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He did.
Penny’s knees went to jelly as soon as she saw Caleb standing behind the counter at Antidote the next morning. Like a silly, lovestruck schoolgirl. You’d think she’d be past that sort of reaction to him by now, but apparently not. Maybe she’d never get past it.
He wasn’t even his usual flawless self today. His shirt was rumpled, his hair faintly lopsided, and his designer stubble looked rough around the edges. He was still transcendently beautiful, and last night she’d slept with those tree trunk arms wrapped around her. A very small, very petty part of her wanted to climb up on the counter and shout the news to the world.
His alarm had woken him before dawn, and he’d dressed in the dark before slipping out of her apartment with a soft kiss and whispered goodbye. She’d managed to mumble something vaguely resembling “Have a good day” before rolling over and falling right back to sleep in the warm spot he’d left behind. When her own alarm had gone off a couple hours later, she’d spent a few disoriented seconds believing the whole thing had been a dream.
There were no other customers in line, so as soon as she was certain her legs would support her, Penny walked straight up to the register.
“Morning,” Caleb said in his monotone customer service voice, but his eyes were soft as they gazed at her. “You want the usual?”
“Yes, please,” she replied, staring back at him. Roxanne was rearranging the pastry case just a couple of feet away, so Penny refrained from saying anything else.
Caleb held her eyes for a moment before he rang her up and went to make her latte. When it was ready, he brought it over and set it in front of her. He’d made a pair of hearts in the milk.
“You need anything else?” His eyes were mischievous, as if he were daring her to say something lascivious.
“Nope,” she said, refusing to take the bait. “I’m good.”
He didn’t hang around to chat, instead occupying himself with busywork: collecting dirty dishes, rinsing them at the sink, wiping down the condiment bar and refilling the containers of sugar and creamer. But he kept directing furtive looks her way. Every once in a while their eyes would meet, and his mouth would twitch, and then he’d turn away and pretend to be busy.
No wonder it had taken her so long to realize he liked her, if this was his post-coital flirting. Thank God he’d lost his head and kissed her at the hospital, or she would have forever remained cheerfully oblivious to the fact that he was interested in her.
She took her phone out and pretended to read, but she was hyperconscious of every movement Caleb made. She kept following him out of the corner of her eye, until finally she just gave up and blatantly stared at him. He was making a cappuccino and she watched him top it off with foam, his mouth settling into a cute little frown of concentration as he poured the milk. His tattoo was peeking out of his T-shirt, and it gave her an intoxicating thrill to remember how she’d traced it with her fingertips.
He carried the cappuccino to the counter and called out the customer’s name. His eyes fell on Penny and she smiled, but he still didn’t come over. Instead, he pulled out his phone. She watched him type something into it, wondering who he was texting.
Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she jumped—he’d texted her.
You’re staring, the message said. She looked up at him and shrugged. He shook his head, amusement twinkling in his eyes, but stayed where he was.
You’re nice to look at, she typed back. Are you afraid to come talk to me?
Yes.
She smiled at the screen. Little old me? I don’t bite.
I have evidence to the contrary.
She stifled a laugh and glanced up to find him smiling at her. He shook his head and turned his back on her.
You liked it, she typed back.
She could see his triceps twitch as he typed another text, and she tapped her finger against the side of her phone while she waited for it to come through.
That’s why I’m staying over here. I might not be able to resist temptation.
To do what? she wrote back.
She’d never considered herself a temptation to anyone before. It was exhilarating to wield that kind of power.
Jump over the counter and besmirch your reputation.
She crossed her legs, suddenly very aware of her clothes touching her bare skin.
Come over and besmirch me tonight instead?
The three little dots flickered as he typed his answer. What time?
