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I can even see the flecks of gold in his amber eyes and my mouth dries.
Should I pepper spray myself?
He steps back then after a few heartbeats.
I feel dazed, almost empty.
“We should change for the meeting.”
As we unpack, my eyes dart towards the bed and my hands tremble. I’ve never slept in the same bed with a man, and the first time I’m doing it is with my boss…a man who has somewhat dubious intentions.
“I’m pretty sure the bed doesn’t bite, either.” Caleb’s lips are twitching as he watches me.
My face heats up again. I know my cheeks are pink too. I grab my clothes and glare at him before making my way to the bathroom to change.
The rest of the day is a blur of activities because the meeting drags on for hours and Caleb is annoyed by the time we are leaving. By that time the sun has set and as we walk towards the car, I stare longingly towards the lights. The city looks so alive.
Caleb sees the expression on my face and knocks on the driver’s window. “Go without us. We want to walk a bit. If need be, we’ll catch a cab.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, hesitantly, touching the sleeve of his jacket without thinking. “I can go alone.”
When he looks down at where I’m touching him, I yank my hand away like I’ve been scalded, my cheeks aflame.
His eyes move over my face and something like satisfaction settles behind his eyes, as he says smoothly, “I’ve been cooped in an office all day as well. A walk through the city with you by my side is just what I need.”
If my cheeks were flushed before, now they’re completely red at his words, and I mutter, “Then stop dawdling.”
His smile broadens and he offers me his arm.
I stare at it.
He looks amused at my confusion and reaches out for my hand, tucking it into his elbow.
“This is highly inappropriate,” I complain, insincerely, even as I move closer to him to use him as a shield against the sudden gust of cold wind.
“Absolutely,” Caleb agrees, amiably, as he tucks me against his side, protecting me from any onslaught of wind.
We walk in companionable silence for a while and I take in the sights, the glittering lights from a Casino, the rush of people on the sidewalk, a street magician.
I pause to take in his last act and Caleb waits patiently as I watch with awed eyes.
However, throughout, his eyes are on me, and I know it. It feeds the thrill inside of me and yet at the same time, there’s a part of me warning me to tread very carefully.
I put a few dollar bills in the man’s hat as he offers it around.
“That was more than you needed to give,” Caleb says when we start walking away.
My eyes roam over the elegant pavement and I respond lightly, “He’s trying to make ends meet. I know the feeling. There were days when we could only afford one meal a day and some days when we weren’t even that lucky.”
I feel his body stiffen as we walk away but he says nothing, preferring to keep his own counsel.
11
Caleb
I wake up to Kendall wrapped around me, the massive wall of pillows that she had so diligently prepared last night, scattered around the bed haphazardly. Her head is on my chest, and one of my legs is between hers. One of her hands is on my chest as well and she looks like she belongs here.
We’re wrapped so tightly around each other that it’s hard to see where one begins and the other ends.
