Harlequin Romance March 2021 Box Set by Cara Colter (best novel books to read .TXT) 📕

* * *

Callie glanced up when the apartment door opened and a bubble of something light and happy rose through her when she saw it was Owen, returning after having organised cabs for the last of the partygoers. She’d been aware of him all evening—intensely aware—and her awareness didn’t dissipate now, even though the crowd had.

He grinned, and she did her best to keep her feet on the ground and not float up towards the ceiling.

‘Your librarian friends are going to have sore heads tomorrow,’ he said.

She concentrated on collecting up paper plates to put in the recycling. ‘So are a few people in the apartment block. I’ll be tiptoeing around in the morning, so I don’t disturb Jean below.’

She straightened and pressed her hands into the small of her back. She’d been on her feet all evening, and felt as if she hadn’t stopped. Yet when Owen looked at her like that—all warmth and admiration—energy flowed back into her limbs and she swore she could dance till dawn.

‘It went well, don’t you think? Most people seemed to have a nice time.’

He laughed and started gathering up glasses. ‘Callie, it was a major success. Everyone had a ball. I can’t remember the last time I was in a room with that many people who all looked happy to be there. How many guests did you have—forty…fifty?’

‘Give or take.’ She rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. ‘When was the last time you were actually in a room with forty or fifty people?’

He paused, consternation chasing across his face.

‘Hey…’ She almost reached out to touch his arm, but that seemed unwise. ‘I was only joking.’

He shook himself. ‘It’s a long time since I’ve been to a party.’

‘They’re not really your thing, huh?’ She’d sensed that the moment she’d told him she was throwing one, but he hadn’t complained or tried to get out of it. He’d been a good sport.

‘I enjoyed this one, though.’

She found herself dangerously happy about that.

They cleaned the apartment in silence for a bit. When she told him he didn’t have to help, he waved her protests aside. She didn’t protest again. She liked having him here.

‘What was the last party you did go to?’ she asked eventually.

He tied a knot in the top of the last garbage bag before turning back to face her. ‘My engagement party.’

Gah! Talk about putting her foot in it.

His eyebrow lifted. ‘You?’

‘Oh…um…a few colleagues at the university threw a leaving party for me.’ She grimaced. ‘It wasn’t the best party I’ve ever been to. I wasn’t exactly in a party mood at the time.’ She moistened dry lips. ‘I’m sorry about your engagement, Owen.’ She dug out a smile. ‘Would you like a beer?’ She’d been careful not to drink too much tonight. ‘I think we’ve earned one.’

‘Sure.’

They collapsed on the sofa, side by side, and in unison kicked their shoes off and lifted their feet to the coffee table.

He took the top off her beer and handed it to her. ‘The fact I enjoyed tonight’s party more than my own engagement party probably tells you all you need to know.’

‘Like you said before, at least, unlike Frances, you didn’t marry your mistake. And I can’t tell you how glad I am I kicked my own mistake to the kerb back in Australia.’

They clinked bottles and drank.

‘You want to know something odd? Tonight I realised I wasn’t angry any more. Somewhere along the line I’ve chalked Fiona up to experience.’

She stared at him. Really? How had he done that? She was still fuming about Dominic. ‘What happened between the two of you?’ She held her breath and waited. If he didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t pursue it.

He stilled, a strange light in his eyes. ‘You really want to know?’

With a dry mouth, she nodded. ‘But, I mean, if you don’t want to talk about it…’

‘I’m happy to share the gory details, if you’re interested.’

Had she imagined the inflection on the word interested?

‘It started out much the same as a lot of relationships, I guess. We met through mutual friends and hit it off. She’s one of those impossibly beautiful society women—polished, charming, always knows what to say.’

‘I hate her already.’

He chuckled.

Callie tried to not stare. His mouth had lost the hard edge it usually wore when he spoke of his ex. ‘How did you find her out?’

‘I startled her one afternoon. I walked into the apartment we shared and she closed the lid of her laptop a bit too quickly, as if she didn’t want me to see what she’d been reading. It sent alarm bells off in my head.’ He pursed his lips. ‘It wasn’t the first time, and I couldn’t shake the feeling something was…off. Anyway, the doorbell rang and it was her bridesmaids, and they all went off for a dress fitting. When she was gone, I had a look at her browsing history.’

What on earth had he found that could have damned the other woman so completely? ‘What did you find?’

‘She’d been researching the best lawyers for divorce settlements.’

Callie’s hand flew to her mouth.

‘So I waited a couple of days and then told her that my business was in trouble, and as a result we’d have to downscale both the wedding and where we’d planned to live.’

‘How did she take that?’

‘Went ballistic and told me if she couldn’t have the wedding she’d always dreamed of she wouldn’t marry me.’

‘Nice to see she was so supportive!’

‘I told her then that I knew she’d been researching divorce lawyers and settlements, and that her reaction to my supposed financial woes spoke volumes. That’s when it got ugly.’ He kinked an eyebrow at Callie. ‘She isn’t the kind of woman who’s used to not getting her own way, and she let me have it with both barrels. Apparently the deal was she’d get my money while I got the satisfaction of marrying up.’

‘Marrying…up?’ Callie spluttered. What was wrong with these entitled people? Her mother had been right!

He rested his