No longer bothered by her nickname for him, Caleb found his voice. “Rendered him hard as stone is what you’ve done.” He searched her face, looking for some evidence of the woman that had endlessly annoyed him, defied him, and drove him bat-shit crazy.
What he saw was a woman who was his equal. A woman who balanced his harsh moods and controlling behavior, who’d never take his shit. A woman he could spend his life with.
The idea excited him as much as it freaked him out. He wasn’t against relationships, but he was no picnic and he knew it. His years in the military had changed him. He had blood on his hands. He had secrets. He didn’t know if he’d share them even if he could. Most women couldn’t deal with that. They’d expect him to be an open book, there for them to pick apart at any given moment.
But, Samantha was different. She knew much of his past, although not all, and she’d never pressed for more. His family loved her. She’d known his parents for chrissake.
He’d always known it would take a special woman to deal with his baggage. Maybe Samantha was that woman.
Caleb took her hands in his and raised them to his lips. He kissed the palm of one hand, then the other, drinking in the faint, delicate scent of her perfume.
“You’re incredible. You’ll be the most beautiful woman in the room tonight. If I weren’t chomping at the bit to show you off, I’d have you out of that dress in two seconds flat.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “I never imagined you’d say something like that to me.”
Was she serious? “Sweetheart, every man in the place will want to get you out of that dress tonight. What makes you think I’m any different?”
“I meant about you wanting to show me off.” Her eyes gleamed with wicked intent. “Hmm, every man, huh? Guess you’ll have to work really hard to make sure I come home with you.”
She turned and pressed her back against his chest. The sensual sway of her hips, the feel of her ass rubbing against him, tested his control.
She had no idea the beast she was tempting.
The woman in her spoke to everything male in him. Primal, primitive. He wanted to mark her as his own. He wanted to throw her to the floor and bury himself so deep inside her that she’d never be free.
Caleb groaned inwardly. This woman would be the death of him.
He clutched her hips and held her flush against him. There would be no mistaking the erection he sported. Her sharp intake of breath brought a smile to his lips. Oh no, no mistaking it at all.
“Be careful, sugar. That ass of yours has tempted me for years, and if you keep that up, I’ll prove it to you. As for you going home with anyone other than me, you can forget it. You go with me, you leave with me.”
Her head snapped around. “Years?”
Caleb closed his eyes. Of course she’d latch onto that. He’d expected her to be indignant about his order that she only leave with him. He wasn’t about to get into his past attraction to her now.
“Just promise me you’ll behave.”
“Where are we going?” She wiggled her ass against him again.
“Damn it, Sam! You would test the patience of a saint.”
She turned in his arms, her expression curious. “That’s the first time you’ve called me Sam. And who’s the saint in this scenario? You? Do saints have massive erections in their pants?” She snorted with laughter and reached to cup him.
Caleb snatched her wrist just in time. If she’d made contact, it’d be all over. He’d shove her dress up and fuck her right her in the middle of the living room.
“Promise.” His demand sounded more like a request as her playful mood wore off on him.
“Fine, whatever.” She rose up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before sneaking out of his arms.
She was excited about tonight, which made him a total jackass. She had no idea where they were going and why. If she did, the light in her eyes would be replaced by the intense glare of a woman on a mission.
Caleb wanted her eyes to sparkle and the melodic sound of her laughter in the air. Just because this night hadn’t been planned for her, didn’t mean he couldn’t make it special.
And God help him if she ever figured out the truth.
* * *
Caleb had brought her to one of Austin’s most elite events of the year.
Under normal circumstances, Samantha wouldn’t attend such a swanky affair. Too many cameras and reporters for her taste. Too many people who associated with her father, counted on his money for their investments, businesses, or political campaigns. Too many of the same questions.
Samantha thought they’d have given up by now, moved on to someone or something much more interesting than why she didn’t speak to her father anymore. What’s the point in dredging up the past? As long as he stayed out of her life, Sam stayed out of his. She preferred to keep a low profile, but with a name like Quinn, that was damned hard to do in these parts. Her lack of comment over the years only made them try harder.