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She set her mug down and laid her hand on the couch between them, palm up. “You don’t have to be scared of me. I don’t bite.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “That’s disappointing.”
She grinned at him. “Maybe if you ask nice.”
He graced her with another of those dazzling smiles as he placed his hand in hers. She’d always thought the term “panty-melting” was dumb when she read it in stories, but seeing that smile, it felt keenly apropos.
“I don’t even know your last name,” she said, tangling their fingers together.
His thumb stroked over her knuckle. “Mayhew.”
“Caleb Mayhew.” She rolled it around on her tongue like a sip of expensive wine. “I like it.”
“It’s not as good as Popplestone.”
“Few things are.” She turned his hand over and cradled it in both of hers like a palm reader. “Your hands are so rough.”
His fingers flexed. “Sorry.”
“No, I like it.” She ran her fingertips over the calluses, imagining how they’d feel on her body. She never knew calluses could be so sexy.
“It’s from lifting weights.”
“I knew you worked out. A body like yours doesn’t happen by accident.”
He started to pull his hand away but she held on fast, locking her eyes with his. “Why does that make you uncomfortable?”
He held her gaze for a moment before lowering his eyes with a light shrug. “It gets old, only being appreciated for my looks.”
She traced the veins in his wrist with her fingertips. “I appreciate lots of things about you.”
He took a drink of his tea. “Yeah, right.”
“I appreciate the way you make coffee.”
He snorted.
“You make the best latte art of anyone.”
“Great.”
“I always liked that you were nice to George. I’m a little jealous, to be honest.”
He lifted his eyes. “Of George?”
“That you talked to him when you wouldn’t talk to me. You know, it’s not my fault you haven’t let me get to know you. It’s not like I haven’t tried.”
Caleb’s eyes flicked away. “I was intimidated by you.”
It was Penny’s turn to snort. “Yeah, right.”
“I was. You’re so smart and beautiful and confident. You seem like you have your whole life together.”
“Come on.”
“It’s true.”
“You’re going to medical school, so obviously you’re smart and you’ve got your life together too.”
