A moment later, Caleb led her up the curb, somehow mysteriously placing himself right where he could help her in case her ankle decided to freeze up, as it occasionally did. Then they were inside, surrounded by people of all ages with their laptops, mellow music, low lighting, and the smell of exotic coffee rife in the air.
He led her to a table in the corner, near the back, then seated her like a gentleman, pushing her chair close.
“Coffee? Dessert?”
“No, thank you. I am pleasantly stuffed after that lovely meal. Thank you for dinner.”
“My pleasure. I’m getting coffee for myself. Do you want a smoothie? Water?”
So, he wanted her to have something to make her comfortable during a potentially long discussion. Carlotta sighed. What exactly did he want to talk about? Hopefully not to revisit their last date and that kiss that still made her feel hot all over whenever she thought of it. And made her fantasize about him touching her.
“Water, then. Please.” She settled into the chair, studying the black, faux-wood table.
Caleb made his way to the counter, and she stared under her lashes at the sturdy width of his shoulders, the tapering of his lean waist to his narrow hips. He stood ramrod straight, like a military man, and kept his gaze trained forward while ordering from the twenty-something barista. He returned a few minutes later with his hands full. Once he settled into the chair across from her, she realized how small the table seemed, how quiet the corner was, how little air she had to breathe when he sat so near.
Goodness, if he asked her out again, would she have the fortitude to say no? Of course, she really, really wanted to say yes—to nearly anything he might ask. But if she couldn’t handle a putz like Gordon, Caleb Edgington would run over her entirely. Keeping her guard up was critical.
After setting his steaming coffee aside, he palmed a big bottle of water. He’d thoughtfully asked for a cup, then poured some of the cool liquid for her. “Here you go. I’ll get to the point. The kids need our help.”
That disarmed her immediately. “Of course. Is everything all right? Kata said nothing to me about trouble.”
“Not trouble.” Caleb paused. “Hunter just told me about the miscarriage.”
Surprise and irritation flashed through her. Her son-in-law knew well that Kata wished to keep this secret. She understood that he had likely found that difficult, but… Hadn’t he and Kata not grown past Hunter unapologetically taking control of their lives?
Carlotta frowned and opened her mouth to protest, but Caleb held up a hand. It would have been a bossy gesture if his expression hadn’t been so contrite. “I know Kata didn’t want anyone else to know, and their secret is safe with me. Logan and Tara would be hurt, but…the kids have made a choice and I respect that. The information goes no farther.”
“Mija can sometimes be very close-mouthed with things personal.”
He leveled a glance at her that said “pot meet kettle,” but didn’t voice it. “Understood. Because of that incident and some discussions they’ve had about having kids, Hunter told me he’s cooked up a surprise for Kata for Christmas. He’s bought her a house in Lafayette.”
Irritation dropped away, and a smile broke out across Carlotta’s face. Her eyes teared up. Carlotta had loved Hunter from almost the first moment Kata had introduced them. Her son-in-law had rescued her from a terrible marriage. The young man just kept proving over and over how much he loved her daughter. A house represented a commitment to family and future.
“She will be thrilled.”
“I’m glad you think so. This is where we come in. According to Hunter, the house needs work. I’m going to drive out there tomorrow and take a look at it, make a list of what needs to be done. I can fix just about anything, install new plumbing or electrical or whatever. I can even paint.” He pressed his lips together, as if reluctant to admit there was something he couldn’t do. “But I can’t decorate.”
Carlotta suppressed a grin. Kata was particular about that sort of thing. Caleb had done right to come to her for help. She alone knew her daughter well enough to pull together a style that would please both Kata’s need for flourish and a touch of feminine, but still preserving the function and masculinity for Hunter.
“Thank you for asking me to help. Of course I will.” She frowned. “We have very little time. Christmas is just a few weeks away.”
“Exactly. While I’m there tomorrow, I’ll text you a few pictures. Maybe you can start sketching some ideas. I’m going to look at the flooring Hunter picked out.”
Carlotta tried not to, but she winced. Caleb laughed.
“Sorry. But in my experience, most men who try to decorate should not.”
He grinned at her. “Myself included. I admit it.”
Which surprised her, but nicely so.
With so little time before the holidays, they couldn’t spare even an hour. Pulling together a single room could take weeks, let alone a whole house. “Actually, I am not scheduled to work for the next three days. If you would not mind the company, I could come out there with you and list out my ideas and what must be done.”
It would be a nice respite from her own too-quiet condo. And if it made her daughter happy…then she could overcome her own discomfort at being in the company of a man who made her remember that she was still a woman.
Caleb smiled, and it transformed his stern face into something warm and mesmerizing. Carlotta found herself leaning closer, smiling back. A flush crawled up her cheeks, and she looked away, unbearably aware of his gaze on her. He was a smart man, so he must know that he affected her. Of course he did—but that knowledge did not make his pull any less potent.
“It’s a long drive. Do you mind if we get an early start?” he murmured.