‘I um, well . . I bought Caleb lunch’ I mutter, my cheeks flaming at the cocky smirk that brightens his face.
‘Well, lets take you into his office so you can give it to him’ he replies jovially, taking my elbow and starting to steer me toward Caleb’s office.
‘Mr Hawthorne! Cale . . I mean Mr Hawthorne asked not to be disturbed until later, he’s very busy’ the receptionist calls out, hurrying from her chair to block our path.
‘Don’t worry Iris’ Gage waves her away, ‘I’ll let Mr grumpy pants know that you did everything you could to stop me.’
Iris reluctantly stands back, her gaze moving apprehensively toward the closed door before back to me. I give her a small, hopefully, comforting smile which she doesn’t return before returning my gaze to the door that Gage has just thrown open.
‘I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed!’ Caleb’s annoyed voice hits me as I’m ushered inside.
‘Big brother, is that any way to speak when I come bearing gifts?’ Gage asks, dragging me closer to Caleb’s desk, grinning broadly as the surly man in front of us looks up, his eyes widening when they fall on me.
‘Hey’ I squeak, waving at him awkwardly.
‘Well, it’s been lovely as always to see you Tessa’ Gage announces, ‘looking sexy as hot chocolate today, if this idiot doesn’t pull his head out of his ass, I’m right next door.’ Winking at his brother’s glowering face, he chuckles loudly as he leaves the room, shutting the door behind me.
I shuffle awkwardly, avoiding his intense gaze, ‘I just stopped by’ I mumble uncomfortably. ‘I realised that you don’t take lunch with you and I was already making mine so I . . ‘ I drop my bag to my forearm and dig inside, pulling out the container and thrusting it toward him.
‘You made me lunch?’ Caleb’s deep voice washes over me.
I stare at the wall behind his head as I nod sharply, ‘I was already making my own’ I repeat, ‘I just thought you might be hungry and I didn’t know if you already have lunch sorted . .’
I release a deep breath, forcing my gaze to meet his, my body going up in flames under the intensity of his eyes on me.
‘You don’t have to eat it’ I mumble desperately, slowly retracting my hand as he still hasn’t made a move to take it. ‘Sorry, I should have asked, called you before . . I just assumed . . .’ I laugh weakly, ‘and you know what they say about assuming, it makes an ass of u and me.’
Caleb abruptly pushes up from his chair, stalking around the desk toward me, stopping closer than necessary as he takes the Tupperware from me.
‘Thank you’ he murmurs, ‘I was going to get something from the bistro, but this will be much better.’
My body untightens, ‘how do you know? You haven’t even opened it yet?’ I’m going for light teasing, but my words come out more as a breathy sigh.
Caleb smiles, something I am becoming more and more addicted too, ‘you made it’ he replies softly, ‘so I know it will be amazing.’
My already rose coloured cheeks darken as I look up at him through my lashes. ‘I just wanted to make sure you ate properly’ I whisper.
Caleb nods, his grip tightening on the container, ‘thank you’ he says again.
‘No problem’ I reply forcing myself to step away from the powerful man, putting space between us so I can breathe again.
‘I need to get going, college’ I say, jerking a thumb to the door behind me.
Caleb’s eyes flick to the door, ‘yeah, OK . . I’ll see you . . later.’
I nod, taking another step back toward the door, pulling it open as I reply, ‘I’ll have dinner ready for six thirty like usual? Is Cajun chicken OK?’
The strong man smiles softly, ‘sounds great, I’ll be home just after.’
Butterflies take flight in my stomach and I’m sure I look like a lovesick thirteen year old, I can’t help it, I really like the fact that this man classes me as part of his home.
Giving him a quick wave, I back out of the room, shutting the door and turning to find Gage and his friend Callan waiting for me, arms crossed over their chests, with equally smug smiles.
‘What are you two grinning about?’ I demand, willing my face to stop radiating heat.
‘We just wanted to see the beauty who managed to tame the beast work her magic’ Callan replies.
‘I have no idea what you are talking about’ I retort, starting to turn toward the main office door.
‘Oh yes you do Miss Tessa’ Gage adds in, ‘you entered the lions den and made that big old grizzly roll over and accept tummy rubs. You are some sort of witch, a Caleb Hawthorne inner puppy dog whisperer.’
‘Yeah, he didn’t even grump at you when you went in’ Callen joins in, ‘he grumbled at Gage but as soon as he saw you, suddenly he’s got manners and shit.’
‘You two watch too many romance movies’ I mutter, shaking my head.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.