Page 18 of Caleb

He raised an eyebrow, his smile turning thoughtful. “Maybe. But sometimes, the sunset sneaks up on you when you least expect it.”

She looked at him, her laughter fading as something heavier settled between them. The wine had lowered her guard, and for a moment, she let herself really look at him—the lines at the corners of his eyes, the way his hair had darkened just slightly over the years.

“You’ve changed,” she said softly, almost to herself.

“So have you,” he replied, his voice low.

The words hung between them, weighted with unspoken things.

As they finished the meal, Taylor reached for her purse, but Caleb shook his head.

“My treat,” he said, holding up a hand.

“Caleb—”

“Let me do this, Taylor,” he said, his voice firm but kind.

She hesitated before nodding, her lips curving into a small smile. “Thank you.”

He smiled back, and for a moment, the air between them felt electric.

The wine had warmed her insides into a heated puddle.

As they stood to leave, they walked side by side to the restaurant’s entrance with his hand at the small of her back, leaving a warm spot. When they reached the elevators, Taylor pressed the button and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

“You’re not going to follow me up, are you?” she asked, her tone teasing.

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with humor. “Depends. Do you think the elevator’s going to get stuck again?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “If it does, you’re paying for therapy.”

The elevator doors slid open, and they stepped inside, the space feeling smaller with him so close.

As the doors closed, Caleb turned to her, his expression softening. “Tonight was nice,” he said quietly.

“It was,” she admitted, her voice just above a whisper.

Their eyes met the air between them thick with unspoken words. Before she could process a coherent thought, he leaned in, his hand brushing her cheek as his lips met hers.

At first, the kiss was soft and tentative, like testing the waters. But as she leaned into him, her hands clutching his jacket, it deepened, and years of longing and unspoken feelings surged between them.

When they finally pulled apart, Taylor’s heart raced, her breath uneven.

“This is a bad idea,” she murmured, though her voice lacked conviction.

“Maybe,” Caleb said, his forehead resting against hers. “But it feels right.”

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open—but to Caleb’s floor, not hers.

Taylor blinked, momentarily confused, as Caleb stepped back with a crooked smile, gesturing for her to exit.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me for a little longer,” he said, his voice low, laced with teasing warmth.

Taylor hesitated for a beat, her body still buzzing from the kiss. She could feel the tug, the invisible string pulling her closer to him, stronger than any sense of logic or self-preservation. Without a word, she followed him out of the elevator, the quiet hum of her heels on the carpeted floor the only sound between them.

The moment the elevator doors closed behind them, Caleb turned to her, his gaze intense. She opened her mouth to say something—she wasn’t sure what—but before she could form the words, he reached for her again, his hand sliding gently to the back of her neck as his lips found hers.

The kiss was different this time—not tentative or testing, but full of pent-up emotion, deep and consuming. It stole the breath from her lungs and sent a shiver down her spine.

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