Page 19 of His Secret Betrayal
“Caleb,” I growl.
“Luke might have…mentioned it.”
That interesting little tidbit piques my interest. Does that mean Luke has been talking to Caleb about me? Something flutters in my chest at the thought, and I wonder what he’s been saying. I’m assuming he didn’t mention the incident in the office two days ago. The one where I almost touched my employee, who also happens to be my son’s best friend. God, he’s young enough tobemy son. I would have done it too, had I thought Luke really wanted me to. Nothing would have stopped me, only…it wasn’t long ago that Luke himself told me he was straight.
Always an unfortunate reminder for my libido.
I certainly don’t want to push him into something he isn’t ready for yet.
But maybe part of me also likes the flirty banter we have going on here. Maybe I don’t want to admit Luke might want me for anything more than that because…then I would have to show him who I really am, wouldn’t I? The parts of me that still feel bruised when I think about the hurts I’ve been through. Is it really me he wants or only the version of Alek the rest of the world gets?
“Dad?”
Caleb’s voice startles me out of my thoughts and back into reality. “Oh sorry, what?”
“So…whydidyou leave early? Everything is okay, right?”
Because I wanted to bend your best friend over my desk and fuck him into oblivion isprobablynot the correct answer.
I cough. “I had some…errands to run. Is that the only reason you called me?”
“Um, well…” Caleb draws out the “well” in a high-pitched tone that tells me he’s building up to something. Or more specifically, he’s about to ask me for something.
I sigh, ignoring my rush of affection because I don’t want to make ittoo easyfor him. After all, we both know he’s probably going to get whatever he wants from me. “What do you want?”
“So, I told you my espresso machine broke?”
“The fancy one that cost the same as my TV?” I ask dryly.
Caleb sniffs. “It was worth every penny.”
I roll my eyes. “Let me guess. You’ll pay me back?”
“Of course! But you know I’m like drowning in student debt over here. It’ll take me months to save up that kind of money, and I need my daily coffee fix!”
I smirk. “Send me the link.”
Seconds later, my phone pings with a text message. I pull it away from my ear and click the link Caleb sent me. My eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets when I see the price attached to a stainless-steel machine that doesn’t look like any kind of coffee maker I’ve ever used. I knew the price would be outrageous, but I’m still struck with sticker shock.
“Are you shitting me? This coffee maker costs five-hundred dollars!”
“Four-hundred ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents,” Caleb corrects me.
“Gee, thanks for the clarification,” I mutter.
Ignoring my sarcasm, Caleb continues to list off the ways in which this coffee machine is superior to any other coffee machine. As though I would understand what a cold brew or a frother is. Then he starts using terms like “drip coffee” and “autocalibration”.
Squeezing the bridge of my nose, I exhale slowly. “Son, you know I don’t care to help you out but…coffee is not really a necessity, ya know?”
Caleb gasps, sounding truly shocked, like I just said something completely prosperous.
Then the line goes dead.
I huff out a quiet laugh and shake my head, fully knowing he’ll call me back once he’s had time to digest the shock of that last statement.
Finally pocketing my phone, I peer around the crowded club and wonder if I should just go home. After two days of staring at the mouthwatering temptation currently taking up space in my office, I had thought maybe I should blow off some of this pent-up energy. And although the bar itself isn’t super crowded, the dancefloor is. It’s packed with gyrating bodies, people who are here with partners and some who appear to be by themselves. I could probably find a willing partner and a hotel for the night…but that’s not what I’m really craving, is it?
No, I’m craving something a little more specific tonight.
