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“Tell me what I did,” she said in a raised voice. “I love working here, Caleb. I don’t want to do anything to alienate you.”
He shook his head. “Addie, I don’t think there’s a single thing you could ever do to alienate me. You’re pretty near perfect.”
Addie sputtered. “Me? Perfect?”
“You’re beautiful. Not just on the outside. It radiates from inside you. And you’re kind. The way you treat the wait staff and the customers speaks volumes about who you are. You’re quirky too. I like that. You don’t take yourself too seriously. And you have a hearty appetite. When you came over to my parents’ house, you threw down at the dinner table. I think you may have eaten more than me and my brothers.”
Addie swatted at him. “That’s a terrible thing to say.”
Caleb burst into laughter. “I’m kidding about that, but the rest of it is true.”
“So what’s the problem?” Addie asked.
“I like you more than I should,” Caleb confessed.
The words had the effect of a mini explosion. Addie’s jaw dropped. For once, she couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Caleb liked her? As in more than a co-worker or business partner?
“Is that a bad thing?” Her voice came out like a squeak. Of all the times for her voice to give out on her. She wanted to seem calm, cool and collected, even though Caleb had said he liked her quirkiness.
“Addie, I haven’t dated much in the last year or so.” He made a face. “My heart has been kicked around a bit. It’s made me gun shy.” They locked gazes. Addie felt her pulse quicken. There was something about Caleb’s eyes that made her want to fall headlong into their dark depths. “It might sound odd, but I’ve avoided relationships for a while. I’ve channeled my focus into the bistro and told myself that was enough.”
“And has it been? Enough?”
“It was. Until now. You’re the first person in a very long time who I’ve wanted to be with…in a romantic way.” He reached out and swept his palm across her cheek. “I like you, Addie Fontaine. A lot. So it became a little bit overwhelming earlier when I realized it. It hit me squa
re in the gut. I don’t like the idea of getting involved with my business partner, but I keep thinking God put us in each other’s path for a reason.”
Addie felt as if her smile was threatening to take over every inch of her face. Caleb’s confession had both surprised and flattered her. It wasn’t every day that a gorgeous bistro owner told her he had feelings for her.
“Of course I could be totally off base by saying these things to you,” Caleb said, his features creased with concern.
“You’re not way off base, Caleb. I don’t have any worries about blurring the lines between our professional and personal lives. You see, I don’t date much myself. I wasn’t burned in a relationship before, because I haven’t had many. The ones I’ve had were pretty trivial. Only one actual boyfriend. I guess you could say I’ve been in a bubble since my sister’s death. Grief can take you on some pretty lonely journeys.”
“That’s perfectly understandable,” Caleb murmured.
“I like you too, Caleb. I like the way you listen to my ideas. And even if you don’t totally agree with them, you always make me feel as if what I have to say is important. There aren’t many people in my life who make me feel that way. When you invited me to your parents’ home I loved watching you interact with them. It was so solid and loving. You care about them so much. It’s awe inspiring.”
Caleb leaned his head down and placed his lips on hers. She gladly welcomed the kiss. Addie closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of him. He smelled like evergreen and spices. She reached up and laced her hands around his neck, feeling the need to get closer to him. The kiss continued, deepening in intensity. Strong feelings coursed through her.
Kissing Caleb was more romantic than any kiss Addie had ever had in her life. Not that there had been many, but she knew enough to realize there was something special about this one. She knew it had everything to do with the man himself. Addie felt safe with him and more alive than she’d felt in many years.
Caleb Donahue was special. And at this moment, there was no place she’d rather be than in his arms. For the first time in her life, Addie felt as if she was daring to color outside the lines. She wasn’t playing it safe anymore. Not by a long shot.
As the kiss ended, Addie felt as if she might just give anything to have it last a bit longer.
She gazed up into Caleb’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said.
His lip twitched with mirth. “Are you thanking me for the kiss?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“No, silly. For being so honest with me about your feelings,” Addie said, feeling emboldened by the kiss they’d shared. It was twice now that they’d kissed. It hadn’t been a fluke. “It allowed me to be open about my own.”
“One of the things I’ve learned as a member of the Donahue family is the power of honesty.” He made a face. “As much as I hate the fact that my parents are going through a separation, I do appreciate their openness about it. And I can’t help but hope they’ll find their way back to each other.”
“Where there’s love, anything is possible.”
“So, are you hungry?” he asked, patting his stomach.
“Now that you mention it, I’m starving,” she admitted. Addie had a fairly hearty appetite, but on busy days like today, she had a tendency to ignore hunger pangs until she was famished. Her stomach was beginning to rumble.
