Page 5 of The Boys
“It is much bigger than it looks. I took the liberty of ordering you dinner, I hope you don’t mind,” Caleb said.
“I don’t mind at all, unless it’s fish,” I said, and he laughed.
“You do realize the number one food in Iceland is fish?” Caleb said, and I noticed how warm his eyes now were. Gone were the walls and coldness that seemed to color every word he said earlier.
“I would definitely not be contributing to that if I lived here,” I said making him laugh.
“Here you go.” A man wearing a long apron set a plate in front of each of us. “I know my brother ordered for you, so if it isn’t to your liking, please let me know,” he said before making a slight bow and walking toward where I imagined the kitchen was.
“Another brother?” I asked.
“Yes,” Caleb said.
“So, what is this?” I asked while looking at the delicious looking meal that really didn’t need explanation.
“Roasted lamb with roasted root vegetables, and a cauliflower mash to tie it all together,” he said with the flair of someone who knew about food.
“Do you cook?” I asked, and unwrapped my cutlery from the napkin it was rolled in.
“I try,” he said, and once again a strange look crossed his face. “Nothing like this though. My brother is professionally trained. We wanted to make sure all guests are happy with their meals while they’re here.” He watched as I cut a piece of the tender meat and tasted it.
“Oh, this is delicious.” I looked up to find his eyes on me. He smiled before starting to eat his own food. “Thank you again for everything today.”
“You’re not hard to be around, Syd,” he whispered. “I’ve enjoyed the time we spent together today.”
“I have too. I had no idea this was so remote. If you hadn’t been there with me in town, I’m not sure I would have come out here alone,” I admitted.
“Well, I’m really glad I was there.” I wasn’t looking to get into anything serious with anyone but if I were, Caleb wouldn’t be such a bad choice, and the way he looked at me now told me he most likely felt the same.
“I can’t—”
“I know, and I don’t expect anything from you I swear. But I can’t deny that I am attracted to you.” He settled his hand just close enough to mine I could feel his heat, and I couldn’t deny it either. There was more to Caleb than a stranger that decided to have pity on the lost guy at the airport, and the more I got to know him the more I wanted to know.
I drew in a deep breath before I spoke. “So, what do you do when you’re not here?” I asked.
“Well, I’m what you call a headhunter,” he said, and grinned.
Six
Caleb
Syd listened as Itold the lie I’d told many times. “I work for one of the larger tech companies and go after employees from other companies that would fill the needs in ours. My job is to recruit them by any means possible.”
“Where do you live?” he asked as we both finished our meal.
“Wherever I’m needed. I’m afraid I don’t have a permanent residence other than here. When I’m working, I’m where they need me to be.”
“How do you like moving around so much?”
“Oh, I don’t mind it,” I said, and I was once again lost in his eyes. He made me feel emotions I’d never experienced before for any human, and I struggled with how this could happen when I’d only met him a few hours before. He was starting to look tired again, and I knew it wouldn’t be long until he’d need to sleep. Which was fortunate for him.
“Did you say you were giving me a tour of the hotel?” he asked.
“Of course, whenever you’re ready.”
“Will they bill this to my room?” he asked and stood from where we still sat.
“This is on me. A little welcome to Iceland.”
