The Very Thought of You

by Angela Weaver

  “Looks like those therapy sessions must be working out for you, man. How about we increase them to three days a week?” he suggested with a straight face, although he knew that no one in their right mind would agree to the intensive treatments. The quick look of haunting fear that crossed Darren’s face sparked a hint of glee in Caleb.

  “Nothing’s worth that amount of grief,” Darren replied. “Even if it meant I’d never see your face again.”

  Miranda turned and opened her lips to respond, but Caleb moved to touch her hand. She had always been the peacemaker between them and as much as he appreciated her defense of him in the past, Miranda’s over protectiveness had only served to increase the animosity between himself and her older brother.

  “Sweetheart, why don’t you go put the flower in water?” he said. In a softer voice, he continued, “I can handle the big bad brother.”

  Miranda leaned into him. The intoxicating scent of her perfume mixed with her own sweet fragrance floated up to his nostrils.

  “But can you handle the big bad little sister?” She winked and then strolled down the hallway. He watched her smooth and graceful movements until she disappeared from view. Shaking his head and feeling a rush of carefree happiness that he hadn’t felt in too long, Caleb turned his attention to his current unwilling patient.

  “Man, Darren, where is the love? I pulled strings to get you one of the best physical therapists at the hospital, not to mention the prettiest, and you can’t ease up a little on the animosity?” He held up his right hand, showing his thumb and index finger close together. “Just a tiny bit?” Caleb grinned wider, making a show for Miranda who had just returned.

  Darren’s eyes narrowed and it looked to Caleb as if he wanted to use the crutch as a baseball bat against his head. Just in time, the sound of shoes coming down the steps redirected all of their attention.

  “Sorry I took so long.”

  Caleb moved to stand close to Kelly. With his hand out, he smiled. “Beauty is always worth the wait. And I get to be the envy of my brothers since I have two on my arms tonight.”

  “You’ve got brothers?” Kelly asked.

  “One older and one younger. I’ve also got a little sister. You remind me of her.”

  “Is she smart?”

  “Very, she’s also stubborn and hardheaded. Once, when my parents had to go out to a company party, she took my brother’s Porsche and raced it at the old motor speedway.”

  Kelly’s eyes were as wide as her disbelieving mouth. “She stole a Porsche?”

  “Yep, thing is we never would have known if she hadn’t won and gotten her picture in the paper,” Caleb said, laughing.

  “Did she go to jail?”

  “Worse.” He grinned broadly.

  “Did they lock her in her room with no TV and take away her phone?”

  “Well, the story goes that it took my dad a week to figure out the best punishment. At that time Regan only liked to race cars, she hated getting dirty fixing them. So, her punishment was that every day after school and on weekends, she had to work at the dealership or work on restoring Dad’s old cars.”

  “That doesn’t seem that bad.”

  “Oh, did I forget to mention she got her license taken away for a year? Regan had to beg my younger brother to drive her everywhere.”

  “Not good,” Kelly said. She looked down at her book bag as she contemplated what Caleb had said.

  Caleb glanced at Miranda. Her expression was soft and contemplative while her lips curved into a half smile. Emotion squeezed his throat. He wanted that look. No, Caleb realized in an instant. He needed that look. And if there was one thing that he could do best it was get what he needed. Turning up the charm, he grinned at Miranda and Kelly. “All right, ladies, I’ve got a houseful of people eager to feed you wonderful food and stories. So shall we get on the road?”

  “Make sure you drive safely, Blackfox,” Darren ordered.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Miranda asked.

  “Positive. I’ve got some work to do and when I finish, I’m going to sit on the couch and catch up on my Tivo. Honest to God, I’m glad you’re leaving. There’s too much estrogen in this house for a man to take.”

  Miranda walked over to her brother and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”

  “Just have some fun.”

  She walked back into the foyer and stopped as her eyes landed on Caleb and he let out an appreciate whistle. “You look good enough to eat, Miranda.”

  “Thank you.” She smoothed down the front of her formfitting black dress that ended right above her knees. “You look very handsome tonight, as well.”

  That was an understatement. As her girlfriends would say, the man was fine. Caleb didn’t just wear the dark gray pleated slacks, turtleneck and tweed jacket. He made it look good. His sharp chin, strong jaw and deep warm brown eyes could have landed him on a fashion runway while his full kissable lips made him the perfect poster boy for lip balm.

  “I’m ready,” Kelly announced. Miranda turned and watched the child dragging her stuffed backpack.

  “Are you sure she doesn’t need a sleeping bag?” Miranda asked Caleb.

  “Positive. Everything will be provided. Including the all-you-can-eat cookies and ice cream.”

  “Yippee. Can we leave now?” Kelly pushed.

  Miranda nodded. “I just need to get my purse and coat.”

  Chapter 17

  After they pulled out of the driveway, Miranda turned toward Caleb and asked, “How did I let you talk me into this?”

  “You lost a bet and it was either meet the family or strip naked and give me your panties.”

  “Shh,” she hissed darting a quick look in the backseat.

  “Kelly is too busy playing video games and, trust me, you could scream at the top of your lungs and she couldn’t hear you through the headphones.”

  Miranda’s lips curved up even as she tried to stop them. “I think she really likes you.”

  “No.” Caleb chuckled. “I think she really likes the car. It tends to have that kind of affect on kids.” Caleb glanced in the rearview mirror and watched Kelly as her mouth twisted in concentration. Not one to play video games, he’d never taken advantage of the built-in Sony PlayStation or the DVD player that had come pre-installed with the SUV.

  “She thought you were cool before the car.” Miranda laughed, and then a shadow crossed her face. “I wonder if it’s too soon.”

  “Too soon?”

  “Do you want me to leave my brother alone all night?”

  “As his doctor I can sign off that he’ll be fine.”

  “I always thought of Darren as my invincible older brother. Since the accident he’s been very vulnerable.”

  Vulnerable? Darren Tyler? Caleb snorted inwardly. The man had given him his first black eye. The thought of Darren as being vulnerable made him laugh so hard that he almost ran over an orange cone. If only Miranda knew. “Trust me, Darren is many things, but he’s not vulnerable.”

  “Quit it, Caleb. He actually likes you.”

  “Impossible.”

  “Apparently, he thinks we’re good together.”

  “I should probably order another CAT scan for his brain. Maybe the accident crossed some wires.” He laughed.

  “He told me about Jessica Greene.”

  This time Caleb did swerve. “He told you that he set me up?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “Or exonerated. I just jumped to the wrong conclusion and I didn’t want to listen. I loved you so much…”

  Her voice trailed, but she could tell from the warm expression that came over his face that he understood her meaning. “It’s in the past, Miranda.”

  He reached out and took her hand within his own. “I just want to build on what we have now. You, me and Kelly.”

  She smiled and took it, content for the moment. All was right in her world.

 
The trip to his parents’ house was accomplished in no time. As he drove through an open gate, Miranda couldn’t help but marvel at the long tree-lined driveway. The large colonial house was something out of Gone with the Wind. Only a few other cars lined the drive as he parked. The lights were on all through the place and music trickled out from the back.

  “Wow, is this place big,” Kelly announced.

  “No kidding,” Miranda responded. “Just when I forget that you’re a Blackfox, something happens to remind me that you still have the silver spoon.”

  “No. Now everyone in my family puts on their own clothes, flushes and wipes. If you’re looking for the Rockefellers, Biltmores or Hiltons, this isn’t the place. We’re just like everyone else.”

  “With million-dollar estates, prize horses, car dealerships and a trucking conglomerate.”

  “Did I hear horses?”

  Caleb leaned back and laughed as Kelly ripped off her wireless headphones in excitement. “We used to have horses in the stable. Once all of us left home, my parents decided to donate them to a local riding school that helps with at-risk teenagers.”

  Her face fell and Caleb quickly added, “My sister and her new husband have horses. I’m sure that they would love to have you over to the house to ride.”

  Her eyes were big as saucers. “Really?”

  “Really. I’ll introduce you to them tonight.”

  “Yeah!”

  “So what exactly happens tonight?” Miranda asked.

  “We eat, drink. You meet my family. Kelly will have a load of fun with the other kids, want to go home with my cousin’s kids for a sleepover, you will act like the worried parent, but give in to her pleas.”

  “And then what?”

  “You’re coming home with me.”

  “And why would I want to do that?”

  “Because I need you to sleep over in my bed tonight.”

  “I’m not going, Caleb.”

  “Kelly will have a great time and I’ll have you home before lunch.”

  “I’m not coming home with you, Caleb.”

  “You sound like a broken record.”

  “Evidently you’re not listening.”

  All day she had been repeating the words and all day he’d been wooing her. First, he’d sent her a large box of chocolates and flowers. Ever since he’d mentioned his grandparents’ party, she’d been telling him that she and Kelly would not be going. Excuse after excuse had been offered, but he had negated them all with his charming persuasiveness.

  During the mornings and afternoons, while Kelly was in school and Darren either at physical therapy or working in Dad’s old office, she’d caught up on her work reports, finished filling out information for her taxes, cleaned the house and started to get back into her old hobby of sewing.

  She was grateful for the distractions. Were it not for the little things to occupy her mind, she would have had to deal with her conflicting feelings toward Caleb.

  He called her several times a day, and it bothered her to realize that she began to look forward to those conversations. For the past few weeks she’d gotten used to him continually popping by the house on one pretext or another. He had dinner with them every night. It had almost become a matter of form.

  One night, after Miranda had accidentally managed to burn the meat loaf, Caleb had arrived at the front door with Chinese takeout. One evening they grilled salmon on her father’s gas grill. Another night they all had hamburgers and French fries in the living room while watching a movie.

  With her older brother and Kelly as chaperones, they somehow managed to keep their hands off one another. Yet each time she caught him watching her, the smoldering flame of desire in his eyes was all too evident and it never failed to kindle a response in her.

  Only when Caleb kissed her good night did Miranda catch a glimpse of the hunger he kept in check. Each time he kissed her with such urgency that he’d left her breathless with wanting.

  Pushing away the lingering memory of his lips pressed against hers and his fingertips brushing against her breasts, Miranda followed Kelly and Caleb into the mansion.

  As they entered the foyer, Caleb stepped behind Miranda to remove her coat.

  Contrary to the outside appearance, the interior of the house held a distinctly eclectic blend of African-American artwork and contemporary interior design. The gleaming wood floors were subtly enhanced with a plush handwoven rug. She wanted to take off her shoes and curl her toes in its softness. Paintings graced the cream-colored walls, softly backlit with track lighting. The scent of home cooking blended with the faint musk of incense and jasmine.

  “Let me take your coat,” Caleb said.

  Miranda turned politely and, as his fingers touched her shoulders, she inhaled the scent of his cologne mingled with the heavy smell of bread, leaving her hungry. Lifting the coat from her shoulders, he murmured only loud enough for her to hear. “You’re running out of time, Miranda. One way or another you’re going to be in my bed.”

  The living room opened to the dining room that was more family-oriented than formal. A table of the deepest mahogany wood was loaded with platters and serving trays of food.

  The chairs looked as if they had been crafted by hand with intricate circle designs and comfortable cushions. Miranda imagined large Thanksgiving dinners and Blackfox women sitting, holding their cards, while gossiping over who played the best game of bridge.

  Before she could orient herself, a group of teens converged upon them.

  “Hi, I’m Corinne and this is my sister, Bethany. We’re here to bring Kelly to the secret slumber party.”

  “Secret, huh?” Miranda smiled.

  “Don’t worry, they’re going to be under the strict supervision of my younger cousin.”

  “All right, then. Come give me a hug and a kiss.”

  Kelly ran over and hugged her legs as Miranda bent over and kissed her on the top of her hair.

  “Be good and have fun.”

  “No problem.”

  She watched the girls run off and then returned her attention to the man standing at her side.

  “She’s growing up way too fast. Pretty soon she’ll be a teenager.”

  “Don’t rush it. You’ve got time.”

  Suddenly well aware of how untrue his statement was, Miranda was hit with a wave of guilt. Caleb really adored the little girl and her leaving would hurt him just as much as it would her.

  “Where have you been? You’re late,” a voice interrupted her thoughts.

  “Well, nice to see you too, Savannah.” Caleb hugged the pregnant woman.

  “And this gorgeous woman who must have taken pity on you must be Miranda.”

  Miranda took the woman’s open hand and shook it. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, Savannah.”

  “Don’t believe a word he says,” she replied.

  Miranda giggled at the hurt look on Caleb’s face. “My daughter, Kelly, is a student at your middle school.”

  “Wonderful. We can talk all about it. First you must come with me. We need your expertise in the kitchen.”

  Leaving Caleb with a puzzled look on his face, Miranda waved goodbye and allowed Savannah to lead her to the kitchen. Caleb wasn’t the only one confused. Savannah mentioned needing her cooking skills. What cooking skills? The pregnant woman was either delusional or insane.

  Inside the kitchen all the women were gathered around the table sipping Chardonnay. Savannah made the introductions and the gossip continued. Before Miranda could take a seat at the table, a glass of wine materialized and she was pulled into the conversation.

  Minutes later, Caleb strolled in and smiled as he saw all of them sitting around the table with guilty expressions on their faces.

  “Well, well, well, looks kinda cozy up in here. And I thought y’all would be cooking up a storm. You got some hungry men waiting outside.”

  Rolling up her dish towel, Caleb’s mother gave her son a good whack on the rear end. “Out…Out. You’re d
isturbing our work. Go tell those cigar-smoking, beer-drinking male relatives of yours that dinner will be served when the women feel like it.”

  Laughing, Caleb ducked out of the kitchen protesting that women had invaded his home.

  As soon as he left, their little group got to work taking covered dishes out of the oven and fridge.

  As everyone sat down at the dinner table, the war between the sexes began. Of course Caleb’s little brother had to be leading the men into battle.

  “This food should definitely be out-of-sight…all you beautiful women in one kitchen. Then again I’ve never known you to cook, Savannah. So that goes to prove you’re in love,” Trey teased.

  “Well, dear cousin—” Savannah cocked her head to the side “—if you’d spent more time at home than on the football field chasing cheerleaders, you might have learned a thing or two.”

  Groans from the men drowned out the women’s laughter at Savannah’s quick comeback.

  Sasha, Trey’s fiancée, arched a well-tended eyebrow. “Chasing cheerleaders? And here I thought that you were the studious type.”

  “Come on, Sasha, I had to chase something since I hadn’t met you yet,” Trey replied.

  His response earned him major points for flattery. Miranda watched as he leaned over and placed a kiss on Sasha’s cheek. Predictably, the women melted. Point for the men.

  Chuckling, James, the bachelor-uncle Caleb had introduced her to before sitting down at the table, attempted to bring his comrades back from the edge by invoking single-male solidarity.

  “Pull up, Trey. My man, you are in serious danger of losing your player’s card.”

  As all of them, even the married ones, jumped on the bandwagon proclaiming the virtues of brotherhood, dating, boys’ night out and clubbing, the women began to plan an all-out war. Silently communicating, using the ancient signal of rolling their eyes, they prepared. The invocation of player’s card was the men’s first, last and biggest mistake. It was time to bring them to their knees.

  Caleb, a sometime participant and otherwise silent observer, leaned toward Miranda chuckling and whispered, “Be gentle, for they know not what they do.”

  She smiled a frosty grin and lifted her wine-glass to signal the charge. “Ladies, can you believe this? Here I was thinking we’d be having dinner with men tonight. From the conversation I’m hearing it looks like only boys came to this table.”