Yet, she didn't know what to do about Caleb's house. She couldn't just leave it unlocked. Even though it was in a nice neighborhood, if something did happen, it would be her responsibility. At the same time, she couldn't wait for long. She still needed to drive home, shower, and change before taking BART into the city.
Just as she was wondering if she could lock the door from the inside and escape through a window, the lock on the front door turned and Caleb walked inside. In earphones and running shoes, Caleb looked absolutely drool-worthy with his shirt plastered to his broad chest with sweat, his hair mussed, and cheeks flushed from the cold November air.
Maddie realized she was gaping when he spotted her in the kitchen and she closed her mouth. When he pulled out his earbuds, she said the first thing that came to her mind. "I was just debating crawling through a window."
A sardonic brow shot up. "Oh, really?"
Well, he's in a fine mood this morning, she thought. He edged around her in the kitchen, opening up a cabinet to pull out the protein powder she'd seen last night. Maddie caught a delicious whiff of him as he passed and all she wanted to do was bury her face in his neck and smell him all day, despite her annoyance. Was that normal? She'd read about pheromones once, but she'd never really believed that someone's sweat could smell good until now.
"Well, I thought you left. Your keys were gone," she told him, trying to mask the irritation in her voice. "I couldn't just leave your house unlocked."
He cast her a side glance as he scooped out his protein powder and mixed it with water. "I went on a run. I took my keys so I could lock up."
"I realize that now. A note would've been nice."
He scowled at her tone. "Are you pissed at me or something? Or are you just in a bad mood?"
"Seriously?" Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. "I drove you home and stayed with you all night and you're going to throw that in my face this morning?"
"I didn't ask for your help last night."
"You weren't in any state to ask for anyone's help even though you clearly needed it," she shot back.
Caleb's lips pressed together in a thin line. "I don't want to fight with you right now. My head's already pounding as it is."
Maddie had the strongest urge to scream but she bit back the cutting reply she wanted to lob at him. "Fine. Whatever." She stalked over to her jacket, wondering why she even tried with him. Jamming her arms in the sleeves, she bit out, "Do you need a ride back to the garage?"
He studied her and then shook his head. "I'll catch a ride with Brian."
"Okay." Fine by me, she thought. "See you later."
Maddie resisted the urge to stomp to the door and reminded herself to act like an adult. She snagged her purse off the entry way table and looked through it to locate her keys.
Caleb sighed and she heard his footsteps as he trailed after her. "Hey," he said.
She pulled out her keys and opened the front door. Looking over her shoulder, she murmured, "Bye."
Before she could make it two steps, Caleb grabbed her wrist and pulled her back inside. "Just wait a minute."
She avoided his eyes. "I'm gonna be late."
"Look at me," he growled.
Barely refraining from rolling her eyes, she lifted her gaze. "What?"
Maddie thought that his features softened ever so slightly, but then dismissed the idea as quickly as it came. This was Caleb Montgomery, after all. He was about as soft as a desert cactus and twice as prickly.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his eyes briefly dropping to her lips. When had he stepped so close? "I do appreciate last night."
"Okay."
Now, had that really been so hard? she wondered.
He looked like he wanted to say something else and she waited what felt like a couple minutes for him to spit it out. But in the end, he didn't. Instead, he nodded and said, "See you later tonight." Then he released her arm and stepped back.
Maddie stared at him, but he kept his eyes trained just over her shoulder. Now he wouldn't look at her. Ignoring her disappointment, she told him, "By the way, I used your mouth wash." And just as she was about to close the front door behind her, she left him with another parting message. "Oh, and your condoms are almost expired. You might want to check on that."
She pulled the front door shut just as his eyes narrowed.
And then she smirked all the way to her car.
Take that, you surly asshole.
TWENTY-TWO