Page 11 of Raven
He took another step closer until he was less than a foot in front of me. His eyes were kind and when he tilted his head and began to speak, I felt my resolve slipping. “Your job is safe. I would never threaten someone’s job, especially yours.” He paused and added sincerely, “You’re one of the best mechanics and fabricators I’ve ever met.”
I felt a blush pushing up on my cheeks and when I ducked my head to hide my embarrassment at his compliment, I felt a cough welling from my throat. Covering my mouth, I fought through the sensation in my throat when I felt his hand slip into mine. He guided me to a large island in the kitchen and pulled out a chair for me to sit in.
When I was able to speak, I opened my mouth, only to see he had my medication and a glass of orange juice pushed in front of me.
“Please take your meds so you can get better,” he softly requested as he reached up and brushed a piece of hair from my forehead.
I was treating him like a bitch when all he had done was take care of me better than anyone ever had. Doing as he requested, I put the pills into my mouth and swallowed them down with the juice as we watched. Placing the glass down onto the island, I looked up at him. His smile was soft, and his eyes were filled with a mixture of kindness and worry.
“Caleb, I appreciate everything you did for me today, but . . .”
“But?” he asked, and I didn’t know how to respond.
If I told him why I couldn’t be his woman, he would try and save the day, just like Uncle Billy had done. If I lied, he may not trust me going forward, and the thought of that was more than I wanted to think about.
When I didn’t give him an answer, he slipped his hand into mine as he spoke. “For months, I’ve watched you work yourself ragged and today was the first time you gave me a chance to be there for you in a capacity other than a boss. I can’t let you think that I’m putting a claim on you for any other reason that I can’t imagine myself without you.”
“Why now?” I asked and with his hand still intertwined with mine, he encouraged me to stand from my seat.
I followed him into the large living room, and he extended his hand to the couch, offering me a seat. I did as he requested and when he sat down beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and tugging me against his side, I allowed the embrace. The truth was I wanted him as much as he wanted me, but I was afraid.
Afraid of turning out like my mother. Afraid of my obligations landing at his feet. Afraid of loving him. And mostly, I was afraid of having to live without him.
“You asked me why now?” he began, and I nodded against his chest. “I’ve watched you and I see so many things about you that drew me closer to you. From the days you carry an extra sandwich in your lunch so you can give Joseph something extra to snack on to seeing the smile on your face when you look out the shop doors and watch a beautiful sunset.”
I didn’t know he had seen any of those things. Nothing I did or didn’t do was for any kind of recognition or admiration. I was just being me. The kid without parents being raised by a mechanic biker uncle who sometimes struggled to make ends meet. The little girl who learned about her periods from one of the ol’ ladies in Uncle Billy’s club and had her first kiss beforeI should have, with another kid in the MC. The awkward young woman who would rather work on bikes than date and wasn’t easily swayed by a man’s words.
And that was what made what he said feel different.
For all the months I’d worked at the shop, I never saw, or even heard, about him messing around with the club girls. I hadn’t heard about him dating, and with as many hours as he worked at the shop, I couldn’t see how he had a girlfriend.
He was the good man my Uncle Billy said he was, and not one time did he ever make me feel like I somehow owed him anything other than hard work for my paycheck.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, snapping me back to the moment.
“I thinking you’ll change your mind and toss me aside like everyone else has,” I admitted honestly, and instantly, I wanted to pull the words back.
He gently pushed his shoulder up, silently asking me to sit up. I did as he requested and brought my gaze to the couch, expecting him to tell me to leave. He placed his fingertips under my chin and guided my eyes up to meet him. He was smiling softly as he gently leaned forward, placing a soft, chaste kiss against my lips.
My eyes closed instinctively as he pressed his lips against mine, never taking the embrace any further. When he pulled back, I opened my eyes.
Caleb spoke softly as he reasoned. “I’ve never placed a claim on anyone, knowing when I did, it would be forever. And with you, Sydney, I see forever. Please, give me, give us, a chance before you decide how it’s going to end.”
“But things always end,” I whispered in return.
“Not with us. Not with something that has the potential to be so amazing.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t say anything. Caleb winked at me and grabbed a pillow from the other side of the couch and placed it on his lap. Patting the pillow, he requested, “Why don’t you lay down and get some rest, and when you wake up, if you still want to go to your camper, I’ll take you.”
His request made sense, and carefully, I pulled my legs onto the couch and laid over, placing my head against the pillow on his lap. When I felt his hand start to stroke down my hair, I closed my eyes, allowing the moment to overtake me.
Joel, the shop manager, told me one afternoon when he witnessed me staring at Caleb, that if I gave him a chance, I would find my happiness. At the time, I thought he was crazy, but as the feeling of safety, caring, and something akin to love filled my heart, I believe I finally understood what he meant.
I WOKE UP SOMETIMElater and was alone on the couch. Yawning, I pushed myself up and looked over my shoulder for Caleb. I didn’t see him in the kitchen so I pushed off the couch and cleared my throat as I started to walk down the hallway.
“Caleb?” I said into the hallway and didn’t get a response. I looked into the bedroom and the only thing I saw was the spot where I got out of bed earlier. Turning, I walked back into the living room and said again, “Caleb?”
A moment later, the door against the far wall opened and Caleb stepped inside, wiping his hands as he approached me. I relaxed when I saw him and when he got closer, he placed a kiss against my cheek and asked, “Did you have a good nap?”
