Caleb didn't disagree, and even seemed concerned, asking, “Do you want someone to go with you when he comes to visit?”
“Nah, I'll be okay. But Joslyn's always been protective when it comes to Evan, so she might go regardless.”
“Yeah, that wouldn't surprise me,” Caleb remarked, then lapsed into silent thought, almost as if looking for something more to say, but was drawing a blank.
Somehow, his uncertainty reminded Emily of her suspicion that, at some point, he was going to bring up the calendar. So she just waited for the subject to come tumbling out of his mouth as it had with everyone else who'd seen it. It's like clockwork.
But that's when Caleb lifted Nacho and stood from the recliner, announcing, “Well, I'm gonna go get a shower and call to let everyone know we got here safe.”
Emily pursed her lips. Didn't see that one coming. But there was a first for everything, and while she appreciated his lack of a need to peg her with questions, the thought that he wasn't at all affected by the image was actually … disappointing.
The only reason she'd pointed it out to was that it was there and she was amused. She'd never come across the calendar hanging on someone's wall at random before, and couldn't stop herself. But Emily would be a liar if she said a smaller part of her hadn't also hoped to impress an attractive man like Caleb Hodgins.
And now, he was walking away without another word.
The situation was too surprising for her not to comment. “You're really not gonna ask, are you?”
Caleb stopped at the door and gave her a confused look. “Huh?”
“Nothing,” Emily smirked, deciding at the last minute that she'd only sound arrogant by bringing it up.
But his curiosity must've been too strong to ignore because he turned to face her and retorted, “No, you don't get to say nothing. What are you talking about?”
Somehow, his insistence on knowing was cutely playful, so Emily suggested, “You know what I'm talking about.”
Caleb quirked a brow, his smile as handsome as they came when he prompted, “Oh, are you wondering when you'll get another ride on the Caleb-Cycle?”
“The Caleb what?” Emily exclaimed, snickering. “Please don't tell me you actually call your bike that.”
Sheepishly, he admitted, “I'd thought about it,” then walked toward the couch, sitting a cushion away from her where he added, “Seriously though, what did I not ask?”
“I was just surprised you didn't ask about the calendar. Most people do.”
Emily patiently waited for a response, and in the process, she realized that the mention of her photo had put a look in his eyes she couldn't quite place. It wasn't interested, but there was a sense of intrigue to it that made her curious.
Yet he merely shrugged. “Joslyn already said you did a gig for some extra cash.”
“Oh, you asked Joslyn.”
“Actually, Ashley asked.”
“Ashley?”
“Yeah, Joslyn was picking on me because she knew I'd seen the picture, and Ashley didn't know what she was talking about.”
“Oh,” she drew out in understanding, guessing he really wasn't impressed by the image—and Emily was embarrassed for pointing it out now. He must've believed she was extremely vain because of it, and that was the last thing she wanted anyone to believe about her.
Modeling was just a means to an end, and spending years doing so instead of taking the pictures herself was bad enough. But letting someone think she'd done so out of vanity?
Intolerable.
So she decided to end the conversation on a humble note, and shrugged. “Anyway, I think I'm gonna follow suit and get a shower, too.”
“Okay, if you need anything, you know where to find me.”
With that said, Caleb stood and, just as the night before, exited like he couldn't move fast enough.
And while he walked up the spiral staircase, Emily sighed.
“Way to go, Em,” she muttered aloud, getting up to adjourn to the bathroom downstairs.
Normally, such a situation wouldn't have bothered her, but she'd taken exception to this case for a specific reason—Caleb, and her strange need to keep him from thinking badly of her.
Maybe that desire was fueled by her temporary residency in his home, or maybe she just wanted to make a good impression on a man she found genuinely attractive. But regardless of the reason, there had to be a way to help him feel relatively comfortable in her presence instead of giving off the impression she was potentially shallow.
And the following week didn't change that determination.
It only strengthened her resolve.
Chapter 10
One Week Later
Emily's meeting with her brother didn't go as planned. In fact, by the end of it, she was pretty sure the real Evan had been abducted by aliens.
They'd agreed to meet at Blue Moon Bar & Grill, the one place in Arkin City she'd yet to see after a week of living there. Owned by Cade and his sister, Sara, the siblings had promised her first meal free whenever she stopped by. So, because things with Evan weren't likely to go well, she'd suggested it to him, thinking the free food would make up for the lousy company.
Emily parked in the lot outside with the thought in mind, fully expecting her brother to keep her waiting for at least an hour before he showed up. But she'd driven there straight after work anyway, if only to check out the bar for herself.
Yet the moment she stepped inside, and before the waitress could greet her, Evan called her name from a booth across the dining room, his tone so friendly she almost didn't recognize it.
But if Evan's cheerful greeting wasn't strange enough, the way he stood with a smile and leaned in for a brief but friendly hug was simply awkward.
“Heya, Em, you look great!”
Hiding her discomfort, Emily smiled and stated, “Thanks, you too.”
At least it wasn't a lie. His dirty blond hair looked much better cut short than long and wild like he used to keep it as a teen, and he'd also bulked up in muscle mass, prompting her to ask, “Have you been working out?”
Motioning for her to have a seat, he grinned. “Yeah, my job kinda calls for it.”
Sitting at the booth, Emily guessed that made sense. He was a security officer now, a job she'd always thought suited his personality and stubborn strength of will. So maybe his change in demeanor could be attributed to his contentment with the path his life had taken.
But she decided not to speculate just yet, and paused their conversation long enough to order a soda from the waitress.
Once they were alone again, she asked, “And work's bringing you through Georgia, huh?”
“Yeah, I was in Tallahassee last week, organizing security for a concert, and now I'm on the way to a Charleston banquet for rich snobs and corrupt politicians.” He sighed, smiling as if to say c'est la vie. “I'm glad I had the time to stop, though. This is the first real break I've had in two months.”
“Sounds rough,” Emily returned, hoping her uneasiness wasn't showing, particularly because she had no idea what else she could safely talk about without judgment.
Of course, she had to consider the possibility that Evan really did want to visit just for the sake of seeing his sister. But deep down, she feared anything said would be used as ammunition later, and a prime example was the B&E at her duplex last week.
If she brought that up, he'd use the incident to tell her that she'd made a huge mistake moving from Flagstaff and leaving their mother behind, or just point out that she needed to live with a roommate instead of being alone.
So she kept the conversation focused on Evan by adding, “But hey, at least it's work, right?”
Evan snorted. “That's one way to put it. But enough about that. How have you been? We haven't really talked in … almost three years?”
“Something like that, and I'm fine,” she confirmed, keeping her answers as simple as possible. “My first week of work's been great, and the people here are awesome.”
> Evan nodded, though he was staring down at the tabletop like something specific had caught his attention, and Emily soon realized it was the bandages on her knuckles covering the healing scrapes from her assault.
“How are you after that B&E?”
“Oh, fine,” she quickly responded.
“Yeah? No one's bothered you since? Have the police found anyone?”
“Not yet,” she started. “All they have is the picture of that guy in the mask, but there aren't any suspects, and things have been quiet. So the police are keeping the neighborhood under watch.”
“Good,” he said pointedly. “I'd hate to have to come back here and kick someone's ass.”
At that, Emily couldn't stop herself from drawing out a baffled, “Yeeah … .”
“What?”
“I … I don't know.” Pursing her lips, she admitted, “It's just weird that you're playing the big brother.”
At that, Evan's cheerful attitude turned … sorrowful. But he didn't immediately respond before the waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders. He even offered to pay for Emily's food before she reminded him of her free meal—and the waitress easily recognized her name.
Once she'd left to place their orders, Evan finally gave his sister a more thorough explanation.
“I'm sorry, Em. Hell, you probably didn't like knowing I wanted to visit at all, huh?”
“Now that you mention it … ” she drew out uncertainly.
Holding up a hand to stop her, he qualified, “Seriously, I get it. We didn't have the best relationship growing up.”
“Not really,” she agreed. “But it's been three years, and I honestly didn't know what to expect. So I wasn't thrilled, but if I really wanted to avoid you, I could've just given you some excuse.”
He grinned. “I can handle that, and I'm sorry for being such an ass, even though I think it's too late for an apology. I don't know, when I got that job in Charleston, and heard you'd moved out here, I just wanted to stop by and say hello.”
“That's cool,” Emily remarked with a warm smile, deciding to give her brother the benefit of a doubt. He was leaving soon anyway, so even if he wasn't being honest, at least he was making an effort to get along during his stay.
So she added, “I'm glad you did. It is nice to see someone familiar.”
“Yeah? Have you made any friends here yet? I mean besides Joslyn.”
“Yep, and we're all waiting for her sister-in-law to give birth. She's due any second.”
Evan smirked. “No kids for Joslyn yet?”
“Not yet. She wants them, but I think she's making sure they're stable enough to provide.”
“That's always a good plan. You can't be too prepared when it comes to kids.”
“Oh?” Emily smiled. “Sounds like you've put some thought into it.”
“Maybe, but I need a steady girlfriend first,” Evan chuckled, then changed the subject. “By the way, isn't Joslyn's last name Hodgins now?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I saw the name on a plaque outside that said In Loving Memory of Henry Hodgins. I was just wondering if he was related to her husband.”
“Oh, yeah, her husband is Conner. His siblings own this place, and Henry was their father.”
“Right, Conner was the name,” Evan remarked, snapping his fingers as if he already knew it, but couldn't remember. “Do they seem like good people?”
“Yeah,” Emily drew out, confused by the question. “Why do you ask?”
“I don't know, just wanna make sure you're getting along after moving across the country and being assaulted.”
Here it comes, Emily thought, bracing for some comment like and you probably broke mom's heart or I just hope she can get along without you in Flagstaff.
But Evan remained silent long enough to allow the waitress to bring their food to the table—and Emily stared at her oversized burger with wide eyes.
When her brother saw the look, he grinned. “They don't skimp out on the portions here, do they?”
Realizing he actually wasn't going to criticize her, Emily smiled genuinely. “Nope, and I'll definitely need a doggie bag.”
The rest of their lunch went just that way, with casual comments and walks down memory lane, making it a surprisingly pleasant experience. Weird, but pleasant. They even got their mom on the phone for a short time—and Michelle seemed extremely happy to hear how well they were getting along.
So by the time Evan was ready to leave, Emily was in much higher spirits, and requested a bag for the half of her meal she'd been unable to eat, then walked outside.
On the way, the sound of a motorcycle hit her ears, and she glanced toward the exit of Blue Moon's parking lot to catch a brief glimpse of a bike driving by just before it vanished from sight. In turn, she groaned, realizing she'd hoped to see Caleb, and knew without a doubt that she was developing more than just a passing interest in him.
Not that she'd ever tell Evan such a thing.
But he didn't seem to notice her distraction anyway, asking once they'd reached her car, “So, whenever I come back through here, think you'll feel like getting lunch again? Maybe introduce me around?”
Emily smiled. “Sure, and be careful driving to Charleston, okay?”
Evan nodded, stopping at her sedan as she unlocked the door. “Okay, and let me know what Cade and Ashley decide to name their kid.”
“No problem,” she grinned, too curious about the outcome of Ashley's pregnancy not to feel lighthearted whenever she considered it.
Yet she didn't linger, and told Evan goodbye while climbing into her vehicle to get on the road, curiously considering their meeting.
Had Evan truly changed? Was he being sincere when he said he was sorry? It was hard to say, but Emily wasn't above giving him a chance and seeing where their next meeting might lead.
Still, the moment she left Blue Moon's parking lot, all thoughts of her brother were forgotten. Instead, her focus centered on the drive to her temporary home with a guy who was making her crazy.
For as confusing as Evan's behavior had been that afternoon, her brother didn't hold a candle to Caleb Hodgins, who had to be the most difficult man she'd ever tried to understand.
It was easy to admit that she was liking him more with each passing day. He had a great sense of humor, and his devotion to family was extremely admirable.
But his reactions to her was the baffling part.
As it stood, there seemed to be two different Calebs, one who was dismissive, and the other attentive. Sometimes, while she was talking, he'd look at her in a way that suggested she could go on forever and he wouldn't complain. Additionally, she felt so comfortable during their conversations that she rarely held back, getting the feeling he knew ten times as much about her life now as she did his.
But there was never any judgment, just questions and the occasional teasing.
Caleb had also taken an interest in her photography, and seemed genuinely impressed by her skills. While babysitting Taylor on Monday, Emily was sorting through the photos taken during her first day of work to decide which were the best quality, and he'd sat next to her with the baby bundled up against his chest, offering to help.
But that was the attentive Caleb. In contrast, the dismissive one usually closed up completely and walked away without a second look.
Coincidentally, this usually happened in a moment when she thought they were getting closer, or he was showing more than just friendly interest—and those moments weren't in short supply.
So yesterday, Emily did a little snooping by asking Joslyn more about his past, hoping to learn something that might explain his strange behavior. Of course, her best friend tried to tease her into revealing her motivation for knowing, but Emily managed to avoid the subject by promising she'd talk the moment she actually had something to talk about.
Thankfully, Joslyn relented, then informed her of some important news; apparently, Caleb's heart had been broken before, and Joslyn wasn't convinc
ed he'd gotten over it. But she didn't offer the details, feeling Caleb should be the one to fill in the blanks, and Emily agreed, unwilling to let her snooping take her somewhere she didn't belong.
Still, she had to wonder if this history was affecting their current standing. Maybe all of his mixed signals stemmed from a fear of getting hurt again.
Yet Emily wasn't even sure if he found her interesting, or attractive from the start. She only knew that her own curiosity was getting stronger every day, and though she hadn't been looking for a serious relationship, it would definitely be nice to find something meaningful.
Pulling up the long drive to his home, she considered the possibility, wondering for not the first time that week if she should make a move and see how he responded. She wasn't the most straightforward woman alive, but she was comfortable enough to put herself out on a limb.
Besides, she was going back to the duplex that night. Conner and Joslyn had informed her of their decision to return the previous evening, and with them around, things would be much safer. This meant she and Caleb wouldn't have to be around one another if her advances somehow messed things up.
Either way, a spark had been lit on her end, and Emily was extremely curious to see whether it would fizzle out, or make it to the fireworks. And I definitely wouldn't mind some fireworks. So why not take the chance? I've got nothing to lose.
With her mind made up, she parked in front of the house and looked up to realize Caleb was outside, working on his renovations again. All week long, he'd been busy building a balcony onto the second level guestroom, and today, he was working in jeans and a white racerback stained with dirt and sweat. Why is that so damned attractive?
Emily thoughtlessly stared as he carried a few short beams of lumber over his shoulder and across the yard. Along the way, her eyes trailed over his muscular arms and down to the jeans hugging his generous ass. I just hope taking a chance goes well because damn, that physique alone is too good not to try.
Caleb soon dumped the wood into a pile and stood straight, his arms flexing while the sinew of his broad shoulders rolled fluidly. In the process, Emily spied a tattoo on the back of his left shoulder consisting of a wolf's head with a full moon encompassing it, and suddenly wanted to know if he had any other designs hidden beneath his clothes.
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