“I agree,” said Caleb. “I think she is more than capable, and I will make sure every resource she needs is at her disposal.”
“Can you please stop referring to me in the third person,” I looked from Caleb to Aaliyah, and then back to Caleb, “I’m standing right here.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Caleb screwed up again.”
“It seems she’s always angry with me about something,” replied Caleb. He smiled when I scowled at him.
“You two are impossible,” I said, throwing my hands up in the air. “I’m getting back to work.”
“We weren’t done talking, Ms. Kavanagh.”
Caleb’s grin was teasing, and it only added to my need to get out of his space and away from him.
“I’m terribly sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Callahan, but we have nothing left to discuss. I have work to do.”
Before Caleb could reply with something snarky, I spun on my heel, shot Aaliyah one last dirty look, and left. If this morning was anything to go by, it was going to be a long day.
THE PENTHOUSE WAS dark, and quiet when I arrived after work. It had been a tiring day, and I was more than ready for a hot bath, and bed. I walked through the atrium, and into the living room, and that’s when I heard it. Music coming from the terrace. I followed the sound, and when I peered around the terrace doors, I saw Caleb standing in front of the grill, singing along to Adele’s ‘Set Fire to The Rain’. My gaze fell onto the table a few steps away from him, decked out with candles and fancy dinnerware. It took a minute for me to realize it was set for two, and with that my stomach rolled.
Caleb was on a date?
My chest ached thinking about him having dinner with someone else. It was a reasonable assumption, followed by a mental slap reminding me that it was none of my business. I knew Caleb was a charmer, and he would say anything to get a woman into his bed, so I tried not to read anything into our earlier interaction in his office. Caleb turned, and before he could catch me, I slipped off my shoes, and tiptoed in the direction of my bedroom. With a bit of luck, he wouldn’t even have realized I was there. I snuck into the nursery, and found Braelynn sleeping, her little lips pouted and her tiny brows furrowed by whatever she was dreaming about. It became evident then that I was not only in love with her father, but with her too, and that made the reality of what Caleb was doing tonight an even more bitter pill to swallow. After kissing her forehead, and touching her little hand, I disappeared into my bedroom. I unbuttoned my shirt, and moved my hands to the zipper of my skirt when I felt eyes on the back of my neck. I looked back, and found Caleb leaning against the open doors leading onto the terrace.
“Don’t stop on my account,” he said. His mouth curled into a relaxed smile, aimed at me, and it only added to my discontent.
“I won’t,” I replied, turning away. I slid my skirt down my legs, not caring that I was standing in my white lace bra, and matching panties. Caleb had seen me naked so I figured having him see me in my underwear was no longer something special.
“I didn’t know you were home.”
“Don’t worry,” – I unclipped my bra, and padded into the bathroom – “I won’t bother you and your date.”
I’d just removed my underwear and wrapped a towel around myself when Caleb walked in behind me.
Great.
He wanted to watch me shower and then have dinner with someone else?
I don’t think so, buddy.
“My date?” asked Caleb. “What are you talking about?”
I rolled my eyes because Caleb sucked at playing stupid. For all his faults, I knew he was a smart man, and felt slightly insulted that he thought I was so naïve as to believe he was having a dinner alone at a table set for two.
“I saw you outside,” I replied, “And I saw the table. Now would you mind leaving so I can shower?”
“You think I’m on a date?” A beat passed, and I grew hopeful that he would finally just admit it, and leave.me.alone. Caleb’s frown disappeared, replaced by a satisfied grin. “You’re jealous.”
I shook my head, and let out a derisive laugh. “Of course you’d think that, because like always, it’s about the mighty Caleb Callahan and his vast powers of seduction.”
My words were a little harsh, and thick with sarcasm, but I didn’t really care.
“I think you’ve misread the situation,” said Caleb, taking a few steps closer.
“Yeah, because what I saw was definitely easy to misread. You have me take a cab home, and then I find -” I stopped myself. I sounded like a jealous girlfriend. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. Who you bring home has nothing to do with me. I’m not only your employee, but also just a guest.”
I turned away from him, trying to quell the burn in my eyes. “Enjoy your date. I’m going to get ready for bed.”
Caleb reached for my arm, but I still didn’t want to look at him. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to keep what I was feeling to myself.
“Kadence.” Caleb rubbed the skin just above my wrist, something I found both sensual and evocative. My skin prickled, alive with a rush of blood to where he was touching me. My reaction was infuriating, and perplexing.
After I was sure I could look Caleb in the eye, I lifted my head. When he spoke again, it was soft. Coaxing. “Get dressed, and come outside. Please.”
I didn’t want to. I knew I was only setting myself up for more disappointment and heartache in the long run.
“That’s not a good idea,” I replied, barely above a whisper. “You have company.”
“You’re right.” Caleb exhaled. “I do have company,” he paused. “You.”
I reared back in disbelief. “You think I’m going to have dinner with you and your date? Are you fucking -”
“NO!” laughed Caleb. He laughed. “You are my company, my only company. I made dinner, and set everything up outside for you. To surprise you.”
He what?
“You mean…” I trailed off, expecting him to laugh again and tell me he was kidding.
“Get dressed,” Caleb instructed again. “And please come outside.”
He lifted my hand, and pressed his mouth to my knuckles before turning on his heel and walking away.
Okay, so he was being serious, but why…
Gah!
If I had to be admitted to the loony bin, it would be Caleb’s fault. It took a few minutes for me to convince myself to go outside, despite it being against my better judgment. Maybe it was time to admit that my judgment was also fucked.
To oblivion.
I changed into a pair of white linen shorts, and a grey t-shirt, and traipsed barefoot onto the terrace. I rounded the corner, and saw Caleb had returned to the grill.
“I was starting to think you weren’t coming,” he said, his back to me. He looked casual in a navy polo shirt, beige slacks rolled up to his knees, and no shoes. Was it weird that I thought Caleb’s feet were hot? So masculine, and –
Jesus, Kadence, they’re feet for goodness sake!
“I thought about standing you up, but it’s a little difficult to do when we live in the same house.”
Caleb chuckled. “I’m glad you changed your mind.” He twisted his head, his eyes lit up by the candles, and lanterns scattered around us. “Take a seat. The steak will be ready in a few minutes, so you can relax and have some wine.”
“I still don’t understand.” I rubbed at my arms, even though it was humid, and warm outside.
“This,” Caleb lifted the steaks from the grill, and placed it on the table, “Is our first date.”
When I didn’t respond immediately, Caleb pulled out a chair, and motioned for me to take a seat. The food alone was enough to persuade me, there was no need for Caleb to play Prince Charming. The delicious aroma’s aroused my senses, and the growl that emanated from my stomach was loud.
“Glad you brought your appetite,” chuckled Caleb. “I made enough for six people.”
He took a seat on my right, rather than o
n the opposite side of the table, giving us both a view of the city. It made for a romantic backdrop, and I wasn’t sure if that was what Caleb was going for or not.
“You made all this?”
Caleb smiled, and then placed two perfectly cooked steak medallions on my plate. “Don’t look so surprised, Kadence. I happen to be great in the kitchen.”
And in bed, I finished thoughtfully. Stupid brain. Just couldn’t resist going down that road.
“It looks great,” I said, truthfully. “Thank you. I wasn’t expecting this when you told me to get a cab after work.”
“I was hoping I’d do a better job of surprising you,” said Caleb. “After our conversation this morning, I thought we’d made some headway.”
“We didn’t finish our conversation,” I reminded him. “Aaliyah had impeccable timing.”
“I might not have said everything I wanted to, but I assumed you’d catch on without me having to say the words.”
“Actions speak louder than words, Caleb. At least with me they do.”
“Is this,” - Caleb motioned to the space around us, and then to the food and table settings - “Loud enough?”
I wanted to say yes, but I was still trying to determine what Caleb’s intentions were. I reached for the fresh garlic bread, salivating at the rich scent, and then took some of the strawberry and avocado salad. Caleb poured some creamy mushroom sauce over my medallions, and I had to acknowledge the guy could put together a decent spread.
When Caleb realized I wasn’t going to give him an answer, he asked, “So, how is it?”
“Delicious.” I swallowed another bite. “Who taught you how to cook like this?”
Caleb sipped at his wine, and then smiled, as if remembering a happy memory. “My dad. He always loved being in the kitchen. Unfortunately, I was too stubborn, and to immature to really appreciate it at the time.”
As much as I wanted to hear more about Caleb’s childhood, and the obvious closeness between him and his father, I knew we couldn’t discuss it without getting into the history between our families.
The only way to avoid that land mine was to change tack, and talk about less volatile topics. Caleb asked about college, and while I wanted to leave out the challenges I faced, I chose to tell him everything. One part of me felt relaxed enough to talk about it, and the other part – subconsciously – wanted him to know that I was nothing like my family. The complicated nature of our ‘relationship’ aside, I needed him to know who I was. Time passed, we laughed, shared a few silent moments, and ate dessert – chocolate panna cotta. One of my favorites. It was the best first date I’d ever had, not that I could compare it to much. My ex took me on dates, but they were never sincere because it was more for my father than for me.
“Everything okay?” asked Caleb.
I looked up. “Yes, everything’s…perfect. Why?”
“Your face,” he replied. “Your smile fell.”
I took a sip of my wine. “I was just thinking about…” I stopped myself mid-sentence. “Never mind. It’s not important.”
The silence between us grew poignant, filled with everything we wanted to say but were too afraid to. ‘Anchor’ by Mindy Gledhill started playing in the background, and I blew out a breath. “I love this song.”
Caleb placed his glass on the table, and stood from his chair. He reached for my hand. “Dance with me.”
I wanted to throw caution to the wind but…
“It’s just a dance,” he added quietly. I relented, and rose to my feet. Caleb took my hand, and walked me closer to where the music was playing. With my right hand in his, and my left on his shoulder, he wrapped an arm around my waist, placing his palm in the dip of my back, and we started swaying. Perfectly in sync, which was ironic considering I felt like we were in completely different places emotionally. That was my fault though, I was expecting too much. Rather than dwell on that thought, I let go, and took Caleb’s lead. I tipped my head, and stared into his eyes, so blue and lucid and stunning.
“Why did you do this?” I asked. I’d been thinking about it all evening, and could no longer keep myself from asking Caleb outright. I wanted to know why he’d put in so much effort. I expected him to be crass, and say it was because he wanted to have sex with me again, but what came out of his mouth was the last thing I thought he would ever say.
“Because you deserve it.” He touched my cheek, and I realized we’d stopped moving. “And because I want you to know it’s not just the camera’s. I want you to trust me again, and try see me as the man I am, rather than the man who’s been a royal ass.”
“You want to know the truth?” I asked, feeling the butterflies in my belly take flight.
“Always.”
“I’ve always known who you are. I just think you forgot for a while.”
My pulse raced, waiting for Caleb to reply.
“And then you showed up, and made me want to be better.”
God.
How could he say stuff like that and think I wouldn’t be affected?
Without any further encouragement from me, he lowered his head, and brushed his lips across mine. He seemed cautious at first, but when he saw that I wasn’t going to protest or pull away, he kissed me with more force, more determination. I wrapped my arms around his neck, rising to the balls of my feet for better reach, and returned his kiss. His hands slid down to my waist, and I could feel his arousal against my stomach. My nipples peaked beneath my shirt, and I rubbed them against Caleb’s chest, needing the contact. He pulled away, and opened his eyes to look at me.
“I think we should take this to the bedroom.”
I bit my lip, and then replied, “I’m tired, and we need to check on Brae.”
“You’re using my kid as an excuse?” Caleb snickered, his smile wide beneath his stubble. I caught a glimpse of the man I so desperately wanted to believe was beneath that rugged, and tough exterior.
“I guess it would seem that way, but you’re wrong. I really am tired, Caleb.”
He squeezed my hips, and brought his mouth closer to mine. “We’ll do this at your pace. I promise.”
“This won’t be in the papers tomorrow?” I had to ask. The thought of Caleb putting this all together for me only to have it photographed for the press made my gut twist.
“No one knows about this, so it’s just you and me.”
It wasn’t long before I found out that Caleb was able to keep a promise after all.
AFTER THAT NIGHT, Caleb and I found a new routine. It was easy, falling into step with him and finding my place with him and Braelynn. In the blink of an eye, three of the best weeks flew past.
It was the night before the launch party for Callahan Records. It had kept me busy, but I loved it, and Aaliyah was right when she’d said Caleb would give me whatever I needed to make sure the event was a success. After several meetings, he was satisfied, and even optimistic about the concept I had in mind. His confidence in me only made me want to work harder, and deliver the best I could. I knew if the event was a success then a promotion wouldn’t be far off, and that was something I wanted. To prove myself, to prove that I was both capable and willing. Things with Caleb were going so well though, that it put a kink in my plans of getting a place of my own. Caleb hadn’t defined what we were, but I was sleeping in his bed every night – or not sleeping – and I was helping him with Braelynn. We shared her feedings, woke up together if she was being difficult, and spent time together like a real family. It was perfect, but the possibility of it all being for ‘show’ had still nestled its way into my mind, burrowing deeper and deeper the more permanent our situation started to feel. It had less and less to do with Caleb proving that I could trust him and more to do with a feeling that my time with him was limited. For the past week I had a feeling that something was coming, like my newfound contentment with Caleb wasn’t going to last.
It was Thursday night, and I was going over the final seating arrangements for the launch party. Caleb walked into the liv
ing room with a bottle in one hand, and a squirming Braelynn in the other.
“There you are,” he said, careful not jostle Braelynn when he sat down beside me. It was late, but I was feeling a little restless, and wanted to make sure I had all my ducks in a row for the following evening.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I replied, shifting on the brown leather sofa to make room for Caleb. I crossed my legs and tucked my feet beneath my butt. “The seating arrangements are keeping me awake.” It wasn’t a blatant lie, I was preoccupied with the launch party only being a day away, but I didn’t want to tell Caleb what was really keeping me awake. He wouldn’t understand, and then he’d probably fuck me into thinking everything was just dandy. Not that I would have complained right then. Sex had been a ‘no-go’ the week before, and I was pretty sure my edginess was in part due to sexual frustration. Yep, I was horny, and stressed, and those two mixed together simply weren’t beneficial to my emotional or mental state.
“Come on, Brae,” cooed Caleb. “Take the bottle, baby.”
Braelynn turned her head, and put a stop to Caleb’s attempt at sticking the bottle in her mouth. I put all my paperwork on the coffee table, and reached for the little Miss. Braelynn stopped moving as soon as Caleb placed her in my arms, and when I brought her bottle to her mouth, she took it.
I caught Caleb shaking his head in my peripheral, causing my lips to lift into a small smile.
“You’ve bewitched my kid,” he sighed, placing his arms on the back of the sofa. He started playing with a strand of my hair like it was the most natural thing in the world. “It’s the second time she’s wanted you to feed her, and not me.”
“Does it bother you?” I asked. I leaned back, got comfortable, and looked at him. He watched me for a few beats, and then replied, “No, it actually doesn’t. It’s just surprising, that’s all.”
Playing Pretend Page 18
