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“Easier said than done?” he supplied softly.
“Something like that.”
There was a long pause—lengthy enough that she had time to fear she’d admitted too much. Then his arm tightened around her, pulling her against the curve of his body. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry.” She understood now why he’d tried to hold himself back. He’d been right; she wasn’t equipped for a no-strings fling—at least not with him. They’d clicked in a way she’d never imagined possible, and it had left her wanting a lot more than the simple good time she’d offered him.
But if she could go back and make the choice over again, knowing what she knew now, she wouldn’t change a thing. It wasn’t even worth considering. She’d pay any price for these stolen, impermanent moments.
Caleb propped himself up on one elbow and turned her over onto her back. His eyes glinted warmly in the darkness above her as he brushed a strand of curly hair from her temple. “I wish I could—”
“Don’t.” She shook her head and his fingers stroked over her face to cup her cheek. “I wouldn’t trade a second of the time we’ve had together.” No matter how much it’s going to hurt. “No regrets, okay?”
He bent to kiss her, with such gentle intensity it left her shaking in his arms.
“No regrets.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“What’s that?”
Caleb stood behind Penny at the counter, bracing a tub of dirty dishes against his hip as he peered at the laptop in front of her. The document on the screen was headed with the words “Party Supplies” centered and in bold.
“It’s not for you,” Penny said, adding streamers to her list before glancing up at him.
His mouth had compressed into a flat line of displeasure. “I told you I didn’t want a party.”
The shop bell rang as Charlotte came in, and Elyse moved to the register, pocketing her phone.
“And I heard you,” Penny said quietly. “I’m planning a going-away party for George.”
She’d had the idea this morning. George was out of the hospital finally and Mike was taking the week to pack up his things before driving him up to San Jose on Saturday. When she’d called Mike this morning to propose a going-away party, he’d enthusiastically agreed to the idea.
She thought maybe George’s party could stand in as a send-off for Caleb as well. She wouldn’t do anything to call attention to Caleb, but at least it would give everyone a chance to see him before he left. It was the perfect solution.
“Oh,” Caleb said, sounding less than thrilled. He carried the tub around the counter and turned his back on her to rinse the dishes at the sink, but she could still see the tension in his jerky movements.
“Is that okay with you?” she asked.
His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Sure. Do whatever you want.”
“Thanks for your permission,” she said, irritated by his irritation. Was she not allowed to plan parties for anyone else either? Did he hate all parties on general principle or something? What had parties ever done to him?
“Whatcha doing?” Charlotte asked, pausing beside Penny and nodding at her laptop. “You don’t usually do work in here.”
“Oh, it’s not work. I’m planning a going-away party for George.”
“Great idea!”
“That’s what I thought,” Penny said, raising her voice so Caleb would be able to hear her over the running water. He continued slotting cups into the dishwasher rack without giving her the satisfaction of a reaction.
Charlotte asked how George was doing, and Penny filled her in on his situation. Penny’s eyes kept flicking to Caleb’s back as they continued chatting about Charlotte’s degree program, until Elyse brought her extra-large quad-shot latte over.
“Brain fuel,” Charlotte said with a grin. “Time to hit the books.” She carried her heavy backpack and coffee over to the couch and settled in to study. Caleb was still at the sink with his back turned.
“Hey, Elyse,” Penny said, and the college student looked up from her phone, dark eyebrows raised above her large eyes. “Do you think Roxanne would let me throw a going-away party for George here one night this week?”
“Probably,” Elyse said. “You can ask her.”
