Page 57 of Hold Your Breath
“Please,” she said skeptically. “As if Callum wouldgiggle.”
“Maybe not,” he conceded, “but he is smiling an abnormal amount, and on him, it’s just creepy. You know those greeting cards with a human smile stuck onto some poor puppy or kitten?”
With a grimace, she nodded. “Unfortunately.”
“That’s what it’s like, all those happy smiles on Callum’s face.” Sitting back, he frowned. “It’s not right.”
“Whatever. Are you saying he can’t be happy?”
“No, I’m saying he’snota happy person. Never has been, at least since I’ve known him, and that’s beenyears. But now you have him all hopped-up on mood enhancers—”
“I do not!” she interrupted him loudly.
“You don’t what?” asked Callum, emerging from the bathroom.
“Nothing,” she said, glaring at Derek. “He’s just nuts.”
A half smile tugging at one corner of his mouth, Callum looked at Derek. “Agreed.”
“Since Lou won’t tell me,” Derek started, turning to the other man, “I’ll ask you. What’s going on with the two of you?”
Callum gave him an even look. “Is that any of your business?”
“Yes!” Derek yelped, throwing up his hands. “I’m dying to know, and that makes it my business.”
“Plus you have a bet going with Artie,” Lou interjected.
“Zip it,” Derek growled before turning back to Callum. “So…are you guys going at it like wild animals?”
Unable to stop the flush creeping up her face, Lou turned to grab a cup to hide her red cheeks. “Did you want a coffee or not, Derek?”
“Are you going to give me all the details of your torrid affair?” he asked.
“No!” she and Callum said in loud unison.
“Fine.” Derek slid off his stool. “Then no coffee. But I will find out the truth. You cannot hide good gossip from me.” With that final pronouncement, he left the shop, leaving the bells to ring in the newly fallen silence.
Lou glared at them. “I really hate those bells.”
She replaced the cup with unnecessary care, restacking it perfectly in order to avoid looking at Callum.
“Sorry,” he said, bringing her gaze to meet his in surprise.
“Why?” she asked. “You didn’t have any part in the creation of Derek.”
That brought a slight smile from him, but it disappeared quickly. “I’m the reason everyone thinks something’s going on between us.”
“Have you been bragging about getting me into your bed?” she teased, although she focused on rubbing at a nonexistent spot on the counter with her thumb. Her blush was dying to reappear, and she wasn’t sure she could hold it back if eye contact was involved.
“No, of course not,” he said quickly. “I’ve just been…ah, more cheerful than usual lately.”
“Oh.” Lou didn’t know how to respond to that. “That’s…nice?”
“It is, except you know the guys on the dive team and at the station. They’re worse than old women when it comes to gossip. They’ve noticed we’ve been spending time together and are trying to match that with my…improved mood.”
“Okay,” she said slowly, giving herself time to find the right words. “Do they? Match, I mean.”
There was a pause, during which she almost took the skin off of her thumb by rubbing the counter so hard. “I believe so,” he finally said, and her gaze snapped to his. “I find I’m happier when I’m with you.”
