Can't Wait, page 6
“You better get up then.”
“I don’t want to,” he teased, rocking his hard cock against her sweet center where his hips rested between her wide thighs.
“I’m already late, another hour won’t matter.” Completely serious, her gaze locked on his.
“Ah, Summer, you deserve so much better.”
“I have exactly what I want.” Her hands slid up his chest and around his neck. She pulled him down for a kiss that turned hot and needy in seconds. His tongue slid past hers while her hands roamed down his back to the hem of his shirt. Her fingers slipped beneath and skimmed up his bare skin, sending a shiver down his spine. He kissed a trail down her neck to the swell of her breast. He licked the round softness and grabbed her shirt with his fingertips and dragged it down, taking her hard nipple into his mouth. She arched up, offering him more, and he took it, hungry to bury himself in her soft heat.
She rocked her hips, grinding herself against the hard length of him, making him groan. The woman was lethal. He shifted and her leg fell off the couch, her foot hitting the floor with a soft thud, bringing him back to his senses. He didn’t want to make love the first time in a frenzied need on the couch. He wanted her in a bed, where they had all the space they needed to explore and the time to do it right without the outside world intruding.
With a heavy heart, he released her sweet breast from his lips, kissed the rounded top, and laid his forehead to hers, taking in deep breaths to calm his raging body and leash the inner beast again.
“Woman, you’re going to be the death of me.”
“Don’t stop and we’ll both die happy.” She slid her hands down his back to his ass and squeezed while pushing him closer to her. He nearly disgraced himself.
In one swift motion, he gave her a quick kiss and pushed off her to stand beside the couch, looking down at her adorably rumpled hair and clothes and the gorgeous woman beneath.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
Her smile and brilliant blue eyes softened at his words.
“What time will you be home from work?” he asked.
“About six-thirty. Why?”
“Have dinner with me.”
“Okay.”
“I need a cold shower before I go to work. I’ll see you tonight.” He made it two steps out the door and went back. She sat on the sofa and looked up at him. He leaned down, gave her a quick kiss good-bye, and grabbed his shoes from beside her pretty feet.
“Forgot my shoes.”
Her giggle followed him all the way out the door and down the steps. It made him feel light and happy. He carried that feeling with him through the day.
Chapter Nine
CALEB HIT THE bottom of the stairs, stood in the foyer, and checked his watch. He had an hour. Probably not enough time to do all the things he planned, but he’d rush and hopefully give Summer a really great surprise.
“Where are you going?” Jack came down the stairs freshly showered, too.
“Over to Summer’s place. I’m surprising her with dinner.”
“She’ll be surprised if it turns out edible.” Jack slapped him on the back and laughed.
Caleb joined him, and some of the tension in his gut eased. “So, you’re cool with this?”
“Look, any other woman, I’d be all for it. This is my sister, which means you’ll be extra careful about the way you treat her. Not that you aren’t nice to women in general, but . . . ah, you know what I mean. So, yeah, we’re cool.”
Caleb smacked Jack on the back and headed for the kitchen to grab the rest of his supplies.
“Need some help?”
“I’ll take the box, you take the bag.”
Caleb turned to grab the bag from Jack at his truck and found him with his face practically inside the thing.
“Wine, pasta, sauce.” Jack pulled out the flowers. “Pink roses. All her favorites. You went all the way to town to get her flowers?”
“After I hit the grocery store. Yeah.”
“Did you get any work done today?”
“Not much,” Caleb said with a sheepish smile. “I want to do this right. You may not want to hear this, but I have some making up to do with Summer for all the times I avoided her, or made it seem like this thing between us wasn’t really there at all. I hurt her feelings more times than I care to count. I’m moving forward, and that woman is going to be mine by Christmas.”
For a second he thought he’d gone too far, revealed too much.
Jack’s face lit up, and he let out a hearty laugh. “You’ve got it bad, man.”
“You have no idea.”
“Please, no details.” Jack held up his hand and made a disgusted face. Caleb laughed with him and it felt like old times. “What’s with the tree and other boxes in the back?”
“She’s so into the Christmas tradition thing, I thought she might like to have a small tree at the cabin. I’m going to set it up before she gets home with some of the extra decorations.”
“Want some help?”
“Actually, I’d like to do it myself.”
“She’ll love it.”
“I want to make her happy.”
“The tree, flowers, dinner, her favorite dessert, whatever else you’ve got planned tonight.” Jack went quiet for a second. “I don’t want to think or know what you’ve got planned for later tonight. All of it, you, will make her happy.”
“Thanks, Jack. I gotta go if I’m going to get all this set up before she gets home.”
“Call my cell if you need me to stall her. I can ask her up to the house for some reason or another.”
Caleb nodded and climbed behind the wheel and drove across the property to the cabin. He might not be a gourmet cook, but he could throw together a decent meal. Pasta sauce soon simmered on the stove. A green salad sat on the dining table.
To shake off his nerves, he set up the fresh-cut pine in the living room and decorated the boughs with soft white lights, and green, red, and silver glass balls.
Next, he built a fire and set it ablaze. Yes, the cozy living room looked perfect.
He checked his watch and his heart raced. Summer would be home any minute. He set the table and grabbed the wine glasses out of the cupboard just as Summer’s car pulled up out front. He met her just as she came in the door, flowers in his hand.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“What’s all this?”
“Dinner.”
“Is Jack coming?”
“Let me clarify.” He stepped close, wrapped his free hand around her back, and pulled her close, his lips meeting hers just as she gasped when her body slammed into his. He took complete possession, sliding his tongue along hers in one long sweep. She melted into him, and something inside him sighed with such relief he felt a hundred pounds lighter. He ended the kiss with a soft brush of his lips over hers.
“Dinner date.”
“Huh?”
“Our first date. Jack is not invited.”
“Something’s burning.”
“Me for you.”
“No. Well, yes, but something in the kitchen is burning.”
Caleb smashed the flowers into her chest and hands and ran for the kitchen, pulling the bread from the broiler just in the nick of time. The edges were a bit dark, but overall, it remained edible.
“Caleb?”
“Yeah, honey.”
“What are you doing?”
She didn’t mean the meat sauce he poured over the pasta. He stuffed the large spoon into the bowl and mixed the two together and sprinkled the whole thing with a heavy dusting of Parmesan cheese. His thoughts in order, he gave her the only answer that really made sense.
He took the flowers from her hand and set them on the counter before drawing her close.
“I’m making up for lost time. When I got here, I didn’t feel anything. Numb from the inside out. The war . . . I thought it killed everything good inside of me. Then you came along. As much as my nightmares keep me awake, you share the blame.”
Summer turned and stared at the beautiful dining room table set with her pretty dishes and crystal wine glasses, flowers, and a dozen flickering votive candles. The fire crackled in the stone hearth, adding to the intimate atmosphere. The tree glowed with tiny white lights, decorated for the holiday much like the tree they put up at the big house.
Caleb bent and kissed her on the side of the neck. “Do you like it?”
Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away. Touched beyond words, she didn’t know what to say. Overwhelmed and incredibly happy, she placed her hand over his on her stomach and gave it a squeeze.
“This is amazing.”
“You’re amazing for putting up with me these past months. What you did for me last night . . . I needed to sleep and shut down and not think. With you, I could let go.”
She turned to face him, standing so close her breasts brushed against his chest with every breath. The tension between them burned as hot as the fire behind her. She reached up and touched his face, tracing her fingers over his cheek and jaw, down his throat to rest on his chest.
“You look better today.”
“I feel better, thanks to you.” He took her hand and kissed her palm. “Let’s eat dinner. I got your favorite dessert.”
As much as he wanted her—and she knew he did—he wanted to give her this night. Not just a simple dinner date, but one he’d planned and executed especially for her. He’d seen to every detail and prepared everything just the way she liked it. The man had been paying attention even when she thought at one time he barely noticed her. She didn’t want to deny him, or herself, this opportunity to sit and eat and be together as a couple, not just friendly companions. They’d stepped past the invisible line they never crossed last night. She’d seen Caleb at the limit of exhaustion, hurting and trying to hide it. He’d stopped pretending they were and would always remain only friends. She took a second to bask in her victory and pressed her lips together to hide the smile.
“What is that look?”
“Nothing. I’m happy, that’s all.”
He drew her by the hand to the table and held out her chair. She sat and draped her napkin across her lap. He brought the large bowl of pasta. The garlic bread smelled amazing, and luckily had survived the broiler. Before he sat, Caleb poured her a glass of wine and she took a sip. He took the chair at the head of the table next to her. She smiled. He didn’t want to sit all the way across from her. No, he’d set the table so they sat close.
She reached over and put her hand on his. “This is really wonderful. All of it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
He held the pasta so she could scoop a portion onto her plate before he did the same for himself. He filled her salad bowl and his own. She grabbed two slices of garlic bread for herself and put two more on his plate. He smiled. She smiled. Everything felt right and they settled in and took the first bite.
She closed her eyes and let out a satisfied hum. “This is so good.”
“I think you’re just hungry. It’s one of three things I can cook well.”
“What are the other two?”
“Steaks and baked potatoes on the grill, and omelets.”
“You do cook an awesome steak.” He and Jack manned the grill many nights, but she didn’t mention her brother. Tonight, she wanted to keep things just him and her. She sensed he felt the same way. “I can’t wait for the omelet,” she added, giving him a seductive smile.
He swallowed hard, getting her reference that he might be here to share breakfast with her in the morning.
“So, dear, how was your day?” he asked, teasing like they were an old married couple. “What’s the gossip down at the beauty parlor?”
She laughed, and it felt good to share this moment with him. “It’s not called a beauty parlor anymore. It’s a salon.”
“That’s just another word for high-priced haircuts.”
“You never complained when you came in.”
“That’s because you were touching me.”
“You don’t have to pay for a haircut to get me to touch you.”
The smoldering heat in his eyes blazed as his gaze held hers for several racing heartbeats. She loved the rush of heat, searing its way through her system and straight to her belly. She squirmed under his intense stare. He looked away first, taking a bite of his meal and chewing thoroughly.
She held back a laugh, enjoying the flirting immensely.
“Mrs. Little came in today.” She took a bite of her salad and grinned.
Caleb took the bait and asked, “What color streaks did she get today?”
“Cotton candy pink to match her pedicure. I have to say, it’s my favorite color on her. Makes her striking white hair stand out.”
“How old is she again?”
“Eighty-three. I hope I’m as adventurous and daring at that age.”
“You will be. You love life.”
“I don’t see any reason to wallow, when having fun is so much more enjoyable.”
“That’s one of the things I love most about you.”
Love?
He didn’t mean it. It’s an expression. Still, her heart skipped a beat and thrashed in her chest, hope welling up inside her until she had to swallow it back.
“Which coat did she wear today? The blue one with the purple feathers?”
Summer focused on him again and tried not to think about love and happy endings. “With pink hair streaks? Not a chance. She wore the white.”
“With the white fur trim?”
“I like that one.”
“Me, too.”
They shared another smile. He poured her more wine and she took a deep sip, letting the warmth settle through her system. The evening wore on as they sat together at the table sharing conversation about the people they knew, their work, movies, and family. When he spoke of his brothers, his face lit up with happy memories of them together on their family’s ranch.
“You miss them.”
“I miss the way things used to be. We’ve all grown and gone our separate ways.”
“But they all live in your hometown.”
“My two older brothers are back in town. Dane, the youngest, is riding the rodeo circuit. Last I heard, he’s in Texas.”
“Well, you’ll see them soon.” If she had her way, he’d see them for their wedding.
“I told you last night, I’m staying here.”
“I’m glad you are, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go for a visit.”
“Are you coming with me?”
“Are you asking me to?”
“I just did. My mother would love to meet you.”
Meeting his parents made her nervous, but she squashed the butterflies, wanting more than anything to belong to Caleb and his family.
“She must be something to raise four boys.”
“You remind me of her in some ways.”
“How so?”
“You’re kind and easy to be around. You smile even when no one is looking. Under everything you have a strength and determination that gets you through everything. You’re tenacious.”
“You like that about me.”
He laughed and shook his head. “When you want something, you don’t stop.”
“You didn’t want me to stop. Not really.”
His big hand settled on her thigh. He rubbed it up to her hip and squeezed, his eyes locked on hers as the ripples of pleasure surged through her system. Everything emptied from her mind, except her sole focus on the warmth of his hand on her.
“Don’t ever stop.”
Wanting me went unsaid, but she heard it loud and clear.
“Never.”
Chapter Ten
CALEB WANTED TO kiss her and never stop, but he’d planned this night so carefully. He wanted to give her everything. Make this a perfect date. Ask her for another. Treat her like the special gift she was in his life. She deserved more than one night of dinner and flowers before he seduced her into bed. As much as he wanted her, he’d drag her there if his resolve didn’t hold up. She deserved better than him rushing her. He’d give her all the time she needed to decide, because once she did, he’d never let her go.
The attraction between them had been building since the day they met, but he’d held himself in check and her at bay. He wanted to pull her close and love her forever. He hated waiting. It made him edgy and impatient.
He gave in to his baser need and slid his hand back down her thigh and leaned in and kissed her softly on her rosy lips. A man would die drunk and happy on her kisses. Sometimes, she did in fact make him dizzy.
Reluctant, but ready to devour her, he pulled away and stood to put some space between them. “I’ll get dessert.”
Dishes clinked and rattled behind him as she cleared the table. He put dessert on plates and took his time, breathing deep to calm himself and not think about making love to her. By the time he finished and left the kitchen, she settled on the sofa in front of the fire, her glass of wine in her hand, and his set on the coffee table. She sat peacefully, her eyes on the flames. He settled next to her, their thighs brushing. He could have scooted over, but he liked being next to her.
She took her plate and used her fork to take a bite of the creamy cheesecake with raspberry and chocolate sauce. Her eyes closed and she made that soft little moan like she did at dinner. He wanted to slide his tongue over her breast and make her sound like that again and again.
“Good?”
“Rainy days in front of a fire with a book are good. This is amazing. My favorite.”
“You order it any time we eat out. You even have raspberry chocolate ice cream bars in the freezer.”
“Only because if I eat cheesecake every day I’d weigh a ton.”
“Well, you’ve got at least a few days’ worth of dessert in the fridge.”
