Page 68 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

His lips twitched. ‘Very remiss of me.’

I hesitated, looking down, as a little voice in my ear nagged at me... telling me I’d regret it in the morning...

But looking up into Caleb’s eyes, I knew I couldn’t resist him.

‘You okay?’ he whispered.

‘Never been better,’ I told him firmly.

‘Let me give you that tour of upstairs, then.’

With that, he swept me off my feet and into his arms. And as I laughed in sheer delight and felt the last vestiges of doubt melt away, he carried me up the stairs to his bedroom...

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I woke up with my cheek stuck to the pillow and my hair all over the place.

Grimacing, I sneaked out of bed very quietly with my phone so as not to disturb Caleb. He was lying on his back, his breathing slow and rhythmical, and the duvet was pushed down to his waist revealing his bare chest in all its masculine beauty. A reminder of the previous night’s bliss.

Our night together had been incredible. I’d never experienced such tenderness from a man, and the passion that had sparked between us had been off the scale.

But . . . the timing was all wrong.

It could never happen again.

In the bathroom, I stared miserably at myself in the mirror.

I’d been so determined that I wouldn’t fall for another man until I’d got Richard well and truly out of my system. It would only lead to more misery otherwise. I’d been quite certain about that.

But what had I just gone and done?

Slept with someone – just because he’d said I was beautiful!

I sighed. To be fair, that wasn’t totally the reason I’d fallen into Caleb’s arms.

It was far more to do with the wine and the relaxed atmosphere in the kitchen – and the way Caleb had made me laugh and had wanted to know all about me.

He’d even been interested when, after my third glass of wine, I’d started rambling on about my favourite teacher at school. I’d known his interest was genuine because we’d had a fascinating discussion after that about the important people in our lives who’d helped to shape the people we’d eventually become.

Sitting on the closed loo seat, I phoned Ellie to explain about the van breaking down and having to be fixed and that I’d be a little late to work because of it.

‘Why are you whispering?’ she wanted to know. ‘Where are you, Katja?’

I gulped. ‘Erm... well, I’m actually at Caleb’s house? Hedgehog hotel Caleb?’

‘Oh. Right. Gosh, when did this happen?’

‘It didn’t.’ I squeezed my eyes shut, hating the lie. ‘Caleb just very kindly invited me to stay over so I’d be handy to pick up the van this morning. It should be ready by nine-thirty so we’ll go over there straight after breakfast and then I’ll drive the van back to Sunnybrook.’

‘I see.’ She sounded like she was smiling broadly and wasn’t taking me very seriously at all. ‘Well, say hello to Caleb for me. And Katja?’

‘Yes?’

‘Enjoy your breakfast!’

‘Ellie, it’s not like that.’

‘Are you sure?’

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