Ruff.
Caleb jerked backward. His arms let go of her.
Becca stumbled to the right.
Grrrrowl.
Maurice and Blue lunged toward two teeth-baring Pekingese with satin bows on their ears.
She yanked on the leash. “Heel!”
Caleb grabbed Maurice by his collar.
The other two dogs didn’t back down. Their owner, a petite woman with spiky white hair, a shimmery short robe and flower-trimmed flip-flops, frowned. “Next time get a room.”
Becca’s cheeks burned. Her lips throbbed.
Oh, no. She’d been so wrapped up in Caleb she had forgotten about the dogs. What if they’d gotten into a fight and been hurt? Not acceptable.
The woman marched away, dragging her wannabe fighters behind her. The dogs looked back and growled.
“That didn’t turn out like I expected. Maybe Grams knows something we didn’t.” Desire flared in his eyes. “We should try that again.”
Oh, yes. Becca would love another kiss. Make that kisses. But she couldn’t. She glanced at Blue, who sniffed the grass as if nothing had happened. If only she could forget...The past. Who Caleb was. Who she was. “I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Does it matter?
His jaw was set, tense. “If not for those bow-toting dogs—”
“If it weren’t for them, I’d still be kissing you.”
A sinfully charming grin lit up his face. “Then let’s pick up where we left off.”
Temptation flared. “Kissing you was...amazing. But I forgot everything, including the dogs. They could have been hurt. They’re my responsibility. I can’t be distracted.”
Approval tempered the desire in his gaze. “I understand and respect that.”
Respect was all she’d wanted. Until this moment. Now she wanted more of his kisses. Uh-oh.
“Thanks.” She tried to remember all the reasons Caleb and more kisses weren’t good for her. “I appreciate it.”
“Just know when you’re back in Boise and the dogs aren’t around, I want to kiss you again. If that’s what you want, too.”
Her heart lodged in her throat. She couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.
Heaven help her, but Becca couldn’t wait to get back to Boise.
CHAPTER NINE
TWO NIGHTS LATER, the party at Grams’s place was going strong when Caleb arrived. He handed his keys to a parking valet.
A big crowd for a Monday.
But when Gertie Fairchild issued an invitation, few sent regrets.
Inside the house, Caleb greeted people he’d known his entire life and made his way toward the patio.
Leave it to Grams to pull together an impromptu gathering for two hundred of her closest friends in honor of Snowy winning Best in Show. On the patio, a DJ spun music in the backyard. Bartenders fixed drinks. Uniformed servers carried trays of delicious smelling appetizers.
Caleb searched for the two women he wanted to see most—his grandmother and Becca. He caught a glimpse of Grams, wearing pink capris and a sparkly blouse, and wove his way over through the crowd.
“Caleb!” Grams hugged him. “I’ve been wondering when you’d arrive.”
“I had a few things to finish up at the office.”
“Take off your jacket and tie,” she said with a smile. “Get a drink. And relax.”
He glanced around.
“Looking for Becca?” Grams asked.
“Yes.”
“She’s here. Courtney, too.”
His sister never turned down a party invitation, even if the average age of the guest list was twice hers. “I hope Courtney’s staying out of trouble.”
“Probably not.” Grams waved at someone who’d stepped out onto the patio. “You should find Becca and see if you can get yourself into trouble.”
“Grams!”
“What?” She feigned innocence. “Thirty-one is too young to be so serious about everything. Becca would be good for you. Help you to lighten up and enjoy life.”
Maybe in the short term. He’d enjoyed their time together at the dog show. Talking, laughing, kissing. Best not let Grams know or she’d be hiring a wedding planner to come up with the perfect proposal, one that would go viral on YouTube. “Becca and I figured out you’ve been playing matchmaker.”
Grams pointed to herself. “Moi?”
“Oui, Grandmère.”
“Speak French to Becca,” Grams said. “Women like that.”
Caleb shook his head, but made a mental note to give speaking French a try.
“Becca is a special woman.” Grams lowered her voice. “But it’s going to take a special man to break through her hard shell.”
“Becca and I are friends.” Friends who had shared a passionate kiss before being rudely interrupted by a pair of Pekingese dogs. He might want more of Becca’s kisses, but he wasn’t that “special man.” The last thing he needed was a girlfriend. He didn’t want to be responsible for one more person. “Nothing more.”
“Your loss is another man’s gain.”
The thought of Becca kissing another man made Caleb’s shoes feel too tight. He stretched his toes. “I’m going to see if I can find Courtney.”
“Have fun.” Grams flitted toward the house, taking on her role as Boise’s most gracious hostess.
Caleb grabbed a bottle of beer from the bar. He took a long swig. Just what he needed after a long day at the office. Now, if he could find Becca.
“Hey, bro.” The scent of his sister’s perfume surrounded him. Her ruffled miniskirt barely hid her underwear. Her two tanks showed as much skin as a string bikini top. Her blonde hair was clipped on top of her head with tendrils artfully placed around her face. Her make up was magazine layout perfect. Typical Courtney. Somewhat disturbing for a brother who worried about his younger sister. “I met your new girlfriend.”
He nearly spit out his beer. He forced himself to swallow. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Becca.”
“She’s not...What has Grams been telling you?”
“Only that she found the perfect woman for you.” Courtney took a flute of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. “Becca is cute. With a wardrobe makeover, some highlights and makeup she could be totally hot. I’m happy to assist—”
“Becca is fine the way she is.”
“You like her.”
“I don’t...” He lowered his voice. “Becca is sweet. She doesn’t need to be pulled into Grams’s matchmaking scheme.”
“Better her than me.” Courtney sipped her champagne. “The alarm on Grams’a great-grandbaby clock is ringing louder and louder.”
“Don’t look at me. I do enough as it is.”
“Well, I’m not ready to be a mom. I’ve never dated a guy longer than a month.”
Caleb stared at her over the top of his beer bottle. “Considering your choice in men, that’s a good thing. Maybe you should have Grams fix you up. Bet she’d pick a winner for you.”
“Yeah, right. Someone totally respectable, proper and boring like you.” Courtney shook her head. “Don’t forget I lose everything. Imagine if I misplaced a kid. That would be bad.”
“Very bad,” he agreed. “No worries. Grams will get over the idea of great-grandchildren eventually.”
“I hope so, but I think we should be proactive about this,” Courtney said. “Let’s buy Grams a kitten.”
“Grams is a dog person.”
“That doesn’t mean she can’t be a crazy cat lady, too. Kittens are cute and cuddly. Kind of like a baby, but you don’t have to deal with diapers, only litter boxes.”
Caleb wasn’t in the mood to try to understand his sister’s twisted logic, especially after s
he’d called him boring. He downed what remained of his beer. “Hold off on the kitten for a while. And stay out of trouble tonight.”
Courtney stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re no fun.”
Walking away, he realized Courtney was correct. He used to be fun. When he was younger, he and Ty had had nothing but fun. After Caleb took over Fair Face for his grandfather, life revolved around the company and family. Nothing else.
He followed the path past the guest cottage—only the porch light was on—to the kennel.
A dog barked from inside.
Caleb couldn’t see which one, but he recognized the sound.
Maurice.
Caleb entered the kennel. More barks erupted, drowning out the pop music playing from an iPod docking station.
“Quiet.” Becca faced Dozer’s door. Her floral skirt fell two inches above her knees. The green sleeveless shirt showed off toned arms. Her white sandals accentuated thin ankles. “We don’t want Gertie’s guests to hear you.”
The dogs stopped barking. Maurice stood with his front paws on his door.
“What’s gotten into you?” Becca asked the dog.
Caleb stopped two feet behind her. “So this is where you’ve been hiding.”
She gasped and whirled around.
The hem of her skirt flared, giving him a glimpse of her lower thighs. Much more enticing than a super short skirt that left nothing to the imagination.
Her eyes were wide, her cheeks pink. She placed her hand over her heart. “Caleb.”
“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She peered around him, as if to see if anyone else was behind him. “What are you doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same question.” Seeing her felt good. He couldn’t believe they’d only been apart two days. It seemed longer. “The party’s up on the patio. But you’re down here. Alone.”
She motioned to the dogs, watching them intently from their individual stalls. “I’m not alone.”
“You know what I mean.”
She nodded. “It’s a bit...overwhelming.”
“The party?”
“And all the people. Guests, servers, bartenders, DJ, parking valets,” she said. “Gertie introduced me to about a hundred people tonight. No way can I keep the faces and names straight.”
“So you escaped here.”
Another nod. “This is my favorite place at the estate. It’s where I’m...”
“Comfortable,” he finished for her.
“Yes. It’s where I fit.”
The way he knew her, understood her was...unsettling to him.
He cut the distance between them in half with one step. “You love the kennel and the dogs, but you also fit in up at the house with everybody else.”
She ground the toe of her sandal against the floor. “I don’t know about that.”
“I do.” Caleb used his finger to raise her chin. “You’re smart, beautiful, kind.”
The pink on her cheeks darkened. “You don’t have to stop.”
“I don’t plan on stopping unless you want me to stop.” He didn’t want to frighten her off “I’d like to pick up right where we left off.”
Her lips parted.
He grinned. “I’m going to take that as an invitation.”
“Please.”
Caleb kissed her. Something he’d been thinking about doing since he drove away from the fairgrounds on Saturday night. But he never expected her to melt into his arms as if she’d been looking forward to this moment as much as him.
He pressed his lips against hers, soaking up the feel and taste of her.
So sweet. Warm. His.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She went eagerly. Her soft curves molded against him.
So right.
His temperature shot up, fueled by the heat pulsing through him.
Her hands were on his back, in his hair, all over.
His tongue explored her mouth, tangled with her tongue. He couldn’t get enough of her.
Caleb’s hand dropped to her skirt. He lifted the hem and touched her thigh, the skin as soft and smoothed as he imagined. His hand inched up, with anticipation, with desire.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
Grams.
He jerked his hand from underneath Becca’s skirt. He jumped back totally turned on, his breathing ragged. Becca’s flushed face and swollen lips were sexy as hell and exactly the last thing he wanted his grandmother to see.
Too late now. He faced the woman who had raised him. Courtney stood next to his grandmother.
Grams had her hands clasped together. She looked giddy, as if she’d been granted three wishes from a magic lamp. She needed only one, because the silly grin on her face told him exactly what she was thinking—great-grandbabies.
Her eyes twinkled. “Nothing more than friends, huh?”
“So this is how it feels not to be the one in trouble.” Courtney smirked. “I kind of like it.”
Caleb positioned himself between his family and Becca. “It’s not what you think.”
“Yes, it is.” Grams rubbed her palms together. “And I couldn’t be more delighted.”
Becca’s heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of embarrassment, passion and pride. The way Caleb shielded her from his family like a knight in gray pinstripes made her feel special.
He might be everything she didn’t want in a guy, but at this moment she wouldn’t want to be with anyone else.
Her lips throbbed. Her breathing wouldn’t settle. Her insides ached for more kisses.
She’d experienced those same reactions in Redmond. But something felt different, awakened, as if she’d finally met a man who saw beyond her past and could accept her for who she was today. No guy had ever made her feel like that.
Becca longed to reach forward and lace her fingers with Caleb’s in support and solidarity. But that would only fuel Gertie’s speculations.
It’s not what you think.
But it could be. And the possibility gave Becca hope. Strength. She stepped forward and took her place next to Caleb.
Gertie rose up on her tiptoes, acting more like an excited child than the creative genius of a skin-care empire.
Courtney’s snicker turned into a smile, transforming the beautiful young woman from a life-size cardboard cutout of the latest fashion trends to someone more real and genuine.
“People want to see Snowy,” Grams said.
Becca glanced back at the dog that stood at his door all fluffed and ready to go. “He’s ready.”
“We’ll bring Snowy up there in a few minutes,” Caleb added.
Gertie winked. “Don’t take too long.”
Her suggestive tone sent heat rushing up Becca’s neck.
A vein twitched at Caleb’s jaw. “We won’t.”
Gertie and Courtney, looking as if they were about to burst out laughing, exited the kennel.
As soon as the door shut, Caleb looked down at the ground, shaking his head.
Becca touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
His gaze met hers. Softened. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“But Gertie’s going to think—”
Caleb kissed Becca, a gentle whisper of a kiss. The tender brush of his lips made her feel even more cherished, as if she was meant to be treasured. Her chest swelled with affection for this man. He backed away from her slowly, as if he didn’t want to end the kiss.
Becca swallowed a sigh. She wished he could keep on kissing her...forever.
“Don’t worry about my grandmother or my sister.” He touched her face again, lightly tracing her jawline with his thumb. “It doesn’t matter what they think is going on between us.”
Becca nodded, but she was worried. All they’d done was kiss. But something was happening between her and Caleb, something big. At least, it felt that way to her. If he didn’t feel the same...
“I’m happy I finally got to kiss you from beginning to end—even if we were interrupted again. Now that we’ve finished that, we can go from here.”
His words swirled around her and squeezed tight, like a vise grip around her heart. Her breath hitched. Her throat burned.
Caleb wasn’t talking about kisses. He wanted more. A hookup. A one-night stand. That was why he’d said what he had to Gertie. The kisses hadn’t meant the same thing to him.
Becca’s shoulders sagged. At least she’d found out before any real damage had been done. She straightened and raised her chin. “I need to get Snowy.”
Caleb’s eyes darkened. “What’s wrong?”
A “nothing” sat on the tip of her tongue. But “nothing” wouldn’t keep her stomach from knotting a thousand different ways. “Nothing” wouldn’t keep her from staying up all night analyzing the situation until exhaustion took over.
She’d been there before. She wasn’t eager for a return trip.
With a deep breath, she mustered her courage. “So now that we’ve finished—”
“We—” he twirled a short strand of her hair with his fingertip “—are going on a date.”
Hope exploded inside her—short-lived, as caution shouted a warning. “A date?”
“Dinner at Pacifica.”
Pacifica was a new restaurant in town. “I’ve heard Pacifica’s incredible, but impossible to get a reservation.”
“I’ll get us a table.”
His confidence attracted her as much as it repelled. Less than a minute ago she was ready to write his kiss and him off. Now she was going on a date with him. The tennis-match-worthy back and forth was enough to make her light-headed.
Becca wasn’t interested in his money or power. She liked the way he cared about people and took care of them. But she was pleased he was trying to do something special to make her feel important. She found it endearingly silly because she would be happy going out for hot dogs. “Sounds great.”
The Man Behind the Pinstripes Page 13
