Page 11 of Claiming Lily (Claiming 2)

Chapter Six

Lily

“I’m going away with Callum on Friday.”

“You’re what?” Daisy demands.

“It’s just a business trip to Houston. With Miller Corp,” I say, tucking the phone between my shoulder and my ear as I pour myself a glass of wine.

“Oh, fuck!” she mutters.

“My thoughts exactly. Which is why I ended up telling Callum everything,” I reply, sinking down on the sofa and resting my feet on the coffee table in front of me.

I tell Daisy about our conversation, leaving out the whole knee-trembling, panty-melting orgasm part. I’m not ready to share that yet, even with my best friend.

“Are you sure you want to face him, Lils?” Daisy asks in concern when I’ve finished telling her about our plans.

“I wasn’t, but Callum made a lot of sense. I’ve allowed that whole situation to dictate my happiness. I don’t want to give Miller Cooper that power anymore. I’m not doing it to prove anything to him. I’m doing to for me.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Daisy says, sniffing loudly.

“Are you crying?”

“Of course, I’m crying! I wish I were there with you. I bet you’re sitting on the sofa now with a glass of wine, right?”

“Right. And I wish you were here, too,” I sigh wistfully. We could get drunk and put the world to rights, just like old times.”

“Pretty sure we never got drunk. We’re both lightweights. Two glasses of wine is our limit!” Daisy reminds me.

“True,” I chuckle. “How are things with you?”

“Everything is good here. Apart from the local sheriff, who seems to think I’m a thief,” Daisy says with uncharacteristic venom.

“What?”

“Doesn’t matter,” she grumbles. “I’ll fill you in another time.”

“Daisy—"

“Listen, Lils, I gotta go,” she says suddenly. “Call me when you get back, okay? You’ve got this. Love you.”

With that, she’s gone, and I’m left staring at my phone in my hand. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out there’s something more to this situation with the sheriff. I make a mental note to tackle her about it next time we talk.

I take a sip of wine, running my fingers through Groot’s smooth coat as he jumps up on my lap. My mind is all over the place, remembering what happened between Callum and me earlier. My cheeks burn again with remembered desire and embarrassment.

Callum said he wants me. That he’s wanted me from the moment I walked into his office. And not just for one night—he wants me for keeps.

I can’t deny that I have feelings for him—strong feelings. He may be my boss, but I still want to lick his nipples and ride him like a rodeo champ.

But what happens if I give into my feelings and things don’t work out? I’ll be looking for another job. My confidence took a nosedive after what happened with Miller, but I know that will pale in comparison to the pain of not having Callum in my life. The thought of not seeing him every day has my stomach twisting into knots.

Something tells me this business trip is going to change everything.

Callum is either in meetings or out of the office over the next few days, so I barely see him.

When I arrive at the office at 9 AM on Friday, my nerves are shot, and I’m tired and grumpy from lack of sleep. Callum and I have only shared half a dozen words since I wriggled my way to orgasm on his lap, and I’ve spent the last three days overthinking the whole situation. Is he having second thoughts? Regretting words spoken and promises made in the heat of the moment? I wish I had more experience to draw on.

“Punctual, as always," Callum smiles, quirking a dark eyebrow at me as I enter his office.

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