CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
I woke up with my cheek stuck to the pillow and my hair all over the place.
Grimacing, I sneaked out of bed very quietly with my phone so as not to disturb Caleb. He was lying on his back, his breathing slow and rhythmical, and the duvet was pushed down to his waist revealing his bare chest in all its masculine beauty. A reminder of the previous night’s bliss.
Our night together had been incredible. I’d never experienced such tenderness from a man, and the passion that had sparked between us had been off the scale.
But . . . the timing was all wrong.
It could never happen again.
In the bathroom, I stared miserably at myself in the mirror.
I’d been so determined that I wouldn’t fall for another man until I’d got Richard well and truly out of my system. It would only lead to more misery otherwise. I’d been quite certain about that.
But what had I just gone and done?
Slept with someone – just because he’d said I was beautiful!
I sighed. To be fair, that wasn’t totally the reason I’d fallen into Caleb’s arms.
It was far more to do with the wine and the relaxed atmosphere in the kitchen – and the way Caleb had made me laugh and had wanted to know all about me.
He’d even been interested when, after my third glass of wine, I’d started rambling on about my favourite teacher at school. I’d known his interest was genuine because we’d had a fascinating discussion after that about the important people in our lives who’d helped to shape the people we’d eventually become.
Sitting on the closed loo seat, I phoned Ellie to explain about the van breaking down and having to be fixed and that I’d be a little late to work because of it.
‘Why are you whispering?’ she wanted to know. ‘Where are you, Katja?’
I gulped. ‘Erm... well, I’m actually at Caleb’s house? Hedgehog hotel Caleb?’
‘Oh. Right. Gosh, when did this happen?’
‘It didn’t.’ I squeezed my eyes shut, hating the lie. ‘Caleb just very kindly invited me to stay over so I’d be handy to pick up the van this morning. It should be ready by nine-thirty so we’ll go over there straight after breakfast and then I’ll drive the van back to Sunnybrook.’
‘I see.’ She sounded like she was smiling broadly and wasn’t taking me very seriously at all. ‘Well, say hello to Caleb for me. And Katja?’
‘Yes?’
‘Enjoy your breakfast!’
‘Ellie, it’s not like that.’
‘Are you sure?’
I hesitated too long and she pounced. ‘Aha! Look, you deserve some happiness after Richard. Caleb could be just the tonic you need so why not go for it?’
*****
We were a little shy with each other over breakfast later. I guess both of us were processing what had happened and more importantly, what was going to happen now...
I’d dived into the shower, worried that I might be tempted back to bed when Caleb woke up. And when I emerged, fully clothed, he’d gone and I’d heard him down in the kitchen.
When I appeared, we’d smiled rather sheepishly at each other and he’d offered me coffee, which I’d taken gratefully. He was barefoot again, in jeans and a T-shirt.
He’d placed a plate of croissants on the table and fetched butter and strawberry jam from the fridge. Then we’d eaten in companionable silence, the radio on in the background, and I couldn’t believe how hungry I was. When he offered me a second croissant, I wolfed that down as well.
‘I need to get over there,’ he said apologetically, with a nod in the direction of the building site. ‘But I’ll come back for you when I hear the van’s ready and drive you over there, okay?’
I nodded gratefully. ‘It’s so good of you.’
He winked. ‘You’re worth it.’
At the door, he paused. ‘Last night was...’ He smiled at me a little sheepishly.
‘I know. It was.’ I smiled back.
He leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. ‘See you later.’
I watched him get in his car and drive off. Then I retreated inside, closed the door and leaned back against it, still feeling weak and trembly from that one brush of his lips against mine.
This was ridiculous.
What on earth had I got myself into?
*****
As I tidied up and stacked the dishwasher, Ellie’s words kept running round inside my head.
You deserve some happiness after Richard. Caleb could be just the tonic you need so why not go for it?
I’d no idea what last night really meant to Caleb. Obviously, he’d enjoyed the time we spent together. With a delicious shiver, I thought back to our hot and steamy night together. ‘Enjoyed’ was a definite understatement!
But while for me, last night had altered everything, maybe for him it was simply a one-night stand? I really didn’t know.
But he’d kissed me on the doorstep and he’d looked... shy when he’d mentioned our night together. He hadn’t looked like a man for whom nights like we’d shared were the norm. He wasn’t a flirt like Ivan.
Last night had been . . . amazing .
Maybe Ellie was right. If it was what Caleb wanted as well, perhaps I should forget the nagging voice in my head warning me that I’d be on the rebound after Richard, which really wasn’t healthy.
I should just go for it!
Feeling happy and light-hearted after coming to a decision, I glanced at the tray of cakes from the van that was still sitting on the kitchen worktop, where Caleb had put them the night before.
I’d felt terrible about not making it to the last two stops, Primrose Wood and Hawksley Rise, because I’d had no way of letting them know I wouldn’t be there. I only hoped the customers would still come back the following week.
Now, looking at the whole Victoria sandwich cake still in its cake box, I remembered what Ivan had said about ‘Vicky sponge’ being his favourite. It was a shame to return with baking unsold and possibly wasted.
I glanced out of the window at the sunny April day.
A walk would be lovely. It was only eight-thirty but Ivan would surely be on site by now. They seemed to have early starts and early finishes there. I’d take this cake over to the site and give it to Ivan as a thank-you for helping me get the van back on the road.
Caleb had left me a key ‘just in case’, so I pulled on my jacket, hitched my handbag over my shoulder and left the house with the cake in its box, pulling the door shut behind me.
As I walked to the gate, I saw a shiny red sports car parked in the street. A woman was getting out of it. She looked over at me, clearly wondering who I was, and I realised with a shock that it was Caleb’s friend Loretta. She looked sleek and polished today, in a tight-fitting cream dress and cropped black jacket, her long, pale hair in a groomed ponytail.
‘Hi. Is he in?’ she asked me, pushing open the gate and navigating the rather uneven flagstones in her heels.
I swallowed. What would she think if she knew I’d stayed the night?
‘Er, no. There’s no one in.’
‘Never mind. I’ve got a key.’ She fished it out of her bag and dangled it in front of me. ‘I’ve decided to surprise him by making his favourite lunch.’
‘Oh, lovely.’
‘Yes.’ She smiled. ‘We were an item for ages but then we parted ways. But we’ve stayed friends and lately, we’ve been seeing a lot more of one another, if you know what I mean. I’m doing oysters as a starter. Guaranteed to get him in the mood and stop him going back to work!’