Chapter 8

8

GAbrIELLA

“ I ’m not sure I can eat any more.” I let out a sigh, leaning back in my chair. I can’t recall the last time I ate this much. If ever. Caleb ordered a ridiculous amount of food. I also can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.

“But there is still dessert.” Caleb lifts a lid off a piece of chocolate cake.

“Oh no.” I lick my lips. “Chocolate cake is my favorite.”

“Is that so?” He smirks as if he already knows that. I might have told him before. I can’t recall. We always talked about random things when he came into the coffee shop. Caleb would ask me questions and let me go on and on. He's the only person on this earth I believe enjoys my rambling.

Caleb puts a bite on his fork and brings it to my mouth. Of course I open it. I let out a small moan with the taste exploding.

“What made you want to be a nanny?” he asks, bringing another bite to my mouth.

Are we going back to this? I kind of skipped over it when he started pushing about the coffee shop and what other jobs I might want. I didn’t love the job, but I do enjoy being around people.

“I like kids.” There. That’s the truth. "Do you?” I try to picture him holding a baby. He's always in a suit, except for now. This is the first time I have ever seen him not in one. He appears more relaxed.

“Like kids?” He takes a bite for himself. “Pretty good.”

“Yeah, do you like kids?” I stare at him, really wanting to know the answer. It shouldn't matter to me, but it does. And I think I know why. I just can't let my mind go there. That's way too soon.

“I never gave it much thought. I haven’t really been around them.” He shrugs. "I was an only child, and most would call me a workaholic." I remember him once telling me he wasn’t close to his family. "Is that why you aspire to become a nanny? Because you like kids?”

“Kids and babies are honest, you know. The little ones were always my favorites when they entered one of the homes I was in, or when I found myself in one with them.”

“You moved around a lot.” Caleb’s eyes soften. I nod.

“To be honest”—I fiddle with my napkin—“I’m good with kids, and being a nanny, I think I would be great at it. I might be lying to myself." I peek over at him before I say the next part, wanting to see his reaction. "I just want my own babies, but I don't know if that's in the cards for me." It’s more than that, though. I want the whole package. The happily ever after and a family of my very own.

I tell Caleb the truth, hoping it doesn't scare him. I’m not sure what is happening between us, but I think talk of kids spooks men. At least that’s what I’ve heard. I can't get a read on his expression. It doesn't change. The man really does have a poker face.

"Why isn't it in the cards for you?" he asks.

"I'm homeless and jobless," I remind him, hating that I have to say those words out loud. Even if they are the truth. Sometimes it feels as though I take three steps forward in life and two back.

“You’re not homeless anymore.” Caleb reaches over and tucks one of my wild curls behind my ear. His simple touch makes me tingle.

“Well, I’m not going to be popping out babies here.” I try to joke, but Caleb’s expression is once again unreadable. It doesn't go unnoticed by me that he stays quiet. “Maybe we should talk about the decorations?” I switch the subject because this one is mixing me all up inside. Especially because of his kisses.

“You can do whatever you like.” He brings another bite to my mouth. I take it. I’m starting to notice I take anything he gives me. “Including having babies.”

“Caleb.” I shake my head while standing. “I’ll clean this up since you—” I’m pulled into his lap before I can finish what I was saying.

“I’d have babies with you. If you were my girl, my wife.”

“You can’t say things like that.” My words come out whispered.

“I can say anything I want. I often do.”

I search his face. “We barely know each other, and I kind of work for you now.”

“Let’s not worry about all that. We’ll get to know each other. What better way than living together?”

“Are you saying we could be more? Have a future?”

“I’d give you pretty much anything you asked for, Gabriella.”

I lean in and press my mouth to his. Caleb sinks his fingers into my hair, deepening the kiss. I don’t know how long we kiss, but I enjoy every second of it.

“Sleep with me tonight,” Caleb says when we finally break the kiss. “We don’t have to do anything. I just really want you in my bed.”

“Really?” How is this man single?

“Come on.” He stands with me in his arms.

“Come on?” I laugh. “You’re already moving. I don’t have much of a choice.” He is heading toward his bedroom.

“You’re not protesting.” He sits me down on his bed. There are floor-to-ceiling windows in here, too, that overlook the city.

“You can put a tree there too.” I gesture toward the corner, where there are a few plush chairs and a fireplace.

“Told you that you can do anything you want.”

“You spoil me.” I fall back onto the bed. It’s like a super fluffy cloud.

“Gabriella.” I glance down to where Caleb is staring.

“Oh, yeah.” I push my shirt back down to cover my stomach, where the red mark from the coffee the woman spilled still lingers.

Caleb, still standing beside the bed, leans down over me and pushes my shirt back up.

"This from that incident today at the coffee shop?" He brushes his fingers over it gently.

"Yeah." Did I tell him why I was fired? Probably. I do tend to ramble on. “It’s not so bad.”

“I don’t like it.” He glares at the mark like he can bully it away.

“It will fade by tomorrow. I just have sensitive skin.”

“Don’t do that. Try to play it down.” That was what I was doing. I’ve learned to do that over the years to get myself through tough situations. I knew if I let myself dwell on things, that I would get stuck in that. I didn’t have any other choice but to be okay. “I always want you to be honest with me.”

“Okay,” I agree. I don’t think I can tell this man no. I don’t even want to.