Chapter Fourteen
Daphne
“Two fucking weeks! Or is it almost three? I don’t fucking know! I just know that I have to have people in my house to photograph it on his behalf.” I let out a big breath. “I can’t fucking believe that I have to praise that…that…”
“Dickhead!” Madison laughed while I had her on my phone speaker since she, once again, mysteriously couldn’t make it to our girl meet-up.
That word had been used more by everyone I knew since the big shitty gallery outburst. Even I had used it to refer to Caldwell in the last week or so. I couldn’t believe that he had not contacted me. He was supposed to do what they always did in the movies—run after me, beg for my forgiveness…tell me he loved me… No such luck. True, I could’ve contacted him, but he was the one doing the name-calling. Besides, I thought I needed to give him space to cool down. But then, it was just rude that he never at least called or texted or emailed me in a professional manner after the article I wrote about him and his precious art world. And it was a good thing I wrote it when I did, otherwise it may not have been so nice in nature.
“You know, you don’t have to even mention Caldwell to the home magazine interviewer or crew,” Aubree said as she flipped through an assortment of clothes I was going to take to my favorite antiquey thrift store. “And say the word if you want me to maybe go over and egg his house before I leave for school… Oh right, he doesn’t have a house.” She laughed and I shook my head. I was so going to miss Aubree dropping in unannounced as well as for our girl nights…and what was I going to do without her around to help me when the baby came?
“I can’t do that to his brother. Tate & Sons Construction is a well-respected family-owned business and it deserves the credit.” I might not want to tell them about the work Caldwell had done inside of my house, but I wouldn’t deprive Ashton Tate. According to Fashionista Forward gossip, he might be the next big home improvement host—if he won some reality show.
“Oh, I saw his brother. He’s smokin’ hot! You should check him out, Madison” Aubree was always snooping in my stuff.
“I have my eye on someone…he’s all yours…sisters date brothers.” Madison giggled and I stopped myself from reminding her that I was no longer involved with one of the brothers.
Aubree spoke up and kept me from spouting my sad rebuttal. “Not for me either. I’m off to mix it up with some hard body co-eds or maybe a hot-as-hell older professor.”
My sister did have a thing for older guys for as long as I could remember. She nearly got sent home early from a student field trip her senior year in high school for fraternizing with a chaperon or teacher from another school. Since she was eighteen years old they really couldn’t do anything, but they still called me to complain since our parents had already passed.
“Oh wow! That’s a cool table and chairs set.” I heard Aubree exclaim and I turned to look out my window to see what had captured her attention. My heart thumped a little as I spied Caldwell following moving-men carrying a table set up my front walkway.
“It’s…he’s perfect.” Aubree beamed.
I wanted my sister to shut up as she was supposed to be on my side—team Daphne!
“Umm…I’ve got to go, Madison,” I said, pushing the end call button without giving her a chance to question or, most likely, react with advice.
Running downstairs with Aubree on my heels, I flung open the front door ignoring the moving men. “Hello Caldwell. What can I do for you?” I asked, blocking the doorway, standing with my arms folded across my tender breasts. Not to mention, I was attempting to hide my aching nipples that always seemed to pop to attention when he was near. And they seemed to be even more pronounced the minute I saw him coming up to my door.
“You wouldn’t answer my calls or text messages today. I needed to make a delivery before Harrison moved the table off to one of his properties. It’s perfect for here. What you’ve been searching for since I started—”
I cut him off, “—well, let’s see.” I put a finger up to my chin, tilting my head at an angle. “As I recall you announced that I was a dickhead and that I had nearly ruined your life and reputation in front of a rather large crowd.” Truthfully, I had gotten over that part, but I hadn’t gotten over the fact that he had ignored me for weeks. And what did he mean by saying he had texted me? “Why would you bring me something that I didn’t order or purchase?”
“You didn’t say what you did for a living,” Caldwell shot back at me.
“I told you I was a journalist. I did not lie. You claimed to be a handyman.”
“You said you were working in fashion.”
“No, I said I worked for Fashionista Forward. You knew I was interested in writing about art and architecture. It was you that deceived me from the very beginning!”
“Woah, guys!” Aubree was butting in with her arms up in the air like a referee in a sparring match. “Why don’t you two move aside and let these gentlemen bring in the furniture while you two continue to bicker about nonsense.”
Doing as she had suggested, I shifted to the side, allowing the guys to come in. Then I turned to walk into my living room as Aubree led the way to the dining room, off the kitchen.
“I am…I do…I know how to do construction work from my father.” Caldwell’s voice was not far behind me so I turned to face him as he continued, “my brother actually owns the company now. I didn’t lie…I just…” I loved watching him squirm while I really wished that his hands were all over my body and not nervously rubbing his face and the back of his neck. “He was sick with a virus, he asked me to go consult with you. I said no at first because he tends to over-exaggerate when he’s sick…but he actually puked on me—”
“—guess you bring that out in people.” I couldn’t stop myself.
He ignored me. “When I saw you, I had to do the work. I wanted to get to know you…to make you mine.” Caldwell moved closer to me. “I love you, Daphne.” I didn’t say a word. “Ireland made me realize that when you find the right one you have to go all out and never back down…never let it go.”
“Who is Ireland?” I admit to sounding a bit jealous.
“She owns NetworkConcierge. She helps businesses network. She’s great at pairing people.” Caldwell was rambling fast. “She had me meet with a big marketing firm in New York and all I could think about was our perfect match.”
“Anything else I should know about? A hidden wife or love child?”
“As far as I know…only one child created with love.” Caldwell reached out and moved my hand that had been subconsciously touching my little bump. I loved the way he snuggled up behind me and caressed my body. “You know Renaldo Rossellini is my client…he’s ready to make a public appearance.” His voice was just above a whisper, sexy in my ear.
Still avoiding the subject of us and the baby, I asked about his client, “He?”
“The Artist.” He corrected himself.
“Seriously, you’re not going to tell me?” I turned to look up at him.
He grinned in a sexy fashion. “What will you do to get another exclusive?”
“Well…” I looked around. “It depends on who is still in the house.” I toyed with the front of his button down shirt which was not part of his usual attire. “If everyone quietly slipped out…”
“Yes?” He lifted my chin, leaned forward, and brushed his lips softly against mine. “Should we investigate?” His questioning words vibrated against my skin. “Or should we throw caution to the wind…and I just attack you right here on the spot?”
I pushed back gently, out of his reach. I wasn’t sure what should happen at that moment…or with us. Did we just fall into each other’s arms and take up where we had left off? Did we need to work out what steps to take next? Move in together…Caldwell move into my house? He still had stuff here and he had made it perfect. And then there was the baby…raise a baby together…co-parenting…get married? My raging hormones told me to shut the hell up and let him satisfy their cravings while my brain said be logical. I tried to think of a happy medium to take care of everyone’s needs, but I was lost as he mentioned that the house was empty.
I hadn’t even noticed that he had moved to the window and was looking out. “Do you want me to leave, Daphne? I will. Just say the word. I am sorry for not telling you the truth from the beginning.”
“I’m sorry that I hurt you…your gallery.”
“The truth is you did me a big favor but I didn’t know it. My ex-partner was the real dickhead, not you. I should thank you daily even if I did have to sell my house to buy him out.” I started to apologize, but he put his finger to my lips so he could continue. “It all worked out. My brother took me in and did me a favor by being sick. Right or wrong, I deceived you—”
I didn’t let him say another word as I moved quickly into his arms and brought my lips to his as he had often done to stop me from rambling.
I just wanted him.
I just wanted him to shut up.
I just wanted him to show me everything I had been missing for weeks.