Caleb's Blessing(14)

"Did you like our kisses?" Really smooth Dunbar what're you twelve?

She blushed and tried to hide behind her hair, I couldn't resist reaching over and putting it behind her ear again.

Her slight nod was almost imperceptible but it was enough for me and I released the breath I'd been holding.

"Do you think it would be okay if I courted you?" Geez who is this person that has taken over my body? I was beginning to sound like a hayseed.

"Court me?"

"Yes, you know, take you out to the movies, dancing, stuff like that."

"What about that girl from before, isn't she more your type? I mean she's obviously interested in you and she seems so sophisticated and I'm...I'm...."

She played with the hem of her shirt and that air of sadness was back again.

"You're what sweetheart?"

"Damaged goods." She whispered the words as her head dipped lower.

That shit just about broke my heart. It was then for the first time in my life that I realized that the human heart had a great capacity for love, and how that love could manifest itself in many different ways.

How sometimes, it could take a body years to fall in love, and how like now, it could happen in the blink of an eye.

Taking her precious face in my hands, I looked into her sad eyes. There was so much raw emotion there that I had to close my eyes to get my composure under control. I searched deep for the words to give her, to take away the pain that she carried inside.

"One day soon I'm going to show you how very wrong you are about that baby."





Chapter 11





I gave her the rest of the afternoon to gather her thoughts; couldn't rush things, but at least I know some of what's going on in her head. Damaged goods, I'd like to meet that ex of hers and kick the shit out of him.

She was humming under her breath as she puttered around in the kitchen. I'd been in and out all day since bringing her back to fix the jackasses their lunch.

I'd tried having a stern talk with them about expecting her to cook all their meals, but they'd just looked at me like I was nuts and kept stuffing their faces with the fried chicken and cornbread she'd rustled up for them.

Not even my grumbled threats did much good, so I'd decided to give it up for now and enjoy her offerings.

My girl could cook her ass off and that’s a fact. They'd barely been through with lunch, when they started making noises about ‘what's for dinner?’ the greedy asses. That's when I'd finally kicked them out.

Now I'm slinking around my office looking for shit to keep me busy so I could be near her. I’m pretty sure that everyone knew the real reason I was hanging around, and it wasn’t because I was afraid her ex would show up here.

Their fuck stupid grins as they donned their hats and bid her goodbye, told me that they knew damn good and well that I was acting like a lovesick puppy.

That kiss had only just whet my appetite and I was biding my time until I could steal another one, but I'm a grown man with a little control. Yeah right! I was starting to see the appeal of the caveman approach. Knock her over the head and drag her off to my bed.

I knew damn well I couldn't just pounce on her though, too soon. And now, after that heart wrenching assessment of her-self, I know I have to work on her mind before I can get to her body.

I don't want her thinking those things about herself, no woman that has ever lived through that shit should look at herself in that way.

I didn’t know how or when, but I was pretty certain that her ex and I were headed for a day of reckoning. I was also giving serious thought to burying one Cecily Crane in a fucking ditch.

I fooled around with the stuff on my desk, as my mind wandered to ways I could bring her out of her shell, get her to see the beautiful woman that I saw every time I looked at her.

There was a lot to think about here not least of all was the fact that I’d met her only twenty-four hours ago. If not for her past I would’ve worked my magic already and we would’ve had the morning after.

But because of the deadbeat asshole who obviously didn’t know the first thing about women, I had to play it easy. That’s one more reason to put a foot in his ass, the dumb fuck.

I dropped down in my chair and rested my head back. I haven’t bought a woman flowers since I bought Lisa Summers a corsage for prom.

The type of women who follow the circuits, with a few exceptions, aren’t given to roses and shit, so it was never needed.

Come to think of it, I can’t tell you the last time I took a woman out on a date, or spent more than ten minutes with one outside of bed.

I’m sure those demented fucks running around my land had some pointers since they were always on the prowl, but I’d be fucked if I’d ask them shit.

I got a big sappy grin on my face as the first part of my campaign came to mind. If I was going to build her up and show her how worthy and beautiful she was she was gonna need more than me pawing at her.