Chapter Thirty-One
Keely was grabbing a bowl from the cabinet when Caine walked out of their bedroom. She’d moved in a few weeks earlier. It made sense since she was paying for an apartment, and she was never there. With her lease ending the following month, she’d officially given her notice.
They were still baby-stepping the ins and outs of living together. Their differences were certainly highlighted the more time they spent together. Some good, some came with a learning curve, and some that made Caine’s temple pulse at a rapid speed.
Caine grabbed her hip, spinning her around and taking her for a kiss.
“Thought you were working today.”
“Morgan asked to switch shifts. I’ve got the night off.” She brushed her lips against his and moaned softly. “Any chance I can get you to call in sick and stay home with me?”
Caine smiled, shaking his head. He playfully slapped her ass and untangled himself from her grip.
“You’re no fun, Caine.”
She slipped past him to the fridge and grabbed the container of leftover pasta. One of the many perks to living with Caine. My man can cook.
He opened the cabinet beside her, and his hand stilled. On her last grocery trip, she’d restocked his shelf of gum. He definitely had his favorite, but she’d gotten him a vast array of other options.
“What’s this?”
“You need variety.”
“No, I don’t.” Caine scowled, completely avoiding the new selection and grabbing his original favorite, Bubble mint. I’ll wear him down.
The buzz of the elevator sounded, and she jerked around.
He walked out to the living room without a word.
She figured it was Ridge or Cyrus. Since she’d officially moved in, they’d started hanging around more.
Courtesy of me. Keely took every opportunity to invite them over.
Why not? They were closer to Caine than anyone else.
They were both single and worked ungodly hours.
Besides, Caine was a great cook, and they always appreciated a free meal. A mini-family, and she was loving it.
Keely walked into the bedroom and straightened up, got dressed, and returned a few text messages.
An hour had passed when she walked out into the living room expecting to see Ridge or Cyrus.
Neither of them were there, but four other men were hauling sheetrock from the elevator.
She eyed the scaffolding on the floor and an array of tools. What the…
Caine hadn’t mentioned anything about renovations.
Keely remained tucked at the edge of the kitchen watching the guys.
Caine was speaking to one of the men, offering his phone, and the man leaned closer.
He nodded and pointed to the ceiling. She was too far away to hear any of their conversation. This was all so confusing.
Fifteen minutes later, Caine was heading in her direction, and she backed up into the kitchen. When he rounded the corner, she raised her brows and widened her eyes.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Construction. Contractor said it should take three days, but they’ll get it framed today.”
Construction? Contractor? Framed? Keely inched closer to the wall and peeked around. In the corner of the room, opposite the seating area with access to the roof and just beyond Caine’s workout area, a few men were boxing out a section of the room with sheetrock.
“It’s the best spot for it,” Caine said.
Keely watched the men in the living room. “For what?”
“For you.”
She spun around. “For me?”
“Yeah. It’ll be about a ten by ten space.”
The wheels in her brain started turning, and a mischievous grin played on her lips when she glanced back. “Is that like a sex dungeon?”
He stilled and glanced up with a sinister smirk. “You want a sex dungeon?”
Keely playfully shrugged and wiggled her brows. “I’m not necessarily opposed to the idea.”
Caine’s eyes heated then he dropped his chin to his chest, shaking his head. “It’s your studio.”
My what?
Caine grabbed her hand and walked over to the opening of the living room, and she blindly followed, glancing at the corner of the room.
“They’re boxing it out now. It’ll be soundproof. Not big, but if you want to expand, we’ve got options. I can move shit around.”
Keely shook her head and parted her lips, but Caine cut her off. “I checked out the best equipment. I’ll send you the links. Pick whatever you want. Made a list of everything you’ll need.”
“For what?”
Caine slowly turned. “Your podcast shit.”
My podcast what???
Everything was slowly settling in. She looked back to the corner of the room at the men building the room.
One small simple pipe dream, and this man was making it happen.
“Caine,” she whispered.
He turned as her eyes welled. He stalked toward her, grasping her jaw.
“You did this? For me?”
“Yeah.”
“B-but, why?”
He snorted, strumming his thumbs over her jaw. “You’ve given me a lot more than a fucking ten by ten room in the corner.”
Bullshit, Caine! Fucking bullshit. He was playing it off as if it was nothing.
This was everything. It wasn’t just about a corner in a room.
He was talking about soundproofing, equipment, and everything else.
He was helping make a pipe dream, a reality.
That thought put her instantly in panic mode.
She knew nothing about podcasting aside from listening.
Keely didn’t know how to start it, what she’d talk about. Nothing.
“Caine.” She shook her head, insecurity creeping in hard and fast. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“You’ll learn.”
But… Everyone had it and it was an impossible escape. Self-doubt was a relentless motherfucker.
“What if I fail?” Her breath hitched.
This had been a cycle for Keely. An endless one of starts and stops. There had been so many projects she’d been excited about and ultimately, they all fizzled out. What if this was yet another? Self-doubt had a way of rearing its ugly head and darkening the most exciting prospects. What if I fail?
Caine cupped her jaw and leaned closer, lowering his voice. “What if you don’t?”
What if I don’t? That said it all. She may not have much faith in herself but Caine had enough for both of them.
He stepped back, dropping his hands to his sides and rounding the island. “They’ll be here for another six hours. I’ve got security downstairs. They’ll come up when I leave.”
She circled around the counter, threw her arms around his shoulders, and hugged him tightly. Sometimes all it took was one person, believing in the unbelievable dream. Even if she failed and went down in burning flames, it didn’t change the fact that he believed in her.
And sometimes that’s everything. It meant more than the biggest successes.
“You did all this for me?”
Caine drew in a breath, and his armor came up in full form.
“You stocked my gum.”
What?
Keely burst out laughing. “That’s not the same.”
“Yeah, it is.”
She shook her head. “But you won’t even take it.”
Caine stared back at her. “But you got it for me. Wanted me to have it. It’s the same fucking thing.” He brushed his lips against her then stepped back and walked away.
God, I love this man.
****
Caine checked his watch. He’d be working for another few hours before heading home.
Of all his duties, this had become the simplest. Sunday night dinners.
It wasn’t his favorite, and he’d been taken off the rotation a few weeks ago.
Then he received a call from Nash informing him he was expected at Oz’s tonight.
He rolled his neck and stood at the landing of the front stairs, taking in the perimeter.
There was little threat at Oz’s house. It was built and protected like a true fortress.
His phone alerted him to the gates opening, and he watched the driveway.
As far as he knew, everyone had already arrived.
He made his way down the steps and furrowed his brows when the familiar black hatchback pulled in and stopped in front of the house.
What the fuck?
A member of security rushed to her door and opened it. Seconds later, Keely popped her head out and waved.
“Holy shit this house is huge!”
Caine immediately rounded the bumper, stalking toward her. Security had the good sense to back away. His relationship with Keely was known to everyone though he never mentioned it.
“What are you doing here?”
Keely was smiling, completely enamored with the house. She whistled, shaking her head. “I mean, I figured he was wealthy, but he’s got to be loaded, right?” She glanced up at Caine. “How many bathrooms are there?”
It wasn’t often he was struck speechless, though it was happening more since the arrival of Keely in his life.
He ground his teeth. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for dinner.”
“What?”
She closed her door and cocked her head. “Elodie called me a few hours ago and invited me.”
To Sunday dinner at Oz’s house?
“I didn’t know anything about this.”
“Yeah, because she told me not to tell you. Something about you not being down for it. And from the look on your face, she was right.”
Caine sucked in a breath and grasped his hips. Just as he was about to say something, the gate ping sounded, and he saw another car pull up. He squinted. It was yet another familiar vehicle. A dark tinted out SVU. Jared and Killian got out and walked over.
What the fuck is going on?
Keely waved. “You guys here for dinner too?”
“Yes,” Jared said.
Killian leaned past Jared, offering his hand. “How’s it going, Caine?”
Caine shook his hand and nodded. He barely made eye contact with Jared. They’d agreed to put their differences aside, but that wouldn’t make them friends.
The three started toward the door, and when Keely stepped up, she glanced over her shoulder.
“Are you coming?”
He narrowed his gaze. “I’m. Working.”
“I’ll make you a plate.” She winked and walked inside.
A fucking menace.
Caine spent the next half hour outside, though he occasionally asked for an update from Cyrus. It seemed Keely had been invited to their family dinner, and she was enjoying herself. That came as no surprise to him.
“They need you in the dining room,” Ridge said.
Caine walked inside and down the long hallway, making a left into the room. It was huge, tastefully decorated, and suited more as a ballroom than a place to eat dinner. Everyone was seated as he glanced around the room. He stared at Oz, who was in conversation with Sal on his right.
He felt a hand brush up against his arm and looked down to find Elodie standing beside him.
“Dinner’s ready.”
And? He cleared his throat. “What do you need from me?”
Elodie stilled then lifted her brows and inched closer. “What do you mean?”
“Ridge said I was needed in the dining room.”
Elodie nodded. “Yeah. Dinner’s ready.”
He drew in a breath. “And what do you need from me ?”
Elodie chuckled and pointed to the table. “I need you to sit down so we can start eating.”
Caine had worked under Oz for years and was never once invited to share a meal. It was important to have a separation, and he understood it.
Everyone looked over at him when he made no move to walk to the table. Keely turned in her seat and patted her hand on the chair next to her. What the fuck is happening?
“Caine,” Oz said, then gestured to the chair.
This was new territory for him.
“For fucks sake, Caine. Sit the fuck down.” Rogue slammed his hand on the table. “Sal’s got this stupid fucking rule we can’t eat ’til everyone’s at the table.”
Caine took a seat. To say it was awkward was an understatement. When all the women took their seats, there were still two empty chairs beside him.
“Who are we waiting on?” Sal asked.
Oz straightened in his chair, clasped his hands, and looked toward the doorway. “Ridge. Cyrus.”
Both men appeared.
“Yes, sir,” Ridge said.
Oz cocked his brow and gestured to the chairs next to Caine. He was getting a view of how he must’ve looked ten minutes earlier. Both men looked down at the chairs then back to Oz but made no move.
“Jesus fucking Christ. At this rate we’re never gonna fucking eat.” Rogue shouted.
A soft giggle from the end of the table had Caine peering over at Elodie. She was leaned forward, her smiling eyes on Rogue.
“Well, someone is eager to eat my food. I’m honored, Rogue.”
Oz cleared his throat and pointed to the chairs. “Sit.”
Ridge and Cyrus took their seats. They looked just as uncomfortable as Caine felt.
Sal cleared his throat, looking around the table. “Well, the family is all here, so let’s dig in.”
Family.