think you have all the time in the world for the things and people that are
important to you, but it doesn’t always work out that way.” Harry kissed Caleb
on the cheek. “Just something to think about. We love you.”
“Love you too,” Caleb said after clearing
his throat. “Thank you for this.”
Dora blew him a kiss over the roof of the
car before slipping inside. Caleb watched their black Cadillac pull out of the
drive. He’d bought it for them as an anniversary gift last year, insisting it
was time for an upgrade. They had been perfectly happy with their old Ford
though.
He’d been busting his butt to give them all
the things they didn’t want or need. Stumbling up the walk, he was stunned to
realize that was the message his parents had been trying to convey with their
gift. They just wanted him to be happy and find love. They didn’t need the
material possessions he thought would make them happy.
Elle reached for him as soon as he closed
the door. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.” She touched his forehead.
“Are you feeling okay?”
He stared at her a long time as things came
into focus. “I love you.”
She dropped her hand, looking shocked by
his admission.
“I know what you said, but I don’t care.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I want you to know how I feel about you. You may
not feel the same way and that’s okay, but I need you to know.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m
sorry for the things I said earlier. I didn’t mean them.”
He lifted her off the ground and buried his
face in her neck. “What made you change your mind?”
It wasn’t until he set her back down that
she responded. “Hearing your ex-girlfriend is still after you.”
Caleb laughed. “I can’t believe Elle Morgan
thinks she has reason to be jealous of another woman.”
“I saw her picture in your bedroom
earlier.” Elle looked at the ground. “She’s beautiful.”
Caleb hadn’t been here since his break up
with Vana, and he hadn’t thought to ask the housekeeper to take down the
pictures. “She’s a part of my past.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, flattening her
palms on his chest. “You don’t have feelings for her anymore?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Is she a country music fan?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Looking satisfied, Elle lifted her head. “I’ll
have to remember to give you a big kiss when the camera pans to me on Tuesday
night. You know, just to make sure she gets the message you’re taken.”
“Taken, huh?” Caleb’s heart swelled. “I
think I like the sound of that.”
“You’d better.” She stood on her tip-toes
and rubbed noses with him before dropping a kiss on his lips. “This won’t be
easy. You know that, don’t you?”
“I’m not real big on easy. I tend to think
anything worth having is worth working for.”
“I am willing to work at this,” she
whispered. “Telling you it would never work made me feel sick. Then when your
mama mentioned your ex, I realized I’d never forgive myself if I let you go
without even trying.”
“No more talk of walking away,” he said,
sliding his hand over her glossy auburn hair. “Promise me? When things get
tough, and they will, we’ll talk about it. Communicate. Figure out a way to fix
things.”
“What about when I go on the road?” she
asked. “What happens to us then?”
“We’ll figure that out when the time comes.
For now, let’s just enjoy our time together.” One thing was certain, he had no
intention of letting her go without one hell of a fight.
Chapter Eight
Caleb and Elle were having so much
fun, they decided to extend their getaway one more day. They’d had lunch with
his parents and were hosting a barbeque for Ewan, his wife, Tia, and their two
daughters.
“They’re so cute,” Elle said, watching the
two little blond heads bobbing.
The girls chased each other along the sandy
beach, squealing with delight as one filled a plastic bucket with water and
tried
important to you, but it doesn’t always work out that way.” Harry kissed Caleb
on the cheek. “Just something to think about. We love you.”
“Love you too,” Caleb said after clearing
his throat. “Thank you for this.”
Dora blew him a kiss over the roof of the
car before slipping inside. Caleb watched their black Cadillac pull out of the
drive. He’d bought it for them as an anniversary gift last year, insisting it
was time for an upgrade. They had been perfectly happy with their old Ford
though.
He’d been busting his butt to give them all
the things they didn’t want or need. Stumbling up the walk, he was stunned to
realize that was the message his parents had been trying to convey with their
gift. They just wanted him to be happy and find love. They didn’t need the
material possessions he thought would make them happy.
Elle reached for him as soon as he closed
the door. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.” She touched his forehead.
“Are you feeling okay?”
He stared at her a long time as things came
into focus. “I love you.”
She dropped her hand, looking shocked by
his admission.
“I know what you said, but I don’t care.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I want you to know how I feel about you. You may
not feel the same way and that’s okay, but I need you to know.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m
sorry for the things I said earlier. I didn’t mean them.”
He lifted her off the ground and buried his
face in her neck. “What made you change your mind?”
It wasn’t until he set her back down that
she responded. “Hearing your ex-girlfriend is still after you.”
Caleb laughed. “I can’t believe Elle Morgan
thinks she has reason to be jealous of another woman.”
“I saw her picture in your bedroom
earlier.” Elle looked at the ground. “She’s beautiful.”
Caleb hadn’t been here since his break up
with Vana, and he hadn’t thought to ask the housekeeper to take down the
pictures. “She’s a part of my past.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, flattening her
palms on his chest. “You don’t have feelings for her anymore?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Is she a country music fan?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Looking satisfied, Elle lifted her head. “I’ll
have to remember to give you a big kiss when the camera pans to me on Tuesday
night. You know, just to make sure she gets the message you’re taken.”
“Taken, huh?” Caleb’s heart swelled. “I
think I like the sound of that.”
“You’d better.” She stood on her tip-toes
and rubbed noses with him before dropping a kiss on his lips. “This won’t be
easy. You know that, don’t you?”
“I’m not real big on easy. I tend to think
anything worth having is worth working for.”
“I am willing to work at this,” she
whispered. “Telling you it would never work made me feel sick. Then when your
mama mentioned your ex, I realized I’d never forgive myself if I let you go
without even trying.”
“No more talk of walking away,” he said,
sliding his hand over her glossy auburn hair. “Promise me? When things get
tough, and they will, we’ll talk about it. Communicate. Figure out a way to fix
things.”
“What about when I go on the road?” she
asked. “What happens to us then?”
“We’ll figure that out when the time comes.
For now, let’s just enjoy our time together.” One thing was certain, he had no
intention of letting her go without one hell of a fight.
Chapter Eight
Caleb and Elle were having so much
fun, they decided to extend their getaway one more day. They’d had lunch with
his parents and were hosting a barbeque for Ewan, his wife, Tia, and their two
daughters.
“They’re so cute,” Elle said, watching the
two little blond heads bobbing.
The girls chased each other along the sandy
beach, squealing with delight as one filled a plastic bucket with water and
tried
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