From Temptation to Twins(52)

“She was angry.”

Distress came into Melissa’s tone. “At me?”

The response surprised Caleb. With a last look at Jules, he moved down the hall to the kitchen to continue the conversation. “Me,” he said as he walked. “She was mad at me.”

“What did you do? Wait, why is she still there? Why didn’t she call me herself? Caleb, what did you do?”

He sure wasn’t about to give a complete answer to that question. “We argued.” He chose his words. “She eventually calmed down. She must have been exhausted because she fell asleep on my sofa.”

There was complete silence at that. He wasn’t even sure Melissa was breathing.

“Melissa?”

“Are you sure she wasn’t mad at me?”

“It was definitely me.” He took a chair at the table and set down the brandy.

“What did you do to her?”

“She thought I coerced Noah into lobbying you to sell the Crab Shack to me.”

“No, that was his...” She paused. “It was his idea, wasn’t it? You didn’t. You wouldn’t.”

“No. I wouldn’t use Noah to get to you. I know I’m on the opposite side of this, Melissa. But I play fair.”

“I don’t know why,” she said softly. “But I believe you.”

“Thank you.” For some reason, it meant a lot to him that she did.

“Would you consider it?” Her question was hesitant. “Would you buy the Crab Shack if Jules was willing to sell?”

He paused, remembering his promise to Jules about not using Melissa, and wondering how far he could ethically go in this conversation.

Before he could answer, she spoke again.

“Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“From my perspective,” he said, “it’s a fantastic idea. I’d buy the property in a heartbeat. But Jules feels very strongly on the subject.”

“I know she does. Sometimes... I sometimes think she’s blinded by her love for our grandfather.”

“What is it you want?” Caleb found himself asking Melissa.

“Mostly, I want Jules to be happy.”

Caleb swirled the brandy in his glass. “You have no reason to believe this, but I want her to be happy, too.”

“What should we do?”

Although he would have loved to use the opportunity, Caleb’s conscience kicked in. “I’m not the best person for you to talk to about that. It’s a definite conflict of interest. But I will tell you I’m not bluffing about rescinding the easement.”

“That’s what Noah said. He said you were too far into the project, and you couldn’t afford to back down.”

“Noah seems very logical.”

“I’ve never met anyone like him.”

Caleb thought he could peg the tone in her voice. Noah was a lucky guy.

“What do you want for yourself?” Caleb repeated.

“I want to help run a business. I want to put my degree to work. I want to make a meaningful contribution to something successful.”

He read between the lines. “But it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Crab Shack.”

“I’m not as invested as Jules.”

“We could—” He stopped himself.

It took Melissa a moment to speak. “You don’t want to feel like we’re ganging up on her.”

He vividly remembered what Jules had said about not being able to fight him, her father and Melissa all at the same time.

“I don’t,” he said. “Even if it’s for her own good.”

“Do you think forcing her to give up is for her own good?”

“I think...” He hesitated on how to frame it. “I know she can’t win this fight.”

“Unless you give up.”

“Why would I give up?”

There was a smile in Melissa’s voice. “I’m beginning to figure out the answer to that.”

Melissa had ended the call then, and Caleb found himself coming to his feet, moving back down the hall just far enough that he could see Jules. She was unbelievably beautiful. He couldn’t believe they’d made love a second time. He couldn’t believe she was here.

He stood and gazed at her for a long time.

There had to be a path forward for them. More than ever now, he needed a path forward that kept her in his future.





Nine

It took Jules a moment to realize she was still in Caleb’s living room. She was warm and comfortable. She was also still naked.

Last night came flooding back, and she knew she’d made a terrible mistake in confronting him. It might have turned into wonderful lovemaking, but she was now more conflicted than ever.

She sat up in the morning light, spotting her clothes neatly folded on the chair beside her. She couldn’t help but be grateful for the small gesture, and she quickly got dressed.