Samantha laughed and pulled out of Amanda’s embrace. “Aw, come on now. You know I’m irresistible. All it took was a little forced co-habitation and a lasagna to convince Caleb to put up with me.”
“It was a damn good lasagna,” Caleb confirmed, watching the women closely.
Amanda snorted. “Be that as it may, I want you to come stay with me.”
He bit his tongue. Telling Samantha she couldn’t go would be the fastest way to get her to leave. She had to make her own decision. And if she made the wrong one, well, then he’d pack a bag and go with her.
Either way, he wasn’t leaving her side. Samantha may want to believe their association had an expiration date, but the more he thought about it, the more he thought it was a crock of shit.
They’d never be able to avoid each other, and he’d never be able to sit back and watch another man touch her. It was as simple as that. He wasn’t sure where that left them, but he sure as hell wouldn’t find out if she took off with Amanda.
“I’d like you to stay,” he said. “But of course, it’s your decision.”
Samantha cut him a glance. “Actually, for once, I agree. We made a deal, and I’ll stick to my end of it. I love you, Amanda, but I need to stay here a while longer.”
It chapped his ass that she’d brought up that stupid deal they’d made, but if that’s what she needed to justify staying with him, then so be it. He’d address her little comment about needing to stay here later.
Amanda’s gaze darted back and forth between them. “Why don’t we go have some lunch and talk about it?”
Caleb shook his head. “I don’t like the idea of you two out there alone right now.”
“Yeah?” Amanda shot back at him. “Well, get over it. Sam and I need to talk.”
“I am going a little stir crazy, and lunch sounds great.”
“You don’t have a phone.” He felt obligated to point out she’d have no way to contact him if something happened.
She squared off with him and he felt a familiar stirring in his pants as she planted her hands on her hips.
“Well, whose fault is that?” Her gaze softened slightly. “You can’t keep me locked up forever, Caleb.”
Why did she keep acting like staying with him was such a hardship?
Amanda grabbed Samantha’s arm and dragged her toward the door. “We’ll be fine, Caleb. Joe’s waiting downstairs and will be with us the whole time.”
“See? Nothing to worry about.” Samantha winked and blew him a last minute kiss over her shoulder as they walked out. “Later, horseman.”
Caleb stared at the door and wondered—not for the first time where those two were concerned—what in the hell had just happened.
Chapter 10
“Is Joe really waiting downstairs?”
Amanda laughed. “Not exactly, but I’m not a complete idiot. He’s close. I’m supposed to call him when I’m done, and he’ll come pick me up.”
Samantha wasn’t too sure about this. “Amanda —”
“Don’t worry, we aren’t leaving the building. I figured the best we could do is the cafe in the lobby. That okay with you? I’ve given the security guys a heads up and they were more than happy to keep an eye out for us. Caleb’s lived here a long time.”
Samantha hugged her. She wouldn’t feel right about leaving, especially if Joe wasn’t with them. She’d given Caleb her word, but since they weren’t technically going anywhere… “Perfect.”
Relief pushed the air from her lungs as she squeezed her friend. There were very few people she could talk to, and she was desperate. This thing between her and Caleb was confusing, irritating, and amazing. He’d made her feel things she’d never felt before.
He commanded her body with ease; her senses tuned into his every move from the moment he walked into a room. Words had become unnecessary. A gesture, a look … that’s all it took to make her putty in his hands. Whether it was mundane tasks like cleaning up after dinner or more pleasurable pursuits in the bedroom, they moved together with such fluid grace, it scared the hell out of her.
What would she do once they moved on?
She’d totally screwed up. There was no way she could stick around and watch as Caleb found someone else. The thought of sharing Amanda’s dinner table with him and another woman made her sick.
What if he got married?
The thought gripped her heart and squeezed. Nope. She definitely couldn’t stick around for that. Jesus, by sleeping with Caleb, she’d probably cost herself everyone she cared about.
They walked through the lobby, and a security guard raised a hand at Amanda’s wave as they entered the cafe. Samantha loved the convenience of living downtown. She didn’t have to go far to get what she needed. Her apartment was only a few blocks from here, but she’d generally avoided this building, knowing Caleb had lived here.