Before waiting for a response, Caleb picks me up so my feet are dangling and carries me away from them. Once we have a little privacy, he sets me back down and takes hold of my arms. “Why did you come out here?” For the first time since we met, he looks angry at me. “I told you to stay in the basement. Where it wassafe.”
It feels terrible, knowing he’s upset with me. Quietly, I reply, “I know. But you were out here all alone?—”
“I told you I’m trained for this.”
“But you were alone. And I heard gunshots. I couldn’t help thinking… you didn’t have anyone for backup. I couldn’t—” My voice catches. “I just didn’t want you to be alone.”
Some of his anger fades. “Vienna. Do you know how dangerous that was? She wouldn’t have hit me. I’m honestly shocked she got as close as she did when she shot into the house.”
“But she was behind you,” I protest. “She was sneaking up?—”
“I heard her,” Caleb interrupts. “I was letting her get close.”
“Oh.” Tears spring to my eyes. “I thought I was helping. I—” A small sob slips out. “I’m sorry, Caleb. I didn’t mean… I was so worried about you. And… I care about you. A lot. And I was scared I might not get a chance?—”
Caleb’s mouth slams down on mine.
Then he hauls me into his arms as he kisses me hard.
I kiss him back desperately, putting everything I feel for him into it. I twine my arms around his neck so tightly I’m not sure he can breathe. But he doesn’t complain. Doesn’t tell me to let go. Caleb just keeps kissing me with the same fierce desperation.
Only when a cluster of flashing red lights arrives does he release me. Gazing down at me, he brushes his thumb across one cheek, then the other.
“I can’t be mad at you,” he says. His gaze is soft with something that makes my heart flutter. “You scared the shit out of me, V. But the reason you did it…” He exhales. “I don’t want you to be alone, either. And when I knew you were in danger, I would have done anything for you.”
“So… you forgive me? For leaving the basement? And—” I grimace. “Bringing a homicidal woman to your house?”
Caleb brushes his lips across mine. “Of course I do. Because I care about you a lot, too.” After a beat, his mouth twitches. “I guess, after all your talk of serial killers, I shouldn’t be surprised about this.”
As contrary as it is to the circumstances, a small laugh bubbles up. “I guess not.”
He kisses me again. “I guess I’ll just have to get more security,” he says. “Since I plan to have you here all the time.” His gaze searches mine. “If that’s okay with you?”
I smile at him. “It’sdefinitelyokay with me.”
CHAPTER 10
CALEB
An unexpected burst of nerves hits me as I unlock the front door.
Pocketing my keys, I hesitate before going in.
The bouquet of roses tucked under my arm starts to slip, and I quickly adjust it before it falls.
Catching a whiff of the bright red blooms, I study them for a second. Did I buy enough? Too many?
When I was at the florist, they told me one dozen was okay, but two dozen was better. Three dozen would be too much, the girl behind the counter told me in confidence. “For a grand gesture like a proposal, I’d say get as many as possible. But given that it’s your first Valentine’s Day together, I think something a little more understated would be best.”
Because of course she knows about Vienna. In the week and a half since Frieda tried to kill her, the entiretown has taken Vienna under their wing. Her boss at The Laughing Goat gave her two weeks paid vacation to recuperate, along with a sworn reassurance that her job would be waiting afterwards. The owner of Beauty and Bliss, the clothing shop in town, donated a new wardrobe to replace the one that was destroyed in the fire. Max gave Vienna the loaner car, brushing off the gift as a tax write-off. As soon as the younger Mariano—Carlo, who runs the place now—found out what had happened, he insisted on sending over dinner every night, so Vienna wouldn’t have to worry about cooking.
Not that I’d let her. After everything she’s been through, she’s more than due a rest.
“You don’t have to cook for me,” Vienna argued yesterday morning when she came into the kitchen to find me tossing yet another round of scorched pancakes into the trash. “I can fry up some eggs. Or just have some toast with peanut butter. I don’t want you to go through all this trouble.”
“How else will I get practice?” I asked her with a grin. “Clearly, I need it.”
“At least let me help, then,” she said as she sidled up next to me. “If not, you’re going to run out of batter.”
