Ink (The Haven Series) by Torrie McLean Read Free Book Online Page B

by his brothers. Although her looks probably helped, more than a little.
    If he considered himself to have any kind of big brother role in the little blonde’s life, he probably should have been doing his damndest to keep her and Colton apart. Regardless of his friendship with the ruthless biker.
    But lately Sketch had noticed a change in Callie too. Some of the spark had gone out of her eyes and he didn’t like it one bit. And while she wasn’t volunteering anything that gave him an insight, he could only speculate as to the cause.
    If he didn’t know better, he’d have said there was a guy involved. Couldn’t put his finger on why he’d jump to that conclusion, but it seemed to make sense to him. But she wasn’t seeing anyone because she’d have told him if she was and she hadn’t, so that was that.
    In fact, the girl had been single for over a year now – since she’d finally dropped that cocky little bastard who’d somehow gotten his grubby paws on her and then pissed all over what he’d been lucky enough to have, before finally getting caught out just weeks before Callie’s twenty-seventh birthday.
    Jeff, that had been his name. A loud-mouthed punk who, at nearly thirty, had yet to grow out of the immaturity guys seemed to manage to cling to longer than girls. And that was coming from Sketch, who knew he himself had been a real mouthy shit in his younger days – just as he knew Callie would probably laugh at the suggestion he’d grown up any ...
    FLASHBACK
    “Aww, guys!” Callie squealed at the sight of the candle-topped cake making its way towards their table. “You really shouldn’t have!”
    “We didn’t - it’s for the chick at the next table,” Sketch deadpanned from beside her, earning himself a playful – albeit less than gentle - whack on the arm. “Hey, watch it!” he laughed, pulling her into a hug to appease her and planting a loud smack of a kiss on her cheek.
    The birthday celebrations had somehow stretched out over most of the day and, even though they’d been pacing themselves, the motley crew of revellers were well on their way to drunkenness. The few friends Callie had made in Haven had united to ensure the newly single blonde didn’t spend today of all days alone and miserable.
    “Ooh, champagne – seriously, you didn’t have to. But I’m so glad you did!” the birthday girl exclaimed, as the barman presented her with a huge bottle of Bollinger while another started setting out glasses.
    “We didn’t,” Sketch frowned. “No, really this time. Come on, kid – we love ya an’ all, but a hundred bucks on a bottle of fizz? Ain’t exactly our style ...”
    “See the guy over there in the tie?” the barman nodded, sending all heads turning to follow the line of the gesture. “He says happy birthday . This is on his tab.”
    “You know him, Cal?” Emily, a friend from her apartment block, asked curiously as she spotted the older man offering Callie a smile and a casual wave from across the club. But she shook her head, a look of surprise still etched on her face. “Wow, looks like someone’s got themselves an admirer.”
    “You what ?” Sketch spluttered indignantly, nearly choking on his drink and shooting another look at the guy before glaring at the redhead. “He’s old enough to be her damn daddy! ”
    “Don’t you mean her sugar-daddy?” Emily teased, elbowing a now blushing Callie. “Oh, calm down, Sketch – we all got free champagne, didn’t we? We should pimp Blondie here out more often. And didn’t you have somewhere to be?”
    “Shit, what time is it? Aw, man ... Callie, I gotta jet, girl – promised Leon I’d spin over at the Vault tonight. Said I’d be there like twenty minutes ago. C’mere and give me some love, darlin’.” He stood and pulled her to her feet to wrap her in a bear hug. “Happy birthday, kiddo – go wild ...” But he frowned as he clocked her looking over his shoulder and across the room. “Oi, not that wild. You