Songbird (13 page)

He sighs. “Of course you don’t
have
to. But would you at least let me try to make it up to you?”

“I don’t need your apology. Now get out of my way and leave me alone.”

I hold his gaze, and he holds mine, neither of us willing to let the other one get the upper hand. Devin’s used to getting his way. A cocky, high-priced attorney who pours on the charm to get whatever he wants. Six weeks ago, I would have fallen for it. I did fall for it. Twice.

Never again.

“I’m going to work. If you’re here when I get back, I’m calling the cops.”

His eyes flash with fury. I take pride in the fact that I’m pissing him off.

“You can call the National Guard for all I care. I’m not giving up, Callie.”

“You don’t have a choice, Devin.”

He opens his mouth, but I don’t give him the chance to argue. I just step around him and head to the elevator.

P
issed and exhausted, I haul my ass to my apartment to shower and change before driving to the office. When I walk in, my secretary regards me with a smirk before handing me a pile of messages.

“Good morning, Mr. McAllister.”

“Hello, Alicia. What’s all this? My punishment?”

“
This
is what happens when you disappear for two days. I can weed through them if you like? Trash the unimportant ones?”

I hand them back to her. “Yes, please.”

“Oh, and your dad called. He’d appreciate it if you’d stop by the house sometime today. They’ll be home all afternoon.”

Great.

“And I’ll bring you some coffee. You look like you need it.”

“Thanks, Alicia.”

I head into my office and fire up my laptop. I regret it immediately because I find over two hundred emails.

Heaven forbid if I ever take a vacation. My inbox would explode.

I delete what I can before losing all patience and calling Alicia, begging her to work her weeding magic on my email, as well. By the time she brings me my coffee, I only have twenty phone calls to return and about fifty emails requiring my attention.

The rest of the morning is spent replying to clients. To be honest, I’m glad to have something to concentrate on besides Callie and the baby. Then my brother calls and asks about the two things I’ve been trying hard not to think about.

“Has she let you in yet?”

“Shut up, Owen.”

“You know, if you keep stalking her, eventually she’s gonna call the cops.”

“Good. Maybe they’ll lock me up and put me out of my misery.”

His laughter grates on my nerves. “That girl hates you, man.”

“I’m aware.”

“I mean, she even let
me
in the house.”

“What do you mean?”

“Uncle Owen arrived with gifts. Brought my nephew some kickass toys.”

“Neph—what? How do you know it’s a boy? Did she tell you that?”

“Wow, you really don’t know anything about pregnancy, do you? It’s not like they can tell the gender yet. But I know, man. Uncle Owen knows.”

I roll my eyes and resist the urge to throw my phone against the wall.

“You know, Dev,
that’s
what you need to do. Gifts, man. Not for the baby, but for Callie. Something to soften her up.”

“Right. So, how is she?”

“Callie? She’s okay, I think. Mad at
you
.”

“So you said.”

I glance at my watch.
Wonder what time she goes to lunch? What does she like to eat? Is she having any of those weird pregnancy cravings?

These are things I need to know.

Camping outside a woman’s apartment puts things into perspective. Last night, while I struggled to sleep against her door, I admitted to myself that I obviously have feelings for this woman. It’s impossible to deny it when I seem to get excited about the most inconsequential things. Like the way her eyes sparkled this morning when she opened the door to find me there.

She’d deny it, of course, but I know what I saw.

After hanging up with Owen, I finish responding to the last of my emails before closing my computer and heading out the door. I can’t concentrate, anyway.

“I’m headed out for a while, Alicia.”

She looks up from her computer screen. “Do you promise to come back this time?”

I grin. “I promise.”

“Don’t forget to stop by your parents’ house. Your dad seems anxious to see you.”

I bet.
“I won’t forget.”

“Is there anything I can do for you while you’re out?”

Owen’s advice rattles around in my brain.
Gifts, man. Not for the baby, but for Callie.

“Actually, there is something you could help me with. You’re a girl—”

“Last time I checked, yes.”

“What kinds of gifts do women prefer?”

She smirks. “You’ve never bought a gift for a woman?”

“Does my mother count?”

“No.”

Shit.

“What’s the occasion?”

How much should I tell her? I decide to be honest. Everybody’s going to know soon enough, anyway.

“I need a gift that says
I’m sorry for being a heartless bastard when you told me you were having my baby.
Any suggestions?”

My usually stoic secretary’s eyes grow wide.

“I don’t think Hallmark makes a card for that, Mr. McAllister.”

She’s trying hard not to laugh, which is good, because I really don’t want to have to fire her.

“I really could use some advice here, Alicia.”

“Of course, sir. May I ask a question?”

“Sure.”

“Just how big of a heartless bastard were you?”

“Fairly epic.”

She nods. “Then I’d probably start with flowers. I can call the florist if you’d like.”

That’s a great idea. Girls like flowers, right?

“Roses. White roses.”

Will Callie remember? Will she even care?

“White?”

“Yes. A dozen?”

Alicia taps her pen against her chin. “Better make it two. And I suggest you stop by and take care of the message on the card. It’ll mean more to her if it’s in your handwriting.”

I smile. “Perfect. Thank you, Alicia. Remind me to give you a raise.”

She’s already dialing the number.

“Oh, don’t worry. I will.”

Before dealing with the florist, I decide to make the drive to my parents’ house. I don’t normally dread spending time with them, but I am so not in the mood for a lecture, and I know one’s coming from my father. After all, he’s the one family member who hasn’t offered his opinion about the baby situation.

I don’t bother knocking. I just walk in and head straight to the study. That’s where I always find him. Sure enough, he’s sitting behind his desk, gazing out the window.

“Hey, Dad.”

He turns his head and smiles.

“Good morning, son. You look like shit.”

“Thanks a lot.”

Dad chuckles and offers me a seat on the leather couch.

“I’d ask if you’d like a drink, but it’s not even noon. Besides, you’ve probably had enough for a while.”

“I see you’ve talked to Owen.”

“And to your mother. They’re both very fond of Callie.”

“I know. My whole family’s in love with her.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you in love with her?”

I glance at the mini bar. Maybe I
could
use a drink.

“Is that even possible?”

Dad stands up from his desk chair and joins me on the couch. “Oh, I think anything is possible, son. You’re going to be a father. I’d be willing to bet that Satan himself is wearing a parka because hell has officially frozen over.”

I grin. “True. At least Mom will get the grandbaby she’s always wanted.”

“That will be fun,” Dad says, his eyes twinkling with happiness. “It’s about time something wonderful happened to this family, don’t you think? We’ve been sad for too long.”

“So you think this is a good thing.”

“I think it’s wonderful. It’ll be even more wonderful when Callie finds it in her heart to forgive you.”

When
. My father, the eternal optimist.

“Callie seems like a very intelligent, compassionate woman. Pregnancy can be a frightening thing, especially for a first-time mother. Make her feel special. Make her feel safe. That’s what she needs right now.”

“I’m trying, Dad.”

“By camping outside her apartment?”

I shrug.

“She’s scared, Devin. Even more so than you.”

“I can’t imagine how that’s possible.”

“Think about it,” he says softly. “
You
can walk away. You can choose to wash your hands of the entire situation and pretend it never happened. Callie doesn’t have that luxury.”

“I won’t walk away.”

“I’m very glad to hear that. Callie needs to hear it, too. “

I glance at my watch.
I could invite her to lunch and tell her then.