“You know, there are chairs to sit in,” he stated, sitting down beside me in the dewy grass.
“But there are dogs on the ground,” I countered.
He chuckled. “Good point. Having fun?”
I nodded. Being here made me feel on top of the world. Maybe fun was a strong word to use for the night, but pride wasn’t. What was such a big victory for me was probably miniscule to someone like him.
I toyed with my shirt. “Thanks for the invite.”
He nodded. “You sure you don’t want something to drink or more food?”
I shook my head.
He draped his arms on his bent knees.
I tried ignoring the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that reminded me there wasn’t much we had in common. He had life experience, and I was just starting to live. And if I went back to school, I’d go back to not having any life outside of homework, studying, and working at least one of my many jobs.
There wasn’t much I could offer someone as adventurous as him.
We sat listening to the reggae music streaming from his phone plugged into the Bluetooth speaker, my head bobbing to the smooth rhythm. I’d grown up on classic country and 80’s rock, but the song playing was better than the silence we kept finding ourselves in.
Part of me wanted him to flirt again, but neither of us said a word.
Subtly studying him, I could tell he was in his element. While he would have loved to stay in nature forever, I loved being indoors. Curling up under blankets on the couch with a book and Netflix were my favorite ways to wind down. I knew better than to believe that was something he’d be interested in doing with me. He was in constant motion, and I was in a constant state of rest.
Deep down, I knew a relationship with Nathan wouldn’t be easy. But for some hellish reason, my brain was wired to grasp for the things I knew I couldn’t have.
When he invited me inside to watch a movie with him around midnight, I politely declined and made my way home instead. There had been disappointment swirling off him in droves—hands shoved into his cargo short’s pockets and curved, defeated shoulders, but he let me go with a smile on his face and a promise to make hiking plans soon.
How You Know It Won’t Work:
He passes you your panties in front of your boss
“Wait a minute,” Iris droned, pointing her fork at me. “He didn’t offer to walk you home?”
I thought recapping what happened with Nate the next time I saw Iris would go over well. Instead, I got her cynicism about whether or not Nate was a proper gentleman.
I frowned at her disapproval. “It wasn’t like I had to walk far.”
She scoffed. “That’s not the point, Pais. It was the middle of the night. He should have walked you home. Did he even ask you to text him to make sure you got home safety?”
The doubt that had already took residence in my chest now grew to a mountainous size. “Do people still do that?”
She dropped her fork down into her salad. “If they care, yes.”
Nate hadn’t wanted me to text him…but Caleb did.
My eyes dropped down to the clipboard in my hands, fingers picking at the edge of the bent paper. I didn’t want to think that Nate hadn’t cared. He knew I was independent, so he probably didn’t want to offend me by assuming I needed to be walked home. Plus, I didn’t want him walking me home just to have to walk all the way back.
“Did you at least have fun?” Her tone was softer when she was met by my silence.
I nodded.
“He doesn’t seem like your type,” she admitted.
“I don’t have a type,” I defended.
If a guy was willing to treat me with respect, I liked them. It didn’t matter who they were or what they looked like. And Iris had been impressed with his flirtation at work, encouraging me this entire time. Why was she backing down now?
“He’s a good guy,” I promised her. “He’s taking me hiking.” Why did my voice squeak?
“Did he tell you when?”
I shook my head, wondering that myself. He hadn’t texted me since I left his house last night. But he worked two jobs, like me. I knew he was busy.
“I’m sure he will soon.”
“I’m sure.” She didn’t sound so sure, though.
When the other girls joined us, conversation shifted to more colorful topics. I was relieved to have the focus off me. If Iris didn’t like somebody, there were minuscule ways to tell. Not divulging more opinions about Nate said more than she actually verbalized. I tried not to analyze it, but I knew she had a point.
I was a little disappointed he hadn’t offered to walk me home, even if it was only a ten-minute walk. Less than a mile.
Filing the thoughts away, I tuned into the current conversation that Janine, our manager, was having with Iris about how easy it was to pee yourself.
“I’ve had two kids, and I’ve never done that,” Iris informed Janine.
Janine pressed her lips into a flat line, brows furrowing in disbelief. “You mean to tell me that you’ve never laughed so hard that you peed your pants? Or sneezed and had a little come out?”
Iris shook her head, popping a chip into her mouth.
Janine guffawed. “I don’t believe you.”
That made Iris laugh, finishing off her salad with a snort.
Janine turned to me. “Have you ever peed yourself?”
Some people may get a weird vibe from these two and the conversations they conduct. Especially with someone classified as “boss,” but this was the norm. I was used to the strangeness rolling off of them in surges.
My first day at the motel, I walked into a conversation she and the eighty-year-old head housekeeper, Maude, were having about penis sword fighting. Did they mean men fought with their actual penises? Or penis-shaped weaponry? To this day, I regret not asking while I had the chance. I really, really wanted to know what they had meant.
I took my sandwich out of my lunch bag. “I’ve peed myself once from laughing too hard. Thankfully it wasn’t enough to go through my underwear.”
Janine waved her hands in the air. “See? It happens to everyone!”
Iris shrugged. “Not to me.”
“Well your bladder is weird.”
“Or normal…”
They went back and forth on the matter for another five minutes, while I got the lowdown on what was cleaned and what was not. I marked off the motel rooms that were completed and counted the rest that still needed service. This way I could choose what to put in the washer next.
Just as everybody started packing up their lunch, Iris tapped my shoulder. “I just got a text from my brother. He said he had something of yours and wanted to stop by to give it back.”
My eyes widened to the size of the paper plate in front of me.
He wouldn’t.
“Why does her brother have something of yours?” Janine asked, thoroughly interested.
“Uh …”. Choking a little on my ham and swiss, I tried to cover with a cough. I was at a loss of words. Completely tongue tied.
What was the most conventional way to explain how your best friend’s little brother had gotten your favorite sexy-time panties?
Answer: There wasn’t one.
Iris shrugged. “I told him we were in the main building. He’s pulling up now.”
Shit.
“Oh, well, I better go out there and—”
“He can walk his lazy butt in here,” she insisted, waving it off.
Despite our half hour being up, nobody was moving from their seats. Why did everyone choose right now to be interested in my life? I could only assume it was curiosity, considering I never talked to many guys. Especially not hot ones related to coworkers.
I pushed my chair back, determined to stop the obvious scene that was about to go down. The bastard knew what he was doing, and I was not about to let him get away with it.
Unfortunately for me, he was already waltzing into the lounge before I could intercept him in th
e lobby. His swagger was filled with as much confidence as the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He dominated the room with his presence, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. In fact, I was sure even Maude was drooling over the view.
“What’s up, little brother?” Iris greeted, balling up a napkin and throwing it at his face. It bounced off his chest and landed on the floor. She had terrible aim.
I eyed him, hoping in this one instance that looks could kill. To my extreme disappointment, he didn’t drop dead.
“Sis,” he greeted, tipping his head in her direction. But his gaze didn’t stray from me. “Hey, Paisley.”
“Caleb.”
“You forgot something the other day.”
My eyes said, don’t you dare.
He grinned. “What’s that look for?”
“You know what it’s for,” I hissed under my breath, hoping only he could hear it.
I was wrong. Iris spoke up, propping her elbow on the table and her chin on her palm. “Slap my ass and call me Sally, what’s going on here?”
Ten pairs of eyes where burning a whole into my back. I hoped they only focused on the man candy in front of them, rather than what he was about to pull out of his pocket.
Please, God. Please do not let him pull out my underwear in front of my coworkers.
My heart nearly stopped when he reached into the front pocket of his ripped-up jeans. I wondered what I could do to keep him from embarrassing me. Could I tackle him? No, he was like a freaking ogre, I’d barely move him and probably lose essential organ function in the process. Fake a fire drill? Everyone would see through that lie. Block everyone’s view of him? I’m wide, but not that wide. There was nothing I could do but allow the train to derail the track in spectacular fashion.
I winced when he held something out to me. Something not pink nor lacy. My brows pinched together as I studied my Dobby, the house elf from Harry Potter, keychain dangling from his finger. I didn’t even realize it was missing, but looking down at my key ring, I saw the empty space where it once hung haphazardly. I blew out a breath. “Where did you find it?”
“On top of the washing machine at First Choice Cleaners. It must have caught on something and pulled off my key ring. I accepted it by stretching my fingers out and taking it from his open palm.
From behind us, Iris grumbled, “That was disappointing.”
I guess everybody else thought so too, because they all fled out of the lounge except for Iris and Janine.
“Thank you,” I told him softly.
I was ready to go back to work when he gently grabbed my upper arm to stop me. “I have something else of yours. I know you didn’t mind me keeping them, but I thought you’d want them back.”
My body tensed, ready to spring forward—do anything to stop him from making a stupid move.
That was when the arrogant bastard pulled out my panties, dangling them from his middle finger in slow motion.
Janine burst out laughing and Iris gaped between us, a mixture of surprise and admiration crossing her features.
Kill. Me. Now.
I snatched them up quickly and stuffed them in my lunch bag so they weren’t on full display. I wanted nothing more than to smack that cocky smirk right off his annoyingly beautiful face.
“Damn, Paisley,” Iris praised. “I didn’t think you had it in you. I’m also super grossed out over what this probably means, so I’m going to go bleach my brain. Repetitively.”
Caleb chuckled and patted her head as she walked out of the room Janine following closely behind.
“Wait!” I called after them. “It’s not what you think!”
My frosty glare casted Caleb’s way, lip curling into a snarl. “I cannot believe you just did that. You’re such an asshole, you know that? You may think this is all fun and games to you, but it isn’t for me. This is my life! You cannot just come to my job and make a scene in front of my coworkers. Now they think we slept together!”
I hated that I was tearing up, but I was beyond embarrassed. No. I was angry. Hell, anger didn’t even begin cover the way my body reacted. It felt like I was on fire and my chest tightened to extreme levels.
“Hey.” He stepped toward me, reaching out his hand to touch mine. I jerked away, sniffing back tears before they could fall. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I was just joking around, and you’re right. I took it too far.”
I grabbed my garbage and tossed it in the trash, shoving past him. “Y-you can do whatever the hell you want to your sister, but not me. We don’t know each other, Caleb. You have no right to screw up my life to get your kicks.”
I didn’t bother looking at his face and wanted to throat punch him when he followed me out of the building. Janine watched from the front desk, frowning when she saw the way my eyes had glazed over.
“Hold up, Paisley. Please?” The slight tremor of his remorseful tone made me look back. He frowned, fists opening and closing and guilt piercing his eyes. They were dark, navy blue as they searched my glassy hues.
He raked a hand through his tussled hair, and of course my traitorous hormones couldn’t help but notice the way his arm muscles ticked when he bent it into that position.
“I’m such an ass,” he stated, shaking his head. “I’m not good at this back-and-forth thing. Messing around is just my way of flirting, I guess. I never meant to hurt you, Paisley. Honest.”
I stared down at the driveway, counting the number of tiny black and red ants that passed by my feet. Trying to collect myself, I took a deep breath before meeting his eyes again.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “If you think you’re going to get my attention by doing this, you’re more than just an idiot. I do this thing called respect, and making my life hell at work is not gaining any brownie points.”
“I’m sorry.”
I shrugged, not accepting it.
“What can I do to make it up to you?”
“You can leave me alone,” I answered without a beat. I gestured between us. “Whatever you think could happen between us won’t. I’m not the type of girl for random hookups. I don’t do casual.”
“Maybe I’m not looking for casual.”
My brows shot up. “How could you not be looking for casual? You travel all the time. That doesn’t really give you any room for dating.”
“Do you date?” he asked, like it mattered.
Nate’s face popped into my head. Caleb knew I went to his house last night—I’d told him that it was a date. Although, it wasn’t what most people considered one.
“Who cares if I do?” I asked.
He matched my pose, his taut arms crossing his chest. “I do, hence why I asked.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. Caleb acted like he wanted to be something more than a one-time thing, but it didn’t make sense. There was nothing special about me, and he knew my interest was elsewhere. Why bother having this conversation?
“I don’t know how to answer that,” I said dumbly.
His eyes lightened a little at my admission, like he was reading further into it. “It’s a simple yes or no answer, Paisley. Do you or don’t you date?”
“I mean—”
“Good. So, do I.”
I blinked. “Huh?”
“So we should do it.”
“Do it?” I squeaked.
He laughed, the tension radiating from him now shattered into rumbles of humor. “I heard you loud and clear about not being a causal hookup kind of girl. And you know what? That’s refreshing. I’ve been with plenty of women who only want sex, and it gets old. Know what I mean?”
No, not at all.
But I wasn’t about to let him in on my biggest secret. The whole virgin thing didn’t really seem like something I could just bring up in a casual conversation. After all, he’d been with ‘plenty of women.’ There was nothing I could offer him that they hadn’t. Even if I wanted to.
“Sure,” I lied.
He narrowed his eyes. “Sure you’ll go on a date with me o
r sure you understand that casual hookups get old?”
“Um…”
“Not an answer, Paisley May.”
He stepped closer to me, intruding my personal bubble. It was hard to think straight when he was looking at me like I was his next meal and he was starving.
Had he looked at me like this the first time we met? He’d checked me out, flirted, but I didn’t remember the laser-focus look in his eyes.
His closeness made me nervous, which might have been why I fumbled out, “Both. I mean, y-yes. We should…I guess we could try?” It came out like a jumbled question, and I wasn’t one hundred percent positive what I had just agreed to.
I blinked, coming out of the hazy fog his closeness caused. Instant regret filled my stomach, mixed with something else that I wasn’t quite sure of. It was heavy, like a million butterflies fluttered their wings in my stomach all at once.
I just agreed to go out with a man who embarrassed me in front of my boss.
He drew in his bottom lip with his teeth, suppressing the grin that spread across his face. He didn’t seem shocked by my answer. It was like he knew he’d break my will power and I’d agree to go out with him.
Damn, he’s good.
“I’ll get your number from my sister. That way we can set up a time and place,” he told me, backing up toward his truck parked along the curb.
What the hell did I just get myself into?
“Sure, I guess,” I mumbled, watching him climb into his vehicle. I stood numbly on in the driveway and watched him back up and take off down the road, giving me a small wave through his rolled down window.
Janine walked up beside me. “So, he had your panties because…?”
How You Know It Won’t Work:
You have more conversations with your cat than guys
Over the course of the next week, I tried ignoring the lack of communication between Caleb and me. I hadn’t intended to let his silence become offensive when I wasn’t even positive I’d wanted to be involved with him. Although, his sudden brush off was damaging my self-esteem. I’d let myself down by agreeing to go out with him; by expecting something.
Way To My Heart Page 5
