“I’ve slept in worse spots.” He stood and took a step toward the door.
“Wait.” Megan paused. She didn’t know if they were in a place where they should share a bed for more than sex. “You could sleep here.” She patted the open space next to her.
Caleb glanced from her hand on the blanket to her. There was gratitude on his face, but also desire. “Are you sure?”
Megan nodded.
“Use your words, Megs.” The command in Caleb’s voice was irresistible.
“Yes, I’m sure,” she whispered.
Caleb locked the door and padded across the room to the empty side of the bed. Megan tracked every movement. She scooted over to give him more space as he climbed in next to her and got comfortable.
Nerves flooded through her. It had been longer than she cared to admit since a man had slept next to her. Sex was one thing, but to have a man in bed with her while she slept wasn’t something Megan did until at least a few months into a relationship.
“Thanks for giving me refuge.” The soft smile on Caleb’s face wiped away any nerves.
She returned a grin. “No problem. Can’t have you sleeping on a couch that’s half your size.”
“I guess you’re right.” Caleb laughed. “You know, Tucker told me earlier that you want to open your own restaurant.” He gave her a playful shove. “That’s badass.”
“Not exactly. A bakery.” Her brother wanted her to open a restaurant and had tried multiple times to convince her to do it. Megan had zero desire to tackle that particular challenge.
“For weddings and stuff?”
Megan nodded. “That and daily treats, cakes, pies, and coffee. Maybe a few tables so people can eat and drink and talk or read or simply enjoy a few minutes of peace.”
“That sounds like a great place. A café with the perks of a bakery.”
His compliment warmed her entire body. “Thanks. I have a whole binder of ideas with pictures and recipe thoughts and stuff.”
Caleb grinned. “Did you bring it with you?”
“You want to see it?”
“Of course, I do.” His enthusiasm made her feel he truly saw her and wanted to support her. It didn’t feel as though he was humoring her, like past boyfriends had done.
Megan leaned over the side of the bed and tugged the binder from the backpack she’d dropped on the floor upon arrival.
Caleb pored over it with her and asked question after question and complimented her ideas. He never once made Megan feel as though she was ridiculous or silly for anything. A crack in her heart started to stitch together.
Megan told him everything about her goals, large and small, and the dreams that would turn into goals once the business was up and running.
During their perusal of her business plan and loose sheets of recipes, Caleb ended up next to her with the binder and contents spread out before them on the bedspread.
She leaned her shoulder against his. “You know, I’ve been trying to convince your uncle that he should open a café in the bookstore. He never went for it.”
“Did he say something about if people have somewhere to sit and read, they’ll stay all day and leave without buying anything?”
“Something like that, yeah. How did you know?” Megan ate a pretzel and grabbed another small handful.
“He told me the same thing.”
Megan laughed. “Thankfully it’s under new ownership. Who knows what this new guy will do with the place?”
“Wouldn’t it be awful if he wanted to tear it down and build condos, or a parking lot?” He winked. Megan relaxed and went with the joke.
“Ugh, the worst. I’d have to find him and bribe him with cupcakes to change his mind.”
