Page 79 of Miss Fortune

An hour later, we bid goodbye to Brooke and headed back to LA. Caleb had been so quiet throughout the morning I had to ask, “You doing okay?”

He took my hand over the console, lifting it to his lips and kissing the inside of my wrist. It was such a sweet gesture I nearly sighed out loud. “I’m good. Thanks for asking. And thank you for being so flexible about last night. My sister told me this morning she’d needed me, and I’m not sure I would have tuned into that if you hadn’t been there to clue me in.”

“Yes, you would’ve. Maybe minus the carbs she craved, but still.”

He glanced over. “I owe you an apology for what I told my parents. I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted. I think I get it now. I can’t stop thinking about how your sister bought her own engagement ring in order to avoid their judgment.”

He let out a long breath. “Yeah. What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

“I plan on napping. You?”

“Same. How do you feel about napping together? We can go by your place so you can get clean clothes, then we can make good use of my steam shower, catch up on some rest, and end up having a quiet evening, just the two of us.”

It was the first time he’d invited me over for a Sunday night, but I tried not to read any special significance in it.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Caleb

Normally I would use Sunday afternoons to prepare my lunches and gear up for the workweek. But yesterday had thrown me for a loop. I hadn’t gotten a chance to spend quality time with Daisy, which made me anxious to do so. Sunday and routine be damned. I craved time with her.

Once back at my house, we took a long, luxurious, sexy shower, slept for an hour, and ate cheeseburgers and fries on my patio. Now, past midnight, I held her in my bed. Her soft breaths tickled my chest as I lay there awake.

Fuck, I could get used to this. Her in my bed every night, entertaining her family when they visited, traveling with her to Iowa—maybe for the holidays. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Dangerous thoughts for a man who didn’t want a long-term relationship.

After easing out of bed so as not to disturb her, I scrubbed a hand over my face. This was a fantasy. I had to remember what had happened with my ex. I could easily hide my obsessive tendencies while dating, but while actually living with someone, it was another story.

Daisy wouldn’t be able to put up with my neurotic routines, my miserable career, and awkward social skills. She deserved adventure, spontaneity, and someone who could give her a family. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t give her children, not since my surgery ten years ago.

I walked out to my kitchen, the unease of the conclusion I was coming to settling in my chest. Fuck. I’d become attached. Falling for her had never been part of the plan. But how could you help it with someone as special as Daisy? I’d spent every weekend with her, got to know her parents, introduced her to my sister who now adored her, and invited her to stay over on a Sunday night. All of it pulled us deeper into waters I’d sworn never to dip into again.

After only a few hours’ sleep, I hit my gym equipment with extra vigor in the morning. Yet punishing my body did little to ease my turbulent mind.

Daisy remained asleep while I slipped into the shower. But by the time I was done and opened the door to the bedroom, she was gone. I walked downstairs to the kitchen and found her opening the cabinets, probably thinking to make breakfast.

Anxiety instantly hit me. This was where it had begun for my ex. When she’d noticed how obsessively I organized everything, from my pantry to my cups and the items in the refrigerator.

On the weekends, I’d always been the one to make Daisy coffee. Ensured she didn’t need anything from my kitchen. But here she was in my space, staring at the way I had things organized.

She must’ve heard my footsteps, or perhaps she could feel my heart beating out of my chest. She turned with a smile. “Good morning.”

“Morning. What are you doing in the cabinets?” I tried to keep any censure out of my voice.

“I was searching for your coffee beans.”

“They’re in the freezer.”

I had to keep myself from leaping in front of her as she opened the door and found the coffee beans stored there. The freezer had packages of ziplocked chicken, steak, and vegetables, all perfectly stacked and aligned.

She took the coffee beans from the shelf. “Did you already work out?”

“I did. Here, how about I do the coffee, and you go take your shower? I’ll be ready to leave shortly.” My tone was sharper than I’d intended, but unbeknownst to her, she was pressing on a trigger.

She pivoted around and tilted her head to the side before sighing. “Okay.”

I took a deep breath as soon as she walked out, trying not to freak out. Daisy wasn’t my ex, and we weren’t in the type of relationship where I owed her any explanations. Most of all, we didn’t have a future together.