“They’re gorgeous. Thank you for being so thoughtful, Caleb, as always.”
“You are gorgeous. Thank you for inviting me, Brooke. I—I really wanted more time with you before I leave. There’s so much I want to know about you . . . and experience with you,” he said.
I loved how Caleb’s eyes looked right now. The blue of them was intensified by his choice of clothing, and even the gold ringing the blue iris matched the color of the sweater he’d chosen. Beautiful eyes that penetrated right into my heart. Somehow Caleb had gotten inside my heart.
And that meant my heart was now in very grave danger of being hurt—which was the fucking terrifying part.
I led him inside to a bench seat where I was pulled in to rest my back against his chest as soon as we sat down and settled our things. He placed his chin on top of my head and took one of my hands in his. All of his gestures very sweet as he went about the business of touching me. Caleb seemed to need the touching as much as I did.
I felt warm and could smell the delicious scent unique to him enveloping me. I was being held by someone whose arms I wanted around me. All new experiences.
The hour-long commute would make me happy tonight.
Because Caleb would be holding me.
WATCHFUL is how I would describe Caleb as we left the boat. He carried both bags as I led him to where the car was parked. It reminded me of shopping at Target with him actually. He didn’t use public transportation, and I’d only seen Isaac driving him around the city, so I imagined he was “learning” his way through this experience, too.
When I stopped at Woody and stuck my key in the lock to open up the back hatch, he paused—surprised—I was sure of it, before catching himself and stowing our bags inside. I doubted Caleb had ever been driven around in a car older than him before, but he didn’t say anything. He merely followed me to the driver’s side and opened the door for me after I’d unlocked it. Even though he was the passenger, Caleb did not forget his lovely manners. I had to pinch myself in the brief space of time it took for him to walk around to the other side and get in with me. Caleb was coming home with me. Caleb. Was. Coming. Home. With. Me.
Once we were both in, he turned toward me and said, “I need to do something first.”
“What’s that?”
He leaned over the console and took my face in his hands—a gesture I adored from him—and whispered, “This.”
Caleb kissed me senseless, deeply and thoroughly until I probably couldn’t remember my own name, let alone drive. His scratchy beard caressed around my lips as he pulled on the bottom one with his teeth, teasing me until I was a wet mess—ready to straddle him in a public car park. Seriously, the man was sexually dangerous, and all he’d done was put me in the car and kiss me.
“Careful, or I’ll never be able to drive us,” I murmured against his mouth.
“Sorry.” He backed off, but he kept one hand under my chin and rubbed his thumb along my bottom lip. “I’ve wanted to do that all day.” More with the beautiful, blue-with-gold-rings-around-them eyes studying me for a serious moment. “I’m okay now,” he said with his little-boy smirk. “We can go.” A beat or two of silence passed. “Where are we going?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It was so nice to not care about the awkwardness that much. We were going to have to figure it out somehow, but if Caleb kept up with being so adorable, it wouldn’t be a problem for me. “We are going to stop in for a quick visit to Nan at therapy, and then I’m taking you to the cottage where I’ll make us some dinner. After that, we can do whatever you want.”
“Whatever I want?”
“As long as it involves warm socks on my feet, I am game,” I answered wickedly.
“Uhmmmm . . .” he groaned lowly as he shifted in the seat. So he was feeling it, too . . .
Good.
Payback was fair play.
“NAN, I’ve brought a friend with me—someone who knows you well. Do you remember—”
“Caleb Blackstone, you may have grown taller, but I’d recognize your face anywhere. You look so much like your father when he was your age.” Nan’s face lit up, and she reached out her hand to him—which he took in both of his and held warmly.