Chapter Five #2
“Joe,” she argued the minute they were out the door. “What was that all about?”
“Fine, you win. Tell me my views are outdated, but when a woman goes out with me, I pick up the tab, no matter how liberated she is.”
“But this isn’t a real date. We’re only friends, and even that’s—”
“I don’t give a damn. Consider it an apology for the embarrassment I caused you earlier.”
“Isn’t that kind of sexist?”
“No! I just have certain... standards.”
“So I see.” His attitude shouldn’t have come as any big surprise. Just as Cait had told him earlier, he was shockingly predictable.
Hand at her elbow, Joe led the way across the car-filled lot toward the sprawling theater complex. The movies were geared toward a wide audience. There was a Disney classic, along with a horror flick and a couple of adventure movies and last but not least, a well-publicized love story.
As they stood in line, Cait caught Joe’s gaze lingering on the poster for one of the adventure films—yet another story about a law-and-order cop with renegade ideas.
“I suppose you’re more interested in seeing that than the romance.”
“I already promised you could choose the show, and I’m a man of my word. If, however, you were to pick another movie—” he buried his hands in his pockets as he grinned at her appealingly “—I wouldn’t complain.”
“I’m willing to pick another movie, but on one condition.”
“Name it.” His eyes lit up.
“I pay.”
“Those claws of yours are out again.”
She raised her hands and flexed her fingers in a catlike motion. “It’s your decision.”
“What about popcorn?”
“You can buy that if you insist.”
“All right,” he said, “you’ve got yourself a deal.”
When it was Cait’s turn at the ticket window, she purchased two for the Disney classic.
“Disney?” Joe yelped, shocked when Cait handed him his ticket.
“It seemed like a good compromise,” she answered.
For a moment it looked as if he was going to argue with her, then a slow grin spread across his face. “Disney,” he said again. “You’re right, it does sound like fun. Only I hope we’re not the only people there over the age of ten.”
They sat toward the back of the theater, sharing a large bucket of buttered popcorn.
The theater was crowded and several kids seemed to be taking turns running up and down the aisles.
Joe needn’t have worried; there were plenty of adults in attendance, but of course most of them were accompanying children.
The lights dimmed and Cait reached for a handful of popcorn, relaxing in her seat. “I love this movie.”
“How many times have you seen it?”
“Five or six. But it’s been a few years.”
“Me, too.” Joe relaxed beside her, crossing his long legs and leaning back.
The credits started to roll, but the noise level hadn’t decreased much. “Will the kids bother you?” Joe wanted to know.
“Heavens, no. I love kids.”
“You do?” The fact that he was so surprised seemed vaguely insulting and Cait frowned.
“We’ve already had this discussion,” she responded, licking the salt from her fingertips.
“We did? When?”
“The other day. You commented on how much I used to enjoy playing with my dolls and how you’d expected me to be married with a house full of children.
” His words had troubled her then, because “a house full of children” was exactly what Cait would have liked, and she seemed a long way from realizing her dream.
“Ah, yes, I remember our conversation about that now.” He scooped up a large handful of popcorn. “You’d be a very good mother, you know.”
That Joe would say this was enough to bring an unexpected rush of tears to her eyes. She blinked them back, annoyed that she’d get weepy over something so silly.
The previews were over and the audience settled down as the movie started.
Cait focused her attention on the screen, munching popcorn every now and then, reaching blindly for the bucket.
Their hands collided more than once and almost before she was aware of it, their fingers were entwined.
It was a peaceful sort of feeling, being linked to Joe in this way.
There was a rightness about it that she didn’t want to explore just yet.
He hadn’t really changed; he was still lovable and funny and fun.
For that matter, she hadn’t changed very much, either. ...
The movie was as good as Cait remembered, better, even—perhaps because Joe was there to share it with her. She half expected him to make the occasional wisecrack, but he seemed to respect the artistic value of the classic animation and, judging by his wholehearted laughter, he enjoyed the story.
When the show was over, he released Cait’s hand. Hurriedly she gathered her purse and coat. As they walked out of the noisy, crowded theater, it seemed only natural to hold hands again.
Joe opened the truck, lifted down the step stool and helped her inside.
Dusk came early these days, and bright, cheery lights were ablaze on every street.
A vacant lot across the street was now filled with Christmas trees.
A row of red lights was strung between two posts, sagging in the middle, and a portable CD player sent forth saccharine versions of better-known Christmas carols.
“Have you bought your tree yet?” Joe asked, nodding in the direction of the lot after he’d climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“No. I don’t usually put one up since I spend the holidays with Martin and his family.”
“Ah.”
“What about you? Or is that something else you save for Christmas Eve?” she joked. It warmed her a little to imagine Joe staying up past midnight to decorate a Christmas tree for his nieces and nephews.
“Finding time to do the shopping is bad enough,” he said, not really answering her question.
“Your construction projects keep you that busy?” She hadn’t given much thought to Joe’s business. She knew from remarks Paul had made that Joe was very successful. It wasn’t logical that she should feel pride in his accomplishments, but she did.
“Owning a business isn’t like being in a nine-to-five job. I’m on call twenty-four hours a day, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love what I do.”
“I’m happy for you, Joe. I really am.”
“Happy enough to decorate my Christmas tree with me?”
“When?”
“Next weekend.”
“I’d like to,” she told him, touched by the invitation, “but I’ll have left for Minnesota by then.”
“That’s all right,” Joe said, grinning at her. “Maybe next time.”
She turned, frowning, to hide her blush.
They remained silent as he concentrated on easing the truck into the heavy late-afternoon traffic.
“I enjoyed the movie,” she said some time later, resisting the urge to rest her head on his shoulder. The impulse to do that arose from her exhaustion, she told herself. Nothing else!
“So did I,” he said softly. “Only next time, I’ll be the one to pay. Understand?”
Next time. There it was again. She suspected Joe was beginning to take their relationship, such as it was, far too seriously.
Already he was suggesting they’d be seeing each other soon, matter-of-factly discussing dates and plans as if they were longtime companions. Almost as if they were married...
She was mulling over this realization when Joe pulled into the parking area in front of her building.
He climbed out and began to gather her packages, bundling them in his arms. She managed to scramble down by herself, not giving him a chance to help her, then she led the way into the building and unlocked her door.
Cait stood just inside the doorway and turned slightly to take a couple of the larger packages from Joe’s arms.
“I had a great time,” she told him briskly.
“Me, too.” He nudged her, forcing her to enter the living room. He followed close behind and unloaded her remaining things onto the sofa. His presence seemed to reach out and fill every corner of the room.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes, but Cait sensed Joe wanted her to invite him to stay for coffee.
The idea was tempting but dangerous. She mustn’t let him think there might ever be anything romantic between them.
Not when she was in love with Paul. For the first time in nearly a year, Paul was actually beginning to notice her.
She refused to ruin everything now by becoming involved with Joe.
“Thank you for... today,” she said, returning to the door, intending to open it for him. Instead, Joe caught her by the wrist and pulled her against him. She was in his arms before she could voice a protest.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he told her, his voice rough yet strangely tender.
“You are?” She’d never been more aware of a man, of his hard, muscular body against hers, his clean, masculine scent. Her own body reacted in a chaotic scramble of mixed sensations. Above all, though, it felt good to be in his arms. She wasn’t sure why and dared not examine the feeling.
Slowly, leisurely, he lowered his head. She made a soft weak sound as his mouth touched hers.
Cait sighed, forgetting for a moment that she meant to free herself before his kiss deepened. Before things went any further...
Joe must have sensed her resolve because his hands slid down her spine in a gentle caress, drawing her even closer. His mouth began a sensuous journey along her jaw, and down her throat—
“Joe!” She moaned his name, uncertain of what she wanted to say.
“Hmm?”
“Are you hungry again?” She wondered desperately if there were any more bread sticks in the bottom of her purse. Maybe that would convince him to stop.
“Very hungry,” he told her, his voice low and solemn. “I’ve never been hungrier.”
“But you had lunch and then you ate nearly all the popcorn.”
He slowly raised his head. “Cait, are we talking about the same things here? Oh, hell, what does it matter? The only thing that matters is this.” He covered her parted lips with his.
Cait felt her knees go weak and sagged against him, her fingers gripping his jacket as though she expected to collapse any moment. Which was becoming a distinct possibility as he continued to kiss her....
“Joe, no more, please.” But she was the one clinging to him. She had to do something, and fast, before her ability to reason was lost entirely.
He drew an unsteady breath and muttered something she couldn’t decipher as his lips grazed the delicate line of her jaw.
“We... need to talk,” she announced, keeping her eyes tightly closed. If she didn’t look at Joe, then she could concentrate on what she had to do.
“All right,” he agreed.
“I’ll make a pot of coffee.”
With a heavy sigh, Joe abruptly released her.
Cait half fell against the sofa arm, requiring its support while she collected herself enough to walk into the kitchen.
She unconsciously reached up and brushed her lips, as if she wasn’t completely sure even now that he’d taken her in his arms and kissed her.
He hadn’t been joking this time, or teasing. The kisses they’d shared were serious kisses. The type a man gives a woman he’s strongly attracted to. A woman he’s interested in developing a relationship with. Cait found herself shaking, unable to move.
“You want me to make that coffee?” he suggested.
She nodded and sank down on the couch. She could scarcely stand, let alone prepare a pot of coffee.
Joe returned a few minutes later, carrying two steaming mugs. Carefully he handed her one, then sat across from her on the blue velvet ottoman.
“You wanted to talk?”
Cait nodded. “Yes.” Her throat felt thick, clogged with confused emotion, and forming coherent words suddenly seemed beyond her. She tried gesturing with her free hand, but that only served to frustrate Joe.
“Cait,” he asked, “what’s wrong?”
“Paul.” The name came out in an eerie squeak.
“What about him?”
“He phoned me.”
“Yes, I know. You already told me that.”
“Don’t you understand?” she cried, her throat unexpectedly clearing.
“Paul is finally showing some interest in me and now you’re kissing me and telling anyone who’ll listen that the two of us are married and you’re doing ridiculous things like.
..” She paused to draw in a deep breath.
“Joe, oh, please, Joe, don’t fall in love with me. ”
“Fall in love with you?” he echoed incredulously. “Caitlin, you can’t be serious. It won’t happen. No chance.”