Chapter 10

10

GAbrIELLA

“ D on’t you love this time of year?” I ask Caleb. I drop my head back and stop to do a swirl. I love the feel of the snowflakes against my cheeks.

“Watch it,” I hear Caleb bark at someone, snapping me out of my very own fairy tale. His hand is in the middle of a man’s chest who is dressed in a suit. He’d almost run into me.

“Sorry,” I apologize, knowing it was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. It’s a busy sidewalk. I shouldn't have stopped to do a silly spin.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart.” Caleb's voice drops when he speaks to me. “As for you, watch where the fuck you’re going.” The man’s eyes widen, and he steps back.

“Sorry, ma’am,” the guy stutters.

I stand there, slightly shocked that the man is apologizing to me. Caleb takes my hand, giving me a warm smile. His fingers lock with mine, his entire demeanor changed. “What should we do next?”

I glance back over my shoulder to see the man in the suit going in the other direction. “That was kind of my fault.”

“He should watch where he’s going. Anyone could stop. Just like in a car. You cannot rear-end someone simply because they have stopped their vehicle.” I suppose he’s right. I guess I would have been more polite about it. “So where to?”

“I thought you needed to pop into your office,” I remind him. We went out to buy a few more decorations. That’s all we have been doing lately. It’s been wonderful. I’ve never felt so carefree and happy.

I wake up in bed most mornings with him doing oh so naughty but nice things to me before he pulls me from bed for breakfast. Then we spend the day shopping for things to get his home ready for Christmas. At night, we enjoy watching holiday movies and cuddling together. We often end up making out on the couch.

“I will, but it can wait.”

“I’m pretty excited to get back and collect the deliveries,” I admit. The tree and the ornaments are coming today. Well, the tree for the living room. We’ve gotten a few others. They are smaller, at least in comparison to the one for the living room. That one is really going to be the centerpiece. It’s going to look perfect in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. I can’t wait.

“All right.” He drops my hand so that he can wrap his arm around my shoulder and tuck me into his side as we make our way back to the building.

“Oh crap.” I stop walking.

“What?”

I point toward Cup of Sugar. “I wonder what happened.” The lights are out in the building.

“I thought you didn’t want to go back?” Caleb’s hold on me tightens.

“Guess I’m just surprised.”

“I’m sure another coffee shop will come in. If you wanted to, I bet you could work there.” He doesn’t sound too happy about that. I lift up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips.

“Nah, I like my current job. And I’ve got a pretty good boss.”

“Pretty good?” He gives my ass a squeeze.

“Caleb.” I laugh, pushing away. “There are people,” I remind him.

“I don’t give a shit.” He tucks me back into him. “Come to my office with me?”

“I’d love to,” I say when we enter the building through the front entrance. He’s been working and taking his meetings from home lately. I was worried I’d been taking him away, but he told me he was where he wanted to be. I wasn’t going to fight him on it. That might be selfish, but I love having Caleb with me.

His home is starting to feel like my home. He even hung all my clothes inside of his closet. All my things are in his bathroom. We pretty much are living as a couple. Out of all the homes and places I’ve been in and out of my whole life, this is the first that actually feels like it could be my home. I’m welcome, and I love being there. Which is kind of crazy. I have only been there a handful of days.

A few people step onto the elevator with us. I notice that they kept glancing over to me and then back to Caleb, who is once again holding my hand. I wonder if anyone is going to speak. If he is the owner of both the building and the offices, shouldn't they be familiar with each other?

“I like the holiday music,” I say.

“Me too,” the other woman says. The man next to her nods in agreement.

“I like when you sing them,” Caleb responds, making me snort a laugh.

“I have the worst voice. Don’t listen to him. He’s just being sweet.” I elbow him in the side, smiling.

“You know I love to hear your voice.” He runs a finger down my neck, smiling back at me. I notice the other two keep giving us strange looks before the doors open and they scurry off.

“Was that weird?” I ask when the door closes behind them.

“Was what weird?”

“Those two. Did you know them?”

“I’ve seen them around.” He shrugs.

“Do they work for you?”

“They might.”

“You don’t know?”

"I manage a small group of individuals, who in turn manage others. I can’t micromanage them all.” I suppose I can understand that. Plus, Caleb isn’t a huge talker. But he’s nice, so I could also see him getting to know everyone, but who knows? They could be newer.

The doors open again for us to step off. Caleb keeps his hold on my hand, leading us out. We stroll down a lengthy hallway lined with glass-fronted offices, providing a clear view of everyone around us. They all turn their heads and watch us as we pass.

A woman in a fancy suit walks by, only nodding at us. "Hi!" I chirp at her, trying to be polite.

"Ah, hi," she responds, almost startled. "Mr. Shepherd." The woman gives him another nod. He returns it.

Okay then. I’m starting to think there is something wrong with these people. Why the heck are they all acting so strange?

"Well, happy holidays." The space between us is already growing because Caleb hasn't stopped walking. He must be in a hurry. The hallway widens as it approaches the end.

The opaque glass covering the two enormous double doors prevents you from seeing inside. A desk sits directly outside one of the doors.

Caleb opens one of the doors for me. I slip inside. I know it's his office the second I enter. It smells of him. It makes me let out a little happy sigh.

"Maybe we should put a tree in here." I point to a spot in the corner. His office is spacious and features a massive desk. It sits in front of giant windows that overlook the city. There is even a sofa and fireplace, along with two chairs in front of his desk.

"If you want." He heads over to his desk, sitting down in his oversized chair. He looks sexy and powerful. He motions for me to come toward him. He doesn’t have to ask me twice. I always want to be near him.