He nodded, his face falling. “With my dad and Ben.”
A lonely light glimmered in his eyes. “Dad grew up in a small town. He was a mechanic in a run-of-the-mill garage. That’s how he met my mom,” Caleb explained, reaching for my hand and rubbing his thumb on my palm.
A current sparked where his skin met mine, zinging all the way up my arm.
“My mom was a teenager at the time. She went on a trip with her friends to a cabin outside town, and on the drive back home, she met my dad. She got pregnant with my brother, Ben. They got married against the wishes of all their parents…” He shrugged. “Anyway, he was a good dad at first. During weekends, he would drive us—just me and him and Ben—to different small towns. Just visiting, he said. Exposing his sons to the side of the world that wasn’t wealthy and pretentious.”
He stared at our hands, intertwining our fingers and squeezing lightly.
“What happened?” I asked quietly when he didn’t continue.
“I had a…baby sister.”
I looked up in surprise. His eyes looked sad.
“She didn’t stay with us for long.” His voice shook. “The doctors said her brain didn’t form properly. She died a few minutes after Mom gave birth to her.”
I squeezed his hand for comfort. “Caleb.”
“My mom buried herself in work. To recover—or to forget, I guess. She was often gone on business trips. And my dad… Well, he changed. I guess they grew apart. We all did. He started cheating on my mom. As if she needed more heartbreak after losing her child.” He took a deep breath and released it slowly as if to calm himself. “Ben left for college shortly after.”
“You were alone when you needed them most. And you were just a kid.”
“I was already in high school, old enough to know better. I got in trouble a lot.” He looked embarrassed, dropping his gaze to the table. I waited for him to explain. “I would lose my temper easily, picking fights all the time. I was out of control. My mom sent me to therapy, but that didn’t help. I was an angry kid.”
I couldn’t picture him that way. “What happened?”
“Ben heard about it. He left school for a semester and came home to straighten me out. He had friends who did demolitions and flipped houses, and he dragged me along with him. I’d pour out all my anger, destroying walls with my kick-ass sledgehammer. It was better than therapy. I felt like Thor.” He laughed lightly, but I could hear the lingering sadness and guilt in his voice. “I owe my brother a lot.”
I remembered those first few weeks when I was living in his apartment. When we didn’t talk to each other, I’d hear Caleb puttering around the house, repairing anything he could get his hands on. He’d always had bandages on his fingers and calluses on his hands.
“So did I ruin my good boy image now?” he teased.
We both knew he didn’t have a good boy image to begin with, but he was trying to lighten the mood. All it did was make me sadder. I could still see the dregs of sadness in his eyes. I wanted him to know I understood his pain, that he wasn’t alone, even if it pained me to talk about mine.
“My dad…” I cleared my throat. “He would often bring women in the house. I…don’t know how my mom… I’m sorry, it’s so ugly. I just want you to know that I understand.”
He gently tugged on my hand, and I glanced up at him. “Please, Red, go on.”
So we talked about parents, our childhood, and then just trivial things that made us who we were. I was learning a lot about Caleb, and everything I learned, I really, really liked.
I finished my soup and wanted to order another bowl, but Caleb stood to pay the bill. Then he ushered me outside so we could go to the pizzeria next door.
“I’m paying for this one,” I told him with as much command in my voice as I could muster.
He was shaking his head before I even finished my sentence. “A woman never pays for a date. That’s something I won’t budge on,” he said with more command in his voice than I could have managed. “Please,” he added softly.
He glanced at me, tucking a windblown lock of hair behind my ear.
I forgot that I was still hungry when he stared at me that way. The look in his eyes said that I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, that no one existed but the two of us. My knees felt weak, and I unconsciously leaned into him.
A group of kids ran past us, laughing and pushing at each other. And that broke the spell. Caleb cleared his throat, and I wondered if he was feeling nervous too.
He led us to the pizzeria, telling me to choose a table while he ordered for us. I was sitting under one of the umbrella tables outside when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Caleb holding a humongous pizza loaded with toppings and a tray with two tall drinks.
“Hi, ah, I was wondering… I’ve been eating dinner by myself for quite some time now… It gets pretty lonely. Would you mind sharing this pizza with me?” He wore a polite smile, shrugging those broad shoulders.
What is he up to now?
“I’m Caleb, by the way.”
Ah, so pretend we’re strangers.
I chuckled, playing along. Oh, he was so fun!
“Um…” I bit my lip. “I’m not sure. I don’t really eat with strangers,” I teased.
But he was already taking a seat and placing the food in front of me.
“Ah. But I swear I’m not a rapist or a murderer.” He winced. “That turned out bad… I mean—”
I laughed. “It’s all right. Free food is good food.”
“So you’re not eating with me because you think I’m hot?”
I shook my head, grinning in spite of myself. Stranger or not, Caleb was Caleb.
“Tell me about yourself,” he said. “What’s your name?”
I shook my head. “No names.”
“Mysterious girl.” He clucked his tongue. He slid a plate in front of me and placed two pieces of pizza on it. “Eat.”
It was fascinating the way Caleb ate—savoring each bite like it was fine French cuisine rather than local pizza. Sure, he ate like a guy, taking way-too-big bites, but at least he chewed with his mouth closed.
Perfect table manners must have been instilled in him at an early age, I realized.
“So, tell me, Mysterious Girl,” he started, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. “What makes you feel special?”
I bit my lip, thinking. Should I answer honestly?
“I guess when someone takes care of me. Giving me rides to school, buying me green tea…cooking me pancakes.”
He was quiet for a moment, a smile playing on his lips as he took another bite and chewed quietly. He swallowed before asking, “Are you allergic to anything?”
“No, not really.” I paused. “Are you?”
He chuckled, nodding. “Peanut butter.”
My eyes widened in horror. “Oh my God, Caleb, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know—” I stammered, breaking role. My favorite food was peanut butter. It was a staple for me, and it was currently sitting in his fridge.
He shook his head, laughing. “It’s all right, Red. I can have it in the house. It’s only a mild allergy, and only if I eat it. So don’t kiss me after you eat it.”
I shook my head, incredulous that he hadn’t told me this before.
“So,” he began. “Granny panties, boy shorts, or thong?”
And he was back. We went on asking each other questions, sometimes serious, sometimes ridiculous. He asked a lot of inappropriate questions, but in his own goofy way.
I felt full after the pizza, but Caleb insisted we try the ice cream. He bought us strawberry ice-cream cones dipped in chocolate, and we ate them as we walked in the park.
We couldn’t finish them and ended up throwing them out.
It was late, but both of us were in no hurry to go home yet. He reached for my hand and dragged me
down with him on the grass.
“I’m so stuffed I feel like a hippopotamus that ate an elephant.” He patted his flat stomach.
I laughed, trying to picture that. How could he eat so much and still have sexy abs? “Hippos are normally herbivores,” I told him. “But there have been reports of them actually eating meat. So fine, you are a hippo that ate an elephant.”
“My smarty-pants Red. Your brain is so sexy, such a turn-on.”
I laughed. I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed this much. We grew quiet. We lay on the grass for a long time, comfortable in our silence, just holding hands and looking up at the dark, velvet sky.
Away from the city, the stars decorated the heavens, complementing the romantic radiance of the moon. The air was just beginning to cool down from the heat of the day. I smelled the grass, sharp and fresh. Wild lavender and dandelions were deemed weeds in the city, but in this place, they were special—magical even.
That was how Caleb made me feel. I was nothing but a normal girl to other people, a weed, but to Caleb I was magical and special, just like the flowers that spread with abandon on the ground.
Turning onto my side so I was facing him, I whispered, “Thank you for this night, Caleb.”
He was lying on his back, but he turned his face toward me. Before he could say anything, I reached out to touch his face.
He watched me, waiting patiently.
I traced his nose with my finger, sliding down to the almost feminine shape of his lips and swirling it to the angles of his cheekbones. He closed his eyes as I slowly touched his eyebrows, a small smile flirting on his lips. When I stopped, he opened his eyes and stared at me with emotion that choked me up. I moved closer and gently kissed him.
When I pulled away, his arm snaked around me. Curling his hand around my nape, he pulled me close again.
He kissed me wildly, as if he had been craving it all day. When our lips met, relief and longing bloomed in my chest.
He moved on top of me, pressing the line of his hard body against mine, his full weight on his forearms. “Red,” he whispered, sucking on my bottom lip. “My Red.”
My mind emptied of everything except the feelings that Caleb’s kisses elicited. I’d never thought a kiss could make me feel like I was burning and needy at the same time.
When he released my lips, he was panting. He rested his forehead against mine for a moment before rolling away and lying on the grass beside me, placing his arm over his eyes.
“Caleb?” I asked uncertainly. Did I do something wrong?
“I’m sorry.” He blew out a breath. “I need…a minute.” His arm dropped to his side, and he stared up at the sky, his jaw tense. “Unless you changed your mind and you’re ready to make love with me, let’s just stay where we are and not move for a minute, please.”
My head was still spinning from his kisses, my skin tingly, but when I heard him say “make love with me,” I froze.
He reached for my hand. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I told you I’ll wait. It’s just sometimes…sometimes I want you so bad that I can taste it in my mouth.” He gazed at me. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I nodded, unable to say anything. Nobody had wanted me like this before. Not like Caleb. I watched him control his breathing until it eventually calmed down.
“Wanna come back here again sometime…with me?” he asked.
“Yes, Caleb,” I answered.
“You said yes.” He laughed. “Look at that. You’re already falling for me.”
I looked at him in shock.
He shrugged. “What? I didn’t say the L word, so don’t run screaming for the hills.”
My eyes just got wider. He chuckled, pulling me tight to his side so my body was flush against his, my head resting on his chest as he rubbed my back.
“I’ll wait for you, Red. We have all the time in the world.” He grazed my lips with his thumb. “But when you say yes, it’s going to be amazing. You’re going to love it. You’ll see,” he promised and kissed me under the moonlight.
Chapter Twenty-two
Veronica
It was past midnight by the time we headed home. Tonight, something had changed between us; something had changed in me.
I wasn’t exactly sure where our relationship stood now. All I knew was that I wanted to explore it more. For the first time in my life, I was willing to risk my heart.
The drive back was comfortably silent as Caleb drove one-handed, his other hand wrapped around mine. On the poorly lit country road, darkness surrounded us. It was so black that I couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead of us. The clouds now covered the moon and stars we’d gazed at earlier.
Thank God for headlights.
I turned to look behind us, looking for cars or any signs of life. There were none. It was only us on the road. The trees that we passed were just a blur of shadows, the yellow lines reflecting the light back as the car lights hit them.
“This reminds me of that scene in Jeepers Creepers,” I said, shivering from the memory.
Caleb threw me an amused glance. “You like scary movies?”
I shook my head. “No. But I keep watching them anyway.”
He snickered. “We should watch scary movies together. Did you know that when you do exciting things together with someone, you associate that adrenaline feeling with that person? So…” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Scary movies are definitely a must on our to-do list.”
I tried to fight my smile and failed. “Our list?”
“Yup. I have a long, long list, so you better get ready. Have you seen Insidious? Or The Evil Dead?”
I shivered again. “No. I don’t think I want to talk about horror movies when it’s just us on the road. I feel like someone is hovering above your car, ready to pounce on us any minute.”
“I love your imagination—shit!”
Suddenly the car swerved to the right as a deer raced in front of us. I screamed in terror as the force threw my body against the window. I nearly banged my head.
Tires squealed against asphalt, the sound piercing my ears. The smell of burning rubber wafted into the car, choking me.
I heard Caleb let out a string of curses as the car groped for traction, careening on the rocks and dirt on the side of the road. Caleb’s eyes quickly darted at me, filled with dread. I felt the blood drain from my face.
That was when I realized we could die.
My palms became moist, and sweat popped on my forehead. I had felt this before, this feeling of impending doom. That something was out to get me, and no matter what I did, I was going to die.
I watched Caleb grip the steering wheel, the veins in his arms standing out as he tried to control the vehicle. It kept on going, skidding sideways. I barely registered the dirt and dust flying around us as the car shook and rattled on the uneven terrain.
The seat belt bit through my skin, jerking me back as the car braked to a complete stop. And then silence.
I was breathing through my mouth, panting like I’d just run a mile. My whole body felt cold, and I started shaking uncontrollably, my teeth chattering.
I heard a seat belt being unfastened, and suddenly Caleb was pulling me into his lap, burying his face in my hair. I heard his loud, uneven breathing, felt the pounding of his heart. He was hugging me so hard I could barely breathe.
I didn’t care. I needed his arms around me, needed to be assured we were both okay. My arms wrapped around him. His warmth was soothing, his so-familiar smell comforting.
“Baby, are you okay?” he whispered, his voice shaky. He straightened a little and pressed his cheek to the top of my head.
I nodded, unable to speak. He ran his fingers through my hair, an unconscious gesture that comforted both of us. I don’t know how long we held each other, but eventually our hearts slowed to their normal rhythm. The pounding in
my head dissipated, and my breathing returned to normal.
“You okay?” he repeated, rubbing my back.
I nodded. “Yes…Caleb, thank you,” I said, hugging him tighter. “You saved us both.”
He blew out a breath, relief evident in his eyes. “I’m just glad you’re okay. You didn’t hit your head or anything, did you?”
He gently returned me to my seat, his eyes scanning my face before moving down to my lower body, checking for signs of injury.
“I’m okay, Caleb. Are you?” I asked, giving him the same inspection.
His eyes were still glinting from the rush of adrenaline, but he looked unharmed. Thank God. If something bad happened to him… I took a deep breath and refused to think about it.
He tried a smile, but it was forced. “I think I just lost ten years of my life, but I’m good. Next time we visit, we’re definitely going to a hotel and staying the night.”
I agreed. Suddenly, I felt very weak and thirsty, my body slumping in my seat.
“Stay inside. I’m going to check the car, make sure the tires are okay,” he said.
I nodded, praying we weren’t going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. I watched Caleb as he walked around the vehicle. He crouched to check the tires, disappearing from view. I felt the car rock as he opened the trunk. He returned a few minutes later, assuring me everything was okay and handing me a can of orange pop. He must have had some stored in the trunk. I smiled at him in gratitude.
After that, he drove at a slower speed, with both hands on the wheel this time. He was more alert, paying attention to the sides of the road.
When we reached Caleb’s building, I was exhausted and found myself leaning into him as we walked. The concierge greeted us as we passed. Caleb chatted with him for a moment before we made our way to the elevator. When the door opened and we stepped in, Caleb scooped me up in his arms. I yelped in surprise.
“Caleb! What are you doing?”
The doors closed, and the elevator ascended.
“You were about to pass out. I can’t let that happen,” he replied, leaning against the wall with a long sigh.
He must have been exhausted too since he could barely stand up. Today had been incredible, but it had been a long day.
Chasing Red Series, Book 1 Page 18
