Page 3 of Fighting Our Forever

Chapter Two

Callie

I’m lying in bed reading a book when I hear someone knock on my door. Strike that, knock, is too tame of a word for what they are doing to my poor door. Beating the shit out of is better. Grabbing my phone, I see that it’s ten forty-five. Heart pounding, I wonder who would be at my door this late at night. My first thought is I’m being robbed, but they wouldn’t have knocked, don’t be stupid Callie. I jump out of bed and grab the mace out of my purse and walk to the front door slowly.

Do you ever wonder if people can see into the house through the little peephole attached to the door? I do. I’m convinced people are watching me through that little hole. As quiet as I can be, I stand on my tip toes and look through it to see who is out there, being careful not to let them catch me.

Who I see frightens and excites me all at once. Paul Spader in all his pissed off glory stands there staring at me… through my freaking peep hole. “I fucking knew it!” I seethe, quietly.

“What’s that, Precious?” He says on the other side of my door. His gravelly voice seeping into my skin and warming my insides. The asshole sounds amused.

I clap my palm over my big mouth and continue to stare at Paul, while his eyes never leave mine. Once my heart starts to beat regularly, I open the door, coming face to chest with a man that intimidates the hell out of me. Damn. His dirty blonde hair is up in his signature man bun, and he’s towering over me, all muscly, tracing my frame with his eyes.

“Callie, what the fuck are you doing answering your door wearing that?” He barks.

Unable to speak, I look down at my body and see what he’s talking about. I’m wearing a white camisole with a built-in bra, thank you Jesus, and pink boxers with Yoda all over them. Olivia bought me the boxers for Christmas years ago when I was going through a Star Wars phase. I still wear them all the time, the fuckers are soft. Unfortunately for me, I’ve worn them so much that they are threadbare and have a few holes. I can only imagine what he’s thinking looking at me.

I try to speak, but nothing comes out. Nothing new on that front. I can talk to Logan, Garret, and Reece until I’m blue in the face. Put me in front of Paul or his roommate, and my coworker, Ryan Donovan, and I go silent.

Still staring down at the ground, I see his booted feet step up to my bare ones. He lifts my chin, so I'm looking at him. His touch zings through me, and I can feel him everywhere. One touch and I’m primed for this man in ways I don’t fully understand. This is the closest he's ever come to me, the first time he's ever touched me.

"Precious. Olivia is in Labor. We need to get to the hospital."

Just like that, I'm snapped out of my hot guy stupor. "The hospital? She's in labor? Fuck yes!" I jump in the air, pumping my fist like the dork I am. I run back to my room and grab my phone and purse.

"Okay, let's go."

Paul doesn't move. In fact, he looks a little pissed. Walking up to me, he turns me around by my shoulders and leans down and whispers in my ear. "Go put some clothes on Cal. Something that covers all the parts I'll go crazy over other men looking at." He kisses me behind my ear, then pushes me in the direction of my room.

My brain malfunctions. Paul Spader just kissed me. "Callie. Let's go darlin'. We still need to swing by Panthera and pick up Ryan. I know you want to get to Olivia as soon as possible, don't you?"

He’s right. I wouldn’t miss the birth of my niece for anything. Olivia and I might not be blood, but she’s family and the closest thing I have to a sister. I go to my room and change into some lavender leggings with pineapples on them and a grey hoodie. I slide on some flip flops, and I'm ready to go.

"Is this acceptable, sir?" I ask and roll my eyes. The man is simply absurd.

He only nods but takes my hand and pulls me out the door. He locks my door with my keys I didn't know he had and puts them into his jeans pocket.

"Hey, where'd you get those? Give them back."

"They were on your counter Precious."

I hold out my hand for my keys. He lifts an eyebrow but makes no move to give me my keys, taunting me to react. There is no way I'm digging in his pockets for them. I'll get them back later, somehow.

I turn around and walk to his jacked-up truck and wait for him to unlock it, which he does by the time he's standing next to me.

He opens the door, and I try my best to get in on my own. Fail. Just epic freaking fail.

"You going to let me help you now?"

I look over my shoulder at him and nod. Paul lifts me by the hips easily, sets me into the seat, and buckles me in. He closes the door and gets into his side of the truck starting it up with a big "vroom." I roll my eyes, his truck is as ridiculous as he is.

"You have something to stay Callie?"

Shit, he saw me, the guy misses nothing. I shake my head no and stare out the window all the way to Panthera's compound. I've been here a few times for barbeques with the Panthera family and have always felt welcome. They are a great group of people that work hard and play even harder. Maci-Kate and Olivia have told me about the type of work their men do. They must be so proud to have men like them on their side. I love every chance I get to spend time with the crew.

Paul doesn't park but pulls up to the front door where Ryan is waiting. Instead of getting into the back seat like I thought he would, he opens my door. Rude, I have shot gun. I unbuckle my seat belt and wait for him to move so I can jump down.

When he doesn't, I finally look up into his baby blues. Damn. He hasn't shaved in a few days, and his dark scruff looks delicious. I stare at him, unable to do anything, but stare.

He grins at me. "You going to scoot over babe?"

Scoot over? Like between them? I begin to shake my head no, when Paul pulls me by the waist, towards him to the middle seat. Ryan gets in and leans over kissing me on the cheek. "Wasn't really a question babe. You'll learn. You look beautiful by the way."

With Paul's hand on my thigh, rubbing slow circles with his thumb, and Ryan plastered on my other side, I can't think straight. I've barely said a few sentences to them in the nine months that we’ve known each other. Why are they suddenly so touchy and vocal? Why am I accepting it? I have no idea what's going on. I stare straight ahead for the next twenty minutes, listening to the radio until we get to the hospital.

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