Hunter’s blue stare bounced up to his. “Yeah. And actually, I’m finding myself looking forward to it.”
“You’re so much f**king smarter than me. I didn’t figure out all that crap until I was over forty.”
His son snorted. “Of course I’m smarter. That was a given.”
Marriage had been good for Hunter. He was still intense as hell, and Caleb knew he was largely the cause of that. But he’d found his sense of humor, could talk about his feelings now, and worshipped the ground Kata walked on. In some ways, Caleb found himself a little envious.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m ready for some more grandkids. Two strapping boys, and what do I have from them? Jack squat. Your baby sister has outclassed you in the reproduction department.”
“That’s where the favor comes in.” Hunter drew in a deep breath. “I scraped together some of my savings, along with part of the last signing bonus I received. I bought us a house. I want to surprise Kata for Christmas.”
“That’s great, son. You don’t think she’ll string up by your balls for buying a house without her input?”
Hunter laughed. “Yeah, my wife does threaten that a lot. I’ll just start reminding her that if she wants kids, then string and my balls don’t belong in the same sentence…or the same room. Luckily, she’s seen this house, likes the neighborhood. But the place needs work. It’s older and been vacant. The kitchen especially shows it. I set aside another chunk of cash for some remodeling…but I have to be back on base in forty-eight.”
And he’d have no time to tackle the renovation in the last few weeks before Christmas.
“You want to shamelessly use my handiness around the house?” Caleb teased.
“Absolutely. I’ve already changed the locks myself since there’d been squatters in it. I bought new carpet for the bedrooms. I’ve ordered some hardwood for the foyer, kitchen, and great room, and tile for the bathrooms. It should be ready for pickup tomorrow. There’s another ten grand in the account tied to this debit card. I’ll text you the PIN. Whatever you can do with this money and just over four weeks… I’d appreciate it enormously.”
“You’re a lucky SOB that I’ve embraced retirement and don’t mind home improvement projects.” Caleb smiled.
Truth was, it would be nice to fill his idle thoughts with something besides getting Carlotta under him and spreading her pretty, round thighs so he could see her pu**y. Touch it. Taste it. He had little doubt that she’d been celibate since before her divorce, and he’d play on the need wrought by her deprivation if he had to. But he’d rather start with holding her, building trust, making her comfortable and happy. Then he’d make her scream out his name.
“Whatever you’re thinking, please don’t share.” Hunter gave a mock shiver, then tossed him the keys.
Caleb caught them with one hand and batted his son’s head with the other. “Shithead. I’ll help you with one condition.”
“Shoot.”
“Don’t talk to Kata about her mother. I think…I’ve got an idea.”
“Can I talk to you for a minute, Carlotta?”
At the sound of Caleb Edgington’s voice behind her—how did he get that close without her hearing his approach?—she shivered. Butterflies in her stomach was something she hadn’t felt since adolescence, and she didn’t like how feminine he made her feel. His voice was always deep and rife with desire. He didn’t hide his feelings well. Of course, she didn’t think he really tried.
Though it had been over two years since her bout with pneumonia, she had never forgotten her recovery. Hunter and Kata, then newlyweds, had taken her from her neglectful ex-husband’s home and brought her to Caleb to convalesce. He had carried her everywhere, simply scooping her up in his arms to cart her upstairs for sleep, then bringing her downstairs for meals. She wasn’t a tiny woman, so how did that man manage to pick her up as if she weighed almost nothing?
Caleb cleared his throat, bringing her back to the present. She glanced over her shoulder. Though he hadn’t spoken again, he all but compelled her with those terribly blue eyes, with the rugged planes of his face. Carlotta dragged in a shaking breath. The truth was, she owed him for all his gruff care while she’d recovered. Yes, she’d baked for him and given him a lovely card…but she’d purposely left everything on his porch when he wasn’t home.
Because he made her blood race for the first time in forever. And he terrified her.
Gathering her oxygen and courage, she turned and looked up, up, up in order to meet Caleb’s gaze. Even in the darkened parking lot illuminated only by the scattered lamppost here and there, Caleb still looked like something out of a fantasy. Those watchful eyes gave her nowhere to hide. His tight T-shirt attested to his daily multi-mile run. Bulging arms showed that he wasn’t idle, as if he sought to prove that age really was just a number. He looked every bit as good as guys half his age.
He deserved someone a little less fifty, a little less round…a little less wary of relationships.
“Of course, Caleb.” She pasted on a brightly fake smile. “I always have time for family. What would you like to talk about?”
The man blanked his irritation with a carefully impassive expression, but she knew that he didn’t like being lumped in as a relative. And truthfully, she didn’t see him as one—at all—despite months of trying. Yes, he looked like Hunter. Her son-in-law treated Kata very well and made her daughter one happy woman. Caleb…he just looked like a hugely capable, sexual man.
She swallowed against a little dizzying wave of desire as she stared at him and pretended disinterest.
Pretending became nearly impossible when he wrapped his hand around her elbow and brought her just a bit closer. Across the parking lot, she saw Kata and Hunter drive away. And there went her security blanket.
“Let’s step into this little coffee shop.”
He did not ask or wait for an answer, just started leading her in that direction. Carlotta weighed giving in to his demand against protesting. In the end, it wasn’t worth the fight. They were going to be in public…and she liked his hands on her more than she should.