Chapter Eight
Keely stretched her arms above her head, knocking her hands against the metal headboard. She scissored her legs and arched her back. On several occasions, she’d been compared to a cat when she first woke up. Who didn’t love a great stretch? Especially after the night she’d had with Caine.
She’d only been awake a minute, but she had ideas about how they’d spend their morning.
Sex was a top priority, followed by breakfast, and then a shower together, sex optional.
But who turns down shower sex? As exhausted as she was, Keely was eager to get started on those plans.
She rolled onto her back and stretched out her arm to the other side of the mattress.
What the… Caine’s side of the bed was empty. Keely pushed up on her elbow, scanning the room. Where’d he go? She leaned across the bed, eyeing the time. It was just after ten in the morning. On most days, she slept in past eleven. Why was he up so early?
She sat up, hugging the sheet against her breasts.
The loft was quiet, but in the distance she heard faint music and a rhythmic knocking sound.
Keely got out of bed and searched for her clothes.
She managed to find her pants, panties, and bra, but her sweater had gone AWOL.
She walked into the kitchen and saw it hanging on the back of a counter stool.
She quickly put it on, flipping her hair from the collar.
The music got louder as she walked into the open living space.
Caine was in the corner at the gym equipment dressed only in sweatpants.
They dipped low, showing a sliver of his defined pelvic bone.
Oh damn, this is like a fucking erotic novel come to life.
Keely tiptoed into the room, careful not to disturb him.
It was for selfish reasons. She was thoroughly enjoying the view of him raising the bar above his shoulders.
Beads of sweat dripped down his back. While she would never condone the practice, she was getting a better understanding into the mind of voyeurs.
Caine dropped the weights to the mat and turned, giving her his profile.
He grabbed his water bottle, taking long hard swigs.
Is it creepy to hope he sprays himself down with the remainder?
He traded the bottle for a towel and wiped his head and face, his biceps contracting from the movement.
I had those arms wrapped around me last night .
A heated tremble flashed over her skin. I’m so ready for round two.
“Morning.”
Caine froze. That was not exactly the reaction she was hoping for.
But maybe she just startled him. He dropped the towel from his face and looked over.
She smiled with a flirty wave. He glanced over her body from head to toe.
Unlike last night, his gaze lacked any interest. Maybe he wasn’t much of a morning person.
Keely walked around the couch to the end of the gym mat several feet away from him.
“You work out every day?”
“Yeah.”
“It shows.” She winked.
Caine gave no response except to turn his back on her. What the hell is happening? Keely’s confidence was wavering every second that went by.
“I’m starving. Do you want to order breakfast?” She inched closer. “Or we could go out? There’s a sandwich shop not too far away. And their coffee is heaven. Or we can…”
Caine spun around, scowling. “No.”
“Oh.” Keely was at a loss from his distant attitude. This was a far cry from the man she’d shared a bed with last night. He hadn’t been overly affectionate, but he hadn’t been this cold.
Caine walked over to the small table near his workout bench, grabbing his phone.
“I’ll call you a car service.”
Dismissed.
She folded her arms and darted her eyes around the room.
He wanted her to leave, and it seemed he couldn’t get rid of her fast enough.
She hadn’t had visions of them forming an instant relationship and walking down the aisle next week.
But she had thought it was the start to something.
He’d been upset when he came out of the bathroom last night.
I heard him curse. Why would he do that unless…
Oh fuck.
Caine hadn’t been upset she was sleeping. He’d been mad she was still there. Keely had totally misread that, and she was paying the price in humiliation now. Keely ignored the heat rising from her chest to her face, blasting her cheeks.
“Okay, thanks.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “I’ll just get my stuff.”
What should’ve been the best night of her life was trumped by the worst morning. Okay, fine, not the worst. But it made it into the top ten.
****
Caine put on a t-shirt and was waiting by the elevator door when she walked out into the living room. Keely didn’t even look at him. She was fishing inside her bag. He suspected it was intentional.
The doors opened, and she immediately passed him, muttering, “Bye.”
Caine should’ve let her go. Wasn’t that the whole reason for kicking her out so abruptly? This was a one-night deal, and now it was morning. Sure, he’d see her again, but not in this capacity. It was over.
When the doors started to close, Caine stepped into the elevator and punched the button. She was tucked in the back corner staring up at the screen. Her body language made it clear she wanted to be as far away from him as possible. Caine stared, but she refused to look at him.
When the elevator stopped, he knitted his brows, glancing up at the screen seconds before the doors opened.
Fuck me. This was the last encounter he needed right now.
Meaghan stepped into the elevator grasping a garbage bag and shooting him a nasty glare.
It was her usual ritual. Still so fucking bitter.
Caine didn’t give a shit, but it made the already awkward ride tension infused.
Thank fuck it’s only seven floors down.
Meaghan turned, ignoring both him and Keely. She was virtually separating them standing in the center of the elevator. The doors closed, and he tapped the button again.
“Morning,” Keely said, a little more chipper than she’d been with him a few minutes ago.
Meaghan glanced over her shoulder. He expected her to ignore Keely, knowing she had to be with him.
“Good morning.” Meaghan’s tone was dry but cordial.
“Great bag,” Keely said.
Caine furrowed his brows, looking down at the garbage she had clutched in her hand. What the fuck is she talking about? Meaghan hiked up her shoulder, and her pocketbook came into his line of sight.
“I have the same one but in the compact size. Couldn’t afford the big one.” Keely chuckled. “Actually, couldn’t afford the one I got, but I had to have it. I swear, it spoke to me.” Keely lowered her voice. “Buy me. We’d look great together.”
Meaghan’s lips softened, but she didn’t respond.
“I justify most of my designer purchases by telling people it’s an asset that can be handed down for generations. Some people leave their kids cash and property in their wills. Mine will be all shoes and handbags.”
Meaghan glanced back at Keely, smiling. “Same. And they’ll be vintage at that point. I’d say those will be some lucky kids.”
“Right?” Keely laughed.
Caine veered his eyes past Meaghan, seeing Keely with a genuine glow. In a tension filled space, she managed to lighten the mood significantly and make his mortal enemy smile in the process.
When the doors opened, Meaghan walked out, followed by Keely, and Caine kept a few steps behind. By his calculations, the car should’ve been waiting outside the door. When he walked out, it was nowhere in sight. He pulled out his phone, pulling up the tracking. Five minutes away.
Keely had positioned herself a few feet from him.
“You don’t have to wait with me. I’m sure the car will be here soon.” Her tone was different. Flat and unemotional. Caine wasn’t fluent in all things women, but he knew enough to pick up on her attitude. He remained planted near the edge of the building.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Meaghan slow her steps to the dumpster, as if prolonging the process.
Nosy fucking neighbor. Caine lived an ultra-private life with little to no interactions with those who lived in his building.
For Meaghan, she’d probably get off on having some kind of dirt to share with the other residents.
Caine didn’t care what anyone thought of him, but Keely would.
Keely sighed loud enough for him to hear and rocked back on her heels.
She stared across the lot, deadpan. It didn’t take a genius to figure out she was angry.
And there was a part of Caine that understood why.
There just wasn’t anything he could do about it.
He didn’t have a consoling bone in his body, and even if he did, it would give her the wrong idea.
Meaghan was walking toward them on the way to her SUV when a car pulled around the bend, slowing down in front of Keely. It barely came to a complete stop, and Keely was grasping the handle to the back door. She opened it but didn’t get in. A few seconds passed, and she turned to face him.
Caine expected one of two things. A simple goodbye in an underlying angry tone. Or a fuck you . He got neither. But he certainly wasn’t prepared for what he did get.
“I faked it.”
What the… Caine clenched his jaw. The fuck you did.
“Last night when you came back from the bathroom, I pretended to be asleep. I didn’t want to risk you asking me to leave, so I faked it. I thought it was worth it so I could wake up with you. But that didn’t happen anyway.”
Fuck.
Keely laughed without an ounce of humor.
“When I heard you curse, I figured you were pissed that I’d already fallen asleep.
Not because you wanted me to leave but so we could continue on to round two.
” She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes.
It was a mask. “But I was wrong. You did want me to leave. Sorry I overstayed my welcome.”
Caine stood in silence watching her get into the car and shut the door. The car pulled away, rounding the small lot and passing by the gate, exiting the driveway. He stared into the backseat, but Keely had her head turned in the opposite direction.
“Wow, Caine. Aren’t you the gentleman. You won’t drive her home yourself, but you’ll get her a car service and even accompany her when she does the walk of shame.”
He shot a glare at Meaghan, who smiled back.
“You know, Theo and I have been together for five years. Dated for two and married for three, so it’s been a long time since I’ve been in the singles world.
I have to say the level of eligible decent men has certainly declined.
” She shook her head, smirking. “I always knew you were an asshole. I just didn’t realize you were a dick too. ”
Caine ignored the insult and grabbed the door, ripping it open with so much aggression, it slammed against the outer wall.
His mask had slipped. Caine stalked down the hall, bypassing the elevator.
The last thing he needed was getting stuck in the confined space with another tenant.
He threw open the stairs door and took them two steps at a time.
His adrenaline was high as the blood rushed through his veins.
Last night had been a mistake, and that became abundantly clear this morning.
When Keely had walked into the living room, he was reminded of how normal this scene would’ve been for anyone else.
She wanted to have breakfast and grab coffee.
She was teasing him, and seemingly comfortable in his space.
It was a trigger for him. Caine didn’t do relationships, commitments, or complications.
He lived his private life in solitude. The thought of anyone potentially offering something different was a threat to the life he’d created for himself. That’s not fucking happening!
He flashed his key fob at his door and walked inside. From the staircase, he entered into the corner between his living room and bedroom. He drew in a breath through his nose. Her scent still lingered in his loft.
“Fuck!” he muttered, walking into his bedroom.
The ruffled sheets were a reminder of last night’s sexcapade. Caine ground his teeth, staring. His home was his sanctuary. Even those closest to him were rarely invited. He’d certainly never allowed any woman in his space, particularly his bed.
Caine walked over to his dresser, braced his arms against the flat surface, and slowly looked up.
His reflection in the mirror stared back at him.
Nothing about him was soft, endearing, or welcoming.
He’d always had a barrier shielding him from everyone.
His aura spoke volumes and served as a warning.
Stay the fuck away. It had worked for most of his life. Until her.
He pushed off the dresser, and a shining flash of metal caught his eye. He jerked his head over his shoulder, and furrowed his brows. On the floor at the corner of his bed was a foreign shimmering object. He walked over and bent down, grabbing the jewelry.
It was a gold bracelet fit for a child with the small band. The gold coloring and scratched finish made it obvious this was not only fake but a cheap knockoff piece. In the center of the band was a faded letter embossed in a heart shaped charm.
K.