“I never thought I’d feel that way about anyone.”
“If Lauren makes you feel that way, then don’t waste another moment. Go and get her. Tell her you love her. Fight for her, but don’t ever give up on her.” Timothy got to his feet and held his hand out. “You will always have a place in this company, Caleb. You’re going to be sitting in my place one day soon. I know I’ll be able to leave the company in good hands, your hands.”
His father pulled him in for an embrace.
“Do I have to stay for the rest of the day?” he asked.
Timothy laughed. “Don’t go getting all nice on me. I need you to be an asshole on this board or they’ll walk all over you. Go and get your woman.”
He left his father’s office, heading straight for the parking lot. Climbing into his car, he didn’t hesitate, nor did he think about what the hell he was doing. He drove all the way to his apartment.
Back in the elevator, he stared at his reflection.
He had no idea what Lauren was going to think.
Outside of his apartment door, he stopped. What if he’d read all of this wrong? What if she didn’t love him?
Screw the what-ifs.
Go and get her.
He opened the apartment door and was in fact met with Lauren’s curvy ass poking up in the air as she reached beneath a cabinet.
“Is that you, Caleb?” she asked.
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
“Nothing, just cleaning.” She had a duster in her hand, and she quickly got to her feet. Her face was red. “I got it.”
“You clean underneath my cupboards?”
“Why do you think I’m the most popular cleaner you have?” She winked at him. “Not a speck of dust in sight. I clean underneath cupboards, around light switches, and yes, I even dust the lightbulbs as well.” She pushed some of her blonde hair out of her eyes. “What brings you home early?”
Home.
She’d called his place home.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“Okay, sure, no problem. Let me make us both a cup of coffee.”
He followed her into the kitchen, her curves distracting him.
Don’t be an ass.
Tell her.
She grabbed two cups and she looked so happy. He didn’t want to screw that up.
“My dad’s not sick.”
She paused.
Seconds passed.
She put the cups down and turned to him. “What?” Her voice was soft, her brow furrowed.
“My father was never sick. He’s never had a heart attack. He’s as healthy as can be. Probably even healthier than most.” He waited, watching her after his revelation. Finally telling her the truth, he was frozen into place.
“I don’t understand.”
“I lied to you, in the beginning.” He averted his gaze, ashamed, but forced himself to look at her.
“You lied. Why?”
“To get you to agree to be my girlfriend. To be the woman who was important in my life.”
“And what did you get out of it?” She frowned, staring down the length of his body and back up again.
“I got you.”
He took a step toward her but she held her hand up as if to ward him off.
“Right now, Caleb, I’m a little confused.”
“I love you.”
Her mouth opened and closed. “You love me?”
“I … fuck, I’m really screwing this up. I know this started out as me begging you to help me, pretending my father was sick, but it’s so much more than that now. I love you, Lauren. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want us to have a family. To grow old together. To have a couple of kids. I want to have everything my father has and more. I want it all with you.”
She didn’t say anything. “I don’t know what to say right now.”
“Please, tell me you’re not mad.”
“Oh, I think I’m mad. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that right now, I’m exceedingly pissed off.” She stepped around him and he caught her wrist. “No, Caleb. I need to think right now.”
She pulled away and even as it killed him, he watched her leave his apartment.
It was the first time he’d ever put his heart on the line, and now, he had a horrible feeling he’d really fucked it up.
****
Caleb loved her.
He’d lied to her.
He loved her.
Running her fingers through her hair, she walked down the long street. Scents invaded every one of her senses from the different kinds of takeaway foods and restaurants available. The noise of the city didn’t exactly help her to think.
Newsstands had her face and Caleb’s with horrible headlines on top.
She didn’t know how it happened, but she ended up in the Turner Building, at the main desk, asking to see Timothy.
Pressing her lips together, she waited as the receptionist looked a little nervous to even be dealing with her.
She was asked to go right up, and once again, she stood in an elevator. Why didn’t any place have any stairs anymore? She’d be happy with walking, it would help to clear her head, but everyone liked to use the elevator. To keep pushing for the technology of doing less.