AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m here for you if you want to talk. Or if you need me to punch one of your fake boyfriends,” he says with a grin.
A faint sound comes from the back door. Caleb’s immediately on full alert and I smile.
“It’s just my pussy. My cat. My pussycat.” I jump up and race to the back door so I don’t have to look Caleb in the eye after my Freudian slip.
As I let Furball inside, I wonder if I’m making the right decision about not confiding in Caleb. He’s been nothing but kind to me and has proven that he’s to be trusted. Why can’t I tell him who I really am? Don’t I deserve a shot at love? I shake my head. That’s crazy talk. If anyone finds out I’m here, word could get out, and then it would only be a matter of time before they track me down and kill me. I have to end things right now. It’s not fair to Caleb otherwise. Besides, the last thing I want is to put a target on his back because I have feelings for him.
I swallow. It’s true. I do have feelings for him. All the more reason to cut him loose and protect him like he protected me today.
I put Furball down on the kitchen floor and pretend to yawn. “I’m exhausted. I think I’d better head to bed.”
Caleb’s expression shifts from happy to disappointed, and I feel horrible that I’m the reason. “Oh, okay.” He puts his mug down and gives me a close-mouthed smile. “I guess I’ll see you at work tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. And thanks again. For everything,” I say.
He turns around, but then changes his mind. His lips are on mine before I can speak. My hands fly through his hair and down his muscled arms as I eagerly welcome his tongue into my mouth. But then everything I decided comes flooding back.
“I’m sorry, Caleb. I can’t do this. I’m really sorry,” I say as I gently push him away. “It’s not you, it’s me. I can’t give you what you want. I can’t share my secrets with you.”
“I see.”
He gives me a sad smile and leaves. As soon as the door is closed behind him, I let the tears fall from my eyes, crying for more than half an hour until I drag myself to bed with a broken heart. I’m not completely alone, though. Furball jumps onto the bed and starts purring. It’s as if the cat senses I’m sad and knows that his presence will soothe me.
∞∞∞
I wake up feeling like I’ve been hit by a bus. I don’t know how I’ll face Caleb today, but I have to show up. I drag myself to the shower, then to the police station to explain everything to Sheriff Thompson, and then to the bar. Caleb is already restocking the shelves when I get inside, even though I’m half an hour early.
“Hey,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Hey, Meredith.” He’s not angry at me, but all the joy seems to have seeped from his eyes. “Did you sleep okay?”
I shrug. “Kind of. You?”
He turns around to put another bottle of vodka on the shelf behind the bar. “Not really. I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.”
I join him behind the bar, ready to explain why we can’t work, but he stops me.
“Wait, before you say anything, I have something to tell you. I don’t care what kind of secrets you have. It’s clear that I can’t know them, for your safety. I get it. I don’t care if you’re not even who you say you are or that you won’t tell me why you moved here. All I care about is you. I don’t need to know anything about what it is you’re running from to know that I love you. You. We have a shot at love, and I don’t want to let it slip away.”
My breath catches in my throat. “You love me?”
“Crazy, huh? But it’s true. Didn’t you feel the connection we shared when we kissed? I mean it, Meredith. You’re the one for me. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the moment we met.”
I take his hand in mine. “You want to be with me, even though I can’t be honest with you? At least… not for another year or so.”
“I do. I trust you. I want you.”
His thumb grazes my palm, and the small gesture is enough to push me over the edge. If he’s fine with waiting for me to spill my secrets, then what’s there to be afraid of? Nothing.
“I want you too,” I whisper.
I lean in, and he seals my mouth with a kiss. His hand cups my neck while I grab his ass. Our tongues collide, and a moan escapes my throat. Now that I know we can be together, there’s no holding back. I’m ready to give myself to Caleb, all of me.
He places his hands on my ass and lifts me onto the bar, not even caring when two glasses and an expensive bottle of bourbon shatter on the floor.
“Don’t you want to know my real name?” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “Not if it jeopardizes your safety. I’ll find out one day. I’m not going anywhere, love.”
