Fighting for Love (Second Chances #4)(29)
“I don’t know,” he said, “I guess I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. However, there will be a big deal if you don’t get your ass outside before Lexi comes in here and drags you out. All I wanted was to apologize before you left.”
Folding me in his arms, he kissed my forehead before pushing me toward the door. “Get out of here and good luck with telling Caleb you’re getting back together with your ex. Call me if you need me to come get you. I’ll just wait for you in the car so I don’t have to go into Hayley’s house.”
“Thank you for the encouragement,” I said dryly, opening the door. The sooner I left to go on the date, the sooner it would be over and I could get home.
WILL DROVE US TO BAY Ridge Restaurant in his new metallic pearl Lexus LFA, or rather he sped us there so we could make our reservation. Hayley and her boyfriend, Josh, were already inside sitting at the table when we got there.
“Hey, guys,” Hayley announced with a wave of her hand.
Standing from the table, she walked over to give Lexi and me a hug. She and Lexi looked very similar as far as the long blonde hair and heart shaped facial structure, but Hayley was almost a head taller than her older sister, which made her only about an inch taller than me. Her silver colored dress with its high neckline and form fitting material looked absolutely stunning on her long, lean frame. She would have been the perfect model.
Caleb pulled out my chair and we both sat along with everyone else. Josh nodded at him and smiled at me from across the table so I gave him a little wave. He never talked much, but I was sure Hayley did enough talking for the both of them. His light brown hair was shaved close to his head, and above his left eyebrow was a jagged scar. It wasn’t bad, but I remembered hearing about a nasty fall he took a few years back after a rock climbing incident. Scar or not, he was a very handsome man.
Caleb leaned over, placing his hand on my thigh, and whispered in my ear, “You really look beautiful. Do you mind if we sneak away from the party tonight so we can talk?”
Taking a sip of my water, I nodded and kept my gaze on the group. “Sure,” I answered nervously. My nerves were shot, and I felt terrible that I was spending a nice dinner with him only to tell him I couldn’t see him anymore.
Through most of the dinner he kept touching me in little ways; it was sweet gestures, but it also made me extremely uncomfortable. Once everyone was finished with dinner I had hoped we could leave, but Lexi pulled out her camera and wanted to take photos. I didn’t even know she’d brought it with her.
She took some of Hayley and Josh all snuggled together, and when it came time for me and Caleb, I silently groaned. Caleb leaned over, so naturally I moved closer and smiled.
“Aww … you two are so cute,” Hayley chimed. “Hey, Lexi, get one of them kissing. I’m happy with my matchmaking skills and I need to document.” With a big smile on her face, she nodded expectantly at us and waved her hands for us to get going while Lexi glared helplessly at me, not knowing what to do.
“Come on, love. Just kiss me like you did on the beach,” Caleb suggested teasingly.
Yeah, those kisses weren’t exactly appropriate. Caleb turned my chin his way and smirked before placing his lips on mine, pushing my lips open with his tongue. With his hand on the back of my neck, he pulled me in closer. Hurry up and get the picture Lexi!
As soon as the camera flashed, Lexi said quickly, “Okay, I got it.”
Chuckling, Caleb winked at me when he let my chin go and released his hold on my neck. My only thought at that moment was what Matt would think if he ever saw that picture. I had to make sure Lexi didn’t develop it, and if she did, I needed to destroy it.
WHEN WE ARRIVED AT HAYLEY’S house for the party there were already a line of cars on both sides of the street. “Holy shit, how many people did she invite?” I asked, gasping as the number of cars kept multiplying.
In the front seat, Lexi’s mouth hung wide open. “Your guess is as good as mine. I haven’t ever been to one of her parties before.”
Will parked as close to her house as he could get, but we still had about a quarter mile walk up the street. The entire time, Caleb had his arm around my waist and kept it there even when we got inside of the house. Hayley and Josh already had the wine, liquor, and beer ready in the kitchen, and there had to be at least fifty people in that room alone.
“Do you want a drink?” Caleb asked, pressing me tighter against him.
“Yes, that would be great,” I replied. “Do you mind getting me a glass of wine?”
It would at least get me out of his hold for a while until I got the chance to give him the bad news. He was the first good guy I’d come to meet in years, and I felt terrible that I’d wasted his time. Caleb took off and Will followed him once he gave Lexi a soft kiss on her cheek.
“Are you drinking tonight?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “No, I told Will I would drive us back so he could drink. When are you going to talk to Caleb? You need to do it soon before he really starts making moves on you, Shels. He wants something tonight and it isn’t just a kiss he’s after.”
Groaning, I hung my head and sighed. “Speaking of kisses,” I added. “Do you mind …”
“Getting rid of the picture I took tonight,” she finished for me. Laughing, she squeezed my arm and put her head on my shoulder. “Honey, I already knew to do that. I’m your best friend and I’ll always have your back.”