Adored (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay Book 2)

by Belle Calhoune

  Addie let out a scoffing sound. “I don’t know about that. Don’t get me wrong. I know he loves me, but we’re not as close as we used to be. I think he’s still reeling from Tabitha’s death. He hasn’t gotten over it.” She let out a sigh. “I know it’s something we’ll never fully rebound from, but I know Tabitha would want us to live and love and be happy. When we were little my father used to take us to Pelican Bay Harbor every Saturday morning. He would wake us up early and get us dressed in completely opposite outfits. You see, he didn’t believe in twins dressing alike. He thought each of us deserved to be seen as separate individuals.” She let out a chuckle. “He always said that God made two unique masterpieces and he intended to treat us as such. So I would be wearing orange and pink while Tab was wearing blue and white. My hair was styled in braids while hers were in two ponytails. It was really something!”

  The joy in Addie’s voice was evident as she took a trip down memory lane. The father she was telling him about seemed radically different than the one Caleb had just observed. Perhaps grief had changed him. Caleb didn’t want to judge the man. Life placed heavy burdens on people’s backs. Losing a daughter would surely have created scars on Sebastian’s heart.

  Caleb didn’t have a hard time imagining a pint-sized version of Addie. An image of her as a child flashed into his mind. He let out an easy chuckle.

  “That’s really sweet. I like how you were allowed to be your own person.”

  A hint of a smile hovered around her lips. “We were. And we both enjoyed our roles. Tab was bolder. I was more creative and intuitive.” She ducked her head. “I miss her, Caleb. It’s not a stabbing, piercing pain anymore, but I miss her.” Her voice was clogged with emotion. “Sometimes when I see something funny, I pick up my phone to call her. Then it hits me like a bolt of lightning. She’s not going to answer. She’s gone.”

  “Addie,” Caleb said, his heart constricting at the devastation etched on her face and the sight of tears flowing down her face. She made a few sniffling sounds. Something inside him cracked wide open at her vulnerability. He reached out and wiped away a stray tear with his fingertip. “It’s okay to cry. You miss her. But she’s with God now. My mom always told me there are no tears in Heaven.”

  Addie smiled at him through her tears. “You’re right, Caleb. Tabitha is with the Lord now. She’s not suffering anymore. She’s not afraid. And I know with all my heart and soul that she’s bossing everyone around up there.” She giggled. The sound of it sounded like music to Caleb’s ears. Seeing Addie happy caused a tightening sensation in his gut. They were now standing so close to one another that Caleb could see the wetness on her lashes from her tears.

  Suddenly, Paolo entered the kitchen, breaking up the tender moment. Caleb locked eyes with him. He couldn’t ignore the knowing look in his friend’s eyes. Caleb took a step away from Addie. He knew Paolo was getting the wrong idea about his relationship with Addie. That couldn’t happen in such a tight workplace. Things at the Blue Bayou needed to be one hundred percent professional. He wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize the Blue Bayou. He’d worked way too hard to allow such a thing to happen.

  **

  For the remainder of the day and evening, Addie worked tirelessly at the Blue Bayou. She was so busy she’d forgotten to stop for lunch. Every day she was learning more about running the bistro, as well as making suggestions for ways to improve it. The bistro was now open for both lunch and dinner four days of the week. On Saturday it was open only for brunch and Sunday it was closed unless there was a special event. She and Caleb had even discussed experimenting with breakfast a few days of the week, although they both acknowledged the need to hire more staff in order to make it happen.

  For the most part, Caleb seemed to appreciate her ideas. She couldn’t figure out why he’d retreated from her today. He was no longer making eye contact with her or talking to her in anything other than a perfunctory manner. Had she done something to alienate him? She wondered. Perhaps her father’s visit had turned him off. She bit her lip. Maybe it felt as if the bistro was no longer his own. She had to admit, her father was a larger than life figure. He intimidated a lot of people, including herself. Maybe Caleb wasn’t happy that they had horned into his bistro.

  Addie frowned. She wasn’t even certain how her father had obtained part of Caleb’s establishment. Maybe she should find out, although Caleb might think she was a total novice if he discovered how little she knew about her father’s business or the reasons why he had handed her a partnership in the Blue Bayou. Why hadn’t she asked her father more questions? She let out a sigh. Still, after all this time, she was walking on eggshells around him.

  At the moment she almost felt as if she was doing the very same thing with Caleb. Perhaps he was simply worried about Heath. She shouldn’t make it all about herself, but he was giving her a funny feeling. If it wasn’t something she had said or done, why wasn’t he able to look her in the eyes? Maybe he had felt uncomfortable seeing her crying. That made her sad since it was rare when she let her guard down with people.

  By the time they were closing up the bistro, Addie had summoned the courage to clear the air with Caleb. She waited until they were all alone to broach the subject.

  “Did I do something to upset you?” She blurted out the question before she lost her nerve.

  Caleb’s expression was one of confusion. “No, of course not. Why do you ask?”

  She met his gaze head-on, refusing to feel silly for asking. Addie knew she hadn’t been imagining things. “Ever since we talked earlier you’ve been distant. I’m sorry if my emotion made you feel uncomfortable.”

  Caleb quirked his mouth. “No! Please…that’s not it.”

  Addie held her hand up in the air. “Aha. So there is something.”

  Caleb shifted from one foot to the other. He couldn’t seem to stop fidgeting.

  “Tell me what I did,” she said in a raised voice. “I love working here, Caleb. I don’t want to do anything to alienate you.”

  He shook his head. “Addie, I don’t think there’s a single thing you could ever do to alienate me. You’re pretty near perfect.”

  Addie sputtered. “Me? Perfect?”

  “You’re beautiful. Not just on the outside. It radiates from inside you. And you’re kind. The way you treat the wait staff and the customers speaks volumes about who you are. You’re quirky too. I like that. You don’t take yourself too seriously. And you have a hearty appetite. When you came over to my parents’ house, you threw down at the dinner table. I think you may have eaten more than me and my brothers.”

  Addie swatted at him. “That’s a terrible thing to say.”

  Caleb burst into laughter. “I’m kidding about that, but the rest of it is true.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Addie asked.

  “I like you more than I should,” Caleb confessed.

  The words had the effect of a mini explosion. Addie’s jaw dropped. For once, she couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Caleb liked her? As in more than a co-worker or business partner?

  “Is that a bad thing?” Her voice came out like a squeak. Of all the times for her voice to give out on her. She wanted to seem calm, cool and collected, even though Caleb had said he liked her quirkiness.

  “Addie, I haven’t dated much in the last year or so.” He made a face. “My heart has been kicked around a bit. It’s made me gun shy.” They locked gazes. Addie felt her pulse quicken. There was something about Caleb’s eyes that made her want to fall headlong into their dark depths. “It might sound odd, but I’ve avoided relationships for a while. I’ve channeled my focus into the bistro and told myself that was enough.”

  “And has it been? Enough?”

  “It was. Until now. You’re the first person in a very long time who I’ve wanted to be with…in a romantic way.” He reached out and swept his palm across her cheek. “I like you, Addie Fontaine. A lot. So it became a little bit overwhelming earlier when I realized it. It hit me squa
re in the gut. I don’t like the idea of getting involved with my business partner, but I keep thinking God put us in each other’s path for a reason.”

  Addie felt as if her smile was threatening to take over every inch of her face. Caleb’s confession had both surprised and flattered her. It wasn’t every day that a gorgeous bistro owner told her he had feelings for her.

  “Of course I could be totally off base by saying these things to you,” Caleb said, his features creased with concern.

  “You’re not way off base, Caleb. I don’t have any worries about blurring the lines between our professional and personal lives. You see, I don’t date much myself. I wasn’t burned in a relationship before, because I haven’t had many. The ones I’ve had were pretty trivial. Only one actual boyfriend. I guess you could say I’ve been in a bubble since my sister’s death. Grief can take you on some pretty lonely journeys.”

  “That’s perfectly understandable,” Caleb murmured.

  “I like you too, Caleb. I like the way you listen to my ideas. And even if you don’t totally agree with them, you always make me feel as if what I have to say is important. There aren’t many people in my life who make me feel that way. When you invited me to your parents’ home I loved watching you interact with them. It was so solid and loving. You care about them so much. It’s awe inspiring.”

  Caleb leaned his head down and placed his lips on hers. She gladly welcomed the kiss. Addie closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of him. He smelled like evergreen and spices. She reached up and laced her hands around his neck, feeling the need to get closer to him. The kiss continued, deepening in intensity. Strong feelings coursed through her.

  Kissing Caleb was more romantic than any kiss Addie had ever had in her life. Not that there had been many, but she knew enough to realize there was something special about this one. She knew it had everything to do with the man himself. Addie felt safe with him and more alive than she’d felt in many years.

  Caleb Donahue was special. And at this moment, there was no place she’d rather be than in his arms. For the first time in her life, Addie felt as if she was daring to color outside the lines. She wasn’t playing it safe anymore. Not by a long shot.

  As the kiss ended, Addie felt as if she might just give anything to have it last a bit longer.

  She gazed up into Caleb’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said.

  His lip twitched with mirth. “Are you thanking me for the kiss?” he asked in a teasing tone.

  “No, silly. For being so honest with me about your feelings,” Addie said, feeling emboldened by the kiss they’d shared. It was twice now that they’d kissed. It hadn’t been a fluke. “It allowed me to be open about my own.”

  “One of the things I’ve learned as a member of the Donahue family is the power of honesty.” He made a face. “As much as I hate the fact that my parents are going through a separation, I do appreciate their openness about it. And I can’t help but hope they’ll find their way back to each other.”

  “Where there’s love, anything is possible.”

  “So, are you hungry?” he asked, patting his stomach.

  “Now that you mention it, I’m starving,” she admitted. Addie had a fairly hearty appetite, but on busy days like today, she had a tendency to ignore hunger pangs until she was famished. Her stomach was beginning to rumble.

  “Come on, then. I’m going to take you somewhere to get something to eat.”

  Addie chuckled. “So we’re leaving the bistro in order to find food elsewhere?”

  Caleb grinned. It made him even more gorgeous than he was on a regular basis. There was something so disarming about his smile. It really wasn’t fair. How was she even supposed to concentrate when he was smiling at her?

  “Not just any food, Addie. This is top-of-the-line diner fare. I grew up on it.”

  Caleb ushered her out of the establishment, then turned off the light and locked up behind him. He led her to his car in the parking lot. Like a gentleman, Caleb opened up the passenger side door and closed it after she was comfortably settled inside. With the windows rolled down, the summer air blew all around them. Five minutes later, Caleb turned in to a parking lot heavily crowded with cars. Although Addie hadn’t been here in ages, she recognized it instantly.

  The Silver Spoon. The legendary diner owned by Caleb’s folks. The exterior of the diner was retro in design. Candy apple red and platinum. A neon sign sat on the roof, ensuring that anyone and everyone who passed by would be alerted to the diner’s presence.

  A heavenly smell wafted in the air. Addie closed her eyes and inhaled.

  “Smells good, doesn’t it?” Caleb asked as he took her by the elbow and ushered her toward the entrance.

  “It smells divine,” she said, looking all around her as she stepped inside. The establishment was full of diners. There was barely an empty seat in the place.

  “Caleb!” A pretty dark-haired waitress with Ellie etched on her nametag stepped toward them. “It’s great to see you.”

  “You too, Ellie. This is Addie. We were hoping to get a booth if you’ve got one.”

  Ellie winked at him. “For you, Caleb, anything. I’ll go clean one up for the two of you.” She jerked her chin in the direction of the counter where folks were seated side by side on stools eating their meals. “Your dad is over there. Penelope is in the kitchen.”

  “Let’s go say hello,” Caleb said, taking Addie’s hand and leading her over.

  Jude’s face lit up with joy the moment he spotted them. “Hey there. It’s great to see the two of you over here.” Jude came from behind the counter and he placed a kiss on Addie’s cheek, then gave his son a hearty hug. “Did Ellie find you a table yet?”

  “She’s cleaning a booth right now,” Caleb said with a grin.

  Jude let out a chuckle. He looked at Addie and wiggled his eyebrows. “My kids and booths. Ever since they were little they always insisted on booths. They said it made the eating experience all the better.”

  Addie giggled. She could easily picture the eight Donahue children laughing and eating and slurping down shakes and French fries.

  Suddenly, Ellie appeared. “Your table is ready. Follow me.”

  Ellie led them to their table, which was a nice-sized booth with a jukebox right next to it. The pink leather seats were plush and comfortable. It brought back a world of memories for Addie. She’d sat at one of these very booths with Tabitha and her parents eating double cheeseburgers and chili fries. It had been back in the day when her family had been an intact unit. The Silver Spoon had been the perfect backdrop for their family outing.

  Addie got a kick out of the Silver Spoon’s menu. It was making her mouth water. By the time Ellie came back to take their order Addie knew what she wanted to eat. Addie placed the menu down on the table. She looked across the table at Caleb. “Your folks have quite the menu. I think I’ll go old school and order the double cheeseburger, cheese fries and a chocolate cherry shake.”

  “Good choice,” Ellie said with a grin.

  “Ditto for me,” Caleb said, handing the menus back to Ellie before she walked off toward the kitchen. Caleb nodded at Addie. “I like your style.”

  “It’s what my sister and I used to order when we were kids. We would always switch back and forth between chili fries and cheese fries. Sometimes we would order both and share.” For the first time in a long time, the memories didn’t sear her heart. Sharing them with Caleb felt good. It helped keep her sister’s memory alive.

  “It’s funny,” Caleb said. “I wonder if we ever crossed paths as kids. Did you come here often?”

  “Not really, but it was very special when we did come here. Those days were idyllic. My parents ending up getting a divorce which splintered our family. Shortly thereafter, Daddy’s businesses took off, so he became embroiled in his life as a businessman, which included a lot of travel. By the time Tabitha got sick, my family was on the verge of imploding. Losing her was the final straw. Some families come together after adversi
ty, but we just fell apart.”

  Caleb leaned across the table and squeezed her hand. “It’s understandable. The loss of a family member is one of the most stressful events for human beings. I’m sure that becomes heightened when it’s a child.”

  Addie nodded. “You’re pretty wise, Caleb Donahue.”

  “Being part of a big family has made me a good listener. Growing up I was always the one who my siblings would turn to when they needed a listening ear.” He chuckled. “Not that I always imparted good advice, but I tried.”

  “It sounds like nothing has changed over the years. You’ve been a great sounding board for Heath…and you always listen to me. It’s a huge part of who you are.”

  Caleb nodded. “Thanks. I think I’ve always been that way. It was a skill I learned in foster care before I was adopted. I didn’t like talking about myself or why I’d landed in the foster care system, so I always tried to be a listening ear. I wasn’t much of a talker.”

  “So you remember being in foster care?” Addie asked.

  “Snatches of memory. Nothing distinct. But I do recall listening to the other kids and their stories. To be honest, I don’t have many memories of before. It’s all jumbled up inside my head. The past is a bit murky.”

  Addie didn’t want to press the subject. She had no idea how Caleb had ended up with the Donahue family and she wasn’t going to ask him. If he wanted her to know, he would tell her in his own time.

  Ellie appeared with the food, placing it down in front of them along with their shakes and two glasses of ice water. She pulled a bottle of ketchup out of her apron pocket. “Enjoy, guys. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

  Feeling ravenous, Addie reached for her burger and took a huge bite, letting out a satisfied sound as the flavors hit her tongue. At the same time, Caleb was digging in to his own burger. For a few moments they ate in companionable silence. Suddenly, Penelope was standing at their booth with a wide smile on her face. Dressed in a black T-shirt with the words Silver Spoon etched on the front, Caleb’s mother looked beautiful in her simple attire. Her manner was warm and inviting.