“Can I help with anything?”
She turned back to the stove. “You could get plates and forks out.”
He set everything on the counter by her side and watched her pile them with the food she’d made.
They both took their plates to the dining table.
He turned to her before he sat. “What do you want to drink?”
She glanced up. “Water would be great.”
He came back, set the glasses down, and dug into the food. “This is really good, baby.”
She swallowed her bite and tried to smile. “My grandmother taught me how to cook.”
He seemed to understand her pain when he reached out and squeezed her hand and then went back to his food.
They finished eating and then cleaned up the kitchen together.
“Why don’t you go shower, and get into your pajamas? Then we’ll watch a movie.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
****
Kaleb watched her go. He was glad she hadn’t turned around, or she would have seen the keen hunger he felt for her. A need he’d never experienced before. It was somewhat daunting, and it was getting hard for him to hide.
He was a little concerned about the rest of the night and cuddling with her on the sofa and not being able to taste her or make love to her. It seemed like he’d been perpetually hard since he met her coming out of Gregory’s office, and it was getting painful.
He sighed and walked to the sofa. It didn’t matter how he felt. He would never push her into something she wasn’t ready for. Not with the chance of losing her. That was something he couldn’t fathom. It would destroy him.
That night, he held her in bed while she slept. He pressed his nose into the hair on the back of her head and breathed in her scent. One scenario after another raced through his head. His mind couldn’t seem to calm enough to let him rest.
He thought about what he’d have to do to get her to move in with him and give up her own place. Another thing he couldn’t get out of his head was that he wanted her to call him daddy in the worst way and was afraid of how she would take it.
The craving for it grew stronger every minute they were together, but it was another thing he didn’t want to push too hard on and give her a reason to run. He hoped he would find the right time to broach the subject with her. He just hoped it was soon.
Chapter Nine
The weekend sped by too fast. On Sunday, they spent most of the day in his condo, reading, watching TV, and getting to know one another, only going out for a long walk later in the day.
He really enjoyed it when they sat together on the sofa, with her tucked tight against him, and both were reading their own books but stopping every once in a while, to read a passage they found especially interesting to the other. It was something he could get used to quickly.
It was early Monday morning when Kaleb helped her into his vehicle. He connected her seatbelt before walking to his side of the SUV.
They pulled out into morning traffic.
“I really could have ridden the bus.”
Kaleb stopped at the light and looked over at her. “You won’t be riding a bus ever again. If I can’t come and get you, I’ll have arrangements made for someone to take you to my place.”
“Why can’t they take me to mine?”
“Is that what you want? Or do you want to come to mine? You can always go to your place whenever you want.”
He reached for her hand when her mouth dropped open. “I’ve been telling you all weekend that you mean everything to me, and I’d like to be with you as much as our schedules permit. I don’t want to have to spend our time going back and forth between our places. When you’re ready, I’d like you to think about moving in together. If you really like where you live, we’ll find something close to it where we can both live. Your place isn’t big enough for both of us.”
“I’m not ready yet, but I can tell you I don’t like where I live.”
He glanced over at her. “Do you not like my place?”
“I like it better than mine,” she said.
“What’s the problem, baby?”
“We’ve known each other days, and you’re talking about moving in together. What if in a week or a month you decide it’s not working for you?”
He sighed and squeezed her hand. He didn’t know how to put his emotions into words. He did know they wouldn’t be going away anytime soon and, in fact, knew they would only grow exponentially.
“I know things are happening fast, but I know a good thing when I see it. I’m not letting you go unless it’s what you want.”
“I’m just worried. I think we should slow down a bit.”
He smiled at her. “We can if that’s what you want. As long as I know we’re going to be together. I’ll be fine for a while. How about you let me do most of the worrying?” He studied her face. “Let me take care of you, love. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy and keep you safe.”
She rested her head against the seat and stared at his profile. “I believe you. It’s that saying my grandma used to tell me. ‘If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.’ I have to admit you’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a man, but I’m afraid to open myself up.”
He inhaled sharply. “Don’t. Please. I don’t ever want you to be afraid
