I was going to kill him. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Jace," Caleb chuckled. His eyes were far away and I knew he was thinking about Olivia. I could have killed him right then and there, if he hadn't started talking again. "The girl punched me. She, actually, punched me."
I felt as though I had been rooted to the floor beneath my feet. Images of Olivia punching Caleb had my mind over-stimulated. I couldn't help but want to hear more. "Olivia punched you?"
Caleb laughed. "She did."
"What did you do to her?"
"I paid for her coffee."
I felt a burn travel up my chest and into my throat. I knew I was angry. And jealous. "You took her to coffee?" I hadn't even done that. Yet.
"Actually, I just accompanied her to coffee. She was on a coffee run." Caleb replied.
"She was on a coffee run by herself?" I asked in disbelief.
"I know." Caleb took a sip of the whiskey. "I thought the same thing."
I shook the thought from my mind, getting back to what was important. "Why were you really there, Caleb? What did you tell her?"
Caleb locked his eyes on me. "I didn't tell her anything, Jace. She doesn't even know we know each other."
I narrowed my eyes. "You didn't tell her you knew me?"
"No, why would I?"
"Why would you even go there?" I barked. I don't think Caleb had ever pissed me off this much.
"I already explained I wanted to know the girl who had you wrapped around her finger." He shrugged, exasperated. "What else do you want me to say?"
I shook my head. "Stay away from her, Caleb."
He raised his brows and watched me carefully as I moved back to the chair behind my desk. "You want me to stay away from her?"
"I do."
"Why?" Caleb pressed. "What does it matter to you whether or not I pursue Olivia?"
I studied Caleb for a good long minute. He didn't even seem to be interested in Olivia. I was pretty sure he was only testing me to see how far I would go, but I was not taking my chances. I knew Caleb. If I gave him an inch, he would take a mile.
"Olivia is mine." I stated tensely. I needed him to understand I had no flexibility when it came to her. I was possessive over her in a way I had never felt possessive for any other woman. I was the only one who had ever had her, and I fully intended to keep it that way. At least, for a while.
"You are staking a claim on her?" Caleb sounded stumped before he grinned.
"I am."
"I understand." Caleb nodded. "When are you seeing her again?"
I sighed, relieved I had drilled through his thick skull. "I don't know."
"Well, if I was you, I wouldn't be taking my time." Caleb informed.
"What do you mean?" I growled.
"That guy she has working for her wants her just as bad as you do, and he isn't going to back down without a fight." Caleb stated, factually, as he downed his whiskey and walked to the door of my office. "If you're really serious about the girl, forget about Lexie. Olivia is nothing like her."
I stared at the closed door Caleb disappeared through for a long time. He knew me well. He knew Lexie was the reason I was not jumping headfirst into...whatever these feelings I had for Olivia were.
It was in that moment, I realized why, exactly, Caleb had gone to visit Olivia. He wanted to make his own judgment of her. He wanted to protect me from another episode like the one I had faced with Lexie. He was obviously confident Olivia was nothing like Lexie...so, why wasn't I?
I knew I shouldn't take this thing with Olivia any further...but I couldn't help it. My body craved hers. She consumed my every thought. She was the drug I couldn't deny and even though I was sure I would regret my decision...I picked up my phone and dialed her number.
***
My phone started ringing in my purse on the table. I thought once about ignoring it, but decided that wouldn't look too good in front of the men working for me. So, I politely excused myself from the conversation I had been engaged in with a man on Trey's crew, and jogged to my phone.
The number was not one I recognized, but I answered regardless. "Hello."
"Hello, Olivia." There was a pause. My heart thundered in my chest as the familiar voice moved through the phone and through my body like liquid silk. "I'm taking you to dinner tonight. I will pick you up from home at eight."
Why was he always so damned bossy? And worse...why did I always want to comply? "I have dinner plans tonight with a friend." My voice shook when I spoke and I cursed my weakness.
"Cancel them." Jace replied, quickly and gruffly.
"I don't cancel my plans, Jace." I snapped. Saying Jace's name aloud was a mistake. Trey looked up at me from where he was working and his brows furrowed. He really did not like Jace, and I just did not understand why.