Caleb

by Trent, Emily Jane

  Chapter 3

  When Livi returned to the academy, she went into a dance room to catch her breath. She gripped the ballet bar and looked in the mirror, noting that her cheeks were flushed. Caleb had reappeared in her life.

  Livi sagged to the floor and leaned against the wall. She took a few calming breaths, which did little to still her heart. Caleb was as buff and handsome at age forty as he had been nineteen years earlier. Truly, he was better looking now than he had been in his youth—if that was possible.

  Caleb had gained maturity, and it looked good on him. His face was more angular, and his muscles were rock-hard. He filled out his shirt in the most seductive way. He’d worn jeans that hugged his narrow hips and lean thighs, making her drool. And when she looked into the depths of his brown eyes, she’d warmed from head to toe.

  She closed her eyes, seeing only him. Caleb was a heartthrob; there was no getting around that. And she wanted him. It had been so unexpected to find him a few feet away, staring at her. And it made her feel wonderful to observe that he was attracted to her.

  But Livi wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t want it, because she clearly did. But it wasn’t always wise to give in to desire. She should know that, if experience was any teacher. Yet how was she supposed to resist him? It wasn’t only his looks.

  Caleb was a good man, caring and strong. He was everything she admired, and she enjoyed his company. But it was a fruitless pursuit. Livi couldn’t see it working out. She’d been a widow for nearly a year and had considered dating.

  It was just that she hadn’t met anyone that interested her. But Caleb was different. He was a friend, one she knew well, and trusted. That should be the ideal situation. But there was a problem. She knew what that was yet didn’t want to face it yet.

  Livi wanted to cherish being with Caleb again, if only for that hour in the coffee shop. She didn’t want to ruin it or disappoint him. She had no right to anymore. Somehow, she’d live through the dance performance, then she wouldn’t see him again.

  It was that simple. Yet Livi wasn’t confident that she could let go—if Caleb wanted her, and that was yet to be determined. She put her hands over her eyes as if to block out a distasteful reality. She couldn’t be that selfish—shouldn’t be that selfish. Yet the emotions simmering inside her said otherwise.

  Livi stood to regain her composure. She took a deep breath and headed for the office. There was still much to be done before the performance, so she had to put her personal issues aside. If she had any hope of gaining the board’s confidence, she had to demonstrate her leadership abilities.

  Elena looked up from her computer screen. “Did you handle what you needed to at the theater?”

  “What?” Livi sat at her desk. “Um…yes, it looked fine.”

  “I got a call from Black Swan Protection,” Elena said. “It was Caleb Rowe. He’s in charge of the protection team.”

  Livi’s cheeks heated. “Yeah…I know.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize you’d been informed,” Elena said. “He went over a few things. Seems like a competent man for the job.”

  Livi had better change the subject before she sank deeper. “I’m sure he is.”

  Elena didn’t know anything about Caleb, except that phone call. Livi wasn’t sure how to fill her in. She wasn’t certain what she thought about things, anyway. That made it difficult to explain the situation. And it would be impossible to tell Elena about Caleb without revealing too much. It might get embarrassing, and Livi wasn’t up for that right then.

  “You okay?”

  “Sure,” Livi said. “I’m a little distracted. There’s so much to do before Saturday.”

  Elena accepted that and went back to work. The rest of the day, Livi’s mind wasn’t on the tasks at hand. She was in a world of her own, consumed with thoughts of the past. When she’d accomplished as much as she could at the academy, Livi left early.

  The walk home was relaxing, with no issues to deal with, no confrontations—no Caleb. Since she’d had no warning, Livi wondered if she’d behaved properly. Had she been friendly without appearing giddy? That was how she’d felt, but she’d tried to appear calm. That wasn’t easy around Caleb.

  Livi got home and went straight to the bathroom. She needed a good, long soak in a hot tub; she needed a chance to get it together. After pouring in the bubble bath, Livi slid into the warm water. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

  Images from the past flooded her mind, and thoughts of Caleb warmed her heart. That one special night she’d spent with him, the start of something wonderful that ended so abruptly. Prior to meeting Caleb, she had been dating Brendon, but hadn’t committed to any permanent relationship.

  Brendon had been away for some training, and Livi had met Caleb. She knew Brendon and Caleb were friends, but many of the military guys knew each other. She hadn’t set out to betray Brendon. She hadn’t viewed it that way. And Caleb hadn’t asked questions; he’d assumed she was available. He had no reason to think otherwise.

  It was all Livi’s fault. But she’d done the right thing and married Brendon. Yet she hadn’t forgotten Caleb. In her private thoughts, she’d held him close—but only in memory. She hadn’t dreamed there could be more. That one night had to be enough; it was all she had of Caleb.

  With her eyes closed, Livi slipped deeper into the water. She remembered that night. Caleb’s strong body, his tender caresses. Her skin tingled as she recalled the intimate details. She’d wanted all of it, and had indulged—despite the consequences.

  *****

  The next day, Livi went to lunch with a friend. Yvette Garnier was the mother of Juliette’s best friend. As the girls grew up, Livi and Yvette had connected and become close friends. They had much in common, including raising their daughters.

  Even with her daughter in college, Livi met regularly with Yvette for lunch or shopping. It was a chance to catch up. Yvette understood being a mother and all that was involved, so it was good to have her to talk with about such things.

  They splurged that day and met at Parc, an upscale bistro. The weather was warm, so Livi got a table on the patio along the front of the brick building, feeling very Parisian. Before she had a chance to study the menu, Yvette arrived.

  Yvette was shorter than Livi, with sandy-colored hair and blue eyes. She had a couple of extra pounds that she was forever trying to lose, but Livi thought she looked great. That day she wore a short-sleeved blouse with capris and had her hair swept up.

  “You’re dressed for spring,” Livi said.

  “I look forward to this nice weather.” Yvette sat down. “I’m always glad when we can sit outside.”

  Each ordered the Niçoise salad and iced tea, then munched on the French bread while waiting. The drinks arrived promptly.

  “We’re overdue for shopping,” Yvette said. “We need to plan that.”

  “I should be free next weekend. My schedule will ease up, once this Saturday’s performance is over,” Livi said. “That has all my attention right now.”

  “I need to shop,” Yvette said. “When Chrissy left for college, I think she took half my wardrobe. That’s what happens when your daughter is the same size.”

  For a few minutes, the conversation centered around college and how to deal with having your daughter away from home. The calls were frequent and Yvette agreed that she felt needed, even though Chrissy was living in the dorms.

  Yvette was married, so she wasn’t alone. “I don’t know how you deal with living by yourself.”

  “I don’t have a choice,” Livi said, then leaned back so the waitress could serve the salads.

  “Do you have any prospects on the horizon?” Yvette said, stabbing her fork into a red potato.

  “Not really,” Livi said. She proceeded to talk, more than she would have with anyone else. Yvette was a close friend, and they’d shared a lot. “Yesterday, I ran into a friend, someone I hadn’t seen in a long while.”

&nb
sp; Livi gave her friend the highlights, including that she’d met Caleb at the same time she’d been dating Brendon. She told Yvette how she felt about the relationship, without giving away anything too private. Even with Yvette, some things were personal.

  “I’m seriously attracted to Caleb, but I’m not comfortable with giving in to my emotions.”

  “Because Caleb was Brendon’s friend?” Yvette said.

  “Something like that,” Livi said. “Is it bad of me to want to be with Caleb?”

  “Brendon would want you to be happy,” Yvette said. “I knew him well, and I’m sure of that.”

  “But with his teammate?”

  “Especially with a teammate,” Yvette said. “Who better than a friend, a man you can trust?”

  Livi could see Yvette’s point. Her desire didn’t seem so traitorous when viewed in that light. She’d been alone since Brendon’s death. It was time to look to the future. But she wasn’t sure her conscience would allow her to open her arms to Caleb. And she wondered if Yvette would encourage her if Livi said what truly held her back.

  *****

  The day before the performance, the dance troupe met at the Academy of Music for the dress rehearsal. That morning, Kayla was part of the production, since she didn’t have an ankle injury, as confirmed by her doctor. Each year, Youth for Dance presented excerpts from classical story ballets as part of its spring showcase.

  The performance gave the dancers a chance to transition from amateur to pro. It was a high-profile event at a major venue. Livi experienced a thrill standing on the stage. She had been forced to abandon her career due to pain, but she still remembered the joy and power of dancing.

  The Academy of Music was a landmark in Philly. It was a historic opera house and ideal for large productions. The elegant theater had red carpet and velvet curtains. The balconies were gold with ornate designs. In this final rehearsal, the dancers had a chance to run through all the dance moves, to smooth out the choreography, and use the props that would be part of the show.

  The first few numbers went beautifully, and Livi was proud of her troupe. The tone was upbeat, and the dancers’ excitement came through. It had required a lot of effort to get this far, and she was looking forward to tomorrow evening’s performance. Even a couple of difficult dance steps had proceeded flawlessly.

  Elena stood backstage with Livi, looking on with approval. Then Alex arrived and strode down the center aisle, a scowl on his face. Just as the dancers took position for the next part of their repertoire, Alex took the stairs two at a time to get on the stage.

  Livi noticed the reactions of her dancers. It wasn’t the first time Alex had intimidated them. As he walked toward the group, he growled, “No, no, no. You must not stand like that.” He roughly grabbed one of the ballerinas and shoved her limbs into place.

  The ballerina gasped with discomfort but didn’t resist. Alex spun and faced another dancer. “And as I entered, I saw you execute that pirouette. It was sloppy. You need to do it over and practice it until it’s perfect.”

  When Livi approached, Alex faced her. “The performance is tomorrow. I expect better from you as their instructor. Leniency doesn’t do a ballerina any favors. Expect perfection and you shall have it.”

  Livi turned away, holding back her fury. Making a scene in front of the dancers wouldn’t be good for morale. She smiled at the troupe then said, “We’ll continue. I have every confidence in you.” The dancers brightened just a little and prepared to continue.

  The music began and Livi went back to stand beside Elena. She was livid about Alex disrupting the rehearsal. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make sure that Alex is stopped. He thinks he can manipulate a dancer like a marionette. When I take over, I’m going to implement a policy of using only two fingers to adjust a dancer’s position.”

  “Anything else is excessive,” Elena said. “It’s easy to injure a dancer without realizing it, by forcing their body past its limits. It’s better to be gentle and not apply pressure.”

  Alex stood at the other end of the stage with his arms crossed. He watched the rest of the rehearsal but kept quiet. The instant it was over, he left. He didn’t congratulate the dancers or let them know they’d done well.

  But Livi made up for his lack. She beamed at the troupe and assured them that the performance would be memorable. She shared how pleased she was, and acknowledged all the hard work they’d put in. Her admiration was well received, and the dancers glided off stage with their self-esteem intact.

  While the dancers got dressed to leave, Livi sat in the theater and called Juliette. She caught her between classes. “How are you, honey?”

  “Hi, Mom, I’m good. Aren’t you working?”

  “We just finished the final rehearsal,” Livi said. “I wish you were here to attend. I think it’s going to be a great performance.”

  Juliette hadn’t taken up ballet, and Livi hadn’t pressed her to do so. Her daughter was more intellectual than artistic, and when she did exercise, preferred hiking outdoors, running, or riding bikes. But Juliette supported her mother’s passion and had attended performances when possible. She’d been with Livi through her recovery from injury and the difficult decision to retire from professional dance.

  “You’re their instructor, so I’m sure the show will be fabulous.”

  “I miss you,” Livi said.

  “I miss you too,” Julie said. “And don’t worry about me. I know you do, but I’m making friends. And I get homesick, but I’m starting to get used to the dorms.”

  “I’ll call you soon.”

  “Bye, Mom…I’m off to class.”

  When the call ended, Livi scrolled to a photo of Julie. Her daughter was her pride and joy. She would have been pleased if Julie had wanted to dance, but it was just as well that her daughter avoided the stress and injuries that could result from a professional career.

  Livi cared for the ballerinas in her company as if they were her own daughters. She wouldn’t see them mistreated any more than she would have allowed that to happen to Julie. As their instructor, she took care to look after her dancers’ emotional as well as physical needs.

  Alex had gotten worse over the years. He’d been a bit of a dictator since she started working at the academy. Maybe the pressures of management or his personal life had soured him. The reason didn’t matter, only the outcome.

  It was time for a change, and Alex’s behavior during rehearsal was another example of the reason why. Livi had tried talking to him, showing him alternatives. But her arguments fell on deaf ears. Alex was more convinced than ever that his way was right.

  After learning that Livi intended to move into the position of artistic director, Alex had turned his aggression toward her. It wasn’t that he’d been friendly before, but he had been professional, at least. Now he considered Livi his enemy, which she couldn’t deny.

  She wondered if his late entrance and disruptive handling of the performers was a way to undermine her. If the show didn’t do well, he could allege that her instruction was faulty and weaken her argument that she should be in charge. Being around him had taught her to try to understand how he thought, so she wouldn’t put that past him.

  Alex was an annoyance, but Livi had a strategy in place to remove him from a position of power. He could create turmoil, but he couldn’t really hurt her. She just had to ignore his antics and move forward with her plan to take control. The sooner he was out of her life, the better.

  Chapter 4

  On the night of the performance, Caleb arrived early to get his team in place. Each had a duty to watch a certain section, and to alert the team to any signs of threat. His teammates were skilled at blending in.

  Theater security would be visible to deter any troublemakers, making anyone think twice before any dangerous action. Security would maintain crowd control and escort any agitator out of the theater. If the situation exceeded acceptable norms—or the threat was beyond security’s capability to deal with—th
en Caleb’s team would step in.

  Backstage, the dancers were getting into their costumes, while the crew made final adjustments to lighting and props. The area had inherent dangers, with various types of debris such as garments shed before the next dance or props of various types. High above the floor was a catwalk for crew to easily adjust lighting, plus a platform for the spotlight operator.

  The staging equipment had liabilities as well. But Caleb was only responsible for external threats. Any safety issues fell under the jurisdiction of risk management. That was just as well, since Caleb was adept at protecting clients from threat—although safety was a consideration.

  Caleb weaved through a group of ballerinas with a male giving them instructions. He used hand motions and spoke of sequences, so Caleb assumed he was the choreographer. Across the stage, Livi was in conversation with two others.

  Livi wore tights under a long tunic, attire that allowed her to move easily. She was there to work, not as an audience member. The loose-fitting tunic didn’t disguise her lush figure. Caleb gawked for a moment before approaching the group.

  When Livi looked up, Caleb could swear she blushed. He hadn’t meant to distract her, only to wish her luck on the evening’s performance—although he doubted that she needed that. He guessed that Livi had things under control.

  “Good evening, Caleb.” Livi motioned to the woman on her left. “This is Elena, our coordinator.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Caleb shook her hand.

  “You too,” Elena said. “And it’s good to connect in person instead of over the phone.”

  “Very true,” Caleb said. “I’m on duty this evening, but I will be watching the show. I’m sure you and Livi have put together a great ballet.” He glanced at Livi. “I was pleasantly surprised to run into Livi…after all these years.”

  Elena’s eyes widened. “I, uh…didn’t realize that you knew Livi.”

  Livi looked at Elena then said, “I’ll explain later,” before turning to the man towering over her. “And this is Alex Baranov, the artistic director.”