Page 11 of Caleb

When he asked if she was married, the words hit her like a slap, igniting a fire in her that filled her with a slow-burning rage. She wanted to scream at him,No, but I am a mother. With no help from you.

The words burned on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them, clamping her teeth together to keep herself from blurting out the truth. Saying it would destroy everything, and she couldn’t let that happen. Not now. Not like this.

He couldn’t know about Liam—not yet. It wasn’t just about her anger or the pain of the past. It was about protecting her son and deciding the right time and place for that conversation. If it ever came, which she doubted.

Why was she even asking? She really didn’t care.

“Oh no,” he said. “Not even dating.”

Now, that was funny, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“How about you?”

“No, not dating. I’m busy working and don’t have time for foolish games,” she said, knowing it was true. Liam was her responsibility. And she loved that little boy enough that she wouldn’t subject him to random men trying to play daddy.

The noise from the party seems to be increasing, especially with the level of alcohol being consumed.

“I thought you’d be married by now,” he said.

“Nope, I’m working on my career,” she replied. Only because she wanted to make a happy home for herself and Liam. If she could get ten good clients, she could buy a home.

The chitchat between them had gone on long enough. When a waiter walked by, she put her empty wine glass on his tray.

“Well,” Taylor said finally, “I should get going.”

“Big day tomorrow?” Caleb asked.

“Something like that,” she replied.

“Goodnight,” she said and walked toward the door. When she entered the hallway, she went directly toward the bank of elevators.

Stepping on, she hit the button just as a hand reached out and stopped the doors from closing. Caleb walked on.

“Seriously?” she said, arching an eyebrow.

“What?” he said, looking entirely too amused. “I’m going to my room. You know loud parties are not my thing.”

With a nod, she didn’t respond but realized it was true. In college, they’d spent more time together studying and working on projects than going to large gatherings with drunk students.

The elevator doors closed. As they turned to face the front, Taylor couldn’t help but sigh.

“Oh no,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Are you going to break the elevator again?”

Caleb chuckled, a deep, rich sound that made her both exasperated and amused.

“Hey,” he said, grinning, “that wasn’t me. I think fate intervened.”

Taylor couldn’t help herself—she laughed, the sound surprising even her. “You’re impossible,” she said, shooting him a mock glare.

“Maybe,” he said, his tone teasing. “But I got you to laugh.”

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Taylor stepped out, glancing back at him with a small, reluctant smile.

“Goodnight, Caleb.”

“Goodnight, Taylor.”

As the doors closed behind her, she couldn’t help but shake her head again, a faint smile lingering on her lips.

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