Page 9 of Caleb

Caleb sighed as the elevator doors slid open, stepping onto his floor with a heaviness he couldn’t shake. Seeing Taylor again stirred everything he thought he had buried—pain from the past, the weight of choosing to let her go, the ache of his parents’ deaths, and the bittersweet memories of how they had lived, so full of contradictions.

He clenched his jaw, pushing the feelings down where they belonged. Confronting how he’d wronged Taylor, facing the hurt he’d caused, felt like walking into a storm he’d spent years avoiding. And yet, the idea of ignoring it forever no longer felt like a victory. It wasn’t forgiveness he sought—not from her, not even from himself. It was distance, space from a love that had already cost him too much.

Marriage? No. That was never going to happen. It wasn’t for him, and it never would be. He had seen what it did, how it had broken his parents, and he’d vowed long ago to be nothing like them.

But running… Maybe it was time to stop. His parents had spent their lives running—from each other, from their problems, from themselves. And as much as he hated to admit it, the thought of following in their footsteps was far more terrifying than standing still.

CHAPTER4

Taylor Montgomery clutched her glass of sparkling water like a lifeline as she navigated the crowded hotel ballroom. The after-hours reception was in full swing, a symphony of clinking glasses, overly enthusiastic laughter, and the low murmur of networking conversations. For most attendees, this was just another night of schmoozing and swapping business cards. For Taylor, it was an exercise in survival.

It was a game she had very little experience playing, and yet it was necessary if she wanted either a job or more clients.

Smiling politely, she nodded at a marketing director who’d spent the last five minutes monologuing about QR codes. As soon as he turned to grab a canapé, Taylor edged toward the corner of the room, seeking refuge near a towering ice sculpture shaped like a cowboy hat.

“Subtle,” she muttered under her breath, eyeing the icy monstrosity.

Taking a moment to breathe, she scanned the room. Everyone seemed so at ease, chatting in tight circles or animatedly gesturing over tiny plates of hors d'oeuvres. Taylor envied their confidence. She had her polished elevator pitch and an arsenal of business cards in her purse, but her stomach still churned with nerves.

It wasn’t just the party—it was the knowledge thathewas here.

Caleb Burnett.

She’d spotted him earlier, looking absurdly out of place in a suit that somehow made him look like he belonged in a glossy Western magazine instead of a networking event. Even from across the room, he radiated the same frustrating charm that had ensnared her years ago.

Taylor had done her best to avoid him, ducking behind a group of executives when she saw him glance her way. But her luck couldn’t hold out forever.

“Looking for an escape route?”

The deep, familiar drawl made her jump. She turned sharply to find Caleb standing behind her, holding two glasses of wine. He wore a crooked smile, the kind that used to melt her resolve but now only made her want to roll her eyes.

“I’m fine, thanks,” she said crisply, taking a step back.

He held out one of the glasses. “Peace offering?”

Taylor hesitated, eyeing the wine suspiciously. Accepting a drink from Caleb felt like a slippery slope but refusing it would prolong the interaction. With a resigned sigh, she took the glass.

“Thanks,” she said, her tone cool.

“You’re welcome,” he said, leaning casually against the table next to her.

The smell of him so close had her body reawakening from a long winter’s sleep.

She sipped the wine, praying he’d take the hint and leave. Instead, he lingered, his gaze flicking to the ice sculpture.

Still, the same handsome man with that infuriatingly winning smile and those deep brown eyes that seemed to see right through her. Damn it all, Liam looked so much like his father that seeing Caleb again had been like looking at a photograph come to life. She’d forgotten just how devastatingly handsome he was.

What a shame that his heart didn’t match the rest of him. A cruel heart, she reminded herself, one that had left her shattered when she needed him most.

In the future, she would make sure her son knew better. She would teach him kindness, empathy, and accountability—the qualities Caleb had failed to show her. One thing was certain: Liam would become the kind of man who built people up, not broke them down.

“What do you think of that thing?” he asked, gesturing to the frozen cowboy hat. “Art or crime scene?”

Despite herself, Taylor snorted. “Definitely a crime scene. I’m pretty sure they’ve violated the Geneva Conventions by subjecting us to it.”

His grin widened, and for a moment, she saw the Caleb she used to know—the one who could make her laugh with a single raised eyebrow. But she quickly pushed the thought aside.

“What do you want, Caleb?” she asked, facing him fully.

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