One Step Closer(30)

He was breathing heavy as he jogged the final mile back to the house, not even sure what time it was, but the white Toyota on the circular drive signaled Macy’s arrival. Awesome timing.

Shit!

He stopped briefly and let his head fall back in silent frustration, inhaling a deep sigh and preparing himself for what was next. He wished he’d thought about the cluster Macy being here would cause and insisted she stay in California.

“Oh, well. Might as well get it over with,” he muttered.

Caleb squared his shoulders and resumed a slow jog the final few hundred feet up to the house, to the front door, and then grabbed the knob and pushed it open without hesitation. He was sweaty, his T-shirt stuck to his muscled torso and his hair plastered to the skin of his forehead and the back of his neck. If nothing else, it would allow him a brief escape to clean up.

The house smelled good; like something sweet had been baking earlier in the day, overpowered now with a savory scent of meat roasting and fresh bread. Caleb glanced around the entry and noticed two red roller bags sitting just inside the foyer, beside the wrought iron and marble table that sat beneath a large ornate mirror. His blue eyes darted quickly around, glancing into the empty great room and then at the closed door to his father’s study on the other side.

He could hear faint sounds coming from the kitchen, wondering who he’d find in there with Jonesy. He didn’t recognize the bags, but most likely they belonged to Macy. Caleb sighed again as he walked casually through the house, unsure if he was anxious or uneasy. As he got closer, he picked up Macy’s voice asking Jonesy questions. Her tone was strained and it appeared the old woman was reluctant to provide the answers.

“You’ll have to ask Caleb. It’s not my place to discuss family matters.”

Macy was perched on one of the stools watching Jonesy pile fluffy white icing onto one cake layer, but her back was stiff and the look on her face showed her annoyance. Always polished perfection, her long brunette hair was slicked back into a tight chignon, and her red business suit and high heels impeccable, despite her layover. Caleb walked up behind her and reached out a hand to place on her back.

“I see you made it safely,” he said calmly, careful not to startle either one of the women.

Macy turned, the expression on her face lighting up in a bright, red-lipstick lined smile. She was a beautiful woman; her voluptuous curves always showcased to their best advantage by her wardrobe. “Caleb!”

Her arms slid up his shoulders in an attempt to hug him, but Caleb stalled her, instead leaning in to place a short kiss on her full mouth.

“I’m a sweaty mess. You’ll ruin your suit if you get close right now.”

Caleb’s demeanor was decidedly different than the easy-going and jovial man Macy knew, but then, his father had just died and it was to be expected. She made no further attempt to embrace him, though her hand reached up to lay against his cheek; her dark brown eyes searching his face for a clue to what he was thinking. “Are you okay?”

Caleb moved away, effectively breaking the contact of her hand as he reached in to pick up one of the fresh rolls cooling on the counter and pulling a piece of it off before popping it into his mouth. “Yeah,” he said, walking away to open the refrigerator. “Fine.”

Jonesy took notice of Caleb’s coolness to his supposed “girlfriend” and wondered if it was because he’d overheard her meddling questions as he’d entered the room. She seemed overly concerned with things that were none of her business.

Caleb grabbed a bottle of water and opened it, leaning his hip against the counter behind Jonesy, who was facing Macy across the island where she was working, and took a long swig of the cool liquid. He used the back of the hand holding the bottle to push the hair back off of his forehead, his eyes searching for any sign of Wren.

“Smells good, Jonesy. What’s for dinner?”

“Roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes, and strawberry cream cake.”

The cake was Wren’s favorite and Jonesy’s silent signal to Caleb that she was in the house somewhere.

“Sounds delicious,” Macy put in. “I’ve been watching her make that cake and it is positively spectacular. If it tastes as good as it looks, we’re in for a treat!”

Jonesy offered a small smile, but it didn’t go all the way to her eyes as she arranged sliced strawberries over the top of the icing, then placed the second cake layer over it. “It is,” she said matter-of-factly, reaching for the bowl containing the remaining frosting and repeating the process.

Caleb walked around the room so he could see Jonesy’s face. She looked perturbed, her eyes downcast as she worked. “That’s for sure.” Caleb’s tone was designed to make the housekeeper smile. “Jonesy is the best cook in the known universe. I don’t know how I’ve lived without her all this time.”

“Pfft!” Jonesy snorted. It had the desired effect as Jonesy looked up and offered Caleb a genuine smile. “Flattery would sway me if you weren’t so stinky! Off to the shower with you! Dinner is in an hour.”

Caleb walked around and leaned in to kiss Jonesy’s plump cheek, grateful for her steady presence. He realized now how much he relied on her when he was younger and how thankful he was that she was still part of the Luxon household. It was another thing to consider in his decision. Jonesy was family. “I love you, Jonesy.”