Chapter 40
CHAPTER 40
CALEB
T o say last night was a shock is an understatement. I know the tension between us has been escalating, but April propositioning me…
“One night of sex,” is what she said, and I made the most of it. Having her spread out on my bed for most of the night as I took her body in every position imaginable. We finally fell asleep at about four. My sheets still hold her scent. She was gone when my alarm went off, but then I know she has an early session with Scarlett. Her kids are also starting classes today, and I know she’s worried about the logistics. The minibuses are all lined up to transport them, and Scarlett enlisted her team to help ensure all the children remain safe while under our care.
I’m not sure when it became our care, but it has. When Wes found out about it, he went nuclear. I’m growing weary of his constant arguing at every point. It’s like he forgets who the boss is. I instructed him to bill me directly. April will never need to know. This project is too important to have Wes and his money-pinching derail it .
I stop by Gabriel’s office on my way to mine. I can’t help myself. It was good to see him last night.
He huffs as I make my way into his office. “Don’t you have work?” he asks, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Is that any way to greet your twin after I hosted last night?” I say, dropping into the chair opposite him.
Amanda his PA brings me a coffee, which I accept gracefully. Gabriel has a top of the range coffee machine in his staffroom. He likes his coffee like treacle, but the machine itself makes the best coffee around.
“You have remembered Leah is still off on maternity leave?” he adds as if that would be the only reason I called in.
“I haven’t forgotten,” I say, taking a sip of the rich, dark liquid.
I look up to find Gabriel watching me, a suspicious frown marring his brow.
“What?” I ask.
“There’s something… oh my god—you got laid last night.”
I spit the mouthful of coffee across his desk, making him frown even more.
Shit, when did Gabriel become so observant?
“Excuse me…”
“Don’t play all coy with me. I’m your twin. That’s why you’re here.”
He grins at me and I flinch. This is not what I’m used to where Gabriel is concerned. I expect this from the others, not him. He usually minds his own business.
“Leah was right,” he continues. “That’s a foot massage and a?—”
“Stop,” I say, holding up my hand, not wanting to know what my brother gets up to with his wife. Instead, I ask, “What the hell has Leah got to do with this? ”
I’ve got a solid relationship with my brother’s wife. We’ve known her for years. They only realised of their mutual feelings for each other last year. Now they’re inseparable.
“She had a feeling there was more to your knight in shining armour routine.”
I scowl across the desk at him.
“You can talk,” I say. It had been his knight-in-shining armour routine that saw him get together with Leah.
“Exactly,” he says, giving me an uncharacteristic grin. “Firsthand experience of Sir Frazer.”
Shit, I walked into that one.
“So, are you telling me nothing happened after we left?”
“A gentleman never kisses and tells,” I say, making my brother choke on his own coffee.
“Gentleman?” His mirth grates on my nerves.
“Fine, something happened, but it’s a one off. A get-it-out-of-our-system.” I say, knowing it’s the only way to shut him up.
I don’t like the way my brother is staring at me. It’s only when he shrugs, I realise he’s actually going to let it drop.
“When do you think you’ll break ground?” His question comes out of left field, but I’m happy about the subject change.
“As soon as demolition finishes and the site is cleared,” I say. “Planning and the board both signed off on Jaxson’s plans, and with the building being deemed unsafe after the fire, they wanted something done about it.”
“The fire was accidental, then?”
“There’s going to be an independent investigation. They’re looking into the landlord.”
My thoughts go to April. Her vitality, her sassiness, her kindness. One selfish landlord, and I could have lost her. If she hadn’t been able to get out. Thank God, Samuel had the foresight to ensure her office window opened, something April explained during dinner one night. A shiver runs down my spine when I think about what could have happened, if she hadn’t woken up when she did. Smoke inhalation is worse than the fire itself.
“I better go,” I say, not one hundred per cent sure why I even came here this morning.
Gabriel gets up and walks me to the elevator, not his usual MO.
“Caleb,” he says, drawing my attention to him. “Don’t overthink things. We’ve grown up protecting ourselves. We’ve had to. After Elijah. Remember, sometimes we risk missing what is right in front of us. Look at me.”
I stare at my brother as he shrugs. “I’m not saying April is the one but having seen you around her. You’ve let your guard down.” He turns towards me and places a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve never let anyone into your home, certainly not women.”
It’s my turn to shrug. I decide to stay silent. There’s nothing I can say. Gabriel knows why I never invite women back to my home. The Penthouse is off limits. It’s my space. Hookups and dates are for the hotels or their apartments. A safe space I can control. I wonder what April would think if she found out she’s the first woman I’ve had sex with, in my bed?
“Caleb, you need to go with the flow. You can’t force anything that isn’t meant to be. You, of all people, know and understand that.”
I huff, knowing that what he’s saying is true. But after last night, it didn’t come close to scratching the itch, or helping to get her out of my head. I hoped it would. Instead, it bloody fed it. I crave her. I want her wrapped around my cock, to lose myself in her sassy mouth or gorgeous pussy—preferably both. The fact I like her in my space, want her there. It’s beginning to scare the crap out of me.
The elevator arrives, and I slap Gabriel on the back. “Give Leah and Callum my love.”
My brother’s eyes soften. They always do when anyone mentions Leah and their baby. The workaholic is a sap when it comes to his wife and child.