Page 76 of Take Me to the Wedding

This man supported me at my worst and most challenging. Who was right there, when before it had always been just me.

He smiled a little. Gave me a little nod that might have meantYou’re welcome. Then he said, “You two love each other. That’s terrific.” He made a shooing motion. “So head to the door. Ice cream makes everything better. Now move it.”

As we both headed out, Wynn handed him one of his crutches that he’d propped against the door and shook her head. “He’s bossy.”

“Iknow.” But we were both somehow smiling.

ChapterTwenty

Samantha

It was nearly eleven that night when I knocked on Caleb’s door, very softly at first. Both of us started our days early enough that going to bed this late was a luxury we couldn’t afford. But then I tossed caution to the wind and rapped more firmly. I had something I had to say, regardless of the time.

He answered wearing navy boxers and a gray T-shirt, the kind that might’ve said something at one time—a band name, a concert, a funny saying—but was now soft and old and worn. His hair was damp from a shower that he must’ve managed to take with a garbage bag over his cast.

His mouth lifted in that mischievous grin that told me a joke was coming. “If you’re looking to borrow a cup of sugar or an egg, I’m out. Sorry.” He began to shut the door. I put my foot out to stop it.

“Actually,” I said, “I was wondering if there was any food left? The ice cream was great, but I skipped dinner. Didn’t even realize it until now.”

He eyed me up and down, taking in my bare feet, my pink nightshirt. “Enter at your own risk.” That secret smile again. It made me flush.

“You’re flirting with me.”

“Damn right I am.” Then he stepped aside, gesturing me in.

I was so, so glad he was.

He walked over to his kitchen counter and sat down on a backless stool, propping himself with his crutch. “Food’s in there, if you don’t mind grabbing what you want. Everything all right?”

I took the cartons out of the fridge, opened them, and set them down between us. “For the moment. Wynn’s fast asleep.” I spooned out some pad thai on a plate and licked the spoon. So good. And a little spicy, just the way I liked it.

“I have sparkling water in the fridge.” He leaned over. “That smells good. Maybe I’ll join you.”

I grabbed another plate and ended up nuking food for both of us. For a few minutes, all we did was eat, but it wasn’t awkward. I mean, I was a little nervous, a little buzzed from all the adrenaline pumping through me, from Wynn’s crisis to what I’d done just now—strolling right over here in my nightshirt and helping myself to his food.

But he didn’t seem to mind one bit.

Not to mention the flirting—a promise of more to come—was making me giddy.

I grabbed seconds, and he did too. Finally we finished, both of us tossing our napkins on our plates.

Caleb leaned back in his chair, his damp hair curling over his forehead, looking relaxed but expectant. It seemed like he was patiently waiting for me to say what I came to say.

I took up his hand. It was warm, his fingers long and beautiful, the hands of a surgeon. He entwined his fingers with mine, which sent my pulse soaring. If I were hooked up to a cardiac monitor, the beeps would be practically continuous.

Now I just had to get the words out before I chickened out. I cleared my throat, suddenly flustered. “Thank you,” I said, my voice cracking, “for taking my sister in, for feeding her, for listening, for defusing the tension between us. I… It was very kind.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, his lips lifting in a smile.

I added my other hand and then he did too. So now both our hands were joined, like we were going to cast a spell over the empty Thai food cartons. For an eternal supply maybe. He rubbed my palm with his thumb, which didn’t help me get out what more I had to say.

Something on that cliffside had been set in action, like a match that had been struck, a fuse lit, and the only way was forward. I could no longer stay in my safe, insulated box. He’d smoked me out.

“I’ve been worried for months about Wynn,” I said. “About our relationship. About how it hasn’t been the same since our grandmother died. I felt so lost. I still have no idea what I’m doing.”

He was stroking both my palms now but still listening intently, his gaze locked on mine. Did he not know he was stirring feelings that were making me barely able to concentrate?

“You helped me—us—through this difficult day. But really, you’ve been doing that all along. On the trail after you fell, you were worried more about me than yourself. And with my poison ivy and… again tonight. I was so wrong about you. Really wrong. And I’ve never—” My voice cracked. I had to stop. “I’ve never met anyone who was kind just to be kind. Who didn’t want anything back. But you’ve done it time after time and, well—thank you.”

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