Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-eight
Caleb
Normally, I had all the time in the world for my boy. But I was sitting outside Alice’s house, where she was making dinner for us, and he wouldn’t stop talking so I could hang up and get in there.
Still, I didn’t rush him. I missed him when he was with his mom, and I would never take for granted that he was thirteen and still liked talking to me, even when we were apart.
“What are you eating for dinner tonight?” he asked.
“Don’t know. Alice is whipping something up for us.”
“Wow. You didn’t screw things up and she agreed to a second date?”
I snorted a laugh. “That’s right. Maybe I’m a little more charming than you thought.”
“Yeah, maybe. I mean, I’ve never seen it, but anything’s possible.”
“Thanks, kid. This is exactly the pep talk I needed right before walking into her house.”
He gasped. “You’re at her house and didn’t say anything? Get in there. You can’t be late. She might not let you in. Well…Alice is nice and would probably let you in anyway, but she could turn down another date because of your time management issues. So—”
“Jess,” I interjected. “Do you think your speech is helping my timeliness or confidence?”
Laughing, he stopped. “No, I guess not. Quit talking to me and get in there.”
Alice was waiting at her open door by the time I made it up her porch. Her feet were bare and stacked on top of one another. Her dress skimmed her curves, stopping midcalf. She looked casual and beautiful, even with her arms crossed and the little crease between her brows.
“Is Jesse okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine.” I glanced back at my truck then at her. “How’d you know I was talking to him?”
“I was guessing. You get this look on your face when you’re together, like you’re simultaneously perplexed and so proud you could burst. You had that face in your truck, so I put two and two together.”
I liked that she’d noticed that. And she was dead-on about how my kid made me feel.
My hand on her stomach, I pushed her out of the doorway and stepped inside, kicking the door closed behind me. She bit her bottom lip, and I slid my arm around her waist before slipping it lower, beneath her bottom, and lifting her.
When we were face to face, she grinned. I leaned in and kissed her curved lips.
“You’re right. I was talking to Jesse. He was surprised you had said yes to another date with me. According to him, I hide my charm really well. So well, he’s never seen it.”
Laughing, she cupped my face and wrapped her legs around my waist, her heat seeping through the fabric between us. “He might not have seen it, but I have.” She touched her lips to mine, lingering long enough to give me a heady dose of her sweetness. “How’s Jesse doing, by the way?”
“Too smart for his own good. Mine too. Otherwise, he’s fine. Ready for school to be out, but that’ll be here soon enough.” I put her back on her feet and followed her into her kitchen. “It smells incredible in here.”
She smiled over her shoulder. “Yeah? I can’t say I’m a gourmet cook, but I have a few dishes I’ve perfected. I figured you’re a meat guy, so I made my world-renowned pot roast.”
Laughing, I patted my stomach. “What gave you that impression?”
Her smile was wistful. “Caleb, I’ve been serving you dinner for four years.”
“You got me there.” I looked around her kitchen to see if there was something I could do. The timer on her oven was counting down. There was a bowl of salad on the counter and a basket covered with a cloth napkin. “I’d eat anything you make. If you don’t usually eat—”
She held up her hand. “I’ve only perfected meals I enjoy. Otherwise, it would have been a waste.”
I nodded. “You got me again. Now tell me what I can do to help.”
She closed the space between us, leaning her full weight against my front. “Grab yourself a drink, then sit down and talk to me while I get our food plated.”
“I think I can manage that without too much difficulty.”
Alice had grossly undersold her cooking skills. She claimed to have made nothing more than basic meat and potatoes, but that was like calling the ocean a pond.
I caught her grinning as I shoved my last bite of pot roast into my mouth and cocked my head. “What’s that look for?”
“Nothing.” She waved me off. “It’s just the way you eat. I like that you don’t hide how much you’re enjoying yourself.”
I wipe my mouth roughly with my napkin. “Why would I? You made a hell of a meal.”
“Thank you. I don’t cook for other people often. Sometimes I bring leftovers to Joy, and on occasion, I can twist her arm and convince her to come over for a meal, but that’s pretty much it. I like having you at my table.”
I reached for her hand, taking it in mine. “I like being at your table. And if my siblings hear about the meal you made me, I guarantee they’ll be angling for an invitation.”
Her eyes lit. “I’d love that, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to entertain the whole Kelly clan. Maybe next week, you and Jesse could come over.”
I chuckled. “Absolutely. Count on Jess being a snoop, though. He can’t help himself.”
“I’ll be sure to pack away anything incriminating.”
Placing her hand on my knee, I leaned closer. “I find it hard to believe you have anything incriminating. What are you hiding?”
The pink in her cheeks deepened. “Well, nothing really…”
My brows shot up. “That blush has got me intrigued. Am I gonna have to go hunting and uncover your secrets myself?”
Her eyes gave her away, sliding in the direction of the hall leading to her bedroom.
“Caleb,” she whispered, a little desperate.
I shook my head. “I’m teasing you, darlin’. You don’t have to reveal your secrets to me unless you want to.”
Her fingers flexed inside mine. “I was just joking, for the most part. I’m as boring as they come.”
“I wholeheartedly disagree with you there.”
She blew out a light breath. “Thank you. I mean, I don’t have any secrets, unless you count the contents of my nightstand—and I doubt Jesse is that nosy.”
“He might not be, but I am.”
That made her laugh. “Maybe I’ll show you.”
I tugged her hand, pulling her from her chair. She gave a startled yelp before settling on my lap, like she’d always belonged there. My palm found the back of her head, her hair spilling through my fingers, and I met the bright green of her gaze.
“When you’re comfortable enough with me to do that, I’d be honored,” I murmured. “But we’ve got time. There’s no need to rush into anything. I’m happy learning you piece by piece.”
She rubbed her lips together and pulled in a shaky breath. “I love that, Caleb. I do. But if I’m being honest…” Her voice dropped, low and husky. “Slow is the last thing I want with you.”
That hit me like a jolt. “Yeah?” I sounded rougher than intended. “I'll follow your lead. I’m ready for whatever you want with me, but I need you to be sure.”
Her lashes lowered, her fingers finding the button of my shirt, toying with it. “Do you think I’m damaged?”
“No way in hell.” My brow knit tight. “Why would I think that?”
Her eyes didn’t lift. “After I was attacked, I felt stupid. Afraid. Like I’d been walking around with blinders on.
But in some ways, I’m lucky I don’t really remember what happened.
The drugs left a blank spot in my mind. I know I was hurt, and he would have done worse if no one had intervened. I’m luckier than so many women.”
She swallowed hard. “But that night has nothing to do with what I want with you. When we’re kissing, when you touch me—it’s not connected to him in any way. Not even close. I’m not scared with you. I want you. I want this. More than anything, I know I’m safe with you.”
“Good. You’ll always be safe with me. Wherever this leads, that won’t change,” I promised, my throat thick with emotion I did my damnedest to tamp down. Now wasn’t the time to get angry. I had Alice here, in my arms. No one was going to hurt her. I’d make certain of that.
She cupped my face with both hands and skimmed her lips along mine. “I would love to sit here in your lap and talk to you all night, but I won’t be able to relax until I clean up the kitchen.”
I rolled my forehead on the side of her head. “I hear you. But you cooked me one of the best meals I’ve ever had. There’s not a chance you’re cleaning up.”
“We’ll do it together.”
I patted her hip. “You got a deal, darlin’.”
Even scrubbing dishes with Alice sounded far better than anything else I could think of.
At the sink, she bumped her hip against mine, handing me a soapy plate. “If you’re not careful, I’m going to get used to this.”
I grinned, flicking a drop of water at her. “That’s the plan, Allie-girl.”