Free Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelie Page A

never admit to this out loud, but I wanted to slide my hands down every curve she owned, every striped covered curve.
    Harper laughed. “Oh, I get it. Ha, ha, Callum. You think you’re so funny. Now, you better tell me that I look nice or we’re going to have issues because this is all I have and it matters to me to look good, for you...I mean, I don’t want to embarrass you,” she covered up.
    I wonder if handcuffs come in my size. Surely, they’re one size fits all. “Harper, you look incredible.”
    A slow smile crept across her mouth and she nodded in acknowledgement. “Thank you. Now, you’re turn.”
     
     
    The Bowery was the busiest I’d ever seen it. Chris was working the door and we were on the list so we were able to bypass the seemingly mile long line.
    “ Chris, what’s up, man?”
    “ Callum Tate! Long time no see. What’ve you been up to?”
    “ Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that.”
    Chris eyed Harper up and down. “I can see that.”
    I furrowed my brows and tried to overcome the screaming voice inside my head telling me to kick this acquaintance in the chest. Instead, I said through gritted teeth, “Chris, this is Harper. Harper, Chris.” The freaking introductions lately.
    They shook hands and I had to quell the urge to snatch her hand from his grasp. Get a hold of yourself, Tate. Jeez, man.
    “ A pleasure,” Harper said with a charming smile.
    Chris held his arm out after crossing our names off the list, gesturing us inside. I grabbed Harper by the arm and pulled her close to my body. This served many purposes. It sent a clear message to Chris, it kept her safe because The Bowery was packed, and, well, it just brought her close to my body. I loved being near her. Careful, Callum.
    “ What time is it?” She yelled in my ear.
    “ Ten fifteen. Cherry doesn’t goes on for another forty-five minutes,” I yelled back, digging the proximity the band currently playing was forcing us to take.
    “‘ Kay. Hey,” she yelled, leaning in closely, “this band blows. Let’s find some place to talk while we wait.”
    Just what I wanted to be, alone with Harper Bailey.
     
    But that was not going to happen because the second we stepped onto the rooftop I lead her to, although the music was dulled and the breeze was wonderful, Cherry, her band mates and a few of our friends were already there, as if in waiting. You can’t turn around and drag Harper with you, Callum. When they saw us coming, they whooped and hollered, thoroughly embarrassing me.
    “ Ladies and gentlemen,” Cherry started, rising and bowing at her engrossed crowd, “if I may have your attention, please! Introducing, for your entertainment, a one mister Callum Tate and his lovely assistant, Harper!”
    The dramatic group all rose to their feet and clapped at our approach.

 
    “ I’m sorry about this,” I whispered at Harper but she only laughed. “Thank you! Thank you!” I make a slight bow myself.
    “ Speech! Speech!” Freddy yelled.
    “ Freddy. Pink hair? Seriously?” I teased.
        “ What kind of speech was that?” He joked.
    “Harper, pink-hair-dude is Freddy.” Freddy waved. “This is Tie-Dye Tom, as you can tell from his tie-dye t-shirt.” Tom stuck his hand out.
     
    “ Tie-Dye, eh?” Harper asked.
    “ Yes, milady. I own seventy-seven of them.”
    “ Congrats?”
    “ Thank you.”
    “ And you know Cherry,” I say. Cherry hugs her hello. “And this is SO.” I point out our most Gentleman’s Quarterly member.
    “ A pleasure,” Harper said. “SO, is it?”
    “ It’s not my real name,” he corrected smoothly.
    “ That’s right, SO’s real name is Henry or something stupid like that,” Cherry chimed in.
    “ What does SO stand for, then?” Harper asked, ignoring Cherry.
    “ Smooth Operator,” we all said in unison, then laughed out loud.
    SO takes Harper’s hand and kisses the knuckles. “Did I mention we are a dramatic bunch?” I asked. I point to each