She was safe now. He could focus on the meeting at hand.
Oliver had no idea what he would do when she returned to the States and her fiancé. Watching Tori Glen had become his favorite pastime. After his last brawl, he'd come away with a black eye and split lip. He'd told Tori he had gotten pissed at a pub and started a fight. Oliver still wondered if he should admit that he'd beaten the holy hell out of a bloke who'd been stalking her. When she'd gone down the wrong alley, the bastard had whipped out a big knife and followed.
Tori had never noticed that he'd put her would-be attacker in the hospital. Instead, she'd just blithely gone her way. The following day, she'd told him about her misadventure, laughing that she still sometimes got lost in London.
She was going to be the death of him, and he wasn't so sure he minded.
Only two things kept him from taking her bright light for himself: One was James Fenway of Texas, her loving and endlessly patient fiancé. The second was the fact that he was a black hole, which tended to consume and destroy all light in its path.
"I didn't know she was cray cray before I slept with her. Also, I might have had a wee bit to drink. However, I can assure you that the baby is not mine," Callum said.
"Cray cray? What is that nonsense you're spouting?" Oliver glared at his younger brother.
Callum waved him off. "It's an expression Tori uses. I very much like the way she talks. In fact, I appreciate the way she does everything. We need to discuss her."
"First, explain how this can't be your child," Claire demanded.
"I'd like to hear this as well." Rory took a seat beside Callum. "You know condoms break. Did she tell you she was on the pill? I know you think no one would ever lie to their favorite footballer, but really... Do you even watch telly?"
Callum groaned. "Yes, Mummy and Daddy, I did use a condom, and I know how it feels when one breaks. This one stayed solid. But I know this baby isn't mine because I haven't had sex with the woman in almost a year. If fact, I haven't slept with anyone since the injury."
Oliver felt his jaw drop. "You've been celibate all this time? Impossible. Unless something is wrong. Anything we don't know? Has the medication adversely affected your … sex drive?"
Callum chuckled, his expression open, happy even. Oliver didn't understand how his brother had survived such a backbiting, throat-slitting profession with his ability to smile like that still intact but he appreciated it.
"No. Little Cal is in perfect working order, thank you. I'll admit that at first I was somewhat depressed, but I've come out the other side of that. I haven't shagged anyone because I'm only interested in one woman, and until very recently, she was off limits. But did you note that I couldn't possibly have fathered whatever beast is in Thea's womb? She claims she's two months pregnant. I will admit to seeing her at a party at Reggie's a couple of months back. She started the creepy stalker stuff then. But my willy stayed firmly behind my zip all night."
Oliver sighed with relief and sat behind his desk. That was one worry out of his way. His younger brother might make a hash of his life on a regular basis, but he was honest about it. The tabloids would calm down once the results of the DNA test were in. Directly after, they could ensure the woman stayed away from Callum. "All right, then. You can stay at the Heights. There's a vacant one-bedroom, I believe."
He couldn't miss the way Callum's whole face lit up as though being told he could go from his posh digs in Chelsea to a nondescript building that temporarily housed visiting workers was a godsend. "Brilliant. I'll take my suitcases over there tonight. You have no idea how grateful I am, Oliver. I promise once this is all over, you'll see I'm a changed man."
"Happy to hear you're in proper working order … " Rory stared at Callum with narrowed eyes. "But who are you interested in? It best not be the woman I told you to stay the bloody hell away from."
Wearing a calming expression, Claire stood, stepping between them. "Stop it, both of you. Sit down and work this out like brothers."
"Have you touched her?" Rory ignored his sister, leaping to his feet, fists at his sides.
"Not yet," Cal admitted. "But I intend to very soon."
Rory looked ready to kill. "Don't you dare."
Oliver held up a hand. "I'm a bit confused. Who are you two arguing over?" He frowned at Rory. "I thought you were seeing some actress."
"I was," his youngest brother admitted. "I broke it off. It was never serious."
"I'll touch her if I want to." Callum ignored him to warn Rory, then turned to Oliver. "He's seeing at least three different women. Or rather, he's seen at least three so far this week."