~Declan~
She fucking blows me away. I’m sitting in The Odyssey two weeks later, watching as she sits for her interview with the Travel Channel crew. She’s already given them a tour of the roof, and now she’s giving them the history of the place. This is the part that I know is hardest for her, but you’d never know it. She’s cool as a cucumber in her black skirt and white button-down, and she’s wearing the grey heels I picked out for her. The blond hair that I can’t seem to stop touching is piled on top of her head in a lazy knot and her lips are red.
She’s pulled off the classy rocker-chick effortlessly. I know she was probably just going for classy, but she always has that edge to her, no matter what she wears.
And I fucking love it.
She’s speaking of her father without blinking an eye, but she does fist her hand once, which tells me that she’s not happy with this line of questions.
The fact that the freaking Travel Channel is filming in her place is amazing. Not that she hasn’t earned it. Everything about the place has changed, not just because of the renovations, but because of the woman who runs the show.
And the producer is a smart man for recognizing that. The segment on the show will only be a little over ten minutes, but they’ve shot at least an hour's worth of coverage to make sure that they have enough footage to pull from. I’ll be performing in about an hour, and they’ll get more filming in then.
“She’s doing great,” Adam murmurs as he walks up beside my table. I purposely sat where I can keep an eye on my girl. Just in case.
“That she is,” I agree with a nod. “Not that I thought she’d do otherwise.”
“She’s a pro,” Adam says. “She deserves this.”
“You both do.” He shrugs, but I don’t let it go. “You both worked your asses off, and continue to, Adam. She knows that, and so do you.”
“It’s her place,” he insists, then pats my shoulder and returns to the bar, where he winks at a redhead and asks what he can get her.
Finally, Callie stands and shakes hands with the camera crew, waits patiently to have the mics taken off her clothes, and walks straight to me.
Good girl.
“You did so great,” I say as I fold her into my arms and hug her tight. God, I love the way she fits just perfectly.
“I was so nervous,” she admits with a sigh. “But my part is done.”
“You were great,” I repeat and tip her head up, my finger under her chin, to see her eyes. “You nailed it.”
She smiles and squares her shoulders, claiming her power back, and I can’t help but smile.
“What?” she asks with a grin.
“I love the way you shrug into your badass,” I reply before kissing her forehead. “And I love that I’m the only one who gets to see you when you take it off.”
“I—” She bites her lip and looks down, then just shakes her head. “Have a great set tonight.”
“What were you going to say?”
“It’s not important,” she replies before leaning in and pressing a kiss to my collarbone. “Break a leg.”
“I’ve never understood that sentiment,” I reply as I turn toward the stage. The bar is filling up. I’ll have a packed audience tonight. “We’ll finish that conversation later.”
She waves me off and walks away, and my eyes are drawn to the long, lean lines of her back and legs. Her ass is just perfect, and fits just right in my hands.
I can’t wait to get my hands on her later.
But first, I have to put on a show for the bar patrons and the cameras. But this is what I do best, so I’m not worried in the least.
I’m just ready to have tonight finished so Callie and I can leave for Seattle tomorrow. Three whole days, with Callie all to myself without business to see to, sounds like my idea of heaven.
***
“I’m kind of in love with this hotel,” Callie says as she checks out our suite at the Four Seasons Seattle. “I mean, look at this view!” She stands, face pressed against the floor-to-ceiling windows, and stares out at the Puget Sound before us. We’re in the penthouse, and not only can we see the water, but we can see a good portion of the city as well. “I bet it’ll be beautiful when it gets dark.”
All I can do is stand and watch, my hands shoved in my pockets, as she looks at everything as quickly as she can, as if she can’t decide what she should look at first.
“The tub is a freaking swimming pool!” she calls from the bathroom, then kisses me as she passes into the other portion of the suite. “Oh my God! There’s a baby grand in here!” She pokes her head around the diving wall and smiles at me. “We like those.”
“That we do,” I reply with a grin, picturing her spread before me the way she was on my piano a few weeks ago. I would not complain if she wanted to recreate that particular fantasy.
“This kitchen is ridiculous!”
I follow her and silently agree. The massive gourmet kitchen is a bit much for a hotel room, especially given that neither of us likes to cook and room service will be our source of nutrition, but it is a beautiful added touch to the space. Finally, she spins and leans on the breakfast bar, facing me. “I know I’m silly, like a little kid who’s never stayed at a hotel before, but I’ve never stayed in the penthouse before.”
“You’re not silly, you’re cute.”