Last Call (A Place to Call Home Book 3)

by Laura Browning

  "Would you mind showing me how to do the basics?"

  "No problem."

  He stepped closer to her so they could both look at the screen. This close, he smelled the flowery scent coming off her skin. Caleb drew in a deep breath, enjoying the fragrance.

  "This button on the back will bring your screen up. See?"

  She nodded as he showed her.

  "It also turns it off again too. If you hold it down instead of touching it, it will turn the phone off."

  As he continued to explain, Caleb became aware that Leah was also surreptitiously studying him. "So you swipe your finger across here, like this, to answer a call. When you're through, tap end and it will hang up the line."

  "Thanks, Caleb."

  He was inches away. Her lips were slightly parted and her eyes wide. Without giving himself time to think, Caleb ducked his head and kissed her. Nothing long and drawn out, just a quick brush of their lips.

  "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice a little breathless but not angry. And she still hadn't pulled away from him.

  "Kissing you." He moved in to try it again. This time for a little longer. She was like tasting heaven, her lips soft and sweet, and man oh man did he remember this. With each touch of their lips, the memories came back. This time, he held the real woman, not some fantasy designed to deceive everyone, including him.

  At some point, his arms had circled her, pressing her body along the length of his. He teased her lips with the tip of his tongue, moaning softly as she opened for him and let him inside. Conscious this was neither the time nor the place to continue, he pulled his lips from her and pressed her head against his shoulder.

  "You okay?" he asked.

  "Yes."

  "I didn't plan that."

  "Me neither."

  "You think we should forget it?"

  "Do you want to?"

  He smoothed his hand over the back of her head. Her short hair was as soft as silk beneath his hand. Turning his head, he inhaled her fragrance again before answering.

  "No. I don't. I think I'd like to do that some more."

  She trembled. Caleb dropped his arms and stepped back.

  "No pressure, Leah."

  She crossed her arms over her breasts. "It's okay. Really."

  He nodded. "My parents want to come over this evening. Noah might, too. That suit you?"

  She nibbled on her lower lip. "I don't know, Caleb."

  "They're excited about having another grandkid. I thought we could grill some burgers, a hot dog for Jonah, and take it easy. See how things go."

  Her glance darted to their son. He was marching his car over the pea gravel and making engine noises. She nibbled her lip a bit more. Caleb gave her time. He wasn't going to pressure her. If she said no, then he would simply call his mom and dad to reschedule. Either way, she would meet everyone this weekend when he did Last Call's soft opening for family and close friends.

  At last, she nodded. "Okay. I'll be done here at five."

  "I'll pick you up."

  "What about getting food ready?"

  He grinned. "I'll handle it. I've run bars and restaurants for a while. I can definitely handle having a few family members drop by for dinner. Besides, they're going to be so overwhelmed at Jonah, I could serve them horseshi...anything," he quickly corrected with a glance at his son, "and they would never know the difference."

  The bell rang indicating a customer had stepped inside the floral shop.

  "I better go. I'll see you later. Thanks for the phone." The smile she gave him right before she spun to hurry inside was all he needed.

  Somewhere in the last few hours, it had become very important to him to make her smile. If he managed to make her laugh? That was like winning the lottery.

  Caleb squatted next to Jonah. "Let's go home and get some lunch, then you have a date with your bed for a nap."

  Jonah stuck out his lip. "No nap. I not tired."

  From Caleb's experience with his nieces and nephews, those were famous last words. He'd be lucky if he managed to get any lunch in the little guy before he went out like a light. In fact, now he thought about it, Caleb was feeling a little drowsy too. This being a dad thing was a lot harder than it appeared. Certainly a lot harder than when he'd taken care of his brothers' kids.

  Maybe the big difference was in this case, the kid was his.

  Chapter 15

  Leah watched the clock for the rest of the afternoon. Time crept by, and she didn't know if that made her anxious or relieved. Mack was nagging. Someone was coming in tomorrow to talk about flowers for a winter wedding, but they had to come in early because of their work schedules, so was there any way she could arrive an hour before opening? When he stopped talking or ran out of air, she wasn't sure which, Leah straightened, resting her trowel on the potting table.

  "I'll try, Mack. Caleb will have to give me a ride because I don't have a car yet."

  "You could borrow the van," Mack said and began digging the keys from his pocket.

  Leah touched his arm to stop him. "Hang on, okay? Caleb will be here in a few minutes, and I'll ask him."

  Mack nodded. "Okay. Right. That will work."

  He wandered off to his office and Leah shook her head. Caleb pointing out how spacey Mack was most of the time had drawn her focus to it in a new way. She wondered how much money he would have to have before he would agree to sell. With a shake of her head, Leah set about finishing the last of the repotting. Whatever the price, it didn't matter because she didn't have it. Probably never would, and the chances of her getting a business loan were nil.

  Caleb arrived a short time later. His hair was standing on end, and he had a suspicious blue streak along one cheek. Jonah ducked his head around Caleb's leg and grinned at her, his teeth a white slash amidst a sea of blue remarkably similar to that streak on Caleb's face.

  As if aware of her perusal, Caleb cleared his throat. "We were decorating cupcakes."

  "Cupcakes." Leah studied Jonah's face again. "Did any of the icing actually end up on the cakes?"

  "Oh yeah."

  "They gots spwinkles."

  Caleb looked around. "Do you need to close up or anything? We should go so Jonah and I have some time to clean up before everyone gets there."

  "No. Mack said I could take the van. He wants me to come in an hour earlier tomorrow."

  Caleb tilted his head as he watched her through narrowed eyes. "But you don't really want to. Is it driving the van or coming in early?"

  "I don't like driving the van outside of work, but I don't want to inconvenience you either."

  "It's not an inconvenience. If you don't want to drive the van, I am more than happy to give you a lift over here in the morning. Leah, I can help you out if you need to get a car."

  She shook her head. "I'm not ready for that discussion, Caleb. Not even close. Can we go?"

  He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but then Jonah tugged on his pants. Caleb lowered his gaze and ruffled their son's hair. Leah felt like a bitch, but the truth was she was scared. Scared of having left her comfort zone, even if it hadn't been very comfortable. Scared of what was going to happen to her and Jonah, but most of all she was scared of the attraction for Caleb tingling through her.

  "Sure. We can go, Leah. Grab your purse."

  The ride home was silent. Leah wasn't sure what to say. How could she explain to him she needed to feel like she didn't have someone telling her what to do or how to be? Yet, her stomach twisted. Every offer he'd made to help her she threw back in his face, and that wasn't what she wanted to do either.

  When they reached the house, Caleb was out of the car first, letting Jonah out of his car seat. The little boy raced toward the house. As Caleb started to follow, Leah grabbed his arm. He turned, arching his dark brows.

  "What is it?"

  She dropped her hand, staring up at him while her stomach fluttered. "I'm sorry."

  His whole demeanor changed. In one instant, it was as if he sim
ply melted, softening and relaxing his posture.

  "For what? You have nothing to apologize for."

  She gaped at him. How could he feel that way? Had he not noticed?

  "I feel like every time you suggest helping I'm throwing it back at you."

  He reached for her, pulling her into his embrace. "I get it, Leah. I told you I don't want to pressure you, but sometimes I can't help it. I hate seeing you do without. I hate the fact you and Jonah have had to do without. So I know I'm going too fast. You're letting me know when I step over that mark. It's okay."

  He gave her a squeeze, turned her loose, and headed for the house, scooping up Jonah on his way. Leah stood next to the car watching the two of them. Was she crazy? Why was she trying to resist working on a relationship with this man?

  "I must be crazy," she mumbled as she pushed away from the car and followed them into the house.

  Once inside, she could hear Caleb and Jonah in the kitchen. Leah followed the sounds of their voices. The table was full of decorated cupcakes, snacks, and the fixings for hamburgers. It looked to her as if the two of them had managed to get everything done. Well, Caleb had, because she doubted Jonah had been anything more than a distraction.

  "What can I help with?"

  He looked up from where he was scrubbing the worst of the blue icing from Jonah's face.

  "Nothing. Do you want to get cleaned up?"

  She was sweaty and dirty from repotting flowers. "I think I'd better. What about you?"

  "I think Jonah and I both need to. Why don't we guys clean up while you get yourself together?"

  Her first instinct was to say no. Jonah was her responsibility, but she was determined to make a change. Leah took a deep breath. "Thank you, Caleb. That would be such a help."

  This time, she had surprised him. He grinned and scooped Jonah into his arms. "Great. We'll see you in a half hour then. Everyone will be here around six."

  She watched them go then turned to take another look at the kitchen table. Although she knew it shouldn't, the amount of work Caleb had managed to accomplish with Jonah's dubious help was amazing. She shook her head. She needed to be careful. It would be way too easy to become dependent on Caleb.

  Leah took her time in the shower. That was such an unusual luxury, she did her best to enjoy it to the utmost. Toweling dry afterward, she heard the sound of pounding feet and a childish giggle followed by Caleb's deeper voice.

  "Hold on there, buddy. You can't race around the house in your birthday suit."

  Leah grabbed the robe hanging from the hook on the back of the door and belted it around her waist before opening the door. The sight that greeted her both warmed her heart and made her mouth go dry.

  Caleb had just plucked a naked, wriggling Jonah in one arm. The two were laughing while Caleb used his other hand to hang onto the towel wrapped around his hips. Lord above, she remembered him, remembered how his hard body had wrapped around her, covered her, and loved her to absolute mindlessness.

  "Mama!" Jonah squealed. "Daddy has a wee—"

  "Yeah! Whoa there. I don't think we need to go into specifics," Caleb said, cutting Jonah off in mid-sentence. Caleb's eyes met hers, and she was surprised when a flush colored his cheekbones.

  Leah averted her gaze and cleared her throat. "If you want to leave him here. I'll take care of getting him dressed while you do the same."

  "That would be great. Thanks." Caleb handed the toddler over, tucked the towel a bit more securely around his waist and made a beeline for the door. "We've got about fifteen minutes before everyone arrives."

  "We'll be ready."

  They were, but Leah was incredibly nervous as she made her way back downstairs. Not sure how to dress, she had settled on her nicest jeans and a pale pink blouse. It was just supposed to be a cookout, and she didn't recall Caleb's parents being snooty like some of the other people around Mountain Meadow.

  "I have a car?" Jonah asked as they got ready to leave the room.

  "You may take one car with you."

  They served as something of a security blanket for him. Leah wished she had something similar.

  They stepped off the stairs as a dark full-size SUV pulled up on the circular drive out front. Nerves made her stomach flutter. She wasn't ready for this. What would they think of her? Would they hate her for not having said anything sooner? Leah was certain she was going to throw up.

  Then Caleb was there, squeezing her shoulder ever so slightly before he plucked Jonah from her arms.

  "Come on, sport. You need to meet your Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Noah."

  Noah. Right. Caleb had mentioned he would be coming. That made her even more nervous. Leah had heard about his accident, had overhead people talking about him being a changed man. She'd seen proof the night of Becca and Eli's wedding reception. She scraped her palms down her pants' legs to remove any clamminess, and forced a smile to her lips. She could do this.

  His parents were out of the SUV first. Mary Allred's smile showed where the dimples had come from in this family. Her husband was behind her, a more reserved expression, but still not unfriendly.

  Noah, however, was a different matter.

  From the closed, hostile expression on his face, Leah would guess there was a lot more separating him in appearance from Caleb than just a missing hand. Yet, he must be making some progress. He had driven the car, after all.

  As Caleb started to perform the introductions, Mary scooted him aside and wrapped Leah in her arms. "Welcome to our family, Leah." Mary gave her a gentle hug.

  "Thank you," Leah replied, but inside she was wondering if she could be counted as a part of the family. Jonah could. He was a blood relation, but she was just his mother and not involved with Caleb. Well, at least not anymore.

  John followed his wife's lead, and then they were both oohing and aahing over the cars Jonah produced from the pocket of his shorts. So much for one car.

  "Cars are kind of a thing with him," Caleb explained with a grin. "He's always got at least one with him. Even when he sleeps."

  As Leah watched them interacting, she became aware of Noah, hanging back and watching all of them. Taking a deep breath, she took a step toward him and held out her hand, only realizing at the last minute she'd extended her right hand to shake and Noah had no right hand with which to reciprocate. Before she could withdraw it, he arched a brow and grasped her hand with his left.

  "Leah. I see you've managed to land on your feet."

  She pulled her hand from his grasp. "We've done all right."

  Noah's lip curled. "Sure." He let his gaze wander over the house and surroundings. "You will have to admit this is a whole lot nicer than living in that old farmhouse with your folks."

  She didn't like feeling defensive. Leave it to Noah to zero right in on what made her feel the most vulnerable about her current situation. She wasn't pulling her weight. Jonah and she were dependent on Caleb for their housing, their transportation, and he wouldn't allow her to pitch in money. At least not yet. It would be so easy to snap at Noah, but she needed to keep a rein on her temper.

  "Caleb has been very kind." She stepped away from Noah, almost as though he were a poisonous snake she'd discovered lying in wait for her.

  "Come on, you two," Caleb called. Leah turned, grateful for an excuse to make her escape from his twin.

  Noah had always been the more intense of the two, but he had an edge to him now that bordered on cruel. Not sure she wanted to be around him at all, Leah was less sure she wanted Jonah around him.

  Her little boy was being happily carried by his new grandma, and what an improvement Mary was over Leah's mother. Far from worn down and old before her time, Caleb's mother oozed vitality. Of course Mary didn't have a husband to contend with who was mean as a rattlesnake. Caleb's dad quite obviously doted on his wife.

  Of all the emotions that had torn at her over the past few days, she now felt envious. Two reasons for that. She envied John and Mary their relationship and envied their kid
s having two such wonderful people for parents. Now she felt disloyal. Although Leah couldn't recall a time when her father had ever been anything other than mean, she did remember when her mother hadn't been downtrodden, when her hair and skin had glowed with health.

  "Are you all right?"

  Leah pulled herself back to the present with a start. Mary had her hand on Leah's arm and her gaze was filled with concern. Jonah now regarded Noah with his head cocked to one side. Afraid of what might be coming, she gave Mary a quick nod and a smile and started toward Jonah just as she heard him say...

  "You gots a boo-boo."

  He pointed at Noah's stump. The whole room stilled. Everyone seemed to hold their breath, watching Noah. His lips tightened and his jaw hardened. Leah feared the outburst she was sure would come. Jonah didn't know any better, she wanted to shout at him.

  Noah's Adam's apple bobbed and he took a deep, noisy breath.

  "I do, don't I?" he finally said in a mild voice.

  "It hurt?" Jonah asked.

  "Jonah!" Leah said, hoping to put a stop to the endless questions that could sometimes spill forth from her son's mouth.

  Noah glanced at her, his smile tight. "It's all right. I only bite adults. No," he told the little boy, "it doesn't hurt anymore."

  Jonah nodded, as if everything was okay as long as Noah's boo-boo didn't hurt. The toddler held up a car for Noah, who took it into his left hand and began to inspect it thoroughly.

  Leah relaxed. "What can I help with, Caleb?"

  She hoped to make an escape. She wasn't good with people in social situations, mainly because she had so little experience. Working at the nursery was no problem. Plants and flowers were second nature to her, and it provided a topic of conversation, but she was at a loss about what to talk about right now.

  Her hopes of making an escape were doomed though. "We're good. Everything's done but the meat. If y'all want to grab something to drink, we can go out on the patio while I throw the burgers and dogs on the grill."