Colters' Daughter by Maya Banks Page B

me.”
    “Who says he hasn’t? From all you’ve told me, he’s not been any happier than you have, and he had to deal with the loss of his mother on top of all that. I’m not saying he didn’t deserve to be miserable for the way he treated you, but maybe you aren’t the only one who has suffered.”
    “You’re a wise woman, Lily Colter. I know I’m being petty.”
    Lily squeezed her hand. “No, hon, you’re a woman who’s been hurt by the man she loves.”
    “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next,” Callie admitted. “He wants to pick up where we left off. He wants me in his bed every night. I’m not sure we can overcome the separation between us that quickly.”
    “He may want, but that doesn’t mean he’ll get,” Lily said lightly.
    “Oh Max always gets what he wants,” Callie said in resignation. “I have no willpower where that man is concerned. He’s lethal.”
    Lily’s eyebrows rose. “That good, huh?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    Lily laughed. “Callie, I’ve never known you to back down from anyone or anything. Granted our acquaintance is still somewhat new, but your brothers have regaled me with tales of your childhood and your adulthood as well. If anyone can stand up to this Max, I’d say it would be you.”
    “Think Mom would kill me if I didn’t make it back up the mountain tonight?”
    “Tell you what. I’ll call her and tell her I asked you to stay over. Then we can all ride up together tomorrow for lunch.”
    “You are way too good to me, Lily, but I love you dearly for it.”
    Lily touched her arm and her expression went serious. “You once helped me through one of the most difficult days of my life, Callie. I’d say we’re good for each other.”
    “We girls have to stick together,” Callie said solemnly. “In this family, we’re way outnumbered!”

Chapter Eight
    The next morning, Callie was still sleeping soundly when Lily gently shook her awake. Callie blinked fuzzily and let out a groan. “Is it morning already?”
    Lily smiled. “Yeah. I wouldn’t let the guys wake you and made them tiptoe through the living room. They’re going ahead. I told them I’d ride up with you. That’ll give you time to shower and feel human before you face the entire family.”
    Callie reached up, framed Lily’s face and then smacked her noisily on the forehead. “God, I love you.”
    She heaved herself up and planted her feet on the floor. “What time is it anyway?”
    “Eleven. You’ll need to hurry if we’re going to make lunch.”
    Callie pushed herself up and staggered toward the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, feeling somewhat human again, she came back into the living room where Lily was sitting in the armchair.
    “Ready?” Lily asked.
    Callie nodded.
    Lily looked dubiously at Callie. “Want me to drive?”
    “No, I’m okay.”
    “Did you sleep at all last night?” Lily asked once they started down the road toward town.
    Callie grimaced. “Not much, I’ll admit. Thinking too much.”
    “Did you come to any groundbreaking conclusions?”
    “Just that Max has a hold on me that months of separation and anger haven’t managed to break,” she said bleakly.
    “You don’t sound happy about that.”
    Callie’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. She held her breath as she turned down Main Street and drove past the hotel where Max was staying. Only when they were beyond did she acknowledge Lily’s statement.
    “There’s a part of me that’s happy. Really, really happy. Like that bubbly, giddy feeling you get when you’re really excited about something.”
    “And the other part?”
    “Like I’m worried I’m standing on railroad tracks with a freight train bearing down on me.”
    “Well, that’s an image,” Lily muttered.
    Callie chuckled. “Best I could come up with on such short notice, but it fits.”
    They drove in silence for a few moments longer. Callie turned onto the road that led up the mountain to her parents’ house and deftly