by JoAnn Durgin
Everything paled in comparison to protecting Lauren.
He couldn’t afford distractions. Not even a lovely and tempting one.
“Caleb, I’m sorry we didn’t have time to talk privately tonight. If you need my help professionally, give me a call.” Eliot handed him a business card.
“Thanks.” Caleb stopped himself before he said too much. Not yet. It wasn’t the time although he’d probably call Eliot in the future. Digging out one of his cards, he gave it to the other man.
Eliot pushed aside his empty plate. “Tell me if I’m out of line, but I sense a strong mutual attraction between you and Caty.”
“She’s a lovely, intriguing woman, but there’s a whole laundry list of reasons why not to pursue a relationship.” Caleb rubbed a hand over his chin, glad he’d shaved off the scruff before coming to the restaurant. “For starters, I’m a few years older.” When he’d checked her personnel file, he’d noted her age—twenty-nine.
“That’s irrelevant. The age difference isn’t all that much, and you don’t look your age.”
Caleb didn’t wish to engage in a debate about the subject. “I’m also her employer, Eliot. In my estimation, that’s a substantial enough reason not to get involved.”
“Ah,” Eliot said. “I can see where that could complicate things, but it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. You’re the boss and make the rules, correct?” With a small smile, he took a drink of his water.
Caleb fiddled with the stem of his water glass. “Yes, but are rules meant to confine or are they intended to challenge a person to be the best he or she can be?”
“Depends on your motivation and goals,” Eliot said. “I’m the first to admit I haven’t always played by the rules. I lived fast and free for a long time. I’m a prime example of how God can transform a man’s life. Breathe new life into him through the shed blood of Christ.”
“How did you first come to faith?” Crossing his arms, Caleb sat back in his chair. He hadn’t had a discussion like this with another man in years. At the end of the day, faith is what mattered—not how much money or property he could amass in a lifetime. Not how many friends he’d accumulated. Family was a natural extension of that faith. Raising godly kids and instilling the love of Christ in them. Creating a legacy of faith.
He’d failed miserably in that regard. Could there still be hope with Lauren or was it too late? He’d pushed aside the thought of remarriage…until now. Did he even want to start over again at almost forty?
“A man named Juan gave me a Bible at a church in Santiago a number of years ago,” Eliot said. “I’d lost a comrade and was messed up with grief. Juan stuck with me for a long time, listening to me cry and talk about my friend. Caleb, I know God put him there on that day, in that moment, to speak to me. Juan spoke faltering English mixed with Chilean Spanish. I knew enough Spanish, and he knew just enough English, to impress upon me that a man named Jesus loved me enough to die on a cross. He gave me an English version Bible and prayed with me. The guy was in rags, and I don’t know how he came to have that Bible, but God provided the way and the means.”
Eliot’s eyes were bright as he continued his story. “Juan’s faith was simple, raw, and honest. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed. You know what it was? I saw Jesus reflected in the radiant face of another man who cared about my eternal destiny. That’s something a man doesn’t forget. I still carry that Bible today. It’s tattered, and the pages are falling out, but that book represents my healing, redemption, and hope. It’s one of my most treasured possessions, and it always will be.”
“That’s an amazing story,” Caleb said. “Thanks for sharing. I placed my trust in Christ when I was ten—my mom led me to faith—but that faith has been severely tested in the last few years. Now, I’m afraid it’s wobbly at best. I know that’s not the right heart attitude, and those are excuses for my weaknesses, but for better or worse, it’s where I’m at right now.”
“We all have our trials, brother. God has a way of bringing each one of us around to the truths He needs us to discover. Each person’s journey is unique.”
Drumming his fingers on the tablecloth, Caleb considered the other man’s words. “I’m trying to find my way back, Eliot. I’ve got to find my way past some major stumbling blocks first.”
“I’d be honored to pray for you.” Eliot’s voice held the kind of compassion from another man he hadn’t heard in years. “No wonder what’s happening in my life, I’ve also found that nothing’s too big for God. I never expected to meet someone fantastic like Marta and then stay in one place long enough to fall in love. We’d skirted around each other for a few years with TeamWork events, but when we finally had a few weeks together on the mission in New Mexico, that’s all it took to solidify our relationship. Then I was knifed—”
“You were knifed on a TeamWork mission?” Incredulous, Caleb stared at the other man.
“Yes, but those were extenuating circumstances. We had some trouble from a local group, and they tried to burn down the Native American church we were building in New Mexico.”
Eliot dismissed being stabbed as though it wasn’t a major trauma. Compared to what Eliot must have faced in his military life, and the way he’d probably put his life on the line on a daily basis for years, Caleb supposed it would pale in significance.
“So, there I was, lying wounded in a hospital bed outside Albuquerque, and the Lord convicted me that I needed to marry Marta even though the only real date we’d had was to the hot air balloon fiesta.” With a smile, Eliot drained his glass of iced tea. “Crazy, I know. We’d had lots of conversations through the years, enough for me to know if I ever settled down, Marta Holcomb was the woman I’d want walking beside me into an eternity in heaven.”
“I’m happy for you, Eliot. Marta seems great, and I can tell she’s a good friend to Caty. Thank you for sharing your story, and I welcome your prayers.” Prayer definitely couldn’t hurt, and it was the best thing anyone could do for another.
Eliot’s look was understanding. “Like I said, call me if you need me otherwise.”
Caleb nodded. “Will do.”
The ladies returned to their table, and they all declined dessert. Eliot paid the bill, but he accepted Caleb’s offer to leave the tip. Usually Caleb was the one who picked up the tab for everyone, and it was a pleasant change to be treated.
As they prepared to leave the restaurant, Marta gave Caty a quick hug before turning to him. “Caleb, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope we’ll see you again.”
“Most definitely. We should all have dinner soon, and I’ll return the favor.” Until the words escaped, Caleb didn’t consider the implications of that statement in terms of Caty.
After bidding their friends good night, Caleb grabbed his Stetson. Pressing his hand lightly on Caty’s back, they exited the room together. He caught the scent of her, a subtle floral. The same scent that lingered after she’d left his office. The same scent he’d noticed with her sitting so close during dinner.
“May I walk you to your car?” he said.
She gave him a smile that seemed almost shy. He needed to remind himself he wasn’t on a date.
“That would be nice, but I need to retrieve my coat first.”
“Do you have your claim ticket? I’ll get it for you.”
“Let’s both go.” Caty walked beside him to the coat check. Not sure what to say for once in his life, Caleb shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and resisted the urge to whistle. Why did he feel like a kid on a first date? In an odd way, he enjoyed it. The newness of it all, the wonder of discovering mutual attraction.
How long had it been since he’d even had a date? The clumsy attempts he’d made to take a woman to dinner since Helena’s death had failed miserably, leaving him more alone at the end of the evening. He’d finally decided it wasn’t worth the effort. The women were nice enough—attractive, fun, intelligent—but something had been missing in each case. Whatever it was the o
ther women lacked, Caty possessed in abundance.
If only he could figure what it was. Could be a combination of qualities.
He’d seen Caty’s photos before, but not a one of them had done her adequate justice. In person, she was stunning, a woman who’d captivated his attention from the second he’d noticed her on the sidewalk. After her mishaps outside, he’d wanted to sweep her into his arms and carry her into the building before she could hurt herself. Not that he considered himself some kind of romantic hero. That almost made him laugh.
Glancing his way, Caty caught him red-handed in his staring. For once, he didn’t care, and he was pleased when she held his gaze. They understood one another, acknowledged the strong undercurrents of attraction simmering between them. He was a man, she was a woman. Couldn’t get much more basic than that although he needed to be careful since he hadn’t had much contact with the opposite sex—other than in a professional way—in a long time. Not that he’d act on this attraction, but for now, he could appreciate and enjoy it.
He liked her smile and those gorgeous blue eyes. Her lush, dark hair that fell in soft waves around her face and cascaded around her shoulders. Catherine Lewis radiated a girl-next-door type of natural beauty he preferred. Fresh, approachable, and…effervescent. So tall she was nearly his height in heels.
Neither one of them were kids. He couldn’t know if she’d had any long-term relationships, but if he had to guess, he’d say no. From what he knew of her, she’d never been married, had no children. If he didn’t still cling to a semblance of his once much stronger faith, and if Caty weren’t a morally principled woman, their evening would probably end in a much different way. He’d seen too many acquaintances fall into casual physical intimacy in an attempt to validate their worth as a desirable human being. That kind of thinking, and those types of encounters, only led to eventual hurt and possible heartache.
More than that, there was a purity about Caty that called to something inside him. He respected her strength, her honesty, and in truth, everything he knew about the woman. Caty was a true lady in every sense of the word.
His gaze dropped to her feet. She wore cowgirl boots—not only that, they were red, one of his favorite colors. Another surprise from this intriguing woman, and one he liked.
“Nice boots. Not that I normally comment on a woman’s footwear,” he said, clearing his throat. “Just so we’re clear.”
“No worries. Don’t be surprised if I show up in them at the office one day. They’re my footwear of choice.”
“Feel free.”
“Caleb, I hope you know I was just being silly earlier tonight,” she said before the silence between them grew noticeably long.
“I can’t remember the last time I had such fun at dinner. Catherine is a beautiful name. Have you always been called Caty?”
“As long as I can remember. I’m named for my grandmother on my dad’s side although I don’t believe she went by a name other than Catherine. This might sound crazy…” Her voice trailed and she ducked her head.
“What?” He tried to catch her eye. “Tell me.”
“When we first met earlier today? On the sidewalk outside the office building? That was a Caty moment.”
“And now?” He knew the answer but wanted to hear it from her.
“Now…is definitely a Catherine moment.” Her voice had grown soft, sweet. Infinitely appealing.
He smiled. “I hope you’ll clue me in at the office which kind of day you’re having so I’ll know which name to call you. And feel free to wear your red boots anytime you’d like.” He restrained himself before he winked. For all he knew, he’d already crossed that line unconsciously.
She seemed surprised. “You can call me Caty, but I assumed we wouldn’t see each other often.”
She was right. Normally they wouldn’t cross paths. When Caleb opened his mouth to respond, what emerged was, “I might want to drop by sometime.” He wasn’t sure why he’d said it, but for once he’d allowed his emotions to control his words.
Her cheeks flushed, and they stepped closer to the coat check counter, one person away from the front of the line. “Do you travel a lot?”
“I used to travel quite a bit, but in the past year I’ve been sending other Belac officers in my place,” he said. “They’re more than capable, and I’m always a phone call or teleconference away.”
She nodded. “I’m sure you’ve earned the right, and I don’t blame you.”
“It’s not so much about the right. There are other factors to consider.”
“Do you have children?” She’d read straight through his last statement, but Lauren was so much more than a factor. Semantics, but it’d had been a poor choice of words. He was thankful Caty felt comfortable enough to ask him questions, but he hoped she wouldn’t ask him about Helena. That was complicated and would take more time than they had while waiting in the coat check queue.
“One daughter—Lauren. She’s twelve going on forty-five. Typical, I understand, for that age.”
“I’m sure she’s a lovely girl.”
He swallowed. “She is, actually.” He was also losing Lauren, and he needed to do something to rectify the emotional distance between them. She hated that he’d uprooted her, and they’d left Dallas. She hadn’t said as much, but she’d become more withdrawn and refused to eat dinner with him lately, opting to take her meal in her bedroom instead. He supposed he should stop allowing that kind of behavior. Finding the right balance and knowing where to draw the lines was one of the most difficult challenges he’d faced.
Since Helena’s death, he’d given his daughter everything in order to try and make up for the fact that her mother was gone. As if it was somehow his fault. As though material gifts could fill the void. And as a result, Lauren acted alternately spoiled and petulant. But not always. Maybe it was part of the preteen thing, a rite of passage. At times, he glimpsed her inherent sweetness, enough to give him renewed hope.
“Caleb. We’re up.”
He handed the claim ticket to the waiting clerk, and the woman returned within seconds with Caty’s lightweight raincoat. “Thank you.” He placed a generous tip in the jar on the counter.
Stepping to the side, Caleb opened the coat and held it for Caty as she slid her arms into the sleeves. The softness in her eyes as she thanked him told him she appreciated his actions. And yes, he’d missed doing these kinds of things—the courtesies, the gentlemanly gestures, that could mean a lot to a woman. To a lady like Catherine Lewis.
“Cordelia called to tell me that you hadn’t picked up your parking card and Belac badge before leaving the offices today.” He reached inside the interior pocket of his jacket. Taking her hand, he placed his personal parking card inside her palm before curling her fingers around it. “You’ll need this on Monday morning.”
Caty nodded without looking at him. “Thank you. She told me to pick up my parking pass and badge from the front desk, but I obviously didn’t remember. One question: where will you park if I have your card?”
“I’ll figure out something. I can always get a duplicate made.”
Caty handed the card back to him. “You’re very kind, but I can’t take this.”
“Then I’ll have Cordelia arrange for your parking card and ID badge to be delivered to the townhome. What day will you be there?”
“I’m moving in on Saturday. I’m at my parents’ house until then. It was my fault for leaving the Belac office without them, and I hate for you to go to the expense of having—”
“Let me do this.” He found it endearing how she didn’t want him to spend money. He gave her hand a slight squeeze before releasing her.
“Thank you, Caleb.” Caty pointed to the left side of the lot as they walked outside. “My car’s over here.” The night air was breezy and chilly. She’d been smart to bring a lightweight coat. “Where are you parked?”
“That’s a good question. I’m not sure since the valet parked the Porsche.”
Caty’s eyes
widened. “Is it black? A 911 Carrera?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.” He tilted his head. “Why do you ask?”
Glancing into the distance, Caty blew out a sigh and didn’t appear especially pleased. “I was nearly drenched by a speeding 911 today when I was standing by the curb outside the building. Now that I think about it, you suddenly appeared on the sidewalk a few seconds later.” She frowned. “Carrying boxes of Chinese take-out.”
“I’m…sorry. I wasn’t aware of the water at the curb.”
“How can you park your car in front of the office building? Surely you’ll get towed…” Caty’s voice trailed. “Forgive me. That was a silly question. You’re a major new tenant of the office tower, and I’m sure that comes with certain privileges. And it was very kind of you to get food for Cordelia. I only hope you don’t drive like a maniac on a regular basis.”
Caleb pinched his lips together. “I try not to make a habit of it.”
“You weren’t aware of the heavy rains earlier this afternoon?”
“The short answer is no.” They’d had a nice evening together, and he didn’t want it spoiled by a conversation centering on his ignorance of standing water or his gross negligence. “I knew it had rained before I left the building, but not when or how much. If I’d drenched you, you can rest assured I would have made amends.”
“That’s not my point. How…” Caty faltered, obviously conflicted.
His jaws tightened. “As you’re aware, I’ve lived a rather isolated existence the past few years. By choice.”
“Yes, and that’s why no one at Belac knows anything about you.” Thankfully, she kept her voice quiet.
“If you’d lost a spouse and had a child to protect, you’d better understand.” Her questions didn’t irritate him. They were understandable, but he couldn’t give her any explanations tonight. Like standing in that coat check queue, he didn’t wish to discuss his personal life in a public parking lot.