Chapter Twelve
His large body settled on top of hers, and she sighed dreamily, but then she got a good look at his face and gasped. Raw, stark emotion filled his dark blue eyes.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. “I can hold you, or we can snuggle.”
He caressed her face. “There’s no one in this room but me and you.” He touched his head, and then his heart. “No one there but you.”
Her heart stuttered. “Caleb,” she said on an exhale.
“I promise not to be quick like down at the pond,” he said, drawing a giggle from her.
She kissed him. “No idea what you’re talking about. I was fully satisfied that day.”
He grinned down at her, rocking his hips into her. “I wouldn’t say fully, but you’re about to be.” His head dipped, his hot mouth wrapping around a tight nipple, alternating between sucking hard and lightly flicking her with his tongue.
Moaning, she moved against him, touching him everywhere she could reach and loving every single groan that rumbled from his chest. His body heaved against her, his skin peppered with goosebumps as she licked at his biceps.
“You taste good.”
“Pretty sure that’s my line.” He kissed the tip of each breast, then scooted himself backward. “Pretty sure I finally get to taste you.”
With a saucy grin, she rubbed her clit and spread herself for him. “I’m ready for you.”
“Not quite.” He put his mouth on her, his tongue darting out to lick her. She cried out his name, her stomach contracting as waves of pleasure hit her. He sucked on her clit, and her vision fogged. Her head fell back against the pillows even as her back arched off the bed.
Caleb was relentless, adding his fingers to the mix, while his talented tongue did things that made her entire body break out in a sweat. He kept pushing her to the edge, then stopping at the last minute to change his attack.
Finally, finally he shoved his fingers deep inside of her and lightly scraped his teeth over her clit, making her come so hard she swore she saw stars.
Planets.
The galaxy exploding.
He kissed her inners thighs and climbed up her body, but she wasn’t about to let him go without. Pushing him down on the bed, she positioned herself over his erection and took the head of it into her mouth.
Caleb hissed, his eyes widening, then tightly closing. “That feels so damn good.”
She went lower and lower, then up and up, finding a rhythm that he liked as her hands helped stroke him. His fingers tunneled into her hair, and she waited for him to guide her, but he merely rubbed her scalp.
Was he afraid of hurting her?
She turned a little, putting one of her hands over his and pushing lightly. His eyes popped open. “Maybe a couple of times, but I’m ready right now.”
Taking as much of him as she could into her mouth, she pumped him hard with her hand. He groaned and pushed her away.
“Did you like that?” she asked as he flipped her onto her back.
He kissed her in answer, then leaned to one side and opened his bedside table draw, pulling out a condom. Once the condom was on, he nudged her with the head of his erection.
“Put me inside of you.”
She grabbed the base of his wide cock, guiding him to where she was hot and needy. Desperate to be filled. Inch-by-delicious-inch, he began to fill her, stretch her, and her nails dug into his shoulder.
“You can let go now,” he whispered before capturing her mouth with his.
Both hands were on his shoulders now, her legs spread as wide as they could. He rocked into her, over and over, sending thrills of desire sparking over her nerves, until his cock was deep.
She gasped into his mouth, and he began to move, one hand on her hip while the other palmed her breast. With every deep nudge, he hit her in a spot so sensitive that he had her on edge in seconds, but she wanted to draw this out, wanted to stay locked in his embrace for as long as possible.
Suddenly, he buried his face into her neck, his strokes hard and fast. His grip on her hip tightened as she attempted to take as much of him as she could.
“Caleb, Caleb, Caleb,” his name was a chant on her lips.
“You feel so good, Sofia.” He lifted up slightly, but his hips never stopped moving. “I want to feel you come this time.”
She kissed him hard, then slipped her hand between them, rubbing herself just the way she liked, concentrating on how hard he was, how heavy, and how good it felt to be completely imprisoned by him at this moment.
“I can’t wait,” he said, his hips surging.
With one final pass, she exploded, her orgasm making her scream this time. Caleb moaned her name, going deeper and deeper until he stopped moving.
He looked at her, planting his elbows alongside her, and framed her face in his hands. “I love you, even if you don’t feel the same way about me. I can’t keep it inside anymore.”
“I ... I...” Overwhelmed, she started to tear up. Of course, when she had no intentions of staying. “I’m sorry.”
“Honey, I wasn’t trying to make you cry.” He kissed away her tears. “Forget I said anything. Blame it on an orgasm that ripped off the top of my head.”
She snorted, then began to laugh. “I have never heard that in my life.”
“Much better,” he said. “Let me hold you for a minute, then I’ll get cleaned up.”
Hold me forever, she wanted to say, but she didn’t. What could she say? How could she respond to Caleb’s I love you?
Worse, how would she ever leave Jessamine now?
Chapter Thirteen
Caleb ran his hand up and down Sofia’s back in quiet contemplation. He’d kept her up most of the night, making love to her in every position imaginable. Now dawn was breaking, and he felt closer to her than he had to anyone in a long, long time.
Her lashes fluttered open as she yawned and stretched. “I can’t believe you’re still awake.”
The sheets dipped, exposing a dusty rose-colored nipple. It peaked in the cool air, but he resisted the temptation of touching it with his mouth, tongue, or fingers.
Instead, he covered her up and said, “I haven’t told you everything about Iris’s death.”
Sofia sat up in bed and touched his cheek. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I don’t care what Apple says; your heart is your own.”
He’d disagree with that statement, but it wasn’t time for that. “She was pregnant.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “I don’t know what to else to say, but I’m so sorry Caleb.”
“You don’t have to say a thing. Just listen.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, then settled back against the headboard, before lifting her slightly and settling her on his lap. “I need to hold you right now.”
“You can hold me for as long as you need, or tell me to go sit in the other room while you text me. Whatever makes your comfortable,” she said, and he fell in love with her even more.
“For a long time after Iris’s accident, I felt responsible for her death. The seizure that day happened because she hadn’t taken her full dose of medication. She didn’t want to hurt the baby. Thing is, I should never have gotten her pregnant without talking to the doctor first, but she insisted the woman would say no ... and I had a real hard time denying Iris. She wasn’t the type to demand things, so when she wanted something that bad ... I couldn’t help myself.”
Sofia rubbed his arms.
“I just know that if she hadn’t been pregnant, she wouldn’t have died that day. Never would have wrecked the car, never would have...” He swallowed. “I beat myself up a lot, and then drowned myself in alcohol and women. I’m not proud of myself, or the way I acted. I was barely twenty-one and pissed off at God, at Iris ... everyone. My brothers pulled me out of a bar before I could get in my truck and drive. Drunk. That’s where my head was. I wanted to die; only my dumbass thought I needed a little liquid courage. So I got shitfaced and planne
d to park my truck in the garage on this property. Keep the engine on. Wait to see that great white light, where I knew Iris was waiting for me on the other side.”
He shook his head. “I never told anyone in my family about the baby, or my plans.”
She turned to look at him, her eyes full of sympathy. “You were such a baby yourself.”
“I was old enough to know better.”
“About the women and the drinking, yes,” Sofia began, “but the rest ... grief will do a number on you.” She took a deep breath. “After my mother died, I started getting in with the wrong crowd, showing out ... my grades went down, and I was doing things that now make me cringe. It’s a wonder I didn’t end up dead ... or worse. But luckily, I confessed to my abuela, and she got me help. Didn’t take me long to wise up and get back on the right path. Cooking was my way to cope. It made me feel like I was in control. We are both fortunate to have families who love us so much.”
He caressed her cheek. “I want you to know that this love I feel for you is real. It’s deep and true. You’re not a replacement or a stand-in. You’re Sofia Nogales, the woman I love.”
Before she could say anything, he pushed her down onto the bed and made love to her again, his fingers laced tightly with hers the entire time. And when he came, all he could see and feel and think was one thing—Sofia.
***
Two days later, Sofia was sitting in bed, texting back and forth with Caleb when a text from Ione came through.
Ione: Call me now. Have HUGE news.
Her heart jumped into her throat.
Sofia: Give me a minute
With trembling fingers, she quickly texted Caleb to let him know she needed to talk with a friend.
Caleb: Dream of me.
She already did. She dreamed of living here, walking alongside him, and taking care of his parents. It was pathetic. Not her dreams or what happened in them, of course. But how quickly her plans were changing.
Sofia: Good night. XO
Ione answered on the first ring. “Girl, I’m so sorry. You wouldn’t believe what happened—my phone was stolen, my email hacked, and then the health inspector shut me down when someone reported a rat.”
“What?”
“Yeah, bastard from one of our biggest competitors was the one to report it. Line chef told me after she was unceremoniously fired for taking off when her kid was sick.”
“Did you hire her?”
Ione laughed. “What do you think?”
She honestly had no idea, but she went with she chose to believe was the best way to answer. “That was really great of you.”
“I try,” Ione replied with a chuckle. “Anyway, I’m calling for a friend. He wanted me to feel you out first, but lady, you cannot turn this down.”
A sinking feeling grew in the pit of her stomach. “Turn what down?”
“Your dream job. Hell, I’m tempted to close up shop and work for Oliver myself.”
“The Oliver?” she all but croaked, unable to believe what Ione was telling her. There was no way.
Oliver Chevalier was a celebrated chef in New York City. In the past few years, he’d opened restaurants in Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles, with a ton of success. But he was also a demanding Frenchman known for his hot temperament and zero tolerance for less than perfect dishes.
“Yup. His manager contacted me, wanting names. I gave her yours. The job would be perfect. Head Chef. Full benefits and the salary ... seriously, Sofia, I will go work for him if you turn this down. Screw the brewery.”
“He’s opened a place in Roswell?”
“No. He wants you for his Atlanta store.”
Sofia’s mouth fell open. “Holy crap.”
“I’ll email you the details, once I let Jamie know that you want the job.”
Hesitating, she said, “Can I have some time to think about it?”
“If you want to negotiate, I’m sure Oliver is open. And you can ask for relocation expenses, too. That will solve your money problems.”
She didn’t want to negotiate or ask for relocation expenses. She wanted to pull the covers over her head and pretend that she’d never replied to Ione’s text. Because now she was torn. So torn.
“That’s good to know.”
“I so envy you. This is the opportunity of the lifetime.”
Didn’t she know it. However, so was Caleb and what she’d found in Jessamine. “You’re a good friend to recommend me.”
“Well, I am a good friend, but you were already on the short list. Your old boss at Las Rosas gave a very complimentary reference.”
“He did?” she asked dazedly.
“Totally did. You have the luck of the Irish, Sof.” Ione laughed.
“Just my luck,” she whispered, ending their call. How in the world would she break this to Caleb? He was the only one she could talk to about this. The only one she knew who would give her straight talk ... except for Dinah.
Tossing her phone to one side, Sofia padded across the room and pulled on her robe before heading downstairs. There was a light on in the living room. Dinah sat in her recliner, watching television as she knitted a blanket for Lucas and Bailey’s new baby boy. David snored in the recliner beside her.
“Is this a good time to talk?” Sofia whispered.
Dinah set her knitting in her basket. “Of course, sugar.”
Sofia hurried to the sofa, sitting on the edge with her hands clasped together. “I got a job offer.”
The older woman’s eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful news, Sofia.”
“It’s in Atlanta. The opportunity of a lifetime ... they’ll even pay for me to move.” She bit her lip as Dinah’s face fell. Oh no. She didn’t want to hurt her. “My friend Ione finally got in touch with me to see if I was interested.”
“You haven’t said yes?” Dinah asked.
“I haven’t said no.”
Dinah nodded. “So you’re torn.”
“Completely apart.” Tears gathered in her eyes, falling on her lashes and then onto her cheeks. “I don’t know how to tell Caleb. I don’t want to lose him.”
His mother smiled compassionately at her. “The best thing you can do is be honest with him ... and yourself. If you really want this job, the opportunity of a lifetime, you’ll make things work, and so will he. However, if you don’t, then simply tell your friend no.”
“You make it sound so easy, but it’s not.”
“Love never is.”
Sofia shook her head. “I’m not in love with Caleb, but I really like...” she sighed, unable to lie to the woman. “I haven’t told him.”
“He knows.”
“Don’t you tell him.”
Dinah mimed zipping her lips. “Not my place. But, I have to be selfish and candid for a minute. I don’t want you to go.”
“Because I make your son happy?”
Dinah reached over and cupped Sofia’s chin. “Because you’ve brought laughter and sunshine back into my home.”
“I can see why my mother called you her best friend.”
“She was the best. She’s the one who convinced me that I’d be a fool not to marry David.”
“Is that what you’re going to tell me?”
Dinah let go. “That’s where it’s tricky.”
“Why?”
“Because as his mother, I would tell any woman who turned down my son that she’s a fool.” Dinah winked, and Sofia laughed through her tears.
“Can’t argue with that.” However, in her heart, Sofia knew that her conversation with Caleb wouldn’t go this well. While he was patient and understanding, he was also very clear about wanting her to stay in Jessamine. There was no way she could claim she thought otherwise.
And after all he shared with her about his wife, about their baby ... leaving him now felt like betrayal, even to her.
Her heart pinched in her chest. She fought the urge to rub the spot, to make it feel better. Right now, she deserved to hurt.
She deserved to get a gl
impse of what it would feel like to make the decision to leave Caleb behind.
Chapter Fourteen
Caleb searched Craig’s List, hoping to find a food truck or at least a trailer that could work for Sofia. So far, the pickings were slim. Either the food truck looked as though it was on its last leg or it was completely stripped.
He came to the last page, read down through the items, then jerked his gaze back up again. “Pristine condition, huh? We’ll see about that.”
He doubled clicked on the link, bringing up the seller’s page. He read through the specs and carefully looked at each image twice. There were fifteen of them, but he didn’t care how long it took.
Or where it was.
He glanced down at the location. Greenville. Only forty-five minutes away.
Dialing the contact number, he waited to speak the owner.
“Hello?”
“My name is Caleb Lawson and I’m calling about the food truck listed on Craig’s List. Is it still for sale and is that ninety thousand dollar price tag negotiable?”
“Still for sale and the price is negotiable. Cash helps. My name is Dwayne Thorton but you can call me Wayne.”
“Mind if I drive out to your place right now and take a look? I’m in Jessamine.”
“Not at all.”
Caleb barely remembered to get directions before he said good bye and hung up the phone. He grabbed his hat, his phone, and his car keys. His truck kicked up gravel as he blew out of his driveway.
He prayed to God that the food truck looked exactly like pictured and that he could find a way to pay for it, if it did.
*
Thankfully, the truck not only looked exactly like the images, it smelled good too. Wayne said that a lot of them stunk to high Heaven because their owners didn’t know how to clean the grease traps properly.
Caleb was pretty sure Sofia knew how to properly take care of a kitchen, but he asked Wayne to show him how to do it anyway, so he would know and be able to help her.
He came to a four-way stop and looked around. There wasn’t a car in sight for miles, so he pulled out his phone and shot off a quick email to Ginger Wallace, one of the loan officers at Jessamine Savings & Loan.
Love So Unexpected (The Lawson Brothers #6) Page 9
