“Is that why you bring all the crazies home?”I shoot back.
“...and tactful,” Joshua retorts.“And I just brought one crazy home.The rest were normal.”When I stare at him, he shrugs.“Well, kind of normal.”He leans forward.“And don’t change the subject.I can tell there’s something going on between the two of you.”
“Yeah, we’re overworked.”I put my hand over his face and shove him back.“Steven?”I look over at the older man working away on his computer.“Get him away from my desk before I stab him with something.”
Steven looks up, and I see how tired he looks.“Joshua, now is not the time.Go back to your seat.”
“Yes, Dad.”Joshua grins but not before kicking me lightly in the shin for tattling.I glare at him, but he’s too far away from me to hit him back so I have no choice but to restrain myself.
I’m already pissed at myself for letting things get out of hand with Caleb.The more I tell myself to draw lines, the more I keep letting him get under my skin.I know now more than ever, I should never have crossed that first line to begin with.Letting him into my bed was a mistake, one that I can’t seem to undo no matter how hard I try.It’s like a dam was broken, and he’s more than happy to go along with the flow.
I should have just kicked him out this morning.I shouldn’t have let him hold me last night.I shouldn’t have allowed myself to mess with him this morning.It doesn’t matter how infuriating he was being and how much I wanted to knock him down a peg or two.I still fucked up.
My eyes dart toward his empty chair, and I frown.Where is he?
“Steven, have you seen Caleb?”I call out.
Steven rubs his eyes.“He was just here a minute ago when you went to the kitchen.He was rifling through your desk for something.”
“My desk?”I ask, suspicious.
Steven just shrugs.
“Are you alright, dear?”Flora gives him a concerned look.
He rubs his hands over his face.“My oldest fractured his foot last night.We had to take him to the ER.I was there till six in the morning.I’m exhausted.”
“Oh, no!”Flora looks horrified.“No wonder you’ve been so snappy this morning.Children are a handful.I’m so glad mine are out of the house and settled.I cannot go through that entire process again.How is Elias?”
“Fine.Happy about missing school.His mother’s not that pleased, though.”
Flora makes a sympathetic face.“I can imagine.Why don’t you leave early today?”
Steven runs his fingers through his hair.“It’s already one.What would be the point?Besides, we still have to sort out the whole situation with the craftsmen.I’ve been trying to look up potential replacements this entire morning, but I’ve only found a handful and none as talented as the ones we initially chose.”
I open my mouth, then snap it shut recalling what Caleb found on my computer the other night.Iris mustn’t have told them about the meeting Caleb has tonight.The only people with access to my computer are my team.What if?—?
I can’t bear to finish the thought, but if Iris didn’t tell anyone Caleb has a meeting with a potential craftsman, I’ll keep my mouth shut as well.
Just then, I see Caleb walk into the office.He looks like he's just stepped out of a magazine spread, which is particularly grating when I feel like I'm still recovering from whatever cosmic force keeps throwing us together in the mornings.Stopping by my desk, he reaches into his pocket and tosses something onto my desk.My car keys land with a small clink.
“I borrowed these to move your car back to its spot,” he says casually.I narrow my eyes at him.I know payback when I see it, and this is definitely payback for this morning.The bastard is always finding ways to get under my skin.
“It was already parked in my spot.”
“No.It was parked inanotherspot, which now happens to be mine,” he sneers.“I had HR give it to me.”
I press my lips together in a thin line.“You little?—”
“What?”He gives me a mocking look.“If you wanted it so badly, you should have gone to HR first.”
I stiffen, hissing, “The only reason she gave you the spot?—”
Caleb raises his brows at me, and I fall silent, suddenly remembering that his identity is a secret here.I let out a gust of air, forcing myself to calm down.He wants a reaction out of me.I know him.
Getting to my feet, I cover the distance between us in two steps and look up at him, my smile sweet.“You think this is over?”His lips curve as he watches me, anticipation in his eyes.Lifting my hand out of sight of everyone, I wrap it around his tie before yanking him down in an abrupt move.He jerks forward, stabilizing himself with his hand on my desk.
“Enjoy it while it lasts, Wilder,” I whisper, beaming at him.“Because payback’s a bitch.”
