From Temptation to Twins
Page 5
Caleb rose with her.
The smile on the nurse’s face was encouraging, but it seemed to take forever for her to speak. “Your sister is out of surgery. It went very well.”
“Thank you,” Jules whispered, relief rushing through her. She realized then just how frightened she’d been.
“She’s in recovery for the next hour or so, and then she’ll likely sleep through the night. There’s no need for you to stay.”
“So her hand will be fine?”
“The surgeon is anticipating a complete recovery. She’ll need to rest it for a couple of weeks. She can follow up with her family doctor.”
“We’re new in town. We don’t have—”
“She can see my doctor,” Caleb put in. His hand went to the small of Jules’s back and rested lightly there.
She looked skeptically up at him. Good doctors had been difficult to find in Portland. Most had closed practices and weren’t taking new patients.
“He’ll see her.” Caleb spoke with authority, seeming to guess Jules’s hesitation.
She was reminded of his wealth, and the power it likely brought him. She realized his doctor would probably grant any favor Caleb asked. Her first reaction was to refuse on principle. But Melissa’s health was at stake, and Jules knew she couldn’t let pride stand in the way of the best care for her.
“Thank you,” she said instead.
Caleb smiled, and his hand firmed against her back. Warmth and pleasure flowed through her before she remembered to shut it down.
“Can I see Melissa?” Jules asked the nurse.
“Not for at least an hour. She’s in recovery.” The nurse’s gaze went to the clock on the wall, which showed that it was well past midnight.
“You might as well come back in the morning,” Caleb said. “You need some sleep, too.”
Again, Jules wanted to argue with him on principle. But she was tired, and he wasn’t wrong, especially if Melissa was only going to sleep anyway.
“I’ll drive you home,” he said, seeming to take her silence for agreement.
It was, but that didn’t mean she wanted him to make the assumption. But now wasn’t the time to make an issue of it.
She directed her attention to the nurse instead, reaching out to squeeze the woman’s hands in gratitude. “Thank you so much. Will you thank the surgeon for me?”
“I will.”
The nurse departed, and Jules stepped away from Caleb’s touch as they walked down the corridor.
“I can get a cab,” she said as they approached the double doors of the foyer.
“Sure you could,” he said. “And that makes perfect sense. Especially since I’m driving past your house on my way home.”
“We’re not your responsibility,” she felt compelled to point out.
He pushed open the door. “Nobody said you were.”
“What are you doing here anyway?” The night wind was brisk against her thin T-shirt, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
“I wanted to make sure Melissa was okay. And I knew you’d need a ride home.”
“You barely know us.”
He indicated a black Lexus parked near the door. “I’ve known you for twenty-four years.”
“You’ve disliked me for twenty-four years. It’s not the same thing.”
“I never disliked you.” Something softened in his tone. “I barely knew you.”
“You dislike me now.”
“I’m annoyed with you right now. That’s not the same thing either.”
“Close enough.”
He cracked a smile as he opened the passenger door. “You do make it difficult to like you, Jules.”
“Because I won’t give in and give you what you want.”
“That’s part of it.” He closed the door and crossed to the driver’s side.
“What’s the other part?” she asked as he took his seat and pressed the starter button.
To her relief, warm air immediately blew through the dashboard vents.
“You disagree with virtually everything I say.”
She thought about that. “Not with everything you say.”
He gave an ironic shake of his head, but he smiled again, too.
She liked his smile. She had to stop liking his smile. And his touch, she really had to stop liking his touch.
He pulled out of the parking spot and headed for the winding coastal road back to their houses. “Name one thing where you’ve agreed with me.”
“I’m letting you drive me home.”
“I had to talk you into that.”
“Proving I can change my mind,” she said with triumph. “I’m a reasonable person who can change her mind when presented with evidence.”
“In that case, let me explain about how...”
Her heart sank a bit. “Not tonight, Caleb.”
“I was joking.”
She suddenly felt drained of energy and realized she’d been running on adrenaline since the accident, and the relief that had buoyed her at learning Melissa would recover had already worn off. Now she was just exhausted.
“Are you hungry?” he surprised her by asking.
She was, but she didn’t want to admit it. It felt like she’d be showing him another weakness.
“I’m starving,” he said. “Do you mind if we stop?”
“You’re driving. It’s your car. You can do whatever you like.”
He glanced her way. “Have I done something to annoy you just now?”
She instantly felt guilty. “No.” That was a lie. “Yes.” That wasn’t quite right either. “I wish you’d quit being nice. It makes me nervous.”
He laughed, and the rich sound was somehow soothing to her nerves.
He took an abrupt left, entering the parking lot of a fast-food place. “Burger okay with you?”
“Whatever you’re having,” she said. She was hungry, not fussy.
He pulled up to the drive-through window, and a young woman slid back the glass.
Considering the late hour, the girl’s smile was positively perky. “What can I get for you?”
“Two cheeseburgers, two fries and two chocolate shakes,” Caleb said.
She rang up the order, and Caleb handed her some bills.
“Coming right up.” She pulled back, the smile still in place.
“Comfort food,” Jules said, thinking it fit the circumstances.
“I forgot you were a chef.”
“I wasn’t being critical.”
“You weren’t?”
She gave him an eye roll. “If you’re going to jump to conclusions, you should learn to interpret my intonation.”
“I thought that was sarcasm.”
“It wasn’t. I’ve got nothing against burgers and fries. They get a bad rap. They’re tasty. Okay, maybe not so nutritious as to be a daily recommendation. But I’m not really in the mood for nutrition right now.”
He smiled and seemed to relax. They both fell silent.
“Thanks for this,” she said a few minutes later.
“Not a problem.”
The window opened and the girl handed Caleb his change and the food.
He set the milk shakes in the console between them and passed the warm, fragrant paper bag to Jules. Then he pulled across the shoreline road into a parking lot overlooking the ocean. He shut off the engine and released his seat belt.
“This okay?” he asked her.
“Perfect.” She released her own seat belt and sat back in the comfy leather seat, letting the tension of the past few hours drain from her.
Melissa was going to be okay. Everything else would work itself out around that.
Caleb relieved her of the bag and hande
d back a burger wrapped in waxed paper, and then a small carton of fries. She popped one of the fries in her mouth. It was crisp and flavorful, salty and satisfying.
“Mmm,” she said.
He smiled and gave a small shake of his head. “You’re awfully easy to please.”
“My needs are simple.” She took the closest milk shake and drew the cold, creamy liquid through the straw.
“You surprise me, Juliet Parker.”
“You should be the one surprising me by appreciating burgers.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m an ordinary Portland girl. You’re a successful millionaire who lives in a mansion on the hill.”
“I suppose that’s true,” he agreed, a trace of laughter in his voice.
She unfolded the wrapper, pulling it away from the sticky cheese. “If anyone should be snobby about fast food, it’s you.”
“I normally add a garnish of caviar.”
“Now, that’s more what I expected.”
“Then I’m likely to keep surprising you.”
“Is this your pitch for being an ordinary guy?”
“I am an ordinary guy.”
“You own seventeen restaurants.”
“You did some research.”
“I did,” she admitted. “I’ve concluded you don’t need an eighteenth.”
He paused. “You really want to have that argument now?”
She didn’t. She wasn’t sure why she’d brought it up. Or maybe she was. They were getting along, and that made her nervous. She’d wanted to remind herself of what stood between them. She didn’t want to like Caleb. She didn’t dare.
* * *
The burgers finished and the drive complete, Caleb stepped out of his car at the top of the stairs that led down to the Parker house.
“What are you doing?” Suspicion was clear in Jules’s tone as she closed the passenger door behind her.
“I’m walking you to your door.” He came around to meet up with her at the edge of the gravel driveway where the long staircase took off for the house below.
“Don’t be silly.”
“I’m never silly.”
“I’m perfectly capable of walking down my own front steps. I’ve done it a thousand times.”
“Maybe so.” He gestured for her to go first. “But I’m incapable of leaving a woman on her dark doorstep and hoping for the best.”
“Caleb.” Her exasperation was clear.
“Give it up, Jules. I’m walking you to your door. My old man might not have done much right, but he did raise me to be a gentleman.”
“This is senseless.” But she started to move.
“Maybe. But it’s not going to hurt anything either. You really do need to learn to pick your battles.”
“And you need to learn how to deploy your energy.”
He smiled to himself as he followed her down. He was perfectly happy with his deployment of energy. He had a feeling he’d walk miles just to keep arguing with her.
The wooden steps felt punky beneath his feet, springing slightly with his weight. Squinting, he could make out what looked like moss growing at the edges.
“How old is this staircase?” he asked.
“I have no idea.”
He gave the rail a pointed wiggle. “It needs to be replaced.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
“I’m serious, Jules. This could be dangerous.”
Forget the possibility of it giving way, the aging wood was slimy and slippery. Somebody was going to fall, and it was a long, long way down. He peered at the dim, distant porchlight.
“It’s none of your concern, Caleb. And there are a lot of pressing issues in my life right now, including an injured sister.”
He immediately felt like a heel. “I’m sorry.”
He wished he’d gone first. That way, if she slipped in the dark, she’d have him to break her fall. He should have thought of that. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
As a stopgap measure, he reached for her hand, enveloping it in his, thinking he could at least brace her if she slipped.
She tried to tug her hand away.
He was having none of it. “Pick your battles,” he reminded her.
“This isn’t a date,” she tossed over her shoulder.
“I sure hope not.” The idea was downright alarming. “Fast food and a trip to the emergency room? That would be the worst date in the world.”
“To be clear, this little walk to the door, holding my hand, cozying up. You’re not getting a kiss good-night.”
“I’m holding your hand to keep you from falling.”
“Of course you are.” The sarcasm was back.
“You’re a very suspicious woman.”
“You’re a very calculating man.”
“I’m not angling for a kiss.” Though he’d be lying if he pretended he didn’t want one. “But, just for the sake of argument, what would it take? Exactly how good would the date have to be for a guy to get a kiss from you?”
“It has nothing to do with the quality of the date. I mean, of course, it would have to be a good date. By that I mean an enjoyable date. But it wouldn’t have to be an expensive date. I’m not about to be bowled over by opulent surroundings and fine wine.”
“Cheap wine it is.”
They’d reached her porch, and she turned. “It’s the caliber of the company that counts.”
She was beautiful in the starlight.
“I’ve been told I’m a good conversationalist,” he noted.
“I bet you have. And I bet it was by women who were enjoying fine wine and opulent surroundings?”
“You have a low opinion of your own gender, Juliet.”
His response seemed to throw her, and her brow furrowed.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said.
“I know how you meant it. You think I date women who like me for my money.”
“Not exactly...”
He had her off balance, and he took advantage of it, easing forward. “I don’t believe this. You’ve actually talked yourself into a corner.”
“No, I haven’t. Just give me a second.”
“Sure.” He waited, enjoying the view of her blue eyes, pupils overlarge in the dim light, shining like windows to her soul.
“This isn’t fair,” she finally said in a husky voice.
“Why not?”
“I’m tired. I’m not at my best.”
“You need me to give you a head start?”
It was clear she had to fight a grin.
“You know what your problem is?” he asked, brushing the back of his hand softly against her cheek.
He expected her to pull back, but she didn’t.
“What is my problem?” Her voice was suddenly breathy.
“You don’t know what to do about me.”
She paused, and her white teeth scraped across her bottom lip. “I wish I could argue with that—”
“But you’re tired,” he finished the sentence for her. “And you’re not at your best.”
His gaze and his mind fixated on her lips. He wanted very badly to kiss them.
“I’m tired,” she agreed and seemed to sway toward him. “And I’m not at my best.”
He cupped his other palm over her shoulder. “Jules.”
Her blue eyes clouded, and her lips parted. She seemed unfocused as she gazed up at him. “Yes.”
His voice was husky to his own ears. “Do you want me to kiss you?”
“Yes.” Then she seemed to realize what she’d revealed. “I mean—”
If she was about to change her answer, she was too late. She’d said yes. He’d heard it loud and clear.
Her body was soft and warm, her curves smooth against his angles. He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her while the kiss went on. Arousal throbbed deep and hard within him, and his mind galloped ahead to an image of a soft bed, with her naked body entwined around his.
Why couldn’t it always be like this? Why did they have to fight? She was smart and sassy, and probably the most interesting woman he’d ever met. She was certainly the most exciting.
And then reality slammed into him.
They did have to fight. And no amount of wishing would change that.
His interests were diametrically opposed to hers. He probably had to hurt her. He had no choice. And if he was going to hurt her, he shouldn’t be kissing her. He absolutely couldn’t sleep with her—not with the secret he was keeping right now.
He pulled back, breaking the kiss.
She all but staggered in shock. “What—”
“I’m sorry,” he said, reluctantly letting his arms drop away from her. “That was out of line.”
She still seemed to be getting her bearings. “Uh, okay.”
“It’s late. You’re tired,” he repeated the words, forcing himself to keep talking. “This wasn’t a date, and I shouldn’t be so presumptuous.”
“You did ask permission,” she pointed out.
He couldn’t believe she was arguing his side. “And you were about to change your answer. I knew that. I could tell.”
“I was weighing the pros and cons.”
“There are a lot of cons.” That at least was the truth.
Her gaze was opaque and welcoming. “There are a lot of pros.”
“Don’t do that, Jules.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Don’t give me permission.”
“But—”
“Tomorrow we’ll be fighting again. I can guarantee it.”
She offered a small smile. “We’re not fighting now.”
Caleb gritted his teeth. If he didn’t walk away right now, he wouldn’t walk away at all.
“Good night, Jules.” He told his feet to move.
She took a staggering step back. “Wow. Talk about hot and cold.”