“Too bad.” Caleb crouched next to the tub, bringing us to eye level. “I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.”
“And if I don’t?” I challenged. “What will you do?”
“I’ll get in this tub with you.”
My eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Caleb’s eyes brightened with anticipation. “Try me.”
“Okay,” I huffed. “I dare you.”
I should have thought it through.
Even better, I should have kept my big mouth shut.
Because one minute I was staring into Caleb’s eyes, challenging him, and the next he was slipping his shoes off and climbing into the tub, clothes and all.
I HELD MY HANDS UP in front of my face, listening to how the water slapped the tiles with a splash. “Caleb!”
I opened my eyes. Caleb was leaning back with a carefree grin on his face.
“I can’t believe you…”
He shrugged. “You challenged me, and I accepted. Now,” he gripped my thighs, and pulled me closer to him. “We have some business to discuss.” Had I been slightly less inebriated, I might have tried to escape, but I had to admit that I liked the feel of his hands on my bare flesh.
“And what might that be?” My question came out breathier than I intended, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Caleb shifted, his fingers pressing a little harder into my thighs. Our position was indecent, not to mention improper for a boss and his employee, but I was more concerned with how my body was reacting than with propriety.
My nipples hardened. My breath stuttered. My tummy dipped. It was all so delicious, and I thanked Aphrodite herself that I was still very much covered with bubbles. Caleb was no fool, he knew how I still reacted to him, but having him see it was something else entirely.
“You haven’t given me an answer,” he replied. His voice was thick, and hoarse, and made my skin tingle just a little. “You rushed out of my office like your hair was on fire.”
The image that came to mind had me smiling, and smothering a laugh. “I was not impressed with your plan, Mr. Callahan.” I brought my hand up, and touched his cheek, feeling his stubble beneath the tips of my fingers. “You infuriate me,” I admitted. “And sometimes you hurt my feelings without thinking about it. But the worst part is that I still care about you. And your daughter.”
My words hung between us, permeating the air with their meaning. I didn’t mean to admit all that, especially not to Caleb, but I couldn’t stop myself.
I blamed the alcohol.
“So does that mean you’ll do this for me?” Caleb sounded hopeful, but his disregard for my admission didn’t go unnoticed. I felt has hands wandering, up my thigh and then back down to the crook of my knee. My eyes fluttered, and my mouth parted, because I was human after all, and not unaffected by his touch. That’s what had me considering his ‘indecent proposal’ and cursing myself for it in the same breath.
“Depends.” I slid closer until the backs of my thighs met the soaked denim covering his legs. If I moved any closer I would be in his lap, and that was dangerous territory for both of us. At least I was cognizant enough to acknowledge that. “What do I get out of it?”
Caleb watched me, and if I weren’t already naked, his stare would have made me feel that way. He had those damn bedroom eyes. “Anything you want,” was his reply.
“You have nothing I want,” I told him, watching the arctic blue of his iris’s darken. I was lying, but I knew he would never give me what I wanted, he’d been clear about that from the outset. “So why should I help you?”
“Consider it payment,” his eyes flicked down to my mouth, and then back up, “For helping you.”
Ah. So he was bribing me.
That sobered me a little.
I guess I should have been prepared for something like this to happen, it was just a matter of time.
I dropped my gaze, and tried to push away, but Caleb’s grip on my thighs held me in place.
“What’s wrong?” he lifted a hand, and tipped my chin back up.
“Is that the only reason you helped me? Because you thought there was something in it for you?”
Caleb paused, and then dropped his hand. He leaned forward, our noses separated by mere inches.
“I chose to help you because it was the right thing to do, and then I realized that I wanted to help you. But I can’t deny that it makes some good leverage. I really do need your help though, Kadence.”
Perhaps it was the alcohol, or the latent feelings I had for this complex man, but deep down I already knew I was going to say yes as soon as he’d asked me. I recognized then that I was only mad because I’d always fantasized about us being together because he wanted me, not because he needed me to be part of a ruse to mollify a bunch of old men in stuffy suits.
“Okay.” The word fell from my lips without much resistance. I should have regretted it straightaway, but I couldn’t bring myself to deny him. I was starting to wonder if I ever would. “But,” I lifted my hand when he tried to speak. “I have a few requests of my own.”
Caleb settled back against the tub, his arms stretched out on either side, and he smiled as if to indulge me. “I’m listening.”
“No sex.” For whatever reason that made Caleb crack up.
He lifted his hands up. “No problem there. What else?”
“No touching, except for when we’re in public, and no kissing either. At all.”
Caleb folded his arms across his chest, and pursed his lips as though he was thinking about it. In my drunken stupor I could only come up with rules relating to physical closeness, and really, that was the only ‘area’ of our agreement that I was worried about.
“Is that all?”
“No,” I replied. “How long are we going keep up this farce for? What do we do about a break-up? How will we explain this to the people at the office?”
A small sense of panic settled in my belly. “And what about my family? If they see me plastered all over the news they’ll know where to find me.”
That was the most terrifying prospect of all.
“Relax.” Caleb held my forearms. “We’ll figure the details out tomorrow. It’s getting late.”
“And I’m getting cold,” I added, my mood turning solemn.
Caleb chuckled. “Will you still remember this in the morning?”
“It’s not likely. You should have had it put on paper.”
He leaned in again, and this time I leaned in too. “I’ll just remind you. There’s no backing out now, Kadence. And don’t worry about your family. I’ll protect you.”
My skin pebbled, and he caught the shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. “I’m going to let you finish up, and get to bed.”
To his credit, he didn’t look at my body once while he climbed from the tub, even though the bubbles had started disappearing. I brought my knees up, hiding myself, and then Caleb surprised me by extending a towel. I stood up, and took it from him, wrapping it around myself.
“Thanks,” I muttered. I swayed on my feet, and Caleb reached for me.
“You have to stop that,” I told him.
“Stop what?”
I arched my neck so that I could meet his eyes. “Saving me. You’ve been doing that a lot.”
His mouth twitched, and his eyes softened. “Oh sweet Kadence, I’m afraid my intentions as far as you’re concerned have always been too depraved for me to save you. But I have a feeling you’re going to be the one to save me.”
CALEB’S LIPS CURLED around the rim of his mug, and he watched with mirth-filled eyes. He was mocking me, laughing at my self-inflicted discomfort. I’d stumbled out of bed an hour ago with a steady, and unrelenting headache, and Caleb, being the consummate gentleman that he was, reminded me of the bottle of wine I’d polished the night before.
“Stop enjoying this so much,” I mumbled, sipping some orange juice. It was warm for a Saturday morning, and Caleb and I were sitting at the breakfast island, a cool breeze traveling through
the open terrace doors.
“If I had known you were so much fun hung over, I would have locked my wine cellar.”
I rolled my eyes.
“After last night, I’m never touching a bottle of alcohol again. Wine is the devil’s lemonade.”
Caleb shook his head with a chuckle, and placed all our dirty dishes in the dishwasher. After a greasy breakfast, I was starting to feel a little better, and decided to spend the day at the fresh produce market in Union Square.
Alfie walked in, his gargantuan frame dressed casually for once. “Mr. Callahan. The new nanny is here.”
I sat up, and frowned at Caleb. “You got a new nanny? When?”
“I found him earlier this week,” he replied, walking towards the atrium. “He babysat for me once, and Braelynn loved him.”
“Him?”
He disappeared, and I heard a few muffled words exchanged before he came back, followed by a young man. His dark brown hair was cut short on the sides, with a few longer pieces hanging in his eyes. He had a lean build, with sharp cheekbones, and piercing eyes. Dressed in a light blue polo shirt, and khaki shorts, he looked like he was a model.
He was the new nanny?
“Kadence,” he gestured towards me. “This is Henry. He will be looking after Braelynn for the next week.”
I stood up, and took the hand Henry offered.
“Henry, this is my girlfriend, Kadence.”
My mouth popped open, but I had no retort. I had after all agreed to Caleb’s idiotic ruse, and he wouldn’t allow to me to get out of it.
Trust me, I’d tried.
As soon as he’d reminded me of the agreement, I argued that I wasn’t in my right mind when I decided to help him, but he wasn’t hearing any of it.
And he sure as hell forgot to mention it took affect today.
“Nice to meet you,” said Henry. Something about his shy smile put me at ease, and I relaxed.
“Henry is a fourth year nursing student,” Caleb told me. “He wants to be a pediatric nurse.”
“And why would you want to work for Caleb Callahan of all people?”
Ha. Take that.
I smirked, and ignored the heat of Caleb’s stare on the side of my face. Henry chuckled, and I liked that he at least had a sense of humor.
“Well aside from being the most respected businessman in the city, his daughter falls into the age group I’d like to work with after I graduate. It makes sense.” He cleared his throat, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment. “And it pays really well.”
“Caleb is very generous,” I mused. “But as a boss, he’s a hardass.”
Alfie snorted, and Caleb’s brows rose. Henry looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
I startled when Caleb’s arm wrapped around my waist, and tugged me into his side.
“You’re going to regret that,” he muttered against my temple.
Not as much as I’m going to regret agreeing to be your fake girlfriend, I thought.
Caleb let me go, and started walking down the hallway towards the nursery. Henry followed, and I assumed Caleb was going to ‘show him the ropes’. I grabbed my purse, and my sandals from my room, and was about to step into the atrium when Caleb reappeared.
“Where are you going?”
“There’s a market at Union Square.”
Caleb grabbed his house keys, his wallet and his phone, and joined me in front of the elevator.
“You’re coming with me?” I asked. I couldn’t help but sound incredulous. I’d never seen Caleb out and about, not even pictures of him so much as grocery shopping in the tabloids. Sure, he’d spent the last few weekends looking after Braelynn, but even before then I had him pegged as rather solitary. That he wanted to join me was quite a surprise.
“You don’t mind do you?”
Did Caleb Callahan just ask permission for something? Now that was something to write home about.
“Not if you mind walking,” I replied, pressing the elevator button that would take us down to the lobby.
Paul tipped his hat at us when we passed, and Caleb slipped his Aviators on just as we stepped outside. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in the city, the sidewalks crowded with pedestrians and hawkers alike.
Caleb extended his arm, smiling, and looking way too good in his casual attire. “Lead the way.”
We ventured up Lafayette Street, stopping at the Lafayette Grand Café and Bakery for some fresh pastries, and coffee. It was only a twenty minute walk to Union Square from Caleb’s penthouse, but with so much to see and experience along the way, it was no wonder that we got a little sidetracked. The conversation flowed, and to my delight I was quite enjoying Caleb’s easy banter, and laid back demeanor.
It was a change, for both of us I think, to be in a casual setting that allowed us to be ourselves. He wasn’t Caleb Callahan C.E.O, and I wasn’t Kadence Kavanagh, Assistant Publicist. We were just Caleb, and Kadence, two people becoming reacquainted with one another.
After popping into the bookstore, and treating myself to a new novel, Caleb and I wandered around the produce market. I purchased what I needed to make us a home-cooked meal, and then Caleb hailed us a cab so we could get back to his place. Our entire day felt so domestic, so normal, and from our interaction alone people wouldn’t have thought we were pretending.
The irony?
I had the feeling neither of us was pretending at all.
Caleb sat back on the sofa, and rubbed his stomach. “Good God, woman. You’ve been holding out on me.”
I stood up, and held my hand out for his plate. “Wouldn’t want you to start expecting it every night,” I laughed. I cleared the dishes, and rejoined Caleb on the sofa. Henry had gone home hours ago, and Braelynn was sleeping sweetly. Now was the perfect opportunity to talk about how Caleb thought our ‘arrangement’ was going to work. Now that I could think about it without the influence of alcohol, I had a few reservations.
“I can hear you thinking over there.”
I gave Caleb a half-smile. “Am I that obvious?”
He switched the television off, and turned his body to face me. “I know you’re worried, but you have no reason to be.”
Caleb’s face was eerily calm, whereas I was wondering what the hell I was thinking agreeing to all this. He took my hand in his, the plea in his eyes hard to ignore.
“I’m asking you to trust me.”
“But do you realize how crazy this all sounds?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “But the Board haven’t left me with much choice. If they feel that anything will jeopardize my position at the company, they will vote me out.”
“And they think having a baby will put the entire company at risk? How archaic can they be?”
“Unfortunately I still have to answer to them, so if they tell me to jump, I say ‘how high’. I wouldn’t have asked you if I had another choice, and it’s not like I can trust anyone else with Braelynn.”
That did something strange to my insides, and as much as I wanted to act on it, I knew I couldn’t. The dynamic of our relationship was about to change, and I couldn’t risk getting more emotionally attached than I already was.
“What if things get ugly? You know the media have a habit of twisting information to sensationalize any story.”
“They won’t,” Caleb reassured me. “I won’t let you get hurt. Please, just trust me.”
I did.
Implicitly.
But I couldn’t escape the concern that it would eventually be my downfall.
MY HANDS SHOOK AS I put my earrings in, and appraised myself one last time before I was to meet Caleb in the living room. My strapless gown was a beautiful aqua blue, with an empire waist, ruched bodice and a sweetheart neckline. The willowy fabric swept all the way down to the floor, caressing my feet. It was another gift from Caleb, for the fashion show, and despite the many protestations to wear something so expensive, I’d found it on my bed earlier that afternoon.
The last two weeks had flown by
in a blur, and in spite of the rumor mill churning overtime at Callahan Industries, I kept my head down and continued working like nothing had changed.
There was a light knock at the bedroom door, and when I opened it Caleb leaned against the doorjamb with his tuxedo jacket hanging over his arm. We looked each other over, my eyes lingering on his chest and his face, and his lingering on the exposed skin of my neck.
For two weeks I’d been lusting after him, wishing that every time we’d watched a movie, or had dinner together that I could reach out and touch him, or tuck myself into his side, and rest my head on his chest. Those inclinations came far too naturally when I was around Caleb, which is why I’d made a point of distancing myself at the office. The gossips were already speculating about the nature of our relationship, and even knowing that it was somewhat strategic on Macy’s part, I didn’t feel at ease about any of it, not to mention that Jennifer was now out for blood. My blood. Not that I paid her much mind. I was too preoccupied with the preparations for the fashion show, and making sure that it would be executed as flawlessly as possible.
“You look…” Caleb cleared his throat, and I felt my cheeks warm. He could make me feel like my seventeen-year-old self in a heartbeat, complete with rosy cheeks, and a fluttering pulse.
“So do you.” My smile was shy. “I just need to slip my shoes on and I’ll be ready to go.”
When Caleb didn’t reply, I turned and picked my shoes up on the way to the bed. I sat down, ready to slip them on, when Caleb knelt down in front of me.
“Let me.” He lifted my foot, and slid the strappy heel on with more finesse than I expected. Once he’d done both feet, he reached out his hand and helped me stand, steadying me when my heel wobbled on the carpeted floor.
I blinked, and then reminded myself that everything Caleb did and said tonight was part of the ‘act’, our story for the tabloids, and the Board of Directors who were attending the event. It wasn’t real.
“Thank you for the dress,” I said, taking a perfunctory step back. It didn’t help much since I was already so close to the bed. “Although I would have been just as happy with something a little more inexpensive.” At the wounded expression on Caleb’s face, I rushed to add, “I just don’t want you to think I expect it.”
Playing Pretend Page 11
