Page 51 of Coveted By the Bear

Caleb’s fingers splayed against my leg as he leaned in to kiss me. He stopped right before his lips touched mine. His smile said it wasn’t a hesitation, but an invitation. I pushed a strand of blond hair out of his face with the tip of my finger and closed the small space between us. His nearness, his touch left me dizzy and needing more. He was powerful and consuming and frustrating and I wanted more like some desert animal dying of thirst. He was my sustenance.

I sucked gently on his bottom lip, and he growled softly, deep in his throat where only I would hear. I shivered at the sound. Something deep inside of me clenched at the realization that I had brought such an urgent sound from him.

Caleb pulled away, regretfully, and leaned his forehead against my own. “I think I should go get our food,” he rasped.

“Sprite,” I whispered, and he chuckled.

“You got it.” Caleb looked at me for a moment longer before he hopped out of the truck and shut the door behind him.

I watched him move smoothly to hook the old fashioned drive-in speaker onto the open window. I had to know. “Caleb?”

“Hmm?” he asked, distracted.

“What’s changed?”

He scooted the speaker over and leaned against the window. His brow furrowed as he took his time to think about his response. “I guess I just got tired of making us both miserable. I had all these reasons, but then when I looked at you, when I kissed you, I didn’t really remember them anymore.”

He dropped his gaze and bumped his palms against the window frame once, then strode off in the direction of a rickety concession shack to the right of the giant screen.

How was I supposed to pay attention to the movie after an admission like that? My head swam with the thought that he cared about me like this. Yesterday in the woods, he’d eased me into being comfortable and accepting my place beside him, but I’d overthought everything last night as I lay awake for hours in my bed. Shyness had crept into me again by dawn.

Caleb McCreedy, most sought after bachelor in town, was chasing me.

A little, triumphant part of me thought no one knew him quite like I did. We were scarred in different ways, but damaged just the same. He trusted me with his secret, like he knew I’d do anything to keep him and the animal that lived within him safe. I didn’t have to hide from him. He’d seen me starving and weak. He’d seen my marred skin and hadn’t balked against the sight. In turn, I wasn’t afraid of anything he could say to me. I wanted to know everything about him. About what made him Caleb. About what made him seem so detached from every person but me. I squeezed my hands into fists to bring myself back to reality. The gesture helped me to avoid the tidal wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm my elated heart.

I was mostly in control of myself again by the time Caleb returned with a cardboard container stacked with our sugary wares. If there had been a test at the end of the movie, I would’ve failed with flying colors. I couldn’t focus on the plot or characters when Caleb was sitting right beside me, an arm slung over my shoulders and sharing every bit of his food with me. He laughed at the show as if we had been in the same position a hundred times. He had a deep, booming kind of laugh. I found myself wishing for more humorous lines so I could hear it again. His laughter pried some dark part of my heart open and released residual fear from the hidden crevices.

As the credits rolled, Caleb handed me the humongous drink he’d purchased and tossed our empty wrappers into the popcorn bucket. “So, I was going to take you into the city to go to a nice restaurant but we probably wouldn’t get back until late. Figured I’d ask what you want to do. I have to be on the rig early in the morning, and I know you work early, too.”

I looked down at my clothes. I wanted nothing more than to go to a fancy restaurant with Caleb but jeans, T-shirt, and a giant, camouflage-printed hoodie that Caleb thoughtfully gave to me weren’t exactly the right attire.

“How about I take you out on Friday night?” he asked, apparently seeing my dilemma. “You can plan what you want to wear, and I’ll pick you up at your house. We’ll do it right.”

“What is our other option for tonight?” I wasn’t hungry after the pound of nachos I’d inhaled, but I wasn’t ready to end the night with Caleb either.

“A romantic night at Rooney’s bar.”

“Perfect.” I grinned, hopeful that they served pancakes in the evenings. I’d want food again eventually.

We filed out of the parking lot with the other movie goers, but Caleb hit the brakes when someone jogged up to the truck. Brian came from a raucous group who were laughing and horsing around a trio of closely parked jeeps.

He waved and beamed when he saw me. “Hey, Mira. You guys on a date or something?”

I froze. Caleb did not. “Yep,” he said, void of hesitation. “About to take her to Rooney’s.”

Brian snorted and jutted a thumb at Caleb. “You sure you want to go out with a guy who takes you to a bar for your first date?”

I was so relieved he wasn’t treating me like a pariah that I found my voice. “Technically, this is our second date.”

Caleb looked at me questioningly. A confused smile lingered on his lips.

“He took me for breakfast a while back,” I explained.

“Oh, yeah?” Brian asked. “Where?”

“The bar,” I said through a smirk.

The brothers barked laughter, and Brian shook his head in mock disappointment. “All right, Romeo, we’ll be at the old McCall farm if you guys get bored. Booze, a field, cows to tip. Should be a good time.” He turned to leave. “Make good decisions,” he called over his shoulder.