Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
I stood up, ready to change the topic. “I need to get ready to start my shift. And thank you for being so flexible about the next two months’ leave. I appreciate it.”
Raven smiled. “Of course.”
I left the office, clocked in, and headed to the bar area to start work. Customers were already streaming in, and while Mondays in general weren’t as busy as the weekends, The Back Door always had a steady stream of customers every day of the week.
The next few hours passed quickly, and by nine I placed an order for a club sandwich then took my meal into the back room for my break. After eating a few bites, I pulled out my cellphone to make sure there weren’t any messages from Valerie, and found one from Caleb instead, sent a few hours ago.
I’m picking you up after your shift tonight.
I pursed my lips, because his message was very matter-of-fact and direct, and he clearly expected me to agree because he’d said so. I wasn’t a damsel, and I didn’t need a white knight. I quickly replied with, Thank you, but no, I’ll take the subway. Just like I always have.
I went back to eating my sandwich, expecting an argument from Caleb, but by the time my break was over and there was no reply from him, I assumed I’d made my point.
I acknowledged that I probably aggravated the hell out of Caleb with my independent streak, but growing up I’d learned that relying on anyone but myself outside of Valerie usually led to disappointment. I understood that Caleb was trying to make my life easier because he could, but I didn’t want to get used to depending on him for anything more than what he’d already provided.
After living in New York City for three years, I knew how to watch out for myself. Was traveling on the subway at night unnerving at times? Absolutely. But I didn’t expect Caleb to upend his life and his own routine for me.
The bar closed at eleven, and after those long hours on my feet I was exhausted. I spent another half an hour on cleanup and closing duties before I clocked out. I gathered my things from my locker and shrugged into my jacket as I walked back out into the dining area to find Caleb talking to Remy.
Of course he was here.
Remy saw me first. “Hey, looks like your ride is here,” he said jovially.
Caleb had the nerve to grin at me, and it so wasn’t fair that he looked so sexy in a pair of dark wash jeans and a lightweight sweater that showcased his wide shoulders and chest. While I knew I looked like a hot mess with strands of hair falling out of my ponytail and splotches on my T-shirt from spilled drinks, and I probably smelled like greasy burgers and French fries.
“I didn’t order a rideshare,” I said, squaring my shoulders and looking Caleb in the eye.
He shrugged. “I was in the neighborhood and figured I might as well offer you a ride back to the apartment since I was heading in that direction anyway.”
A blatant lie at this hour, clearly, and I almost laughed at how believable he made it sound. “Oh, now you’re offering?” I asked, arching a brow. “Not demanding?”
His expression turned serious, when I’d expected him to make light of the situation. “The tone of your last text came through loud and clear, so yes, this is me offering, and not demanding.”
“Remy! Can you help me with this keg of beer?” Raven called out from the liquor room in the back.
“Coming,” he said, heading in that direction and leaving me alone with Caleb.
Once Remy was gone, Caleb strolled toward me. “There is something I do want to say, so listen up, sweetheart,” he said, coming to a stop in front of me. Touching his warm fingers beneath my chin, he tipped my head back so I was looking into his gorgeous blue eyes. “Two months is going to be a long time if we keep butting heads, which is the last thing I want to do. But if something happened to you on my watch, I’d never forgive myself. So, as stubborn and self-reliant as you are, which I definitely admire, try and cut me a little slack for wanting to make sure you get home safely, okay?”
The last of my annoyance deflated out of me. For one thing, I was too tired to be upset. And another, I couldn’t deny that there was something sweet about Caleb’s insistence when I’d never had anyone so concerned about my welfare. But I also hated disrupting his evening, especially when I knew it was his week with Owen…which made me wonder where his son was.
“Where is Owen?” I asked curiously.
“At home. In bed,” Caleb said, gently brushing back a stray strand of my hair from my face. “Cara is there right now. She’s mostly a night owl and I told her I wouldn’t be long.”