed around and used again."
“I’m not Chris.” As he brushed his finger on her arm, he had a jolt. He'd plead his innocence away from the crowd as his stomach filled with knots. She probably wouldn't believe he hadn't known. "We'll talk about it in private."
She nodded and pointed toward the doors that led to a patio and then a walkway where a yacht was docked and the bay overlooked Miami. "Walk with me to the Intracoastal then. I want to know what's going on."
His head buzzed with the question of what to do when she refused to believe. His feet dragged but then he squared his shoulders. "Fair enough."
Without a word, they smiled and nodded their way through the party. The small walkway behind the mansion provided dark corners where they might sit on a bench and talk. She led him toward one of them that was surrounded by palm trees. Once they were away from people, she flipped her hair behind her shoulders. "Earlier you demanded we come. What's going on?"
His muscles tightened. He imagined how she'd look at him with glassy eyes and then walk out of his life forever as he said, "I am starting an investment firm and Morgan Enterprises has offered to fund. The vote is this month and there are some that believe I am a risk because of my father."
She hugged her waist as she stared at him with fawn-like eyes that refused to blink. "Did you sleep with me to get my vote?"
This was exactly what he’d feared would happen if she found out. His legs widened to anchor himself. "Absolutely not. I didn't even know you had a seat on his board. Why would I know that?"
"I guess you wouldn't." She dropped her arms. "I'm just on edge that we came here and you're avoiding being alone."
"I'm not." A sinking feeling in his chest grew wider.
"You didn't say anything when I said I loved you. Is this why?"
His head spun as he tried to follow her train of thought. "I didn't say anything because you deserve better."
"Michael, all I want is to be with you. I left you in Mexico because I spent years of my life wishing Chris was a good enough replacement for you. I always wanted you. It doesn't have to be hard."
His body loosened and his stomach slowly unknotted. "Calliope, I'm not the guy for you."
She batted her eyelashes. "Because you don't love me?"
"Because I do." He reached out to hold her. He wanted to take her as his right now and not let go. No one ever believed in him so easily.
Then she acted like he wanted a hug and her arms wrapped around his neck. She smelled like roses and his body couldn’t deny how much he wanted her as she said, "You do?"
"Yeah."
She kissed his neck and then then stood on her tiptoes. "So let's go inside, say goodbye and then go home. I want to be alone."
If she believed in him, then anything else was possible. He traced her arms around him and then unwrapped them. He placed his forehead on hers. "I can't say no to you. Give me five minutes. I want to tell Peter I don't need his deal."
She grabbed his suit jacket for a second. "Don't do that on my account."
Home with Calliope sounded good. He had one person to shake hands with for his company and then he was free with no obligations. He took her hand in his and placed it on his heart. "As long as you promise to miss the vote."
"So can we go?"
If he shook this hand, he'd not have to do anything important at all tomorrow, except take Calliope again and again. "Five minutes and I'm yours for the night."
She dropped her hands and winked. "That's a good start. I'll go talk to your sister."
In five minutes, he’d leave with the prettiest woman he ever met. For once he had everything he ever needed. Tonight, she'd be his.