Read Online CALLIE (The Naughty Ones Book 1) by Kristina Weaver - Free Book Online

in.
    “Oh gawd, you spinsters watching that drivel again?” Ted asks, making my lip curl and my eye twitch.
    What gay man doesn’t love the Swayze?
    “Don’t insult my soul mate, dude, you’re in mortal danger for even thinking negative thoughts about him.”
    Ted titters.
    “I totally agree. Now give me a good Channing Tatum marathon and I am so there, ladies,” Bill trills, his hands flapping all over the place as Murray and Deidre finally stumble in, loaded down with enough meat to feed a village.
    “Hey, sweetheart, Daddy brought you girls some meat to boost your iron intake.”
    My lips twitch and I watch Deidre roll her eyes as she dumps her burden on the counter and comes over to flop down beside me. Bill and Murray go into the kitchen and start talking sports with Ted.
    “So, how you been?” Jill asks.
    “Meh. I’m good and bad all at once, I guess.”
    “Gruffy gave us the rundown when we went over for Thursday night dinner. You poor thing.”
    “You know it occurs to me that India and the old goat are too close for my state of mind. They’re like two gossiping little old ladies. From hell.”
    “Oh pooh, baby, they’re just, well, them . They do love you, and after they stopped laughing they really were concerned. I heard Luci and Percy banned you from working events till your pregnancy settled some.”
    “Yup. Apparently having me paint the waiters was not good for business. The only reason we have bookings for the next month after the remaining clients called and cancelled is because Jack’s mom and assistant called and exclusively booked us for all upcoming events,” I moan, dropping my head into my hands.
    I feel awful about that, because while I love our business, I can never forget that all of my friends have worked just as hard as I have to get it up and running and turning a decent profit.
    They could lose it all because of me.
    Also, people are gossiping about me and Jack and the fact that he carried me out to his car and took me home. I didn’t let up, of course. I was way too confused and shocked for that to end well, but he did ensure that I was okay and safe.
    “They’re right. Why I recall that time when one of my guys Ben had the flu and showed up for work anyway, poor bastard. He sneezed all over Mrs. P’s steak, and it took two weeks for business to pick up again after she told damn near everyone,” Ted says.
    “Ted, I hurled like I was getting paid to do it, all over a man and half the floor space. I think that’s worse than a sneeze,” I point out.
    “Sure, but I mean it’s still the same. I sent Benny home to recover, and once people realized he wasn’t there to contaminate the meat they came back.”
    Great, so all I need to do to save the business is disappear.
    “And what about this hot man candy Percy was gushing about?” Bill titters.
    God save me, they’re like vultures circling a fresh kill.
    “Nothing.”
    “It can’t be nothing, honey. Why I heard Luci say he’s divine and rich, to boot.”
    “So? He’s just a man and one who left me to walk through the Hyatt in a towel and humiliate myself. What’s so great about that?”
                  “Honey, you both made mistakes and you are both flawed. Get over it and move on already. You’ve always held on to things so tight, Callie, that you end up strangling them before you can even enjoy them. You need to let go a little and live,” Murray trills, though I see how serious he is when he doesn’t hand gesture his words to death.
    “God, fine. I’ll call him,” I mutter just as my phone rings again, the sound of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” making me blush as his name lights up the screen.
    ***
    Dot’s disappeared, and from the sound of silence in the apartment I get the feeling she’s done it on purpose so that Jack and I can be alone to talk things through.
    I like and hate this scenario at the same time, because, well, I’m nervous. This will be our first real