Chapter Six #3
She bit her bottom lip, and he ignored the strumming of heat coursing through his veins. He needed to focus less on her mouth and more on the information. His number was private to everyone except a select few. And Keely wasn’t one of them.
Keely sighed. “How good are you at reading through a lie?”
What the fuck? Caine furrowed his brows, hardening his scowl.
“Charley’s phone. And before you go all ape shit on her, she didn’t give it to me.” Her shoulders slagged. “We were hanging out, and I, um…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked down at her phone, sliding her thumb across the screen. He had no idea what she was doing besides stalling.
This woman is a fucking menace.
She tapped the screen then flipped the phone around to face him.
“Deleted.” Keely cleared her throat, “See, now you don’t have to worry about random texts and calls from me. Are we good now?”
No, we’re not fucking good.
He started toward her without saying a word, and she instinctively backed up. He matched her steps until she was caged in against the storefront window. He was inches away, towering over her. Even in his angered state, he was enjoying having her in this position.
Fucking focus.
“How did you get my number?”
She was backed into a corner. Literally.
Caine wasn’t going to let this go. As if she sensed it, she slumped against the window, and the corners of her mouth tugged down into a frown.
Caine rarely felt sympathy for anyone. Especially in Keely’s position where she’d brought it on herself.
Still, her utter defeat had him settling in position and reining in his aggravation.
“Keely.” His tone was stern but not harsh.
“Charley gave me her phone to look through the new inventory of shoes. I saw your message pop up asking about her schedule.”
Fucking, and? Caine raised his brows.
Her throat bobbed. “I sent your contact information to my phone.”
Caine wasn’t sure what stunned him more, her honesty or the complete lunacy of the act.
“Why?”
She sighed, offering a shaky smile. “I don’t really have a great answer for that.”
Not good enough. He wanted an explanation. His privacy was something he held sacred. And she’d infringed on it.
“Why?” He moved an inch closer, forcing her to peer up through her lashes.
Her breath hitched, and she shifted on her feet.
“I like the idea of um” —her voice cracked— “I wanted to have access to you.”
She wanted access to him? Caine was usually prepared for any situation, but this had him at a loss.
Keely had been extremely forward with him.
More than any other woman he’d encountered.
Her flirting was over the top. Caine was accustomed to scaring most people off with his cold demeanor.
It was intentional. He’d done everything to keep her away.
And she was fighting him every step of the way.
Fuck!
“I told you it wasn’t a great answer,” she blurted.
Caine stepped back, turning to the side, scanning the road.
Fuck! Her admission was sending his mind in places it had no business being.
He’d done everything in his power to steer clear of her.
Fought against his primal desires of wanting her in his bed.
It would be a mistake getting involved with her. And Caine was about to make it.
“Where’s your car?”
“At home.” She pointed to the restaurant. “Darryl picked me up.”
Caine narrowed his gaze, and she immediately held up her hands. “I know, not the smartest move. Trust me, I learned the hard way after about five minutes in the car with him.”
A fire raced through his veins, and he leaned toward her.
“Did he fucking hurt you?”
I will fucking kill him!
“No.”
“Did he touch you?” Caine’s growl rumbled through his chest.
She shook her head, whispering, “No.”
What the fuck am I doing? This woman had his protective side and all his possession coming to the surface. This was all so foreign to him. He’d never obsessed over anything in his life. Especially a woman. Until Keely.
Against his better judgement, he’d made his decision.
“Let’s go.” Caine walked to the car.
It took her a second to realize he wanted her to follow him. But she didn’t hesitate, picking up the pace. His strides were much longer than hers. The car beeped, and the lights flashed. Caine rounded the front hood to the driver’s door.
“You don’t have to give me a ride home. I can call a service.”
Let her call for a ride. He could stay with her until it arrived, ensuring she got home safely. However, there was no way to be sure she’d get home unless he drove her himself. It was an excuse, and he knew it.
He squared his jaw and paused briefly. “Get in the car.”
Her brows hiked. “Are you sure?”
Fucking pain in the ass. It was as if she knew how to press his buttons.
“Get in the car.”
She smiled and grabbed the handle, but didn’t open it. “How opposed are you to making a quick stop at a drive-through so I can get something to eat?”
Was she serious?
She scrunched her nose. “We hadn’t gotten our food when you showed up.”
Caine looked up at the sky and inhaled a deep breath. He needed just a few seconds to collect himself. She was testing his patience.
“If you make the stop, I’ll even treat you to a burger.”
This fucking woman.
“Keely?” His voice was a low, deep drawl.
“Yes.”
“Get in the fucking car.” His thunderous baritone caught the attention of a couple on the opposite side of the street. They stopped and looked over but Caine didn’t even pay them any mind. He was solely focused on her.
Keely flattened her lips, and got into the passenger seat while Caine yanked his door open.
What the fuck am I doing?
*
All he had to do was drive her home. 312 Mercer Road.
He remembered her address from his little secret investigation.
There was no need to talk or engage with her.
Drive her home, drop her off, and be done.
It was the easiest assignment he’d had in years.
Fifteen minutes tops and he’d be rid of her. Fucking done.
Caine made a left turn off the main road, and down the desolate side street.
The industrial area of the city had gone under years ago.
There were still a few factories in use but not many.
Instead of tearing the old buildings down, a contractor had come in and converted two of them into loft apartments. It was now where he called home.
What the fuck am I doing?
“Um, Caine.” Keely shifted in her seat, looking out her window and then the driver’s side. She spun around, leaning over the console. So close her hair drifted over his arm when she looked out the back window.
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I live on the other side of the city.”
Caine pulled into the small, mangled lot.
The renovations to the lofts had been top notch, but they skipped on repaving the parking area.
Within six months, the potholes had made it a game of “will I or won’t I” get a flat tire.
Caine ignored her comment, watching for beat up gravel.
There wasn’t assigned spots, but with only eight occupants, each had silently chosen their favorite and stuck to it.
Caine parked and shut down the engine. When he reached for the door, Keely grabbed his arm.
“Where are we?”
“My place.”
Her jaw dropped, and her gaze darted between him and the building. He caught a small glimmer in her eyes before she smiled.
“Let’s go.” Caine opened his door before she could say anything else.
Keely didn’t hesitate and was out of the car before him. He walked to the back door and punched in the code, feeling her presence, only a foot away. When the door beeped, he pushed it open and walked through, holding it for her but not making eye contact.
Caine hadn’t thought this through, and it was showing with his actions.
He usually took the stairs to the top floor.
The lofts were eight levels high. When he initially looked at the building, the top level had been spoken for.
It was an immediate no for him. He didn’t want anyone living above him.
Throwing the contractor an extra twenty grand sealed his purchase.
He later found out the tenants below him, Meaghan and Theo, were the original buyers.
Three years later, she was still holding onto her grudge.
On rare times when they shared an elevator, she refused to look at him.
Fine by me. Actually, he’d welcomed her unfriendliness.
Her husband was the polar opposite, eager to make small talk.
He passed the stairs, continuing to the middle of the building to the elevator.
As soon as he pressed the button, the doors opened.
He glanced over at Keely and lifted his chin for her to get in.
He punched in the code for his floor. The security was fairly high-end in the building.
People needed the code for individual floors as the elevator opened up directly into the loft.
The bell pinged, and the doors opened. This time he didn’t wait for her and walked into his loft.
“Holy shit.”
Caine furrowed his brows, looking over his shoulder.
Keely was circling in the center of the main living space, her eyes wide as she tried to see everything.
He should’ve expected her reaction. It was probably how most people would respond to his place.
It was massive and completely open. He had sectioned off specific spaces, giving it a more structured look.
His workout equipment was in one corner, the center had couches and chairs, and to the right was a small dining table.
In the far end corner of the room was a lifted platform and a built-in ladder leading up to the roof. His sanctuary.
“This is where you live?” She laughed, walking through the large room, taking it all in. “This is incredible. How many roommates do you have?”
His days of living with others and sharing his space were long past him. He’d never do it again.
“None.”