Chapter 11
“Trust me. Things can always get worse.” ~ Caleb
Caleb
“I ’m sorry about this,” I tell Maya as we make our way to the restaurant.
I tug on my collar. I feel as if every single person in downtown Smuggler’s Rest is staring at me. My body tingles with heat at all of their eyes on me.
Maya squeezes my hand and calm settles over me. She has the ability to quiet my mind with a single touch. Too bad I can’t keep her.
“Don’t be sorry. I’m getting a free meal out of this.”
We reach Smuggler’s Cove and I drop her hand to open the door to the restaurant. I guide her inside with a hand on her lower back. She shivers at my touch. I wonder how she’d respond if I touched her naked skin. Would she shiver and beg me for more?
My cock twitches. It’s on board with finding out exactly how Maya would respond. It’s tired of using my hand for sexual relief .
Hazel waves at me and I force my thoughts away from Maya naked. I’m not getting hard in front of my physical therapist.
“You made it! I didn’t think anything other than meeting me could get you out of the house.” Hazel opens her arms for a hug and Maya growls. It’s barely audible but I hear it.
Is my little bunny jealous? I glance down at her and she’s throwing daggers out of her eyes at Hazel. I wrap an arm around her to make my allegiance clear. She cuddles into me.
Hazel drops her arms at my display. “Awesome. You two are finally together!”
Maya’s shoulders relax and the tension drains out of her. I lean down to whisper in her ear. “Hazel is my physical therapist.”
Her eyes widen and she opens her mouth – probably to fire questions at me – but my parents and sisters arrive before she has the chance.
“You ready for this?” I ask.
“Are you ready for this?” she fires back at me.
“You’re here!” Mom’s shout has the entire restaurant whipping around toward the door to find out who spoke.
I gulp. I’m not imagining things now. Everyone is staring at me. Wondering what Caleb is doing home. Wondering why I’m limping. Wondering how I incurred my injuries. Wondering how I screwed up.
Maya places a hand on my cheek. “Hey.” I draw my gaze to hers and she smiles. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I might have made Maya promise not to abandon me at the restaurant before we left my cabin. I was worried about my family grilling me with questions. But, apparently, my family is the least of my problems. I didn’t count on how it’d feel to have all the inhabitants of the island staring at me.
I refuse to respond to their stares. I can handle this. I’ve handled much worse and came out fine. My leg twinges to remind me ‘fine’ is a relative word.
I nod at Maya and she drops her hand. I immediately miss the feel of her soft skin against mine. I want to drag her hand back. I want to feel her hands everywhere on my body. I want to inhale her honey scent into my lungs as she touches me.
My cock twitches again. I’m surprised by the jolt of sexual awareness. Seconds ago, I was ready to flee the restaurant but now I’m ready to throw Maya over my shoulder and run out of the restaurant to somewhere private where I can devour her. This woman makes me crazy.
“Caleb.” Maya squeezes my hand. “Hazel is showing us to our table.”
I clear my throat and force thoughts of Maya naked away. Again. “Lead the way.”
She studies my face for a moment before nodding. She follows my parents and sisters to a table in the corner. It’s not secluded but at least people won’t be walking past us constantly. Using the location of the table as an excuse to spy on me.
Dad settles himself in the seat in the corner with his back to the wall and my hands begin to tremble. I can’t sit with my back exposed to everyone in the restaurant. I’ll be vulnerable to an attack I won’t see coming .
“Mr. Emerson,” Maya speaks softly and no one hears her. “Mr. Emerson.” She speaks loud enough for half the restaurant to hear her. Her cheeks darken and sweat forms on her brow but she continues.
“Do you mind if I sit in the corner with Caleb? I’m feeling a bit cold and want to avoid any draft.”
My brow wrinkles. Does Maya know I want to sit in the corner? I don’t get the chance to ask her before everyone shuffles around until we’re seated in the corner with my parents across from us and my sisters on either side.
“Better?” Maya whispers to me once everyone’s situated.
“How did you know?” I ask since there’s no denying she knows I was panicking about sitting with my back to the people in the restaurant.
She shrugs. “I read.”
“Now Maya,” Mom begins before I have a chance to question Maya further. “Tell us all about how Caleb and you started dating. My son hasn’t told me a thing.”
Maya’s cheeks darken once again. I can’t help but wonder how far her blush goes. Does it reach her breasts? Are her nipples a pretty pink to match her lips?
My cock hardens and lengthens at the idea of those pretty pouty lips on my hard length. I clear my throat and adjust myself under the table. At least we’re sitting and no one can notice the result of my inappropriate thoughts.
“Um.” Maya nibbles on her lips. She is not helping the situation in my pants at all .
Her gaze catches mine. Shit. Those whiskey-colored eyes aren’t full of want and need. She’s panicking. The attention of five women – my four sisters and Mom – and my dad is too much for her. Especially when we’re in a crowded restaurant.
I’m an asshole. I should have realized this evening would be a lot for her and protect her. Instead of spending all my time being a horndog. The night’s not over yet.
I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “There’s not much to tell. We’ve been friends forever and she finally agreed to give me a chance.”
“You wore her down? Good tactic.” My sister, Willow, nods in approval.
Which reminds me. “Have you met my sisters, Maya?”
“Not officially,” she mutters since everyone knows of everyone else on the island.
I point to Willow. “This is Willow. Next to her is Abigail.” I point to the other side of the table. “And this is Clara and Eliza.”
Maya waves to everyone. “Hi.” When her shy side comes out, she’s absolutely adorable.
The waitress arrives and hands out menus.
“Awesome. I’m starving,” Abigail says as she grabs a menu.
A cheer sounds in the bar area and I jump in my chair. I search for the cause of the disruption. It’s just a hockey game showing on the televisions hung up around the bar. The favorite team probably scored .
I inhale a deep breath and allow my heart rate to return to normal. There’s no threat here. I’m having dinner with my family and Maya. There’s no reason to panic.
“I think I’ll have the Smuggler’s Meatloaf,” Maya says. “What are you having?”
Another cheer erupts in the bar area. I lock my muscles before I flinch again. I’m on Smuggler’s Hideaway. No insurgents are hiding in plainclothes to try and shoot me or plant an IED. I’m safe.
Another cheer and I jump from my chair. Panic coursing through my veins. My hands tremble and I can’t catch my breath. I feel nauseous and my chest aches.
I need to get out of here. I need to find cover. I need to get to safety.
Maya grabs my hand and pulls me away from the table. “Come on. This way.” She leads me into a room and shuts the door behind us. I fall to my ass on the floor as my heart races.
“Name five things you can see.”
I glance up at Maya but I can’t make out her features since my vision is blurry. “What?”
“Five things. Name them.”
I blink to clear my vision and glance around the room. “Shelves. Floor. Lightbulb. Door. You.”
“Good.” She nods. “Four things you can touch.”
I touch my face. “Nose, mouth, ears, cheeks.”
“I think you’re cheating, but I’ll allow it.”
Cheating? How am I cheating?
“Three things you can hear. ”
“I hear you. I hear people in the bar.”
“What else do you hear?”
She taps her toes and I point to her foot. “You. Tapping your foot.”
“Two things you can smell.”
I inhale a deep breath and try to make out the scents of the restaurant. “Pizza and honey.”
“Honey?” She frowns. “I don’t smell honey.”
I shrug. “You always smell of honey to me.”
“One thing you can taste.”
I’m confused. Am I supposed to be eating now?
She hands me a breadstick.
“Did you steal this breadstick?”
“It’s not my fault they didn’t lock the storeroom.”
I bark out a laugh and realize I can breathe. I can see. I can hear. My panic has subsided and my chest is no longer tight.
Damnit. I didn’t want Maya to witness me having a panic attack. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed away from her. I don’t want her to think I’m pathetic. But now she will. After the way I panicked because some stupid hockey team scored and people in the bar cheered.
I run a hand through my hair. “Maybe—”
Maya holds up a hand. “Nope.”
“What? Nope?”
“You’re not going to sit there and apologize for having a panic attack. It’s plain stupid.”
“Stupid?”
“Yes.” She nods. “Stupid. ”
“I’m stupid for having a panic attack?”
She glares at me. “No. You’re human for having a panic attack. You’re stupid if you’re going to apologize and beat yourself up for having one.”
“You see right through me.”
“Duh. We’re friends. Friends know and understand each other.”
“Nonetheless, I should be the one protecting you.” She shouldn’t be forced to be in this room with me, talking me down from a panic attack.
“I didn’t know there were rules about who protects whom.”
“I bet in your romance books the hero always protects the woman.”
“Who says I need protecting?”
She holds out her hand. I contemplate it for a second. I could ignore it but I can’t stand from this position without help. Not yet at least.
I grasp her hand and she helps me to stand. Her hand feels right in mine.
Maybe I was wrong to push Maya away. It’s obvious she can handle my broke ass. Maybe it’s time to finally declare what I’ve always known is true.
Maya is mine.
My thigh twinges.
Or maybe not.