“Yeah. Him.”
Her lips thinned. “He can’t make it.”
Her tone went from warm to frigid in less than a second.
Damn. He didn’t know what Mr. Lexus had done to land himself in the doghouse, but that three-piece-suit-wearing jerk was definitely there. Caleb couldn’t say he felt bad for the guy, especially when whatever he’d done had led to Leah invitinghimto join her up in the mountains.
He perused the brochure, his eyes growing wide at the pictures of the cabins and all the amenities listed. They may tout it as summer camp, but it was obvious that was only for nostalgia’s sake. This place looked fancier than the last hotel he’d stayed in.
“So, what’s the deal with this place?” Caleb asked, still browsing the brochure. “Were you heading up there for some sunrise yoga? Kayaking? Just to get away for the weekend?”
When she didn’t immediately answer, Caleb looked up. Her jaw was taut with anger.
“Actually, Derrick and I were supposed to attend a couple’s retreat,” she said. Her bottom lip trembled slightly. She quickly pulled it between her teeth.
Oh, shit.
If she started to cry he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from touching her. And if he touched her he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from wrapping his arms around her. Then maybe kissing her forehead. Then moving to her lips. Then getting kicked in the balls for taking his “comforting” too far.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to come along,” Leah continued. “I just thought I’d offer since Derrick’s portion is already paid for. But I understand. We hardly even know each other, why would you want—”
“Wait! I do!” Caleb said before she could take back her invitation. “I want to go. And wedoknow each other,” he said. “We’ve been next-door neighbors for a year now.”
The barest hint of a smile edged up the corners of her lips, sending a flood of relief rushing through him.
“Give me ten minutes to change out some of the things I packed.” He held up the wrinkled brochure. “I don’t think my fifteen-year-old jeans and faded T-shirts would fit in at this place.”
“I know it looks fancy, but this weekend is pretty casual,” Leah said.
“So the five-year-old jeans would work?”
Her laugh sent a burst of pleasure ricocheting against the walls of Caleb’s chest.
“Your five-year-old jeans will be perfect,” she said. “I’ll meet you at my car in ten minutes.”
“See you in ten,” Caleb said.
He could practically feel the blood pumping through his veins as he quickly dumped everything out of his duffle bag. He replaced his worn jeans with a brand new pair he’d bought just a few weeks ago, along with a couple pairs of cargo shorts. He also packed the khakis he’d bought for his sister’s fortieth birthday party, which he’d had to miss because of a break on the Peterfund case.
He wouldn’t miss out on this. The chance to spend the entire weekend up in the mountains with his sexy as hell neighbor?
Caleb searched his drawer for T-shirts without stains or tears or sweat rings around the armpits. Shit, he really needed to go shopping.
He went into the bathroom to grab his razor from the medicine cabinet, and his hand automatically reached for the box of condoms sitting alongside it. Caleb pulled his hand back and closed the cabinet door.
He stared at himself in the mirror.
What in thehellare you doing?
The fact that he’d even considered bringing condoms on a fishing trip showed him just where his head was at the moment. He wasn’t thinking about fishing. He was thinking about Leah, and what a weekend in the mountains with her meant.
But it didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t. She had a boyfriend.
Yeah, she may be pissed with Mr. Lexus right now, but that didn’t mean she was looking to jeopardize her relationship with reckless revenge sex.
Caleb held back a moan.
God, he wanted to have reckless revenge sex with her. But that wasn’t going to happen.
