Fighting for Love (Second Chances #4)(6)
He stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “I’m glad I could amuse you,” he stated slowly. “Do you mind telling me what’s so funny?”
“You are, that’s what,” I answered. “Caleb, I couldn’t care less where you come from or how much money you have. Everyone is successful in their own way. You’re a firefighter, right?” He nodded. “Okay, so you’ve probably helped save lives. I’ve never done that! Besides, just because someone has money doesn’t mean they’re good people. Trust me, I’ve dated my fair share of wealthy men and they aren’t all that.”
With a smirk on his face, Caleb turned his body and put his arm on the other side of my legs; his back was to the water and he was facing me, caging me in almost. “So what you’re saying is that when I talked to you last night, and when I kissed you, it wasn’t just the alcohol that made you give in?”
There were a couple of reasons why I let him kiss me. Shaking my head, I replied, “No, it wasn’t just the alcohol. I mean, yes, it helped because I wasn’t so nervous, but it wasn’t the only reason why I let you. As much as I hate to say this, you remind me of someone I once knew.”
Everything about him reminded me of Matt except for the hair color. His eyes, his body, and the way he spoke were so similar. Is that the only reason why I’m interested in him? I silently asked myself. I didn’t want it to be, but if I intended to date this guy I needed to find out. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him.
“Who do I remind you of?” he asked softly, moving his lips closer to mine. “An old boyfriend?”
Reluctantly, I nodded, averting my gaze. “It was a long time ago. Sometimes I wish I could forget.”
Lifting his hand to my cheek, he bit his lip and smiled. “Don’t worry, love. I’ll be more than happy to help you forget about him.”
Closing my eyes, I felt his lips touch mine and I gave in. Yes, please help me forget.
IT WAS NICE, FOR ONCE, to wake up with a smile on my face. The smell of eggs, bacon, and sautéed bell peppers cooking travelled all the way down the hall into my room. Jace’s abilities in the kitchen were beyond incredible and I loved it when he was around to cook the meals. If he was away filming a movie, I happily cooked my own food—and I considered myself a good cook—but I didn’t compare to him. I’d barely seen him in two days and I couldn’t wait to tell him about Caleb.
My time of solitude was over and now I had to get ready for work. The day at the beach with Caleb was just what I needed to get my mind focused on the right track. After talking and making out on the sand all afternoon, we finally split ways even though I knew he wanted to finish what we started. Hell, even I was sexually frustrated, but I knew it would be a mistake to have sex with him after knowing him for only two days.
We did make plans to go out to dinner on Sunday, since Saturday night he had to work, and we decided to ask Hayley and her boyfriend, along with Lexi and Will, to join us. I thought it would be fun, and that way I could spend time with my friends and him.
Once I finished pinning up the last of my hair in a classy updo my hair stylist showed me, I slid on my brown knee-high boots and hurried out of my room, making loud clanking noises as my heels beat against the hardwood floor on the way toward the kitchen. The house actually belonged solely to me and was completely in my name, but Jace helped pay the mortgage each month, as did Lexi when she used to live in the house. It was a contemporary style Victorian home with arched doorways, hardwood floors, and one of the most wonderful views of the bay on the third floor. I fell in love with it instantly.
The kitchen was Jace’s favorite place and one of the most striking rooms in the house. It was all white marble and white countertops; very sleek and bright. Jace had his back to me, facing the stove, and was wearing only a pair of dark blue running shorts that hung low on his hips.
His body was perfect for television and he got the chance to show it off plenty of times on the big screen. He also worked hard to keep those sculpted muscles and smooth skin; however, it was his charming smile that always won the producers over. Not to mention he had the biggest heart out of anyone I knew, but he liked to keep that quality about him a secret.
In college, after my world flipped upside down, Jace and Lexi both stayed with me in my apartment for a few weeks. On the nights I cried myself to sleep, Jace would come into my room and hold me while I sobbed in his arms. Even to this day, when I’d have nightmares—which, thankfully, weren’t as common anymore—I’d wake up to find him curled up next to me in my bed.
A slow smile spread across my lips, and in my mind I couldn’t help but think, It’s such a shame he’s gay. He would make the perfect boyfriend.
“Hey,” I said, walking past him to the refrigerator. After searching the shelves for the orange juice, I finally found it hidden behind everything else on the top shelf and pulled it out.
Jace peered at me over his shoulder and grinned wide before placing the two omelets he was making onto plates. “Hey, did you have fun on your day off yesterday?”
“I did. It was nice to get out and do something other than work,” I admitted honestly. Grabbing a couple of glasses out of the cabinet, I poured us both some orange juice and sat down at the table. “I also didn’t spend it there by myself,” I added slyly.
“What?” Jace exclaimed, turning to me quickly. “Did I miss something? Since when did you meet someone?”