The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 359

“The deal was one date so I could convince you to have another.” He glanced at me. “Were you not listening?”

“I was choosing to ignore that part.”

“Selective hearing. Convenient.”

I almost smiled and hated myself for it. I kept walking, and he kept pace with me easily.

“Where would you even take me?” I asked.

“Is that a yes?”

“I’m just curious, that’s all.”

He smiled. “I was thinking of taking us to that bar downtown. Nothing fancy. Good drinks, live music on Monday nights.” He paused. “I thought you might like it better than somewhere formal.”

He wasn’t wrong about that.

I slowed to a stop near the end of the hallway. He stopped too, waiting.

I thought about saying no. I had a very reasonable, sensible case for saying no. I ran through it quickly in my head—the list that had taken up permanent residence in my jacket pocket, the semester ticking down to the date when I’d need to pick out a new bachelor to marry, and of course, above all else, the fact that I still hadn’t told him the truth about who I was.

It was that last part that hurt the most, because I had a sinking suspicion that it might ruin whatever tentative thing that had formed between us.

But in the end, the thought of that damn kiss won out, and I blurted out my response before I could think twice.

“Okay.”

Callum blinked at me like he wasn’t quite sure if he had heard me properly. “Really?”

“Yes. Really.” I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, then held up one finger. “But I’m only having one drink. And so are you.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “Sounds good to me. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“This…?” I asked, sitting up on my elbows and gesturing at my current outfit—jeans and a sweater.

“No. That won’t do.” She walked over to my dresser and began rifling through the drawers, already pulling things out and throwing them on the floor. I sat up fully.

“Mia! You’re making a mess!” I whined, catching a t-shirt that she chucked over her shoulder without thinking that it might smack me right in the face.

“This is important,” she protested. “You need something cute!”

“But…”

“No buts.” She straightened, meeting my gaze in the mirror, and smirked. “Besides, you’re blushing like a tomato. You want to look hot tonight, and you know it.”

I wanted to say she was wrong, but we both knew she wasn’t. I looked in the mirror, seeing my face stare back at me, and I saw pink cheeks and a red nose and a mouth that was smiling despite my best efforts not to let it.

“Sit here,” Mia said, patting the chair in front of the vanity. “We’ve got four hours, and I intend to use every minute of them.”