Chasing Red Series, Book 1

by Isabelle Ronin

  “I think that one is staring at you,” he teased.

  I chuckled. “Which one?” I asked, unable to resist sharing his good mood.

  “That one.” He pointed at the biggest crab, its eyes poking out of its head. “Looks like that guy from Star Trek.”

  I snorted.

  “Damn. I remember wanting one for a pet when I was four,” he continued, leaning over the top of the aquarium. His nose scrunched up. “How do you even cook them?”

  “You boil them alive,” I answered.

  His eyes rounded. “What the hell? That is just so wrong.”

  He looked so horrified—and so cute—that I wanted to laugh.

  “Yep. That, or you can freeze them alive,” I added.

  “You’re kidding.”

  I shook my head no.

  “That is so not the way I want to die.”

  I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing as I took in his expression. He looked so serious.

  Grabbing a package of shrimp from the freezer, I placed it in the cart. Caleb was still standing in front of the aquarium, now with a huge grin on his face. I walked over to stand beside him, curious to know what he found so amusing. I bit my lip as I saw one crab climb on top of another, their pincers joined together so I couldn’t even tell which pincer belonged to which crab.

  “These are some kinky crabs.” Caleb laughed. “They’re doing it in front of us. Look! Exhibitionists, the lot of them.”

  I tapped his shoulder. “Come on, pervert, or we’re never going to get out of here.”

  I told him to pick whatever he wanted, and I’d come up with a way to cook it. He pulled stuff off shelves randomly and filled our cart.

  “Get whatever you want,” he said, generous as ever. He pushed the cart into the cookies and chips aisle.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a box of chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting topped with glittery sprinkles that looked like they would melt in my mouth. I let out a sigh and continued walking past.

  “Wait. I want some cupcakes,” Caleb announced, grabbing the box I was just eyeing.

  I doubted he really wanted them. A guy that cut and lean didn’t eat sweets. He definitely saw me eyeing those cupcakes. Why was he being so nice? I was supposed to not like him. But he was just so…thoughtful.

  An older woman wearing the store’s uniform was giving out samples of food. “Want to try some?” she asked.

  “Sure, ma’am. Thank you.” Caleb politely reached for the small cookie in a cupcake wrapper she was holding out for him. “I’ll grab one for the lady, as well,” he added, motioning toward me.

  The older woman smiled and asked me, “Chocolate, vanilla, or peanut butter?”

  “She’ll want the peanut butter,” Caleb replied before I could. “It’s her favorite.”

  I looked at him for a moment, surprised that he’d remembered. When I caught him looking back at me with a grin, I looked away.

  I was just reaching for the cookie when he fished it out of the wrapper. My lips parted in surprise. He placed the treat in my open mouth, his thumb briefly making contact with my tongue. His index finger lingered on my bottom lip, rubbing it gently. His eyes became hooded as they watched me. They looked…hungry.

  “Sorry, just some cream on your lip there,” he said, not sounding sorry at all.

  I felt hot. I knew I was blushing. Embarrassed, I spun around and walked away.

  By the time we were at the cashier, our cart was overflowing. This could feed a family of twenty, I thought. I turned away and hummed to myself when the cashier told him how much the bill was. I was scared to hear it.

  By the time we hauled everything into his apartment, I was exhausted. Just looking at the number of bags on the counter made me shudder. There were even bags on the floor. Together, we worked to get everything put away.

  My heart beat faster every time I caught him looking at me. Or when he accidentally grazed his hand against mine. We were both exhausted and hungry by the time we finished, so he ended up ordering pizza.

  Something about the way he looked at me pulled at my heart. I didn’t like it. All of a sudden, I felt exposed and vulnerable. When the pizza came, I grabbed a slice and went back to my room.

  I crossed my legs and sat on the floor beside my bed. Chewing my pizza, I tried to calm the knots in my stomach. I couldn’t let a boy into my life, so I decided to avoid Caleb after that. I made sure we never saw each other in the mornings or between the time I got home from my classes and left for my evening shift at the restaurant.

  * * *

  It was spring and the trees were lush, the grass fresh and green, and the flowers colorful and fragrant. I sat on the grass beside the building where my next class would be, appreciating the clear sky and the cool breeze that teased my skin. I heard the whiz of a dragonfly’s wings as it passed, landing on a red tulip. Through the windows in front of me, I watched as students walked with urgency, carrying their huge backpacks. Someone had left an eraser on the bench, and I picked it up, rolling it around my fingers.

  He calls me Red all the time. I don’t think I’ve heard him say my name even once.

  The more I told myself not to think about him, the more I did. So I thought of the way his green eyes crinkled at the corners and how they twinkled every time he laughed or said something funny or inappropriate. The way he looked at me—so focused on me, as if he was remembering everything. The warmth of his palm and the way his long fingers had curled around mine when we were at the lake.

  I hated myself for thinking about him so much. Other than a word or two, it had been days since we last spoke. He hadn’t sought me out. Wasn’t that a big indication that I was just another pastime to him? He’d been bored that night we went to the lake, and I was conveniently there. I meant nothing to him.

  I wished I could rub him out of my mind with the eraser. Frustrated, I flung it in the air—and froze when I heard a familiar laugh. The eraser fell to the ground as I spotted Caleb and his group of friends walking in my direction. He tipped his head back and laughed.

  I drew in a sharp breath, stood, and half ran in the opposite direction. Did he see me? Maybe he didn’t. It happened too fast.

  At the end of my shift on Saturday, my boss told me I wouldn’t be getting any hours at the restaurant the next weekend. Life seemed bleaker.

  The next day, I felt more desperate and determined to find another job. I needed to widen my job search, which would take the whole day. I woke up early and started to make Caleb’s breakfast and lunch, because I was expecting to return late that night.

  I was just placing his plate in the food warmer when I heard footsteps behind me. My heart pounded in panic.

  “Why are you avoiding me?” Caleb asked, straight as you please.

  I nearly dropped the plate. He stood before me, wearing only gray sweatpants and a towel around his neck. Sweat glistened on his forehead, on his impressive chest, and down to his hard stomach where a light trail of dark hair disappeared below his waistband. He’d obviously just finished a workout. I noticed a couple of Band-Aids on his fingers again and a long scratch on his forearm. He seemed to need to be constantly busy. All through the week I’d heard him hammering on something, even retiling his bathroom. I was surprised he knew how to do that stuff—not that it mattered.

  I cleared my throat. “I… I’m not avoiding you.”

  He tilted his head, studying me. I stood my ground, even though I wanted to squirm.

  Why did he have to look so good?

  “I never pegged you for a liar,” he said.

  Anger flared in my chest. And then I realized he was right. I was lying—but I wasn’t going to admit that.

  “Did you need something?” I asked, irritated.

  He rubbed his hand across his face. “Yes.”

  He walked toward me
slowly, his intense green eyes locking on mine. I stood frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe. Something in the air was so thick I could almost touch it.

  Desire.

  I had never felt this with any other guy. Why did it have to be Caleb? He stopped a foot away, his hands in his pockets as his eyes held mine captive.

  “I need you to stop,” he whispered.

  “Stop?”

  “Whatever you’re doing to me.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat.

  He narrowed his eyes. They were gleaming with anger. “I need to get you out of my mind.”

  I bit my lip, balling my hands into fists. I could say the same to him, but I didn’t. I was silent, waiting. And then his eyes softened. He stepped closer. His hand reached for my hair, and he tucked a lock behind my ear.

  “You’re something else, Red. I won’t be able to pull away next time,” he said before he walked away.

  It sounded like a promise.

  Chapter Six

  Caleb

  Wet dreams were a thing of the past for me.

  Or so I thought.

  Lifting the blanket, I took a peek and let out a frustrated groan as I plopped back down in bed.

  What was she doing to me?

  Resigned, I closed my eyes. An image flashed in my head of Red in that red lacy underwear as she jumped off the bridge with me.

  And then Red without it…

  I felt myself twitch.

  “Damn.”

  This was pretty pathetic.

  The cold shower didn’t help. I had three hours before my class started, so I pounded an hour on the treadmill and another on weights. By the time I drove to school, I felt a little more relaxed.

  Music blasted from my earphones as I headed to class. I was a little early, but that was nothing new. I’d normally hang with the guys—have a few laughs, bullshit about sexual conquests, or rag one another about anything—but I wasn’t in the mood for that today.

  Dumping my backpack on the classroom floor, I sprawled in my seat, pulling my hoodie over my face to cover my eyes and discourage anyone who wanted to chat.

  Why was she avoiding me like I had leprosy? The last time I saw her was a few days before, after I told her I wouldn’t be able to pull away next time. It was the truth. I liked her.

  I wanted her.

  She was different. She did something to me. I hadn’t figured out yet what that was.

  I’d like to think I knew all types of girls. Red appeared to be cool and collected, but I could feel her fire burning just below the surface. There had been a few moments when I’d pushed the right buttons so that her cool and collected exterior disappeared and that low-burning fire bloomed into a red blaze.

  She was a hellcat, her eyes glinting with anticipation every time I threw a challenge at her. But she wouldn’t let herself give in, holding on to her control like a lifeline.

  Life had dealt her a bad hand, made her homeless and broke. She’d put up layers to protect herself.

  I wanted to be the one to peel those layers one by one and find the real woman beneath.

  When I felt smooth hands pull my hoodie back, I opened my eyes.

  “Hi, Caleb.”

  Lily’s blue eyes blinked at me, her soft pink lips curving into a smile. She was gorgeous, no doubt. A lock of her silky blond hair fell on the side of her face. Any hot-blooded male would want to touch.

  So what the hell did it say about me that I didn’t?

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  “Hey, Lil.”

  She angled her head to the side, looking at me expectantly.

  I waited a beat.

  Another lock of hair fell and bounced next to the other one.

  How the hell did she do that? Did she have magic powers to control all that hair?

  Her irritated sigh was nearly inaudible as she finally flicked her hair over her shoulder, tucking it behind her ear. She was disappointed that I hadn’t done it for her, her eyes narrowing briefly at my face. Then she smiled sweetly again.

  “Beatrice-Rose told me you attended the charity event with your mother last week. I’m sorry I missed you.”

  I shrugged, gave her a smile. “There’s always next time.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip, her pink tongue darting out to wet it. “Why don’t I make it up to you? Dinner?”

  I was going to politely decline when an image of Red flashed in my mind again.

  From the first moment I saw Red dance, I knew that I would have a hard time resisting her. Not that she tried to get my attention. If anything, she stayed away from me.

  A sweet, honest compliment; a lingering, adoring look. A smile that hinted of secret pleasures to come; a fleeting, intimate touch to the back of her hand, her shoulder, or the small of her back. In my experience, these things always, always worked on girls.

  They didn’t even penetrate the thick shield surrounding Red. I practically had to beg her to give me attention. But she’d only flicked me off like dirt from her sleeve, dusting her hands off for good measure.

  It was humbling.

  It was always a given that the girl I liked felt the same way. With Red, I felt unsure for the first time. It was messed up.

  Maybe a night out with Lily was just what I needed. Maybe I needed to get back to my routine, back to my life before Red. Maybe then I would stop thinking about her.

  “Sounds good. I’ll call you, Lil.”

  She leaned close and kissed my cheek. “Can’t wait.”

  But I didn’t call Lily.

  Instead, I holed up in my room, flipping the sticky note Red had left on the fridge in my fingers. I stared at the ceiling as Radiohead crooned low in my ears about a creep, a weirdo, and what the hell was he doing here.

  When I heard a noise, I pulled out my earbuds. Footsteps—I knew it was Red. She always walked quietly, warily, as if she was scared to make a sound. A few seconds later, I heard a door close. I quickly glanced at the clock and noted it was 7:00 p.m.

  I jumped off my bed. I’d knock on her door, ask if she wanted to take another ride with me. But when I reached her door, my fist inches away from knocking, I stopped. Took a deep breath.

  I knew Red was attracted to me. I could see the way her eyes lingered on me, the way she resisted smiling back. She was fighting it, and the last thing I wanted was to force myself on someone. So I retreated back to my room.

  When my phone burped a text, it was from Lily.

  LILY: Is it next time yet?

  I blew out a breath and stared at my phone screen for a minute, debating whether I should go out with Lily or not. Red’s sticky note was on my bedside table, mocking me.

  Fine. I’d forget Red tonight.

  * * *

  Lily was just my type. She was blond, blue-eyed, and sweet. I took her out to dinner. She laughed at all my jokes, agreed to everything I suggested, even asked me to come to her place after our date.

  But when I walked her to her door, I politely declined her invitation to go inside, bid her good night, and left.

  It wasn’t fair to her that I was thinking of a different girl.

  How was it even possible to be obsessed with someone I’d just met?

  Ridiculous.

  With my temper simmering, I stepped on the gas and drove past the speed limit on the highway. Through the open window, the wind whipped my hair and slapped my face, taunting me.

  When I reached the city, I pulled off the highway and parked my car in front of a twenty-four-hour store. I bought a big tub of peanut butter.

  I remembered how her eyes had shone with delight when she spotted it at the grocery store.

  I was so whipped.

  By the time I got home, the lights were all off except for the one in the living room. I couldn’t help laughing as I
recalled that time she’d hit me with a baseball bat.

  It was already past ten. She was probably sleeping. I tiptoed to her door and was crouching to place the tub of peanut butter on the floor when the door suddenly swung open.

  I froze.

  “You’re back already,” she said. Her voice was low, breathless.

  Was she waiting for me?

  I looked up, my breath hitching at the sight of her. Dark, catlike eyes stared at me. Suddenly it didn’t feel so ridiculous to be obsessed with someone I’d just met.

  I cleared my throat. “Yeah.” I swiftly picked up the tub of peanut butter and hid it behind my back.

  Had she seen it?

  “Did you have dinner yet?” she asked.

  I had, but if I told her that, she’d just go back in her room and ignore me.

  “No.”

  “Are you hungry, then?”

  “Always.”

  Her lips twitched into a small smile, but it was gone as fast as it appeared. “Is that for me?”

  Tongue in cheek, I said, “Is what for you?”

  Her eyes warmed with laughter. “That peanut butter you’re hiding behind you.”

  Busted.

  “Let’s make a deal. I’ll give it to you after you fix me something to eat.”

  She nodded, and a lock of hair fell on the side of her face. My hand moved automatically, as if it had a mind of its own, and tucked the hair behind her ear.

  It was irresistible.

  She was irresistible.

  A pretty blush appeared on her cheeks. “Pancakes?”

  I nodded, feeling myself grin for the first time in days. “Pancakes.”

  Chapter Seven

  Veronica

  I doubled my determination to find a job the next day. I felt threatened by the unfamiliar emotions Caleb could bring out in me, at how quickly I forgot all the precautions I put in place when he was near. I had to find a good-paying job and move out of his place, be on my own again.

  By the third hour of job hunting, I glanced at my list, noting only one name left that wasn’t crossed out.

  Hawthorne Auto Repair Shop—cashier/clerk. Apply in person. Salary to be negotiated.