Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-seven
Alice
The last week crawled and flew at the same time.
I marked time by my interactions with Caleb.
Our near-nightly calls where we talked and read together for hours.
Him lingering at my desk when he picked up Jesse from the library, giving me little presents that did nothing to help me straighten my head.
He’d given me a book on gardening in Wyoming. A pair of floral gardening gloves. And I couldn’t fail to mention the pressed-flower journal and packet of wildflower seeds for my yard. I was honestly impressed at how many ways he’d found to give me flowers that didn’t include a bouquet.
And I was terribly, irrevocably smitten with Caleb Kelly, just like always. Only now, I was beginning to believe he returned my feelings.
I glanced at the clock and groaned. I was running late, and it was entirely my fault. I’d gotten caught up in a book and lost track of time. And I needed as much of it as I could get.
Tonight was important. Monumental. Our official first date. Caleb was on his way to pick me up, and I wasn’t ready.
Mentally, I was—beyond ready. But my hair was only half curled, and he’d be here any minute.
When my hair was finished, I swapped the curling iron for my lipstick and smoothed my dress over my hips. My pulse raced in anticipation, every beat whispering, He’s coming. He’s coming.
My doorbell rang, followed by a firm knock. I froze, suddenly more nervous than I had been all day.
He knocked again, and I forced my feet to carry me to the front door. One more breath, then I swung it open.
Caleb filled the frame, broad and towering.
So solid, he blocked out the street behind him.
Dark jeans and a pale-blue button-down stretched across his chest and shoulders, the fabric pulling a little where it met the convex curve of his stomach.
His hair brushed his collar, and his neatly trimmed beard revealed the crooked curve of his pink lips.
But what nearly undid me was the way his chocolate eyes swept over me, slow and intentional, lingering like he wanted to memorize every detail.
“Hey, Allie,” he crooned.
“Hello, Cay,” I whispered back.
In his hands was a bundle of wildflowers wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine.
“Oh.” My throat tightened, and I had to blink fast against the heat stinging my eyes. “They’re beautiful.”
His mouth canted, a little sheepish but full of pride. “These are an I’m-so-damn-excited-to-have-you-on-my-arm bouquet.”
I touched my fingertips to my burning cheeks. “How did you know? That’s my favorite kind.”
He stepped forward, one foot into my house, slipped his arm around my waist, and dipped his head. I stopped breathing as his face came closer to mine.
“It’s not traditional, but I’m hoping we can start this date with a kiss,” he murmured to my lips.
I nodded. “I’d like that very much. As long as we end it with one too.”
His lips grazed mine. “There might be some in the middle too.”
Our smiles touched. “I’ve always thought it was a waste to only kiss goodbye.”
“Agreed.” He kissed me so softly, it was barely there. “What do you think about inviting me inside for a minute?”
I brought my hand up to his chest, gripped his shirt in my fist, and pulled him the rest of the way in. He kicked the door shut behind him, placed the flowers on my entry table, and took me into his arms.
I tipped my head back, he tilted his forward, and still, we were too far apart. Carefully, gently, Caleb lifted me, pressing me against my door. By instinct, my legs circled his hips, and my arms laced behind his neck.
“That’s better.” He ran his nose along mine. “I’ve been thinking about how tonight would go all week.”
“You have?” Heat bloomed in my belly. “Did you think it would start this way?”
He smiled as he pressed a light kiss to my jaw. “Can’t say I did, but I’m not the least bit upset about it.”
“Neither am I.” I touched his cheek, turning his mouth back to mine. Then I kissed him, our lips slotting perfectly together.
His mouth was certain on mine, a slow press that deepened when I parted for him.
The scrape of his beard brushed my skin, sending sparks racing across my nerves.
He tasted like mint and something distinctly him, and the low sound he made in his chest when I tugged him closer went straight to my core.
I kissed him harder, greedy for more. Just when I thought I might dissolve completely into him, Caleb groaned and pulled back. His forehead rested against mine, his breath coming rough and uneven.
“I could stay here and kiss you all night,” he said, his voice strained with regret. “But then we wouldn’t get to have our first official date, and I’ll be damned if I miss that.”
I let my head fall against the door and cupped his bearded cheeks. “You’re right. If we don’t stop now, those flowers might become a made-out-at-your-front-door bouquet.”
He chuffed, lowering me to my feet. “Can’t have that.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s get those flowers in water then hit the road.”
“That sounds perfect.”
Caleb took me to dinner in Laramie, which was nice.
Then he took me to a bar to listen to live music, which was even nicer.
Especially our seating arrangement. We were side by side on a padded bench, facing the small stage.
Far enough away we could hear each other speak, but with a perfect view of the band.
Caleb’s arm was resting on the back of the bench, and his fingers trailed along my arm.
Our thighs were pressed together, and when he turned his head to talk to me, his mouth grazed my ear.
Being tucked in the cave of his body was so cozy, I never wanted to leave.
But it also made me wonder how it would feel to sleep curled up with him, or what it would be like to have him on top of me, or behind me, or—
He brushed my hair behind my ear. “You look like you’re deep in thought.”
I smiled at him. If he only knew. “I’m thinking how much I like being close to you like this.”
“I like it too, Allie.” He grazed his knuckles along my bicep. “Feels like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
“Me too,” I agreed.
“You know,” he brushed his nose against my hair, taking time to inhale deeply, “I was jealous as hell when I saw you out on a date. I didn’t realize it, but yeah, that’s what I was.”
I blinked at him. “Really?”
“Mmmhmm. I wanted it to be me making you laugh.”
“Those were fake laughs,” I admitted. “That was the most awkward two hours of my life.”
“I’m sorry you had to sit through that, but not sorry at all it didn’t work out.” His lips touched my temple, making me sigh. “Have you done a lot of dating? Back in college or…?”
“Not a lot by any standards, but I’ve been on dates.” I shifted so I could look at him better. “Enough to know this one is the best I’ve ever been on. Though I’m not sure we can count this as our first date.”
“No?” One brow raised. “Why’s that?”
“I’d call dinner last week our first date.”
“But I didn’t bring you flowers. And my kid was there.”
“I think it still counts. And if we’re being precise, I’d also count when you brought me coffee on Tuesday and sat with me while I drank it. Oh, and when we both ate ice cream while we were on the phone Friday night.”
He cocked his head. “Those were all dates?”
“Yes.” His beard was slightly rough under my palm as I smoothed it over his jaw. “What about you, Caleb? How does this date rank for you?”
He pressed his face into my hand, his eyes closing for a moment. “I don’t know. I don’t remember ever going out with anyone else.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I know that’s not true.”
He lifted his big shoulder. “I’m not thinking about anyone else when I’m with you. But if I was, nothing would compare, so why bother expending the energy?”
“Well—” I had to take a moment to catch my breath and think of what I could possibly say to that. “Um…I guess you shouldn’t. That would be a waste of time.”
His eyes crinkled in the corners. “Glad you agree, Allie-girl.”
And just like that, I melted into him, as I had a habit of doing when I was in his arms. That I’d been in his arms enough to have developed a habit was pretty crazy.
He took my chin between two of his fingers, angling my face where he wanted it, and kissed me.
His lips were soft but confident as they moved over mine.
He tasted like the mint he’d had after dinner and…
Caleb. I opened my mouth to sip from his lips and swallow his flavor, moaning as his fingers tangled in my hair, tipping my head back even more.
We kissed until my lips tingled and my toes curled inside my shoes.
Until I was boneless and Caleb had almost hauled me into his lap.
With no regard to the public—but blessedly dark—venue, we kissed like time meant nothing.
His hands were in my hair, on my neck, down my spine.
Mine were fisting his shirt, stroking the skin above his collar, tracing the curve of his ear.
I hadn’t made out with a man since college, and that had been nothing like this. Unhurried and curious, learning each other, swallowing the sounds we elicited, petting and stroking the slips of bare skin we could reach.
We only broke apart when the audience exploded into applause at the end of the band’s set. My eyes fluttered open, meeting his heavy-lidded gaze, and I laughed.
“I forgot where we were.”
His swollen lips curled into a smile. “Can’t say I much care where we are.”
I dragged my fingers along his jaw. “We should probably go now that we’ve scandalized everyone here.”
That earned me a low laugh. “I don’t much care what anyone else thinks either, but I hear you. I don’t want the night to end, but we both have to get up early.”
“We do. You earlier than me. I still have time to stare at the ceiling, replaying every single second of the night before I have to go to sleep.”
He dropped his forehead to mine and groaned. “You are so damn sweet.”
“Should I be a little coy? Maybe keep my cards closer to my vest?”
“Absolutely not,” he gruffed, like the idea made him mad. “Don’t change a thing about yourself. Besides, I’m going to be replaying tonight too. All of it.”
Oh, I’d have those words on repeat for a long time to come. They felt so good, they almost hurt. I’d waited a long time for this man, and he was proving he had been worth every second.