Page 48 of Untethered Heart
The second our skin makes contact, it’s like bubbles erupt under the surface, spreading swiftly through my body. Like little fireworks going off, every pop is an exciting and unexpected burst of beauty.
Caleb uses his hold to pull me closer to him. A hand lands on my lower back, and I fight to stop the shiver.
“We’re not to be disturbed, Riley.” Caleb’s gruff voice travels over my head. “And wipe that smirk off your face.”
As I’m ushered into Caleb’s office, I catch Riley, still wearing the look of amusement that first greeted me.
What does that look mean? He surely can’t suspect anything between us. Caleb said we had to keep it a secret. Unless… Oh no, is he mistaking the heels for something else? Damn, I knew I should have just worn sneakers. It totally looks like I’m trying too hard.
When we make it into Caleb’s office, I turn around so quickly, having worked myself up with nerves, that I end up crashing straight into him. My hands land against his firm stomach, reminding me of the first time we met. And just like then, he puts a finger under my chin, lifting until my eyes meet his.
The way his mouth hooks on the corner, smiling as he stuffs his hands in his pockets, flusters me further. “This is a nice surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“C-Claire’s salon. What—um, you paid for it?”
His face is blank as he nods. “Do you want to sit down?”
“Umm, okay.”
I follow him to the couches set up in the corner of his office. There’s a huge floor-to-ceiling window that looks straight down to Callahan Terrace. I bypass the couch and stand at the window, looking down at people as they pass. They look like ants from up here as they go about their days.
“What did you want to know about Claire’s salon?”
I take a breath before I turn back around to face him. “Why did you pay for the damage? She has insurance, her building owner has insurance.”
He rests his elbows on his knees, rubbing his hands together and blowing out a breath. “It takes time to go through insurance claims. I could see the stress on her face, the worry on yours. I was in a position to help, and I wanted to.”
“But we’re not anything to each other. That was a lot of money to help the friend of someone you hooked up with.”
The fire that consumes his eyes as he stalks towards me has me backing up until I’m pressed against the window behind me.
“We’re nothing to each other?” His voice quakes.
“I-isn’t that what we said? What we agreed to?”
“We agreed no one should know about our prior connection. That doesn’t mean we’re nothing to each other.”
“I think I’m a little confused,” I whisper.
A warm palm rests against my cheek, sweeping against the skin there. “So am I.”
“Are we meant to just forget what happened?”
“Do you think it’s remotely possible to forget a woman like you, Siren?” His whispered words are treasure and punishment. “If you know how, then I beg you, don’t tell me.”
He pulls his hand away, stuffing them in his pockets where they should be. “I’m trying to protect us both. I know your business is important to you. As is mine. I would hate to see the press making assumptions about us and suggesting you slept your way to the top. So many of my business relationships would be called into question.”
That’s exactly what I was afraid of.
“Not that any of those would be true either,” he says, bringing his hands up to my shoulders. “I’ve always been very careful not to mix business and pleasure.”
His palms run soothing circles over my skin, and I feel the worries start to melt away. I look down to where his skin meetsmine, making him jump back, as if he wasn’t aware he’d made the move.
“Sorry,” he whispers. “I almost can’t help myself around you. No, I definitely can’t help myself around you.”
“What does that mean, Caleb? How are we going to do this? Work together, but no one can know we slept together when both of us clearly can’t stop thinking about the other?”
He smirks, tilting his head to one side. “You can’t stop thinking about me?”
