Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Elisa
“ F or you,” Caleb says, producing a massive bouquet of pink, peach, and white roses from behind his back when I open the door to let him in.
My mouth is almost trailing the ground as I drink him in. He is hotter than Hades in a black shirt, open at the neck, and black pants. His gorgeous blond hair is artfully styled, and he’s sporting a thin layer of designer stubble. He smells as divine as he looks, and I seriously have to stop myself from pinching my arm because this still seems like a dream. I can’t believe he is mine and I’m his. I’ve been giddy as a schoolgirl since Easter and wearing the most ridiculous grin on my face the entire time.
“Lili.” His lips tip up at the corners. “Are you going to invite me in or leave me hanging at the door?”
“Sorry. Come in.” I step aside to let him enter. “And thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you,” he says, leaning down to kiss me. His arm goes around my back to hold me up when I sway, almost dropping my flowers.
“Is this okay?” I ask, gesturing at myself. I don’t know where he’s taking me for dinner. I didn’t want to go too overboard, but if he’s taking me to some super swanky place, I may be a tad underdressed in my navy knee-length dress. It’s fitted at the top and ties at the front with sheer lace sleeves and a full skirt that swishes as I walk. I’m wearing silver peep-toe high heels and a matching purse. Beatrice reluctantly helped to curl my hair and do my makeup. Thankfully the bruise on my cheek has gone and no one noticed over Easter weekend. Which is a relief because I was worried Mom might discover it, but she was suitably distracted by Caleb and me.
“You’re perfect.” Caleb kisses me again, pulling me in close to his body. “I missed you,” he murmurs in between kisses.
“You saw me yesterday,” I remind him. We spent the day in Greenwich, and I drove back to the city last night with him. He wanted to come in, but I made him leave as I had to study. My exams are only two weeks away, and my downtime is limited. All my clients are aware I’m not available for commissions for the next month, so at least it means I have a little time to see Caleb but not a lot. Which sucks because now we’re officially together I want to spend every spare second with him.
“I was so distracted all day thinking about you. About Sunday night,” he says, tugging on my earlobe with his teeth and causing a flurry of excitement in my panties.
I swear I’ve been in heat since Sunday. All our kissing has me turned on in ways I have never experienced before.
“Best. Night. Ever.”
“It was pretty perfect,” I agree, smiling as I reluctantly break our embrace.
“You’re too far away,” he says, pouting, as I walk into the kitchen.
I cast him a flirty glance over my shoulder. “I’m putting the flowers in a vase before we leave.”
“Hurry up. I’m already suffering withdrawal symptoms.”
A laugh bubbles up my throat, and I’m indescribably happy. So happy I could burst.
After I put the flowers in water, I call goodbye to Beatrice and take Caleb’s arm as he escorts me out of the building.
“I wish you’d keep your protective detail,” he says, steering me toward his Lamborghini.
“There’s no need now the threat has passed.”
Dad spoke to me before I left Greenwich, explaining about the deal brokered with the Italians and how the threat has passed. He wanted me to keep my bodyguard, but I don’t see the need. All the kids have returned to school, and things are getting back to normal.
“What about fuckface? Has he contacted you?”
I shake my head as Caleb opens the passenger door for me. “Nope, and I saw him at school today, and he blatantly ignored me.” It was a huge relief because I was afraid he’d try to make me change my mind, but Seb seems to have accepted it.
“I know you like your privacy, but it’d put my mind at ease knowing you had someone shadowing you.”
“I’ll think about it,” I say, sliding into the luxury car.
“You look good in my car,” Caleb says after climbing behind the wheel. He leans over and kisses me passionately. “You look good in my life.”
“You’re so sweet.” I run my fingers along the bristle on his chin and cheeks.
“Lili,” he growls. “Do not ever call me sweet.” He playfully tickles me. “At least not in public.”
“But you are sweet, and you know I can’t lie.” I bat my eyelashes, and he chuckles.
“You’re trouble, Ms. Salerno.” He pecks my lips softly. “My favorite kind of trouble.”
“You make me so happy, Caleb.” I’ve got zero chill, but I don’t care. We don’t have to stand on ceremony around one another because we have known each other for years. There is a comfort and a familiarity that makes all of this so natural and seamless.
“I’m so gone for you, Lili. I love you so much, angel.”
My heart beats frantically every time he says those words. “I will never tire of hearing that.”
“I’ll never tire of saying it.” He takes my hand and brings it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “And happiness goes both ways. I’ve been acting like a lovesick goon all day. Joshua and Cristian are having a field day with it.”
“Well, Joshua cannot throw shade!”
“Damn straight.” Caleb starts the car and reverses out of the parking space.
Thirty minutes later, after a companiable ride where we talked about everything and anything, he pulls into a side street in Lower Manhattan, in the district known as Little Italy, parking in a small parking lot at the back of a quaint Italian restaurant. “Leo used to take Mom here back in the day,” he explains, helping me out of the car. “He told me the food is to die for and it’s old-school ambience.” He shrugs, looking a little vulnerable as he leads me to the front door with his arm around my back. “I thought you might like somewhere a little cozier than one of the trendier restaurants.”
“You thought right.” I link my fingers in his as we reach the front desk. “This place is gorgeous.” Lighting is low and romantic, and the circular tables are covered with pretty tablecloths and flickering candles. Unlike some more modern places, the tables are positioned well apart for privacy. A gray-haired man plays the piano in the corner, and the garlicky scents twirling through the air have me licking my lips in anticipation. My tummy rumbles appreciatively as a waiter leads us to a nice table tucked into the back.
After ordering, we sip our glasses of complimentary prosecco.
“To us.” Caleb clinks his glass against mine. “To forever.”
Be still my beating heart. Caleb is so romantic, and he’s everything I ever wanted. “Amen to that.” I agree, enjoying the bubbly liquid as it fizzes in my mouth.
He tips his head to one side.
“What?” I ask, knowing there’s a question.
“You don’t balk when I say stuff like that now.”
“We’re officially together, and I’ve been on that page way longer than you.” I shrug and sip my prosecco.
“You didn’t say anything when Mom mentioned a double wedding.” He scoots in closer, putting his arm around my shoulders. “Is that something you’d like?”
“I’ve been imagining marrying you since I was eight, Caleb.”
“I could get on one knee now.” His eyes twinkle with mirth.
“Don’t you dare.” I level him with a look. “You propose in Paris. I even drew it for you for one of your birthdays. I think I was eleven or?—”
“Twelve,” he replies with confidence. “You drew us in front of the Eiffel Tower, and I was on one knee handing you a pink flower.”
I arch a brow. “You have a very good memory.”
He shrugs, smiling into his glass.
“Is that why you have been buying me some variation of pink flowers?”
He nods, reaching out to thread his fingers through my hair. I left it down and wavy because he told me he loves my hair like that. “Thank you for taking a chance on me, Lili. And forgiving me for breaking my promise to you.”
“Except you didn’t.” I put my glass down, not wanting to drink it so fast. It’s the only alcohol I’m allowing myself tonight as this is my last week of classes before we have a study week and then my finals start. I need to have a clear head in the morning. I hook my pinkie around his. “You didn’t consciously break your promise to me. I see that now, and I’m not letting what those girls did come between us ever again.” They’re all behind bars awaiting trial.
“You are too good for me, angel.” He leans in and kisses me. “And I think I’m addicted to kissing you.” He punctuates the statement with a slew of drugging kisses dropped on my lips and along my jawline, gathering us our fair share of side-eyes. But I don’t care. I have dreamed of this, and nothing or no one is taking it from me.
A throat clearing breaks us apart as the red-faced waiter stands awkwardly at the table holding two large bowls of pasta.
“Can I get you anything else to drink?” he asks after depositing pasta, bread, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a bowl of freshly grated parmesan on the table.
“I’m fine, thanks.” I still have some of my prosecco, and we have a large jug of water on the table.
“I’ll take an Italian beer,” Caleb says, and the man walks off.
We chat and laugh as we eat, and I’ve never felt more comfortable with another living soul. We feed one another forkfuls of our dishes, in between kisses, and I’m so deliriously in love I feel like shouting it from the rooftops.
After, we take a stroll through Little Italy to walk off some of the food before Caleb drives me back to my apartment.
“I’d invite you to stay, but I have an early start in the morning, and we both know what’ll happen if you come in,” I say at the door.
“This next month is going to be hell,” he says, tugging on some of my curls.
“I know, but then I’m free!”
“I can’t wait.” He lifts me up and spins me around.
“Caleb, you’re making me dizzy,” I giggle, planting my hands on his shoulders.
“What are you doing to me, my Lili, hmm?” He nuzzles his lips against that sensitive spot under my ear. “You’ve cast a spell on me.” Slowly, he lowers my body to the floor, ensuring I feel every hard inch of his magnificent body on the way down.
“It must be the same spell you’ve cast on me because I’m equally enchanted.”
“You own me, Lili.” Taking my hand, he places it on his chest in the place where his heart beats. “You own me so completely.”
“The feeling is definitely mutual.” I stretch up and peck his lips. “And I love I can kiss you and touch you anytime I want.”
He spreads his arms out. “I’m all yours. Take your fill.” He waggles his brows and I dissolve into laughter.
He pulls me into his arms. “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
“Oh my god. You cannot quote Shakespeare to me and then leave.” My heart is a pile of gloopy mush in my chest, and every part of me has this man’s name stamped all over it.
“Then let me stay.” His eyes bore into mine. “Just to sleep. I swear I won’t touch you or expect anything else. Just let me hold you, and I’ll drive you to campus in the morning.”
Gawd, it’s so tempting. I really want him to stay, but will I sleep if I’m in the same bed as him? “I’ve never slept with any man before.”
“Fuckface never stayed over?”
I shake my head. “He wanted to, but I always said no.”
“I love I get to have all your firsts, and you get to have all my lasts.”
How can I say no in the face of that. “You promise it’s just to sleep?”
He offers up his pinkie. “Pinkie promise, angel. Just like when we were kids.”
I curl my finger around his before pulling him into my apartment, hoping I won’t regret it.