Page 38 of Marked

“Cheers,” I echoed, clinking my glass against his. The wine was deep and smooth, nothing like the boxed stuff I usually bought. “So, do you bring all your dates here to impress them?”

Something flickered in his eyes—possessiveness maybe?—before his easy smile returned. “Only the special ones.”

There was that word again. Special. Marcus had used it too, with that same intensity that made me want to simultaneously lean closer and run away. The Stone brothers were like gravity wells, and I was caught in their orbit.

With Marcus, it was all controlled power and commanding presence. Even thinking about our lunch made my pulse jump. But Caleb… Caleb was different. Lighter somehow, but no less dangerous. Like comparing a playful wolf to a prowling one—both could still bite.

“You’re thinking too hard,” Caleb murmured, reaching across to brush a crumb from my lip. The casual touch sent a jolt through my scar that had me gasping softly. “Try the dolmades.”

I did, grateful for the distraction. The stuffed grape leaves were perfectly seasoned, the rice filling tender and aromatic. “Okay, you win. This place is amazing.”

“I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.” His smile turned mischievous. “Wait until you try dessert.”

I was about to respond when I caught him watching me with an intensity that made my breath catch. His eyes seemed darkersomehow, more predatory, and for a moment I could have sworn I heard something like a low rumble coming from his chest. He leaned in slightly, as if catching my scent, and my scar tingled in response. The air between us felt charged, electric.

The spell broke when Athena appeared, though Caleb’s heated gaze never left me.

“So,” Caleb said as Athena cleared our appetizer plates, “I hear you might be sticking around Cedar Grove for a while.”

“News really does travel fast,” I muttered, thinking about the lawyer’s six-month residency requirement. “Let me guess—Marcus told you?”

“Maybe.” His smile was teasing. “Or maybe I just hoped.”

I stared at my wineglass, trying to process the warmth in his voice. There was something about the way he said it—like he wasn’t just talking about me staying in town, but something deeper. Something that made my scar tingle and my pulse quicken.

The silence stretched between us, not uncomfortable but charged with something I couldn’t quite name. Caleb seemed content to let it linger, his eyes never leaving my face. I could feel the weight of his gaze like a physical touch.

A few minutes later, Athena returned with our main courses. The moussaka she set in front of me smelled divine, layers of eggplant, spiced meat, and béchamel sauce steaming invitingly. Caleb’s souvlaki looked equally amazing, the grilled meat glistening with herbs and lemon.

“You’ll tell me if it’s life-changing?” He watched me take my first bite with an intensity that made my cheeks warm.

“Oh.” I closed my eyes as flavors exploded across my tongue. “Oh, wow.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” His voice had dropped lower, and when I opened my eyes, his gaze was fixed on my mouth. My scartingled in response—again—a warm pulse that spread through my whole body.

I cleared my throat. “So, um, you grew up in Cedar Grove?”

“Born and raised.” He took a bite of his souvlaki, and I definitely didn’t watch the way his throat moved as he swallowed. “The Stone family goes back generations there.”

“Must be nice,” I said, aiming for casual. “Having roots like that.”

Something softened in his expression. “You could have roots too, you know. Cedar Grove has a way of growing on people.”

Like his brother Marcus, Caleb seemed oddly invested in my staying. Unlike Marcus, though, whose commanding presence made me want to bare my throat in ways I couldn’t understand, Caleb’s interest felt… warmer. Different, but no less dangerous. Both pulled at something deep inside me—Marcus made me want to submit, while Caleb made me want to curl into his warmth. My instincts weren’t confused about either reaction, even if my brain was.

“We’ll see,” I said, taking another bite of moussaka to avoid those too-knowing eyes. “I’m not really a small-town person.”

“No?” He shifted closer, and my treacherous body immediately responded, swaying toward him. “What kind of person are you then, Kai?”

The way he said my name, soft but certain, made my scar heat up. “The kind who doesn’t usually let gorgeous strangers drive them to dinner in different towns.” I meant it to sound teasing, but it came out breathier than intended.

“Gorgeous, hmm?” His grin was pure trouble. “And here I thought I was being subtle.”

I snorted. “About as subtle as your car.”

“Hey, don’t insult her. She’s sensitive.”

“She?”

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