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Caleb reached out and tucked some hair behind her ear. “That wasn’t a great kiss.”
She was about to protest when he grabbed the back of her neck, pulled her in close, and then slammed his lips against hers. This was a kiss. His tongue traced across her lips, making her gasp, and as she opened for him, he plunged his tongue inside and she tasted him.
Heat swept through her core. A need unlike anything she had ever felt rushed through her whole body, and she didn’t want it to stop. A moan escaped as his hand ran down her back and pulled her in close.
She felt the hard ridge of his cock pressing against her core. He was rock hard. She gasped.
He pulled away. “I want you, Annie.”
She licked her lips. “I want you, too.” Never in all her life had she been so forward. Not with her ex. Not with anyone.
He stroked her cheek. “I … if you want me to leave your home, I will.”
“I don’t want you to leave. I love having you there and I know I don’t need you, but I’d love to have you stay.”
He smiled. “And we’re going to date.”
“Yes, and seeing as you already know I have a baby, that should make life easier.”
He laughed. “You’re adorable.”
Not quite the compliment she was hoping for, but one she’d live with. Cupping his cheek, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again. She loved his lips.
This was so surreal.
She had spent many nights lying awake, thinking about how she could ask Caleb out on a date. She didn’t want it to be awkward. Annie hadn’t known if her attraction was one-sided, and it had been so long since she was with anyone. This was all new terrain for her, and uniquely terrifying. The last time she had put herself out there, it hadn’t ended well for her.
Breaking the kiss, she pulled away from him and stared up into his blue eyes. They had been closed seconds after the kiss, but now were open.
“I think we should be heading back. My friends have accomplished what they set out to do,” he said, winking.
“Do you think they planned this?” she asked.
“Do you think they didn’t? Out of the blue they mention the gardens. They were trying to bring us together because I had talked to Ryan about you. About how I want you.”
Everything he said just sent a thrill rushing through her body. This was more than she could have hoped for.
He took hold of her hand, and together they walked back through to the main house. The twins had already settled down for an afternoon nap. The moment they entered the kitchen, Ryan took Caleb off to one side, and Katherine took her back to the sitting room where the sleeping twins and Tara were.
“Caleb means a lot to us. To me and Ryan. He is our best friend, and we want to take care of him. Make sure he’s happy and all that.”
“I can understand that. Caleb is a good man.”
“He’s a great man, and he’s been hurt in the past. He has never given a woman any real chance, until now. I was shocked when Ryan told me about you, about what he’d done. Caleb has been a master at protecting himself. He’s not been a saint, and no other woman has ever come close to being anything to him, until you.”
“You’re worried for him?” Annie asked.
“I know you’re a lovely person, Annie. I can sense it. You already care for Tara and you love her. Ryan told me what happened, and I know that makes you a unique person. A lot of people out there would be horrible and cruel, and you won’t be. What I’m saying to you is, if you’re looking for some fun, then don’t take anything too far with Caleb. He is … he’s all in. I hope you know that. He will not hold back. He will give you his soul, his everything. He is a good man, to the core.”
Annie saw the panic in the other woman’s eyes, and it didn’t make her want to run. No, she wanted to find out more about Caleb. She wanted the chance to love him.
Chapter Five
By the time they got back to her apartment, Tara was wide awake, so they didn’t have a lot of time after visiting his friends to talk.
This time, Tara also seemed to be rather active. Like full-on active, and determined not to give them any time. Caleb didn’t mind. It gave him the opportunity to think. Ryan had taken him to one side, to tell him that Katherine was indeed pregnant, and he had no doubt Katherine had warned Annie about what happened.
Four hours—that’s what it took for Tara to finally go to sleep. They were standing over the crib in Annie’s room. Caleb reached for Annie’s hand, and they stepped back. They took their time, not wanting to wake her up.
