“You okay, Lottie?” he asked.
Now that they were finally alone again, she wondered what might happen.
“Fine. I wish I did not have to go back to work tomorrow.”
He snorted. “You’ll get more sleep at home than you’ve been getting with Mari and her two kids.”
As much as Carlotta loved her older daughter and her family, she couldn’t deny that truth. She nodded. “Before I go, I would like to pick out the light fixtures so you can hang them. Oh, and the curtain rods.”
He picked up a hammer from the floor and tossed it back in his toolbox. She gawked at every ripple of his body as he moved. So strong and male and… She sighed.
Caleb turned to her with a very knowing, very sexy grin. “Something on your mind?”
She hesitated. As much as she wanted to talk about what had nearly happened—or if she was honest, find out what the real deal would feel like—she merely smiled. No way would she let Caleb near her before she had showered. She smelled like paint and sweat and dirt. Not sexy.
“Dinner?”
With a nod, he stretched, reaching his big arms over his head. Carlotta nearly swallowed her tongue. She really did not want to go back to East Texas alone, without knowing what Caleb felt like against her, deep inside her. But ladies never brought up sex. She bit her lip.
He just grinned at her. “Why don’t you shower here? You brought a change of clothes, right?” When she nodded, he smoothed a hand over her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. “Good. Get ready. I’ll finish the prep here and shower. We’ll grab some dinner and light fixtures, then come back and…talk.”
Did he genuinely want to merely discuss things or was that code for sex? She had not dated in so long, and Caleb kept her tied up in so many knots, she was uncertain what to think.
But she merely nodded and got herself beneath a hot spray of water. An hour later, she walked out of the master bathroom all put together again with some minimal makeup and her clean hair flowing free. She had splurged on a bit of perfume and hoped that it made him want to be near her.
He stepped out of the bathroom down the hall, and a cloud of steam followed him. He looked beyond fine in a pair of jeans, a black T-shirt, some boots, and a sly grin.
“You look good enough to eat,” he said in that low voice that seduced her.
Carlotta felt heat climbing up her cheeks. “You do, too.”
“Hmm, how fast can we find dinner and shop? I can think of something else I’d rather turn on besides light fixtures.”
The blood rushed up her face faster, but she edged closer to him. “Very quickly, I hope.”
He tipped her chin up so she met his gaze. “I’ve tried to go slow and give you space and time to think. I need you to tell me if you’re feeling afraid or worried.”
“I am,” she admitted. “But not enough to stay away from you.”
Caleb wrapped strong, hot hands around her face and looked like he wanted to take possession of her lips. Then he gritted his teeth and stepped back. “Nope. If I kiss you now, we’ll never make it out the door. We both need food.” He took her hand. “Let’s go.”
She directed him to a small Italian place she had always loved. The wait was about an hour, so they put their name in and drove to the lighting store across the street. Keeping the tight budget in mind, she picked out new lighting for the kitchen, bathrooms, and dining room on sale. Caleb told the store owner he’d pick them up in the morning, then they headed back to the restaurant.
The hostess seated them right away, and Caleb ordered a nice bottle of wine. The lighting was low, the booths tall, the ambiance intimate.
He reached an arm around her and drew her closer. His very touch warmed her through and through—but his stare blistered her with need. She had not thought of intimacy with a man in years. Now, she could hardly think of anything else—or anyone but him.
The wine arrived, and the waiter poured them each a glass. She sipped hers with a little moan, then smiled at Caleb when his grip tightened around her. They quickly ordered before the waiter scampered off.
“What do you see happening between us?” he asked suddenly in a low voice.
Carlotta nearly choked. “Here is not the place to discuss that.”
“That?” He raised a brow at her.
“You know…” She had been unable to drag her stare from his rugged face just moments ago. Now she could not meet his gaze at all. “Sex.”
“So the sex we haven’t had yet. That’s all you see happening between us?”