His comment made me think back to the other night in his hotel bed and how everything else had disappeared for those few hours we were together. It was just him and me and the pleasure we could bring to each other. There was something compelling about how lovely it was to disappear into something new. Especially now.
Our food arrived before I could answer, and Caleb unexpectedly stayed patiently quiet as we ate and I mulled over the pros and cons of sleeping with him again.
The pros were obvious. Unbelievable satisfaction with no strings attached. And Caleb would be gone again in a week or two, so I wouldn’t have to face him once we’d gotten each other out of our systems.
On the other hand, I’d once again be sleeping with a man I didn’t even like. How would I feel about my integrity when it was over? Or was I making too big a deal out of it?
“You think too much,” Caleb said, pushing his empty plate away from him.
I finished up too. “Just sex?”
His expression sobered and he nodded.
I lowered my voice. “I know I should have asked this in Chicago, but … are you clean?”
“I get a regular health check. You’re the first I’ve been with since my last. I can e-mail you the results if you want.”
“I want.” Maybe it would sound crazy to him, but I needed to be careful. I wasn’t the reckless type.
Caleb didn’t seem perturbed by my response. “And you?”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I had a health check after my last relationship. I’m clean. I can try to get those results if you want.”
“I want.” His eyes darkened to a sliver. “So does that mean you’re up for this?”
I felt like my heart was in my throat, my pulse was beating so hard. “Yes.”
Thankfully, he didn’t respond with a smug smile. “Your place or mine?”
The idea of carrying on with him under the Danby roof made me shudder. It was so horrifically unprofessional. Yet I wasn’t sure I wanted him inside my apartment, my private space. “I’d prefer neither, to be honest.”
“I still have my room at the Four Seasons.” He stood up abruptly and pulled out his wallet. “Patrice is very kind, but I like my privacy. For now I need tae get back tae work. Do you have a card so I can contact you?”
Betraying my desire to be cool, my fingers trembled a little as I opened my purse to find a business card. I held it out to him as he dropped a pile of bills on the table to cover lunch. “Thanks for lunch.”
Caleb took my card with a carefully neutral expression. “I’ll call you when I’m free.”
Suddenly I felt a flush of annoyance that he thought we could do this on his time. “And I’ll let you know if I’m free when you do.”
Rounding the table, he bent down to brace one hand on my chair and the other on the table, trapping me. My heart took off at his nearness. His face was so close I almost felt the bristle of his short beard on my skin. Mirth danced in his eyes. He brushed his lips over mine and straightened, towering over me like a well-dressed conquering Viking. “See you soon.”
I watched him walk away, my whole body electrified with anticipation. In that moment I realized I was sorry to see him go. I was sorry that I had to get back to work and wait for his phone call. Part of me regretted not ditching lunch, but I reminded myself I wasn’t an animal, controlled by my base desires.
Once I left the restaurant, I jumped into a cab to take me back to the office.
All afternoon I cursed Caleb Scott for the distraction he presented. It took me a good hour to really sink into my work and let his proposal drift off into the background. And just when I had put him to the back of my mind, my cell binged.
Unknown number: Room 201. 9 p.m. You’ll need a key card to access the floor. I’ll leave it at reception for you. Caleb.
The Four Seasons was just a walk across the Common from here. Desire rolled through my belly at the thought of meeting him there later that night. I squeezed my eyes closed, overwhelmed by my physical response to him.
Thank goodness I didn’t even like the guy. I could only imagine what danger I’d be in if my emotions were involved on top of such intense physical feelings.
I opened my eyes and looked down at my cell. First I saved his number and then I replied:
Fine.
Happy with my short response, I sat back at my desk and tried to remember what I’d been doing. My cell chimed again before I could.
Caleb: You’ll be more than fine when I’m done with you.
I glowered at my phone, warring between irritation and desire. I’d never met a man so unromantic and blunt, and would never have imagined being turned on by that bluntness. Pretending, however, to be anything else was beneath me and childish. I’d agreed to have this affair with him. That meant he knew I wanted him. Playing the prude to save my pride just made me a different kind of obnoxious.
I should hope so. There are expectations to be met.
His response was almost immediate.
Caleb: Surpassed. There are expectations to be surpassed.
I smiled and felt myself start to really relax for the first moment since our lunch. This interlude with Caleb for a week, perhaps two, depending on how long he was stranded here, would be something to remember on those nights I was alone. I’d remember this as the time I let go of my responsibilities and did something just because I wanted to.
Eleven
There was this light, fresh, floral scent in the air at the Four Seasons. I didn’t know if it was something they spritzed out through an air-filtering system or if it was whatever they polished the marble floors with, but it was so pleasant and calming every time I visited I was often tempted to find one of their beautifully placed pieces of furniture and sit there for hours. Especially at that moment as I strutted through the main entrance door held open for me by a tall, traditionally outfitted doorman. I nodded my thanks, hoping I looked calm, collected, and aloof enough that no one here would suspect the reason that had drawn me to this hotel.
My heels clacked against the black, gold, and white diamond-patterned floor as I strode straight ahead to the reception desk.
A young blonde smiled at me from behind it. “Good evening. Welcome to the Four Seasons.”
“Good evening.” I hoped my smile wasn’t strained or nervous-looking. “My partner left a room key for me. Room 201 for Ava Breevort.” I didn’t care if calling him my partner pissed off Caleb. It could be construed as professional partner or otherwise. I just didn’t want anyone to think badly of me, especially not at the Four Seasons, where I often dined with clients.
“Ah, yes.” The young woman’s eyes lit up. “Mr. Scott did leave a key for you.” She reached under the desk and pulled out a Four Seasons card and card holder. “There you are, Miss Breevort. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, that’s great,” I said, taking the key card and feeling my cheeks start to heat as the reality of what I was about to do sunk in.
“Have a wonderful evening.”
“Thank you. You too.”
I headed toward the elevators, feeling like my heart might explode. My stomach was filled with flutters so wild they seemed to be diving up into my chest and panicking my heart into acceleration. I let out a shaky breath as I got into the elevator, thankfully alone.
If I was feeling so anxious about this, why was I doing it? I stared at the bank of buttons and saw Caleb was right. There was a small panel I needed to flash my room card over to get onto Caleb’s floor. Which meant he was more than likely staying in a suite.
“Maybe I should just go home,” I whispered to myself.
But almost immediately on the back of the thought came the image of Caleb leaning down over me at lunch, his lips whispering near mine, and the sensual promise in his enigmatic eyes.
No, I didn’t like the man.
However, I really, really liked how he made me feel.
Shake it off, Ava, I hissed at myself. You made the decision to have fun for once so don’t back out now.
I swiped the card over the panel and pressed the button for Caleb’s floor.