I stood at their door, with a very large bouquet of red roses in hand. Willow answered the bell, a sparkle in her eyes. It made me so glad to see the vibrancy that had returned to them.
Her eyes widened at the bouquet. “For me?”
“No, your mom,” I replied.
She pretended to pout and my heart skipped several beats at how cute that expression was. I quickly reminded myself that she wasn’t the one I was trying to impress tonight.
“What did you get for my dad?”
“What?” I said stupidly. My nerves tightened.
“You got flowers for my mom, what did you get for my dad?”
I blinked. I’d been in prison so long I had not realized things had changed. “I … Am I supposed to get something for him too?”
“I thought you wanted to impress them both.”
I couldn’t believe I had fucked up again. I looked down at my shoes and thought quickly. I had lots of new things that I had not even opened yet, and I could give him one of those. “I’m about ten minutes early anyway. I could quickly go get something for him. Just make up some excuse. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes,” I muttered.
As I turned away, her small hand settled around my wrist. I raised my head to meet her laughing gaze.
“Hey, I was only messing with you.”
I stared at her. “Oh. You were?”
“Yeah. You sounded so cock-sure about impressing my parents I decided to tease you. I didn’t really expect you to fall for it. Where have you been living all this while. Under a rock?”
“Yeah, you can sort of say that.” I straightened my spine.
Her lips twitched with amusement. “You really like me, don’t you?”
I looked deep into her warm eyes. She looked happy again and that warmed my heart. “Have I not made that crystal clear?”
She looked behind her, noted no one behind her, but turned back to me and dropped her voice to a whisper anyway. “I know you like to have sex with me, but I didn’t think you’d be willing to meet my parents so soon, yet here you are .. nervous out of your mind. To be honest I never thought it was possible for you to get this nervous.”
“I’ll stop being nervous, when you stop teasing me,” I said.
She reached up to nibble on my lip just as there was the sound of a polite cough behind her. Hell, she threw herself away from me so fast she knocked over an umbrella stand. It crashed to the ground, which made her jump like a cat finding a cucumber behind it. It was quite adorable to see her flustered. I glanced away from her flushed face towards her mother. She was smiling at me, but her eyes were wary.
It was the first time she was laying eyes on me, but it wasn’t mine. Over the years, I’d been sent several photos of both her parents as they lived their quiet, unremarkable lives and raised my Willow.
Her father ambled into the foyer. He was a tall, gaunt man, and the epitome of a good provider. He spoke little and cared deeply for his family. He looked between us expressionlessly, then he turned to his wife. “What happened?”
“Willow almost broke her neck trying to hide herself when I caught her kissing her new boyfriend,” her mother explained tactlessly. I fell in love with her then. I knew we’d get along just fine.
Her father’s face darkened at the words, and I didn’t blame him for one second. I’d have done the same if I’d been in his shoes.
“Mom,” Willow groaned under her breath.
I stepped forward then, and introduced myself. “Hello, Ma’am. I’m Caleb Wolfe.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Caleb. You can call me Sally.”
I turned to her father and held out my hand. “Sir. Good to meet you.”
He accepted the gesture, his expression still hard. He jerked his chin towards the bouquet in my hand. “Is that for me?”
“No, sir,” I said, as heat rushed into my neck. Watching my inept, clumsy performance, no one could possibly imagine I had practiced this for twelve fucking years.
Her mother lightly slapped him on the shoulder. “Stop it, George.” She turned to face me. “They’re for me, aren’t they?”
“Yes ma’am.”
She took the flowers from me, sniffing the fragrance delicately. “Thank you, they’re beautiful. Please come in. Willow, why don’t you unpeel yourself from that wall and come and join us too.”
I winked at Willow and she raised her eyebrows at me before I went with her parents into the living room. Her mother disappeared into the kitchen and her father offered me a drink. I asked for whiskey and he nodded with approval.
“Ice?”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
Once a glass of whiskey was in my hand, the interrogation began.
“Willow tells me that you’re from New York.”
That was absolutely not true, and I carefully couched my words. “I’m not, but I’ve worked there for a number of years, Sir.”
“Stock trading?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I also hear that you're quite successful at it.”
I took a sip of whiskey. It was cold and smooth. “I’ve been quite fortunate, yes.”
“Hmmm…” He then nodded a few times as if he approved of something. “So why forsake the bright lights to move to this sleepy town?”
I glanced at Willow. “I’m not a fan of bright lights, Sir.”
“It can get very boring here. There’s little nightlife to speak of.”
“That’s okay. I like a quiet life.”
He stared into his own whiskey glass. “My daughter is very precious to me. If you think you’re going to come here, hurt her and move on, you better think again.” He raised his head and looked me full in the eye. I wanted to rush over and hug him hard and call him Dad. That was how much I respected him at that moment. He didn’t care I had more money than him. He just wanted me not to hurt his daughter.
Next to me I could feel the tension in Willow’s body. “Dad! We just started dating,” she burst out.
Before I could open my mouth to answer, the door opened and Willow’s mother came in. The delicious smell of food cooking wafted in with her. She clapped her hands to get our attention.
“Okay, everybody. The meal is ready. We’re having meatloaf. Stop everything and come to the table now. I’ve been slaving over a hot stove all day and I want to make sure it’s served at its best.”
Everybody obediently stood and followed her out to the next room, where a table was set for four. My heart warmed when I saw how much trouble she had gone to. There were flowers, candles, linen napkins folded into swans, and crystal goblets, and gleaming silverware.
“What a beautiful table setting,” I complimented.
She blushed with pleasure. “Thank you.” She gestured towards my seat and I moved towards it. I waited until her father was seated before I did.
The meatloaf was brought in and my stomach rumbled. I just about stopped myself from rubbing my hands together. The last time I had meatloaf was at Mrs. Steven’s house. She often invited me for dinner because she knew my mother’s idea of a meal was either a chicken bucket from KFC when she was feeling generous or a pot of macaroni and cheese from a box. I watched Willow surreptitiously as her mother served me a thick slice of meatloaf and piles of vegetables and potatoes. When I caught her eyes, I smiled softly at her. She smiled back.
Then it was time for grace. I closed my eyes and let her father’s words wash over me. We never said prayers at home and when I was in prison, I was downright angry with God, but hearing her father’s simple words of thanks, felt good and right. Yes, my life had been shit, but it made me the man I was today. Hard, resourceful, resilient, unbreakable. And because of it I could better protect and care for Willow, her father, mother, and our children when they came into this world.
“You’re a very handsome man. Can you believe Willow didn't mention you at all until today?”
Willow choked and sprayed out the water she had just sipped. “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry.”
/> She then shot up from her chair, and the force of her movement sent it crashing down. And then she reached to grab it, but her elbow knocked over her glass of wine. Fortunately, my reflexes were fast and I managed to catch it before it spilled on her mother’s snow-white, flawlessly ironed tablecloth. I quickly rose and helped her pick up her chair.
She froze, and clenched her eyes shut. “I’m so sorry, Mom.”
“It’s okay, honey. There’s no harm done. Sit down and eat your food.”
Both her parents watched silently as Willow sat and I followed. I picked up my knife and fork.
“This looks wonderful, Ma’am,” I said with a smile.
“Call me Sally, remember.” Her smile was warm and genuine and I knew I had passed her defenses. She approved of me. There was only her father left to conquer. I cut up a piece of meat and forked it into my mouth. It melted in my mouth. It left Mrs. Steven’s dry meatloaf in the dust.
“Mmm … this is the most delicious meatloaf I have ever tasted,” I told Sally, truthfully.
Sally beamed with pleasure. There was a twinkle in her eyes, when she said, “Good, I’m glad you like it. It’s my mother’s special recipe. I’ll pass it on to Willow so she can make it for you.”
“I really appreciate that,” I said with a chuckle.
“What are your intentions towards my daughter?” her father asked suddenly. “You never answered my question from before.”
I turned to him. “I’m not a player, Sir. Never have and never will be. I’m here to stay. My intentions are utterly and completely honorable.”
He stared at me as if trying to decide how sincere I was.
“Willow says you have a quick trip planned for the weekend?”
I nodded. “That’s right.”
“You’ll keep her safe for us, won’t you?”
“I’ll guard her with my life, Sally,” I promised.
It was the absolute truth to me, but I could feel the others in the room were startled by my words. I could only hope I didn’t come across as too good to be true.
I lowered my head and returned to my food.
For a while we ate and made small talk, but her father was not finished. He put his knife and fork down and looked at me seriously. “Willow said we shouldn’t ask about your parents, but she didn’t have any information on your father. I hope you’ll understand that I need to know at least that much about you before I approve of ... this trip.”
“I completely understand, Sir. My father wasn’t very stable when I was growing up, sir. He was a bit abusive and quite the alcoholic. He left home when I was fifteen and I haven’t seen him since.”
The room went quiet.
There was an odd expression on her father’s face. “So … you raised yourself?”
“Pretty much, Sir.”
He frowned. “Where did you go to college?”
“I never did, Sir.”
“How did you get into investment—?”
“Dad?” Willow protested, but I placed my hand on hers to reassure her that I was fine to answer any questions her father wanted to ask.
“Willow, why are you interrupting me? Don’t I deserve to know the background of the man who is about to whisk you away for a weekend?”
“You do, Sir,” I replied. “Please go ahead.”
“Investment securities. How did you get into it?”
“I met a man who was a wizard with numbers, when he found out I was quite good with them too, he took me under his wing and mentored me. Things progressed from then.” I had told no lies.
A silence ensued then, but luckily her mother stepped in to break the ice. “Would you like some pecan pie?” she asked and I sent her a smile. “I would absolutely love some, Sally.”
She pressed her husband’s shoulders as she headed into the kitchen.
36
Willow
“I am so sorry about my father giving you the third degree.”
He only laughed as he clicked his seatbelt into its latch. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I would have done the same. He’s a great father.”
“He is,” I replied dreamily, and relaxed into the first-class seat. This was life. Being whisked away from it all with a tall, hot man for the weekend.
I felt his large warm hand rest on mine, so I slid mine underneath and linked my fingers with his. He turned to me with a smile, and as I watched his beautiful face and gentle eyes, I couldn’t understand how and why this angel had just appeared out of nowhere.
“Isn’t it weird that I feel as if I know you from the past?”
Instantly I felt him go tense, and I hurried on to explain. “My mom mentioned it,” I said. “Her words were ‘he acts like he’s known you forever’.”
He seemed to relax then, a small smile teasing the corners of his lips. “Perhaps I have. In another lifetime.”
I wasn’t completely dismissive of the idea. “Perhaps you have,” I said. “I wouldn’t know, would I?”
At the seriousness in my tone, he turned to me. “No, you wouldn’t.”
His grip tightened on mine and something sparked in the air between us. “But we haven’t met in this life, have we? I mean before, in the past?”
He smiled, but he looked away. “You haven’t.”
“Are you sure?” I pressed on. I was aware it must be irritating for him that I kept asking if he was connected to my forgotten past. I’d even told myself I should give it a rest and stop trying to make him fit into my drama, but I simply couldn’t help myself. He was so familiar. He felt like the man I’d been waiting for. The man from my dreams.
He returned his gaze to me. “Why do you think you have?”
“Well, the way you act. We’ve only known each other for a short time but you seem so ... decided on me.”
“I take my commitments very seriously. And I’m not decided on you yet. We’re going away together and I’ll be watching out for horrendous habits I can’t accept.”
I laughed. “Well, I’ll be watching you too. Who knows if you secretly have some fetish that you hide under all this cool, infallible exterior.”
His response surprised me. “I do,” he said. “And that’s why I’m especially looking forward to this trip. I can’t wait to fully unleash myself at you.”
A bolt of excitement zapped through me. I wanted to have his fetishes unleased on me. “Why do I believe you?” I whispered.
He shrugged. “Maybe because you know I always say what I mean.”
“Uh, oh. I shouldn’t have agreed to this trip, should I?”
His smile almost made my heart burst. It was full and gleaming like a wolf’s. “Maybe you shouldn’t have.”
When we arrived at our hotel room a few hours later, I was stunned by the splendor and luxury all around me. I was a simple girl from a small town. This, I had only seen in movies. I didn’t even dream of it, because it seemed as unreachable as marrying a prince.
The hotel lobby was all marble and chrome, and when we got to our suite I gasped. What an expansive, beautiful room, with a glorious four poster canopy bed, and an oversized lounge. Out on the terrace was our own swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and it all overlooked the panoramic view of the ocean.
“Wow!” I exclaimed as I took it all in.
He tipped the young man who had brought our suitcases for us and followed me towards the windows. I turned to him with eyes brimming with excitement. “This is very, very extravagant. I’ll have to work a whole year and some to pay my half.”
“Don’t worry about it. The moment you’re able to I’ll ensure that you pay me back.”
I laughed. “Don’t you need some kind of collateral?”
“I do,” he drawled. “I’ll collect it tonight.”
My eyes widened, especially as his ‘friendly’ threat on the plane came to mind. “You’re not one of those charming serial killers, are you?”
He chuckled. “Nope.”
Then he turned and headed into the bathroom. I walked out onto the ba
lcony, and after soaking in the magnificent scenery around me, I shut my eyes and breathed in the cool night air. A light breeze brought the scent of the ocean. I let the memory of the boy with the balloon play in my mind, but no more would come. Immediately, the hollowness in my heart that I had been trying my best to ignore came back.
I opened my eyes and decided then. On this brief break I would not think of the past. I gave myself the permission to relax. I’d leave all my troubles and concerns behind me, and to do my best to be present enough to enjoy my time with Caleb.
I hadn’t heard his footsteps. I only sensed his presence when the spices and warm vanilla in his aftershave enveloped me. He slipped his arms around my waist and pressed a kiss to my neck. His hands slid down my sides before curving around my ass. Then he grabbed it and pressed me into his somewhat hardened groin. He was usually always gentle with me but I especially relished times like this when he was aggressive and just a tad bit rough. It gave me a glimpse into a dangerous side of him that he didn’t let out very often, and it thrilled me.
“Do you want something to eat?” he whispered into my skin.
I closed my eyes and savored the sensuous silk of his lips against my neck. I wanted him to show me that other side of him, but I told myself to wait. Somehow, I knew it would come later, closer to midnight, when beasts come out to play.
“I’m not super hungry,” I murmured, “but I’m sure that there’ll be some light food and entertainment downstairs.”
“Alright,” he said to me. “Let’s go.”
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