Dating for Keeps (Pine Falls)

by Coleen Kwan

  She told herself she had no business fantasizing about Caleb. He wasn’t one of her prospective dates. He wasn’t boyfriend material. He wasn’t anything except—potentially— a friend. But if that was true, then there was no harm in ogling him, was there? Since there was less than zero chance of anything happening between them. It was like having a crush on a movie star you’d never meet, a harmless daydream.

  “Oh hell!” Caleb leaped out of the armchair, leaving behind a flurry of papers as he dashed out of the living room.

  She rose and followed him, her confusion resolved as the scent of burning food grew stronger. Entering the kitchen, she was just in time to see Caleb fling open the oven door, allowing heat and smoke to billow out.

  Grabbing a thin kitchen cloth, Caleb whipped out a tray from the oven and flung it onto the stove, cursing and shaking his hand.

  “Have you—” burned yourself, she meant to say, but was drowned out by the piercing wail of the fire alarm in the ceiling.

  She didn’t need a lesson in lip reading to know what curse words Caleb was mouthing. He stretched one arm up, and, utilizing his impressive height, switched off the alarm before returning his glare to the blackened mess on the tray.

  “My beef and bean burritos,” he said with a groan. “I’ve made them so many times, but never burned them before.”

  “Maybe I jinxed them,” Lily said.

  He smiled reluctantly. “Nah, it was my fault for not putting the timer on.” He shook his head. “I thought I could at least feed you properly, even though my house isn’t half as comfy as yours.”

  “It’s not so bad.”

  From all accounts Caleb hadn’t been spending a lot of time recently in Pine Falls, so it wouldn’t have surprised her if his house was merely a temporary bunker. But it was nicer than that. Sure, the carpet was threadbare, the color scheme was a nightmare, and the yard was just bare grass and a few spindly bushes. But the foundations were solid, and it wouldn’t take too much elbow grease to make it shine.

  He pulled a face at her. “You’re trying to be nice, I can tell.”

  “No, I mean it.” She rested a hip against a counter.

  He scraped the charred burritos into the garbage and dumped the tray in the sink. “Guess I’ll have to order a pizza.” He sighed.

  “Or we could whip up something from whatever you have.” She motioned at the refrigerator. “Mind if I take a look?”

  “But you’ve already helped me with the business plan. You shouldn’t have to cook, too.”

  “I like cooking.”

  He hesitated. “All right, but I’m helping.”

  She opened the refrigerator, feeling at ease in his kitchen, and pulled out a carton of eggs, milk, cheese, and a tub of leftover Greek salad. A bowl on the counter held onions and red jalapenos. “How about an omelet?”

  “Sounds good. What do you want me to do?”

  “Chop up an onion? And I’ll get the eggs prepared.”

  They worked side by side, not saying much but the silence felt comfortable to her. Caleb possessed a surprisingly good cast iron skillet—a gift from his sister, he said—which cooked the omelets to golden yellow, creamy perfection. When they were done, she folded them over tomatoes, olives, and feta, and added a generous sprinkling of jalapeno.

  “Man, this is awesome,” Caleb declared. They were sitting on stools at his counter now and he’d wolfed down half his omelet. “I’d never have thought to use that leftover Greek salad.”

  “It’s not hard making omelets,” she said.

  “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re an amazing cook. In fact, you’re full of surprises, Lily. Good surprises.”

  A ticklish feeling ran up and down her spine. She was used to being viewed as an oddball, but Caleb seemed to think that was a good thing.

  His gaze continued to linger on her. A few minutes ago she’d felt so comfortable in his company, but not so much now. Not knowing what to say, she solved the problem by stuffing her face with omelet, making speech impossible. An old method, but effective.

  After a while he got up from his stool and opened the fridge. “Want a beer?” he asked.

  About to ask for a soft drink, she changed her mind. She could drink a beer with Caleb. “Yes, please.”

  He pulled out two Coronas, twisted the caps off, and handed her one, his fingers brushing carelessly against hers.

  “Thanks,” she said, attempting to ignore the sudden rush of heat. In time she’d get used to the buzz she got from the most casual of his touches. At least, that’s what she told herself.

  He was still watching her. With one hand resting against the counter and a beer in the other, he struck a laid-back pose, but there was nothing casual about the way he was looking at her. His heavy lids gave his eyes a deceptively lazy slant, but those crystal-clear blue pupils were firmly locked onto her. Why was he staring at her like that? What was going through his mind? She should do something casual that showed she wasn’t fazed by his scrutiny.

  On impulse she tipped back her head and took a gulp of her beer. The bottle was fuller than she realized. Beer foamed out the corners of her mouth and dribbled down the side of her cheeks and onto her neck.

  “Ugh—” she spluttered. Tres elegant. She glanced around for a paper napkin or towel, anything to mop up her spill, but Caleb’s minimalist kitchen had none of those luxuries.

  “Wait,” he said. “Don’t get flustered. Pretend we’re on a date, and that just happened. What do you do now?”

  “Um, I find something to wipe my face with and try to act like it’s not embarrassing?”

  “It isn’t embarrassing.”

  “It isn’t?”

  “Trust me. It’s actually kind of…hot.”

  Hot? Excuse me? What is he talking about?

  But then she recognized the slow simmer in his eyes, and her heart jolted. Holy crap, he did find it hot.

  “O-okay… Well, knock me down with a feather. I did not know that.” A few bubbles of froth were still tickling the corner of her mouth. Without thinking, she darted her tongue out to lick them up.

  Caleb frowned. He was still angled against the counter, but his whole body had stiffened.

  “What?” she asked. “Did I do something wrong?”

  His gaze was fastened on her mouth. He was at least five feet away from her, and the kitchen was spacious, but it seemed like there wasn’t enough oxygen in the room.

  “No, you didn’t,” he said slowly, his voice low. “You did that well, almost too well.”

  Her heart was beating too fast. Words bubbled out of her, the usual reaction to stress, but she was helpless to stop them.

  “Oh good, but I’m not sure what the point of that was, because my chin is still wet and the beer is trickling down my neck now.” Arching her neck, she swiped her fingers down the length of her throat, chasing the stray drops that were sliding into her cleavage.

  Caleb sucked in an audible breath. “Okay, you can stop now.” He rummaged in a nearby drawer, yanked out a packet of paper napkins, and tossed them to her. “Here. Clean yourself up.”

  She caught the packet and helped herself to a napkin, dabbing it at her lips and chin. Had Caleb been turned on by her wet lips? He seemed to be, but maybe he was just pretending, playacting how her date might react. Maybe even exaggerating to boost her confidence. Yes, that was a possibility. She had to be careful about interpreting his signals. It would be mortifying if she got her wires crossed and believed he was actually interested in her.

  Chapter Six

  Friday night came faster than Lily expected. Hurrying home after work, she spent forever getting ready for her date with Greg. Despite Caleb’s reassurances, she was anxious. Memories of her last date at the chili festival, of being abandoned in front of everyone on the dance floor, were difficult to suppress. She was tweaking her hair when a knock sounded on the front door. Her heart jumped. It must be Caleb. He’d said he’d stop by before she left for her date.

  Barefoot, sh
e hurried to open the front door. When she saw Caleb standing on her porch, her breath caught in her throat. Even though she’d been expecting him, she hadn’t been prepared for his impact on her. He’d showered and shaved, a subtle hint of masculine cologne drifting from him. He wore fitted black pants and a gray shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of hard, bronzed chest. Her throat tightened. For a second she fantasized that he was her date, arriving to pick her up. She swiftly executed the illusion.

  “Come in!” She waved him into the house.

  “Hey, there.” His blue eyes lingered on her for what seemed like a long time.

  Lily spread her arms apart. “Well? What do you think?”

  After much debate, and a one-sided conversation with Noodles, she had eventually settled on a loose-sleeved pink blouse printed with flamingos and her vintage high-waisted jeans rolled at the ankles to show her tartan lace-up shoes. To complement the outfit, she’d added long, dangling earrings in the shape of flamingos.

  “You look…cute,” Caleb said.

  Hmm, he’d hesitated. Was he just being polite? Trying to spare her feelings? No, she decided. He wouldn’t do that. He had as much invested in making tonight a success as she did. Besides, she knew she didn’t look like most other women. Over the years she’d developed a decidedly offbeat sense of fashion. In her younger years she’d tried conforming, but the kind of clothes she saw in the fashion mags and tried to wear just made her feel lumpy and dumpy, so in the end she’d learned to stick with her own tastes, however peculiar that seemed to others.

  “Thanks.” Maybe he did think she looked cute. Buoyed, she led the way to the living room.

  “I did some checking,” Caleb said. “This guy Greg really is a math teacher at Bear Creek High School. And he’s not married. So he sounds genuine.”

  Lily blinked at him. “You really checked up on him?”

  “Sure. You don’t know what bozos use these internet dating sites.” Caleb hooked his thumbs into his belt and spread his legs apart. “Thought I should follow you to the bowling alley and hang around for a bit, just to make sure everything’s okay.”

  His offer startled her. “Oh, I don’t think that’s necessary. I’d only be extra nervous and clumsy if I knew you were watching me. It’s nice of you to offer, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay. If there’s any problem, call me. Any time at all.”

  “Thank you.” She gestured to his smart clothes. “But it looks like you’re going out, too. You don’t mind if your night is interrupted?” At the back of her mind she’d been wondering where Caleb was headed tonight, had even speculated if he was going on a date.

  “I don’t mind,” he said. “I’m your dating coach, remember?”

  “But I don’t want to…inconvenience you if you’re in the middle of something.” Now he really would think her inquisitive with a leading question like that.

  “It’s no inconvenience.” He reached out and tugged one of her curls. “Hey, where’s your lucky barrette?”

  She blinked, her cheek tingling where the back of his fingers had brushed against her skin. It was just a playful gesture. It didn’t mean more than that.

  “Oh, it’s here.” She drew out the hairclip from her jeans pocket. “I’ve been debating whether I should wear it or not. I’d hate to lose it again.”

  “You’d rather keep it safe and never wear it again?”

  No, she thought. She was through with playing it safe. “You’re right. It’s no good to me sitting in my jewelry box.”

  Turning to the mirror above the mantelpiece, she slid the barrette into her hair. Behind her, Caleb stood, watching her.

  “Perfect,” he murmured. Their eyes met in the mirror’s reflection. He seemed pleased with the way she looked, and that lifted her confidence. “I’d better go, or you’ll be late.”

  “I thought it was the done thing to be late,” she said, trying to ignore the potency of his nearness. “You know, to show I’m not too eager.”

  Caleb shook his head. “If there’s a genuine hold up, okay, but personally I hate it when a date deliberately turns up late. It’s like she’s saying her time is more valuable than mine.”

  She nodded. “Yes, same here. It’s annoying when a client arrives late for an appointment.”

  “There you go, then. I won’t wish you luck for your date because you don’t need it.”

  “I haven’t bowled in years. I’m scared I’ll drop a ball on my feet.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Just remember: don’t stress out, and try to enjoy yourself.”

  “Thank you, Caleb.”

  She walked him out of the house. On the porch, he paused, his eyes searching hers as if he had more to say, but in the end he merely gave her a nod before taking his leave.

  She watched him as he strode away. He seemed in a hurry. Where was he going tonight? Was he seeing a woman?

  She shook her head. This wouldn’t do. She was going out on a first date with Greg, remember? Greg, the guy who was serious about relationships, who scored high on the compatibility meter, who had a loveable cocker spaniel and liked kids. That Greg. Yes, she was so looking forward to finally meeting Greg.

  …

  “Hey, Caleb. There you are.”

  Caleb turned toward the woman who’d strolled up to join him on the deck of his sister’s house.

  “Here I am,” he said.

  Amber, his sister’s friend—and so by default, his friend, too—leaned against the railing next to him. “You seem out of sorts tonight. Something wrong?”

  “Nah. Just needed some fresh air.”

  “Well, it’s a beautiful night.”

  He glanced across the deck at the brightly lit living room where Hannah was laughing with Derek. Also on the couch was Logan, Amber’s fiancé. Hannah and Amber had been friends for ages, so much so that Amber treated Caleb like he was her kid brother. He’d been looking forward to spending the evening with this close bunch of friends, but then found himself strangely preoccupied.

  Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t get his mind off Lily. Seeing her tonight had unsettled him. Most men would just see the pink flamingo shirt and the Tartan shoes, but he had noticed her small waist, shapely and inviting, just the right size for his hands. And most men would think her looks were just average, as did he initially, but the more time he spent with her, the more he found her wide mouth and squarish jaw appealing, especially the sweet dimple that appeared in her cheek whenever she smiled. And he’d really started paying attention that night in his house when she’d wet her lips with beer. Damn, that had jolted him. Watching her lick her glossy mouth had triggered an explosion of dirty thoughts and fantasies that probably would’ve horrified her if she’d known.

  Lily had looked so eager and anxious about her date tonight. And nervous, too. He got that. After the way she’d been treated at the chili festival, it was amazing she was prepared to put herself out there again so quickly. She wouldn’t have, of course, if it hadn’t been for him. That was his job. He had to remind her there were good guys out there, to get back in the saddle despite her falls. But it was easy for him to say all the right things; Lily had to walk that tightrope by herself. And that, he was beginning to realize, took more guts than he’d initially thought.

  “I hear you’re giving some poor girl dating lessons.” Amber’s teasing voice jolted him out of his reverie.

  “Huh. Can’t keep a secret around this place.”

  She chuckled and squeezed his shoulder. “Is she on a date tonight, then?”

  “Yeah.” He pictured Lily with the math teacher, laughing, chatting, her flamingo earrings bobbing back and forth. Her wide, brown eyes smiling…at someone else.

  “You’re scowling,” Amber said.

  “No, I’m not.”

  He forced his brow to clear, but the image of Lily lingered. What was she doing? Had she dropped a ball on her feet? He hoped not; he wanted this date to go well, for her sake. If she did injure herself
, surely her date would rush to her assistance. The image of a stranger wrapping an arm around Lily’s waist and pressing his body to hers made Caleb’s gut suddenly clench. What was the matter with him?

  Amber patted his arm. “For what it’s worth, I think it’s really nice of you.”

  He wasn’t nice. Not when he was entertaining thoughts of Lily’s soft, warm breath against his mouth as he reached down to kiss her. Stop. This was madness.

  “I’m not doing it out of the goodness of my heart. She’s arranged a meeting for me with her father, Bill Baker.”

  Which was why he wouldn’t—couldn’t—make any move on Lily. She was serious about pursuing a long-term relationship, but he definitely wasn’t. He wouldn’t jeopardize his chance to impress her father.

  “Right. You want that partnership so you can stay in Pine Falls.” Amber nodded in understanding. She, better than most people, knew what it was like to have your dreams put to the test.

  “That’s right. Better prospects for my business, and I get to spend more time with Dad.” If he kept his goals front and center, maybe that would help take his mind off Lily.

  “Your dad’s doing great.” Amber paused before adding softly, “By the way, I heard from Hannah that your mom’s been in touch.”

  The change in subject made him jerk upright. Jeez, was there nothing private anymore? But he quickly chided himself. Amber was like family; she knew every shitty thing that had happened to the Willmetts.

  “It’s up to Hannah if she wants to talk to her, but I have zero interest,” he answered stiffly.

  His mom had walked out on them when he was eleven. His dad, a gruff, long-haul trucker, had stoically plowed on with his work, while his sister, five years Caleb’s senior, had thrown herself into keeping their home running like clockwork. They’d both tried to protect him—his dad by saying nothing, his sister by keeping him busy—but he’d soon found out his mom had run away with a UPS driver to start a new life. She’d dumped them like a bag of rotten shrimp and never once bothered to call, so why the hell would he want to talk to her now after all these years of absolute nothing?