“Thank you, Jerry.” Caleb stood behind Syd. “Can I take your coat?” She hesitated a brief moment and nodded, shrugging the long black coat off her shoulders and into his waiting hands.
He nodded toward her gloves. “Want to stuff those in your pocket?”
“Oh, uh no, I’ll keep them in my purse, thanks,” she said, struggling to get the gloves off.
After Caleb draped their coats over a spare chair, he turned his attention to Sydney. Her back was to him as she zipped up her purse. It had been easy to tell she had a nice figure hiding underneath her coat—it had pulled in all the right places. But looking at her now… Shit. She had a rockin’ body.
She turned to face him and he continued his silent appraisal of her. She was tall for a woman—five-nine or five-ten maybe. Her never-ending legs were covered in a pair of black high-waist dress pants and a silver-gray wrap top hugged her curves. She reached up and pulled a pin from her hair and the glossy black waves tumbled around her shoulders. He took in her face—high cheekbones, soft skin, full lips that begged to be kissed. But it was the impossibly gray-green eyes dancing with amusement that just finished him off.
“So it’s your turn to stare?” she joked.
“It most certainly is,” he admitted, his gaze unwavering.
“Enjoying yourself?” she asked, planting her hands on her hips.
Caleb smirked. “I most certainly am.” He moved around the table and pulled a chair out for her. When she sat, her long hair brushed the back of his hands and his heart rate quickened.
Behave, Caleb.
“Ah, good. I wouldn’t want to disappoint.” She didn’t give him another glance, just sat and began perusing the menu.
Christ, the woman was lean, sexy and confident. It was a refreshing change from his norm.
Jerry returned to the table. “What can I get you this evening?”
Caleb motioned for Syd to go ahead.
“I’ll have the roasted tomato soup.” She glanced up at Caleb. “I’m dying to try these chili-rubbed espresso ribs, but there’s no way I’ll be able to finish them on my own. Wanna share?”
“Sounds great.” He looked up at Jerry. “If you get me the Insalata Caprese, and bring out an order of those ribs, that’d be great.” He glanced at Syd. “Wine?”
She nodded. “Only a glass, though. I’m too tired for much more than that.”
He smiled up at their waiter. “Your choice, Jerry, and bring us two glasses if you could.”
“Right away, Mr. Jones,” the waiter said, scuttling away.
Syd leaned back and sighed. “I love this place.”
He smiled as she took in the dark leathers, rich woods and crisp white linens of Fuze, delight evident on her face. “So what is it that you do for a living, Syd?”
Peeling her gaze away from the décor, she looked at him and beamed proudly. “I help manage a small chain of restaurants. We have a location here in Banff, and I’ve been meeting with the manager and head chef these last few days.”
He nodded. “What’s the name? I wonder if I’ve been there.”
“Christou’s.”
“Never heard of it.”
She waved her hands in the air as she spoke. “It’s a Greek restaurant. You do like Greek, don’t you?” When he nodded, she continued, jokingly. “Good, I was afraid we’d have to stop talking. Christou’s is a little more upscale, but upscale in the food and quality, not in the price tag. The food is fantastic, and the atmosphere is casual and welcoming. Warm.” She smiled as she described her favorite items on Christou’s menu and the venue’s décor, her voice animated and passionate.
The food arrived a few moments later, and they continued their idle chatter while eating and sipping on wine.
“Oh my God, these ribs are divine,” she mumbled, grabbing a second piece and bringing it to her lips.
“I’m surprised you’re not using a fork and knife with those,” Caleb teased.
She furrowed her brow and scrunched up her face. “A fork and knife? For ribs? You’re kidding me,” she guffawed. “Listen, I may be a chick, but that doesn’t mean I’m one of those who only talks about makeup and shoes, and who’s afraid to get food on her fingers. This,” she said, waving the meat at him, “is good food, and it should be eaten with your hands. Period.” She brought the meat to her mouth and tore off a piece. She sat back as she chewed. “Mmm, so good,” she mumbled, eyes closed.
My God, does she even realize how much of a turn-on that is?
He had a feeling it was natural for her, part of who she was, but the little things she did and said, the moans of satisfaction as she ate the juicy meat and licked the rub off her fingers, affected him in a very big way. He shifted in his seat, growing more and more uncomfortable as he studied her.
Caleb reached for another piece of meat and bit into it, hoping that would derail his current train of thought.
Their easy conversation continued until Syd glanced at him and suddenly began to giggle.
He frowned. “What?”
“Your face was hungry, too.”
“Oh, shit,” he laughed. He wiped at his face. “Gone?” She shook her head no. He blotted his face again. “Now?”
“No, here,” she said, reaching across the table and gently swiping her thumb at the corner of his mouth. She held up her hand in front of his face and on the pad of her thumb was a glob of the rub. “Go on.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Go on, what?”
She nodded toward her thumb. “Eat it.”
“What, the rub? Off your finger?”
“I don’t have cooties, for heaven’s sake,” she said rolling her eyes. “It’s fucking delicious—you can’t let it go to waste.” She eyed him. “If you don’t eat it, I will,” she warned.
He paused a fraction of a second before responding. “I don’t think so,” he said, his voice just a whisper, grabbing her hand and bringing it toward his lips. He carefully bit the chunk of rub off her thumb.
She laughed. “Okay, you got it, you can let me go now.”
He grinned. “Naw, darlin’, there’s still one little bit on there.” He nipped at her lightly and met her stare. “All done.”
A rosy flush crept up her neck and into her cheeks. She reeled her arm back in and concentrated—perhaps a bit too hard—on wiping her thumb with her napkin. She peeked up at him through her eyelashes and smirked. “Was it good?” she joked.
“Baby, it was amazing.”
After finishing the ribs, they shared a white chocolate cheesecake and called it a night. Caleb thanked Jerry for everything and gave him a big hug. He led the way back to the Cadillac and helped Sydney climb inside.
Driving her back to the hotel, Caleb reflected on the happenings that night. He really enjoyed Sydney’s company. He was unusually relaxed and comfortable around her and he loved the subtle teasing that went back and forth. It was a true treat, feeling as if he was able to be one-hundred percent himself. She didn’t treat him like a rock star, even though she clearly recognized him. To her, it seemed, he was an average, ordinary man.
He didn’t want his time with her to come to an end.
Caleb pulled the Escalade in front of the Fairmont and turned to face her. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
She pulled her purse into her lap. “I’ve got a couple meetings.”
“Reschedule them.”
She stared at him, green eyes wide. “Why?”
“I want to take you skiing tomorrow.”
“So I’m supposed to rework my day simply because you want to take me skiing?” she chuffed.
“No, you’re supposed to reschedule your meetings because you want to spend more time with me, too.”
She burst out laughing. “Ego?”
He chuckled. “Aw, come on, Syd. It’s the last good ski weekend of the season. I’ve had a great time with you this evening, and I’d like to extend it till tomorrow, too. Consider it the balance of my apology to you, darlin’. After all, if I’d pulled my c
ar to the side of the road, even a little bit, yours wouldn’t be in the shop right now.” And I wouldn’t have met you.
She sat there studying him for a moment, gnawing on her lower lip. She waved a hand in the air. “Okay, fine, you’re on, even though the accident wasn’t really your fault. I can cab it and meet you at the rentals. What time were you planning on going?”
“Ten o’clock work for you?”
“Ten o’clock works perfectly.” She leaned across and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for dinner and the lift back here, Caleb. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, tomorrow,” he answered, his voice soft.
She got out of the car and walked into the hotel. Standing in the doorway, she then turned back to wave at him and smiled brightly.
And Caleb was a goner.
Chapter Three
Syd, having slept through the alarm, was running around the hotel room in a frantic rush to get ready when her cell phone rang, startling her. She grabbed her sky-blue ski jacket and glanced at the cell, which rested on the ornate wooden dresser.
It was Brett.
She picked up the phone and held it while it rang, letting the call go to voicemail, knowing full well he’d call again in less than five minutes. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring, hoping it didn’t.
Sydney sighed and glanced at her left hand.
Looks so much better without that big honkin’ ring on my finger, she thought miserably. She had managed to wiggle the ring off as she’d removed her gloves at Fuze last night, and it was now tucked away in her suitcase, safe and sound.
She pushed Brett out of her mind, refusing to mull over her situation. If she did, she was sure she’d fall to pieces and burst into a salty ocean of tears. After the great time she’d had with Caleb, she was eager to escape the reality of her life for a few more hours. There was so much bad happening right now—she needed the good to help balance it and pull her through.
As predicted, the cell rang a second time in her hands.
“Fuck it,” she whispered, tossing the phone back on the dresser and heading downstairs to the waiting cab.
Caleb had already arrived at the rental office and was waiting for her, looking handsome as ever. He was leaning against the small building, wearing a pair of blue jeans, a black bomber jacket and sunglasses. He smiled as soon as he saw her coming and stood up straight.
“Good morning, pretty lady,” he said, reeling her in for a big hug.
Syd wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back. The warmth of genuinely being wanted around felt amazing. Sure, Brett acted happy when he was with her, but there was always a stiffness about it. It never appeared authentic. She took a deep breath and pushed him out of her thoughts. “Hey, Caleb.”
“Call me CJ, please,” He grinned. “All my friends do. I’ve got my skis already, darlin’,” he said, pointing behind him. “Let’s grab yours and get going.”
Syd glanced at his equipment and frowned. “Those,” she said, pointing a white mitten-covered hand at them, “are cross-country skis.”
“Very observant,” he said, a twinkle in his eye.
“Um, I don’t know how to cross-country. I’ve never done it!”
“Well, you’ll learn today.”
“Oh God, CJ, are you serious?”
“I’ll teach you, you’ll be fine. I promise.”
She was skeptical. “Okay, but if I break something… Well, that accident will be your fault,” she said, whapping his shoulder before turning to get her skis.
She was surprised at how fast she got the hang of it, she mused a while later. Caleb had said it was much the same as walking, and she had mastered the flat stretches and small downward slopes easily.
They approached another hill, but this one she’d have to climb up. “Oh, good Lord,” she mumbled.
“It’s easy, darlin’. Just do what I do,” Caleb remarked, expertly maneuvering the small hill.
Syd stared at him from the base of the hill and laughed. “It’s easy, darlin’. Just do what I do,” she mimicked, deepening her voice.
“Come on, what’s taking you so long?” he teased.
“Mr. Jones, you come here this instant and save me,” she demanded.
With one push of his ski poles, Caleb slid down the hill and stopped at her side.
“You just go up it, darlin’,” he explained, hardly containing a laugh.
She scowled at him. “Knock it off and show me what to do, stud.”
He chuckled. “All right, you’ve got two choices here. Watch my feet. You can go up by sidestepping.” He turned his body so he was aligned with the slope and began climbing up, digging his skis into the snow.
He hopped down. “Or, you can do like this.” He faced the hill and began walking up, turning his ankles in, again digging the skis into the snow.
He glided back to her and grinned. “Your turn.”
“I am going to die,” Syd announced, her voice dripping with drama, turning her body to the hill. “I’m gonna try the sidestepping. God help me.”
Caleb laughed, and in an instant Syd decided it was a sound she could easily get used to hearing on the daily.
Careful, Syd.
“Look, I’ll stand right here,” he said, putting his poles on the ground. “I’ll catch you if you fall. Go on, you’ll be fine.”
She made a face at him and returned her focus to the task at hand. She began to her skis into the snow as he had shown her. After about three steps she lost her balance and began falling to the side.
“Gotcha,” Caleb said, reaching out to catch her. Their faces mere inches apart, he smelled like hot chocolate and Syd’s stomach did a little flip. “You okay?”
The feel of his arms wrapped tightly around her caused her heart to thump wildly. Rendered unable to speak, all she managed was a nod.
He helped her to her feet. “Why don’t you try the other way,” he suggested.
Syd nodded again. She walked up the hill, making sure to turn her ankles in and dig the skis into the snow. She made it about halfway with ease and, overconfident, she upped her speed, only to lose her balance and teeter backward. “Oh, shit!” she cried out.
Two strong hands planted on her ass, steadying her.
“Easy there, Syd,” Caleb said, helping Syd straighten up again. He followed her the rest of the way, snickering.
At the top and at last on level ground, Syd bent over, resting her hands on her knees. “Oh God, I’m alive, I’m alive!” she exaggerated, taking deep breaths.
Caleb chuckled. “So, how was that for ya?”
She stood and met his gaze, smirking. “I don’t know about you, but I think I need a cigarette after all that intimacy,” she joked.
She noticed the usually unflappable Caleb’s face flush. “Well, as nice as it was to grab your ass, darlin’, that’s not what I meant. I was asking about the way you clambered up the hill.”
Syd skied past him and whacked his butt with her pole. “I survived, so I can’t complain too much.”
They continued along the snowy path for a few more minutes, until the rumbling of Syd’s stomach broke the silence. It was so loud she was certain she startled a few birds out of the trees. She paused and glanced at her watch to find it was already closing in on noon.
She caught up with him again. “Caleb,” she whined. “I’m tired and hungry. How much longer is this trail?”
“We’re about halfway on it.”
She whipped around to face him. “We’re what? You’re kidding me?” She groaned. “Just grab my collar and drag me. I don’t have the energy for this. I need sustenance. And a nap. And did I mention sustenance?”
He winked and nodded. “There’s a shortcut. Follow me.”
After about ten minutes, Caleb deviated from the path and moved between the tangles of trees that surrounded them.
“Um, where’re you going?”
He turned back to her. “Trust me.”
She sighed. “Well, you’ve already felt me up, and I believe we’ve established you’re not a total psychopath, so what’s the worst that can happen?” she mumbled, stepping off the trail after him.
A few minutes later they came to a clearing that overlooked the snow-capped Rocky Mountains.
And about a hundred feet ahead, underneath a small gathering of larch trees, was a wicker picnic basket and couple of fuzzy red and white blankets folded neatly on top.
Syd turned to him, mouth agape. “What’s this?”
“Lunch,” he said, leading the way to the tree.
She hurried after him. “But… But how did you get all this up here?”
He set his poles on the snow-covered ground and grabbed a blanket, spreading it out on the powdery snow. “I’m pure magic, baby,” he said, winking at her.
She groaned. “You didn’t just say that.”
“Afraid I did.” He chuckled, turning his attention back to creating a place for them to sit.
Syd stared at him. This was one of the most romantic things that had ever happened to her, and it came from a guy she’d known for less than twenty-four hours. She blinked back tears.
“Come,” Caleb said, taking her elbow and leading her toward the trees. “Let’s eat.” He took the poles from her and placed them on the ground next to his.
They unsnapped their skis and settled beneath the largest of the big trees. Syd leaned back as Caleb opened the picnic basket, admiring the beautiful scenery and trying to take everything in. She’d never get over how bizarre and sweet this was.
“I hope this is okay,” he said, pulling out items and placing them on the blanket in front of her. “I get how much you love your food after our conversation last night, and it’s not my first choice, but everything else would’ve gotten cold and gross.”
Syd inspected all the goodies spread out before her—chicken salad, tuna, and cold-cut sandwiches, a container of potato salad and a small tray of cut vegetables. “Oh my God, CJ, don’t even worry about it. This looks delicious!”
Little White Lie Page 2
