“Hart,” Caleb says from the driver’s side, a tanned arm slung out of the window that already has my attention diverted. “What are you doing?”
“Call me by my first name like a normal person.”
“You have no house, and a child to look after,” he states. “I have two spare rooms and a house that’s still inhabitable. Think about this rationally.”
“Now’s not the time to flex, Caleb.”
“You have a husband?”
I shake my head even though I wish I did for the sake of this conversation. The fucker needs to feel jealous after what he did. “No,” I say. “No husband.”
“Boyfriend?”
“What are you trying to achieve here exactly?” I cross my arms over my chest. It’s hard to keep focus when he has his giant hand lazed over the steering wheel like that.
Those hands always knew how to hold me right.
Curving slowly around my waist as he rescued me from tripping.
Hands strong enough to deal with whatever life throws at him.
Now, they no doubt snake around another woman’s waist every night as the two of them nestle up and fall asleep in each other’s embrace.
I was there first.
I almost choke on air as I realize what moving in with Caleb could mean.
I’d vomit if I ever saw him with another woman.
“What about you?” I blurt out, consumed by raging thoughts that I’m clearly letting get the better of me.
Self control, Pip.
Show him that you have some of that.
“Are you married?” I ask, subtly trying to get a look at his ring finger.
He sticks up his hand and wiggles all fingers.
Three of which have been inside of me.
“No. Single.”
I gulp. Perfect time for him to announce that when I’m remembering the feeling of those digits between my legs after-hours in the tent.
“But I have a?—”
“House. Yeah, I get it. With two spare bedrooms that you are kindly letting Sonny and me sleep in.” I stick my hands on my hips and try to look at him without thinking about sex. “I’m afraid I’m gonna have to decline. I think you know why.”
“It wasn’t my idea,” he says, sticking his head further out the window. “Ryan didn’t really give me a choice.”
“Does Ryan know that you have free will?”
“Ryan’s my boss—as of the last two months. And I want to make a good first impression.”
“Yeah. You were always good at those. But Ryan should know that it’s all downhill from there. You’re great at first impressions. Not so much at goodbyes. Speaking of goodbyes…” I head back to my own vehicle. “Goodbye.”
“Hart!”
