10. Caleb

TEN

Caleb

Josie’s indecision was tearing me in two. I’d sensed her slow approach before she ever made it to the corner, every bit of me on high alert, anticipating our time together that evening. But while I was hyped up, she was moving slowly. Unsure? Changing her mind?

I stared out over the water, keeping my pose relaxed as I waited for her. I wished desperately in that moment that I still had my wings, still had the ability to scoop her up and fly her away from the noise and the clutter of the city, into the clouds, where it was just the two of us. Angel and Chosen . Lovers written in the stars. Where I could stare into her eyes, surrounded by the heavens, without all the pressure that came with human life.

But I didn’t, and I couldn’t. Her being my Chosen was nothing but a dream, one that could never come to be.

And we were just friends, a reality I was struggling by the second to remember as I spent more time in her orbit. Time had dampened the memories of the pull I felt toward her, but the second I’d stepped into her bookshop, it had all come raging back to the surface. I needed her, wanted her , with a desire that burned in my blood. I could no more shake off that desire than I could my own nose.

Wanting her was part of me.

Yet here I was, pretending I didn’t know she hid behind a lamppost a few feet away, neither coming toward me nor running away.

Please don’t run away . Plea or prayer, I didn’t know.

I tried my hardest not to pry into her emotions, to let the steady rippling of the water lull me into patience. It wasn’t easy, though, and I let out a sigh of relief when she took the first step my way.

A grin split my face as I turned toward her, and then I was sucking in a breath for different reasons. She was stunning in the sun’s last rays, bathed in golden light that highlighted her every tantalizing curve. Her chestnut hair gleamed, kissing the top of her breasts, and I had the very un-angelic desire to skim my palms over them and pull her against my chest. Feel her melt and mold against me in the way she used to.

To see, once and for all, if her heart beat in time with my own.

She wore one of her usual quirky T-shirts, paired tonight with a beautiful skirt, which brushed the tops of her knees, setting off the shape of her calves. Every bit of her was perfection, a Greek goddess worthy to be painted by one of the masters. But I’d never let her be hung in a gallery for the faceless hordes to ogle. She was mine, the shy smile she wore only for me.

Something inside me fractured when I realized yet again that it wasn’t true.

She couldn’t be mine, not to cherish, not to touch. There was no way an angel could claim a human as his Chosen. I had tried to ignore the fact before, and look where that got me.

Josie and I were companions of convenience. Temporary. Set to be blown away with the wind, erased from the pages of history. Not a love written in the stars, but impermanent names scrawled in the sand. One day, she would move on, find her own love, and I would be left to watch from the heavens, living out eternity without her.

It was more than I could bear and yet no less than the truth. A cupid, an angel of love and desire, destined to never have it for his own.

“Caleb, hi.”

“Josie.” I stepped forward, wrapping her in a hug. Her head fit perfectly under my chin, and I took the moment to close my eyes, compose myself.

Douse the searing pain of our reality.

I blinked and pulled back, letting my hands linger on her upper arms, starved for the feel of her soft, perfect skin. I itched to slip my hands up, caress the bare hollow of her throat. Follow my fingertips with my lips, and hear her moan out my name. But that would spook her. I had to take it slow, not push beyond what she was willing to share after I’d broken her heart the first time.

If we only have a little while, I’ll take whatever I can get.

“Are you hungry? The restaurant gets rave reviews. I hear the ceviche will change your life.” I gave her a wink.

She snorted, and I couldn’t help but smile at the cute little noise. She could never hold back her opinions, and it was one of the many things I found irresistible about her.

“Raw fish will change my life, all right. Because it will scar me for life . No thank you.”

I tsked, teasing her. “I bet your cats would love it. Be brave for them.” I offered Josie my arm as we turned toward the restaurant, and she took it absently. Absent or no, I reveled in the victory.

That’s it, Josie. Trust me. Lean into my side.

“They’re cats , Caleb. That’s not even a little bit of a valid point.” She sank into my side, distracted by the silly conversation, and I relished the feel of her chest against my arm, breasts soft and perfectly tempting. Focus, Caleb, or you’re going to get an erection in the middle of the damn sidewalk .

“Fine, but don’t blame me when you go home smelling like fish and they’re disappointed in you.”

“If you’re that worried about it, you can bring them some ceviche on your own time.” She shuddered as if the mere idea of ceviche was horrific, her reaction all delicate disgust as I held open the door to the restaurant. It was lovely, with dim lighting and views of the water. Soft jazz played in the background.

“Maybe I will.” I smiled down at her as I gave the host our name. Reservations were hard to come by here, but I’d pulled some strings with a lynx shifter friend who knew the owner. People found it handy to have an angel owe them a favor.

“Right this way.” The ma?tre d’ quietly led us to our table with a flourish of his arm. We were seated at the back of the restaurant, in a private booth right next to a window with a stunning view.

“Oh, it’s gorgeous!” Her eyes lit with excitement. She leaned forward, nearly pressing her nose against the window. “How did you get us a spot?”

“I have my ways.”

“You didn’t… influence anyone, did you?” She cocked an eyebrow at me, clearly not pleased by the idea of me using my powers to score us a table. It sent a frisson of pleasure through me, the smallest hint of her acceptance.

“No. I’ll have you know I pulled strings with a friend, like any other man with a lovely lady to impress.”

She looked skeptical but swallowed the question when our waitress appeared to take our drink orders.

When the waitress left, Josie cocked her head at me. “Lemonade, huh? You still love it, after all this time?”

“What’s not to love? It’s delicious, like the woman who introduced me to it.”

She blushed at the memory, then drummed her fingertips on the table, a different question brewing this time.

“Go ahead, ask.”

“Do you actually need food? Or is it a cover thing, like you eat so nobody knows you’re not human?”

The ease with which she asked the question made me wonder. Had she started to accept what I was? “I don’t need it, no. But I do enjoy it. It’s a very… human experience. It’s a way of connecting, understanding. Humans pour a lot of love into their cuisine. Anywhere you go in the world, there is something unique on a plate. It’s history, culture, and that personal touch rolled into one.”

She hummed, a crease forming between her eyebrows as she considered it from my perspective. “I wondered about that after you left.”

I nodded. “I’m sure you wondered a lot of things. Is that all you wanted to know? You can ask me anything.”

“I… I’m not sure. Maybe we should stick to why we’re here.” She tucked a bouncy curl behind her ear, ducking her head to avoid my eyes as the waitress approached with our drinks .

Don’t push, Caleb.

We ordered, and I ignored the waitress’s lingering glances. As she walked away, Josie looked back up.

“I bet you get that a lot, don’t you?”

“Get what a lot?”

“Checked out. By every woman who has eyes and a pulse. And maybe some who don’t.”

There was an edge of bite to her tone, and it thrilled me to know she cared . I knew from the couples I matched that jealousy could be rooted in a lot of emotions, but none of those emotions were indifference.

“I can’t say I’ve noticed. There is only one woman who has ever caught my eye.” I knew that longing was pouring out of me, and I made no attempt to hide it.

She blushed furiously, fiddling with the cloth napkin in her lap, her aura a rosy pink. Pleasure, desire, curiosity…

Addictive . Everything about her drew me in.

“But as you said, the task at hand. Tell me about your family. What do I need to know?” I asked, easing the sexual tension that was steadily building between us. I shifted in my seat while she considered her answer, trying not to stare and glad that, inside the restaurant, I at least had the table to cover my straining dick.

“So many things. I’m not even sure where to start.” Her aura bled from a sizzling-red sexual curiosity into deep-navy frustration. “It’s been both a whirlwind and tumbleweeds all at once, and even though I’m in the middle of it, I can’t see how to possibly fix it.”

I reached across the table and stopped her from fidgeting with a soup spoon by entwining my fingers with hers.

She froze like a rabbit scenting a predator.

I squeezed her fingers.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m here to help, remember? Pick one family member, and tell me what I need to know about her—or him. We’re in no rush tonight, and we’ve got a week. I’d be happy to take you out again as many times as it takes.” I shot her a wicked grin, unable to hold it back.

“That won’t be necessary,” she said, squinting at me with no small suspicion. “But…” She bit her lip, her eyes tracing down to our joined fingertips then quickly away, as if worried I’d catch her peeking. “How about my brother, Fred?”

“I’d love to hear about your brother, Fred.”

“No, you wouldn’t. He’s more of an ass than Mr. Collins.”

“Worse than Collins ? Surely, that’s not possible.”

“Collins at least made one woman happy at the end of Pride and Prejudice . Fred hasn’t managed that much.”

I couldn’t help it; I laughed. Head back, inappropriately loud for the quiet restaurant, guffawed . I felt dirty looks rolling in from nearby diners and sent them all the suggestion to look deeply into their dining companions’ eyes or out at the view.

“Tell me how you really feel,” I teased, once I could control myself again.

“That’s probably rude, isn’t it? And I don’t want you to hate him or anything. It’s just… he’s always antagonized me. Nothing I do is ever right with him.”

“Ah. And do we care what he thinks?”

“ No ,” she insisted. “But he’s always in my father’s ear, telling him how I should be part of the family business.” Josie raked a hand through her hair, mussing the perfect curls slightly. I liked it. It made her seem more real, touchable. Less off-limits.

She has to stay off-limits, Caleb.

No amount of self-chiding made me wish even a fraction less that it was my hands running through her hair. My fingers weaving into the silken strands, pulling her to my lips for a kiss.

I cleared my throat. “You have your own business, though, and it’s incredible.”

“I know. And I always thought…” She shook her head, dropping her eyes back to her lap. “I always thought that would be enough, when I got to this point. But it wasn’t.” The words were so small, yet the pain in them made me ache. Her parents’ acceptance of her business was incredibly important to her.

Surely, they knew that?

I let my thumb trace over the back of hers, gently soothing while she composed herself. “I’m sorry they haven’t been able to give you what you need. But it doesn’t mean they won’t come around.”

Especially if I have anything to do with it.

“You don’t know my parents.”

“I—”

“Look at you two, such a beautiful couple!” A man in an elegant suit arrived at our table, completely destroying our deep conversation. “We are always pleased to host young love.”

Josie snatched her hand from mine, looking horrified. “We’re not a couple. Just friends. Having a very friendly dinner.” Her smile was tight and didn’t reach her eyes as she spoke.

“Ah, my apologies.” He shifted uncomfortably. “You are indeed two lovely friends. Has everything been satisfactory so far this evening?”

“Yes, excellent.” She glared at him.

“Magnificent. If you need anything at all, just let us know.” He half-bowed and then left, crossing to check on another table. But the mood was broken, and both of Josie’s hands were planted firmly back in her lap.

They stayed that way until the food came a few minutes later.

She was two bites into her chicken piccata when she dropped the bomb on me.