The first thought that came into Gemma’s mind was that the woman was simply beautiful. The second was that if it was the woman’s intent to pretend she was just noticing Gemma’s presence, then she had failed miserably, since there was no way she could have missed her, when she’d nearly knocked her down getting to Callum.
“Meredith, I’d love you to meet a good friend of mine,” he said, reaching out, catching Gemma’s hand and pulling her closer to his side. “Gemma Westmoreland. Gemma, this is Meredith Kenton. Meredith’s father and mine are old school chums.”
Gemma presented her hand to the woman when it became obvious the woman was not going to extend hers. “Meredith.”
Meredith hesitated a second before taking it. “So, you’re from the States, Gemma?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
She then turned adoring eyes on Callum again, and Gemma didn’t miss the way the woman’s gaze lit up when Callum smiled at her. “Now that you’re back home, Callum, what about us doing dinner at the Oasis, going sailing and having a picnic on the beach.”
For crying out loud. Will you let the man at least catch his breath, Gemma wanted to scream, refusing to consider that she was feeling a bit jealous. And besides, for all you know, I might be his woman and if I were I wouldn’t let him do any of those things with you. Talk about blatant disrespect.
“I’m going to be tied up this visit,” Callum said, easing Gemma closer to his side. Gemma figured he was trying to paint a picture for Meredith that really wasn’t true—that they were a twosome. Any other time she might have had a problem with a man insinuating such a thing, but in this case she didn’t mind. In fact, she welcomed the opportunity to pull the rug right out from under Miss Disrespect. Meredith was obviously one of those “pushy” women.
“And I’m only back home for a short while,” he added.
“Please don’t tell me you’re going back over there.”
“Yes, I am.”
“When are you coming home for good?” Meredith pouted, her thin lips exuding disappointment.
Gemma looked up at Callum, a questioning look in her eyes. Was this the woman waiting for him that he told her didn’t exist? He met her gaze and as if he read the question lingering there, he pulled her even closer to his side. “I’m not sure. I kind of like it over there. As you know, Mom is an American, so I’m fortunate to have family on both continents.”
“Yes, but your home is here.”
He smiled as he glanced down at Gemma. He then looked back at Meredith. “Home is where the heart is.”
The woman then turned a cold, frosty gaze on Gemma. “And he brought you back with him.”
Before Gemma could respond, Callum spoke up. “Yes, I brought her back with me to meet my parents.”
Gemma knew the significance of that statement, even if it was a lie. To say he had brought her home to meet his parents meant there was a special relationship between them. In truth, that wasn’t the case but for some reason he didn’t want Meredith to know that, and in a way she didn’t want Meredith to know it, either.
“Well, I see my friends have arrived now,” she said in a cutting tone. “Gemma, I hope you enjoy your time here in Sydney and, Callum, I’ll talk to you later.” The woman then beat a hasty retreat.
With his hand on her arm, Callum steered Gemma toward the elevator. Once they were alone inside the elevator, Gemma spoke. “Why did you want Meredith to assume we were an item?”
He smiled down at her. “Do you have a problem with that?”
Gemma shook her head. “No, but why?”
He stared at her for a few moments, opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He seemed to think for a minute. “Just because.”
She lifted a brow. “Just because?”
“Yes, just because.”
She frowned up at him. “I’d like more of a reason than that, Callum. Is Meredith one of your former girlfriends?”
“Not officially. And before you assume the worst about me, I never gave her a reason to think anything between us was official or otherwise. I never led her on. She knew where she stood with me and I with her.”