I was done for. This girl would be my ruin.
I scooped her in my arms and carried her across the bridge to the other hut where I had already placed blankets and pillows on the floor. I gently placed her there and sat beside her. She turned on her side to face me.
“This is the best night ever.”
“Stay still like that.” I reached for the notepad and charcoal I had placed beside her pillow when I was setting up earlier.
“What are you doing?”
“Drawing you.”
Her eyes lit up. “I had no idea you can draw.”
When I was reading up online about the perfect date, one of the tips was to sketch her face.
When I was done, I showed it to her. “What do you think?”
She burst out laughing. Her eyes were half closed, her body limp on the blanket. She pillowed the side of her face with her hands as she looked up at me, sleepily.
“Better stick with economics, Caleb.”
I grinned at her. The picture wasn’t bad. I thought I drew her cat eyes pretty well.
“Tell me a story,” she said sluggishly.
I put the notepad down and lay down beside her, pulling her into my arms so that her head rested on my chest. I stroked her hair for a moment, gathering the thick and soft strands in my fingers.
“Once upon a time,” I whispered gently, kissing her hair. “There was a boy who met a girl on a bridge…”
But when I glanced at her, she had already fallen asleep.
How beautiful she is, how perfect.
I closed my eyes and pulled her closer.
I was born to love this girl.
* * *
Veronica
Caleb was leaving today.
It had been two days since that incredibly romantic night at the tree house. It had been so sweetly unexpected. He’d put so much effort into making it perfect for me that even now the memory of it made me smile.
Sun poured cheerfully through the hallway windows as I made my way to my locker, intending to empty it for the summer. I glanced at my watch and noted that we had a few hours before Caleb left for his flight. He was supposed to pick me up in ten minutes. We’d both been busy with work, and I was really looking forward to spending time with him. I grabbed my books and was hurriedly pushing them in my bag when a piece of paper fell out.
I laughed when I saw a picture of a house. Caleb had been leaving pictures of ridiculously beautiful houses—near the lake, in the city, out of the city—and I knew they each had to cost more than a million. “Take your pick, and we’ll see them next week,” he had said.
For a girl who’d lived her life struggling to pay her way, it was hard to let him take the reins.
I knew when I was being stupid, but I wasn’t comfortable with him paying for everything. And I was still in school. I had a decent-paying job, but most of my income went to paying my debts. Caleb had offered to pay them off, but there was no way in hell I would let him do that. He wouldn’t budge about the house, though.
“If you want to make me happy, let me make you happy, Red.”
So I let it go.
Because I did want to make him happy.
And then we could make our plans.
Our plans.
I knew I was grinning like a loon, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t wait to start our life together.
A house, I thought, overwhelmed by the idea. A house where I would live with Caleb as his fiancée. Where we would make memories and build our life together.
It didn’t feel temporary, and it didn’t feel like we were playing house anymore.
It felt permanent. Real. Very real.
A home. A family. With Caleb.
“Hello, Veronica.”
I stopped in my tracks and turned around. Beatrice-Rose’s gaze locked with mine. My good mood plummeted instantly.
She strutted toward me in a tight red dress, her lips painted the same bold color. The dress was undoubtedly designer, her makeup immaculately applied, but the red looked garish on her. It reminded me of a little kid playing dress-up.
“Caleb’s party is next week,” she said. “I assume you’re attending. I hope it won’t be too uncomfortable for you.”
When I didn’t say anything, she continued, “You’re more used to being the help than one of the guests, aren’t you?”
“Just like you’re used to being helped?” I took in her garish outfit. “Unlike you, I’ve never needed to depend on Mommy or Daddy to give me my allowance. I work hard to earn an honest living. But you wouldn’t know what that is, would you?”
Her eyes glinted with anger. “That just shows you’re not part of Caleb’s world. Men like Caleb marry debutantes like me. It’s what our world approves of and expects. Everyone will be there at his party—Miranda, their business associates, investors. Caleb needs someone beside him who will help him become successful.”
She looked me up and down, smirking. “What makes you think that’s you? Miranda will never approve of you. You have no class, no breeding.”
My stomach felt jittery. If anything, she knew how to strike where it hurt. Too bad for her I knew how to fight back.
“And you do?”
Her smile was smug. “Of course.”
“I think you’ve got a couple of loose screws in your head, Beatrice-Rose. You should have someone tighten those things. Last time I checked, desperately throwing yourself at a guy who doesn’t want you isn’t classy or a strong indicator of breeding.”
Her smile disappeared. “You bitch.”
“I can be if I have to. You had to send your dog to do your dirty work for you, didn’t you?” I continued, thinking of Justin. “Afraid to get your hands dirty?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do. I’m warning you.” I took a threatening step toward her. All I could picture was Caleb sitting in that interrogation room, his hand cuffed to a bolt. That was enough for me to lose any pity I might have felt for her. “Leave Caleb alone.”
Beatrice-Rose stepped back, her eyes flashing with spite. “Do you think I’m scared of you?”
“You should be. Keep doing what you’ve been doing, and you’ll find out.”
And with that, I turned and walked away.
“Veronica!” she called out, just loud enough for me to hear. “I’d watch your back if I were you. See you at the party.”
This time, I glanced back, flashing a bold smile that said Bitch, bring it. “You bet.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Caleb
Red had been quiet since I’d picked her up from campus. There was a tiny furrow between her eyebrows. You’d miss it if you weren’t looking hard enough.
I always looked.
It wasn’t difficult to figure out Red’s emotions. I’d studied her face and her moods for a long time, and I could almost always tell what she was feeling.
She didn’t wear her emotions on her face around other people, but around me, she’d started to. There were times when she didn’t, but she could never hide them for long.
Now, her face was a blank canvas, devoid of emotion. You’d never think something was wrong unless you looked, unless you knew her facial expressions and their corresponding moods. And I knew that very tiny furrow meant she was annoyed. On impulse, I made a sharp U-turn and drove through a deserted park, sliding my car in a parking lot that was hidden between densely packed trees.
“What’s wrong, baby?” I asked, but she was looking outside through the window.
I wanted her eyes on me. Just on me.
“If I did something wrong, I’m sorry. I’m an idiot, and I will do anything—grovel at your feet, buy you diamonds, a car—no?” I grinned when she looked up at me dryly. “Okay, how about if I buy you a big jar of peanut butter?”
>
That teased a small smile out of her.
“Now why don’t you tell me what I did wrong so I can start making it up to you? Right,” I added, backtracking quickly when she narrowed her eyes at me. “I should know what I did, but I’m—” I stopped myself before I said I’m drawing a blank. She’d just skin me alive. “Let’s see…” I sucked my bottom lip.
“I picked my clothes up on the floor this week, every day. Just like you told me. Ask Maia.” Maia was the wonderful older lady I’d hired years ago to do household chores for me three times a week.
Red flicked her hair over her shoulder. Okay, it wasn’t the clothes then.
I sniffed at my armpits. “I showered.”
A twitch on her lips. Those pink lips…I knew how soft, how giving, how delicious they were when she…
When she caught me staring at her lips, I grinned.
“Do you have your period?” I asked.
Now she laughed reluctantly, looking at me with exasperation and fondness.
“I saw Beatrice-Rose today,” she said finally.
My smile disappeared. “Did she say anything to you?”
“I didn’t know she’s coming to your party.”
I straightened in my seat. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t have her invited to my party. Actually, I wouldn’t even have a party. It’d just be you and me.”
I sighed when she didn’t say anything. “My mom arranges these things,” I explained. “I have no say on the guest list. And I really don’t care. She says it’s a birthday party for me, but it’s never just a birthday party.”
“What do you mean?”
I picked up her hand, traced circles on her palm.
“My mom is a businesswoman. That party is mostly an excuse for me to meet our business partners’ investors and to get more investors. Think of it this way: My mom is a T. rex. She needs food to feed herself and her babies. So she sets up a place where all the animals with the most body fat gather. And then she starts picking out the fattest of them all.”
She laughed, rolled her eyes, then grinned at me. “Only you would make an analogy like that.”
“That’s why you like me.” I kissed her fingers.
When her breathing picked up and those tempting lips parted, it was all I could do not to pull her out of her seat and into my lap—and kiss the hell out of her.
“Baby…”
I leaned closer so I could feel her breath on my face. Her eyes glazed in yearning, and I noticed the rise and fall of her chest, the creaminess of her skin. I wanted to lick it. “Let’s—”
And then she pulled away, clearing her throat. “What color should I wear? Is there a dress or color code?”
Her hand shook as she tucked her hair behind her ear. I closed my eyes for a moment, gathering control. Took a deep, deep breath. Let it out real slow. When I opened my eyes, she was staring down, biting her bottom lip.
Damn.
“Yeah.”
When I didn’t continue, she looked up at me, waiting.
“Let’s see. What color should you wear? How about transparent?”
When she didn’t react, I knew she hadn’t recovered from that moment we just shared. I didn’t think she even heard me.
“Oh, you mean for the party. Red. Wear red for me.”
She nodded.
“Hey, Red?”
“Hmm?” She smiled and reached out to push my hair away from my face. “You need a haircut.”
“I want to spend more time with you and would postpone my trip if I could. I want to get our house right away. I have appointments lined up for us. We’ll do those next week—”
“Caleb.”
She covered my mouth with her hand to shut me up. I licked it.
When she slapped my arm and laughed, I felt better. I knew then it was okay. She leaned closer and shyly kissed my lips.
I knew she only wanted a brief kiss, but I had been going crazy dreaming about her lips, her hands on me, the sounds she made when I touched her. I had been going insane replaying that night when we made love. Going insane from craving the feel of her nails biting in my back, her legs tightening around me, and her eyes glazing over when she reached what I was desperately trying to give her.
So when her soft, soft lips grazed mine, I lost control. I gripped her hair in my hands and pulled her to me. Into me. And I devoured her.
This was a hunger only she could satiate.
I couldn’t think of anything but the feel of her body as I claimed what I had been dreaming about for days.
“Oh God, Caleb.”
I bit her bottom lip lightly, sucked on it. “Come here.”
I lifted her on top of me.
“Just a little more. Give me a little more, Red.”
I adjusted her so she was sitting where I wanted her. I gripped her hips, urging her to move where it felt good.
Her eyes were clouded with desire as they met mine. I thrust my hips upward, mesmerized when she placed her hands on my shoulders and leaned her head back, exposing her neck to me. I licked at it hungrily.
She let out a sexy moan and started to rock her hips faster.
“Yeah, that’s the way, Red. Damn. Keep going.”
I watched as she took what she needed, as she let herself get lost in the incredible sensation of our bodies sliding and rubbing against each other.
I would have given her anything she asked of me. She was so fucking beautiful I couldn’t help but watch as she took and took and took.
I kissed her hungrily before she shattered in my arms.
It was a moment before I could finally speak. She was draped on me, her lips on my neck as her breathing finally slowed down.
“You just dry humped me in the parking lot,” I murmured.
And then her shoulders started to shake before her loud peals of laughter filled the car.
“I love it,” I added.
“Oh my God, Caleb. You drive me crazy.”
I pulled her to me, kissing her again. I couldn’t get enough. “I can drive you crazier. Just wait until I—”
She growled and covered my mouth with her hand. When she was sure I wouldn’t say anything, she rested her chin on my shoulder and I stroked her hair gently.
“I’ll come home to you as soon as I can,” I promised.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I miss you already.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I miss you already too.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Caleb
“Red, wait.”
I should have let her go. I was parked in front of Kara’s home to drop her off. I needed to rush to the airport before my plane left, but I grabbed her hand before she could slide out of the car.
“I want to walk you to the door.”
When her eyes softened, I drew her in to me and just held her close.
Would I ever get used to this?
Would I ever get used to the way my heart pounded every time she let me wrap my arms around her, the way she let her walls down for me, the way she let herself trust and allowed herself to…just love me?
“I don’t want to go,” I said.
Her arms came around my back. “I know,” she said quietly. “But you’ll be back soon.”
“Think of me.”
“I think it’s impossible not to.”
I. Couldn’t. Stop. Grinning.
I pulled away and looked at her. Taking my fill, memorizing her face. “Hold on.”
I pulled out my phone and quickly took a picture of her.
“Caleb!”
“There. All set.” I hid my phone before she could grab it and look at my photos. I think there were five pictures in my photo gallery that weren’t of her. Okay, maybe four. I loved taking candid snapshots of her—especial
ly when she wasn’t expecting it. When she was studying at her desk. Standing at the stove cooking pancakes, holding up her hand to block the camera but grinning. Glaring at me as she picked up my clothes from the floor. There was one I took as she napped that I really cherished. I felt a little guilty, but not too guilty.
Yep. I’m a creep.
Her creep.
“Where’s your phone?” I asked.
She frowned. “Why?”
“Just give it to me. No arguing.” And then I added, “I’m leaving tonight. Please be nice to me.”
I batted my lashes at her, and she laughed. She gave me her phone reluctantly.
“What’s your pass code?” I asked.
“Just give it to me. I’ll do it,” she said.
“What is it?”
I looked up from the screen to see her blushing. I raised my brows, waiting.
“It’s your birthday,” she admitted.
Damn it. Damn it. Again, I couldn’t stop grinning.
“Why you so obsessed with me, Red? Ow!”
I rubbed my arm where she’d pinched me. She was still glaring at me, so I just leaned beside her so our faces were touching and took a picture. I sent the photo to my number, made that her wallpaper, and returned her phone.
She shook her head and gave me an exasperated look, but she was smiling.
“Are you nervous? About going to work, I mean,” she asked.
“A little bit,” I answered. She tucked a loose hair that had come out of her bun behind her ear.
I remembered her ponytail coming loose earlier when I kissed the hell out of her in the parking lot. I remembered plunging my hands into the dark thickness. I’d watched her struggle to gather herself together, and it was a treat to see. I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t had a raging hard-on at the time.
I loved how I could make her lose control like that. I really wanted to see it again and maybe do…other things. When I felt my pants start to tighten, I nearly cursed out loud.
I blushed when I saw her watching me, and I had the terrifying thought that she could read my mind. But then I realized she was still waiting for me to explain.
Always Red Page 15
