His 24-Hour Wife (The Hawke Brothers 2) by Rachel Bailey Page A

room when you’re done.”
    As he left the room, he closed the door behind him to give her some privacy and headed for the living room. The windows overlooking the ocean called to him, and he drifted over. Being near Callie—having her in his home—and not reacting to her was testing his will. The effort it took to not allow his desire to intoxicate him left room for little else, making it difficult to form coherent thoughts. Watching the rhythmic crashing of the waves calmed him. Restored order to his mind and system.
    Her footsteps sounded faintly at first, and then grew louder as she came down the hall and entered the room. But he was reluctant to turn. He’d only just found his equilibrium again and here she was to destroy it.
    “Mesmerizing view,” she said softly from beside him.
    Her floral scent surrounded him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before replying. “It is.”
    She didn’t face him, just stood with him, looking out over the expanse of ocean. Eventually, she said, “My boss saw the internet coverage and he’s thrilled. He said if it all comes together, the partnership is mine.”
    “That’s great.” This situation needed to lead to a whole heap of good outcomes to be worth the tension it was creating inside him, and one of those outcomes was to boost Callie’s career.
    “Yeah,” she said, chuckling, “I implied I knew what I was doing, so he doesn’t realize we’re just keeping our heads above water.”
    Finally, he turned to face her, trying to read her expression. “Regrets already?”
    She shrugged. “The odds are finely balanced, but we’re still on top of things. Still moving forward.”
    “Why don’t I believe you?” She looked calm, professional, but there was something behind her eyes that told him it was another example of the mask she wore for the world.
    She glanced up at him, surprise clear in her expression, and then shrugged. “I guess I’m just used to being the one advising clients on how to deal with PR problems, or implementing solutions, not being the one in the center.”
    He grinned. It seemed that he wasn’t the only one who preferred being in control.
    “You know they say doctors make the worst patients,” he said gently.
    She arched an eyebrow. “What are you saying?”
    “Just that it would make sense that you’re having trouble adjusting to being on the other side of the clipboard.”
    She rubbed her eyes and gave him a reluctant smile. “I guess that’s true. And on the bright side, I’ll probably have a much better understanding of my clients when this is over.”
    “That’s always a bonus in business.”
    She paused and her expression changed, soured. “He also said that Terence, the guy who threatened to tell the tabloids about us in the first place, had offered assistance with the account if I needed it.”
    Adam wasn’t sure whether to swear or laugh at the man’s ridiculous optimism. “Terence obviously has some underhanded scheme in mind. What did you say?”
    She tipped up her chin. “That everything was under control.”
    “Good,” he said, wishing there was something he could do about the bottom-dweller who’d threatened Callie. The best he could do was make sure that their plan went off flawlessly so she secured the partnership. Her success would be the best revenge.
    The security intercom sounded. Adam pressed a button on the wall, gave instructions to the staff from the delivery truck and let them in. Then he turned back to Callie.
    “Come on,” he said. “Time to set up your new office.”

Five
    T he next morning, Callie met Jenna and Adam in the living room. After she and Adam had arranged her new office the day before, Callie had stayed there, catching up on emails and phone calls and letting people know she’d moved. At dinner, they’d ordered takeout and she’d eaten hers while still working. So, beyond a quick discussion about what to eat, she’d avoided conversation with her husband ever since