Chuck tipped his chin upward, not breaking Caspian’s harsh stare.
“You want space,” I said, finally finding my voice again. I gave him a little nod. “Fine, then. I’ll be taking my space over there.” I slid into Caspian’s outstretched arm with an effortlessness I probably should’ve questioned but didn’t have the energy to. His hand was warm on my back, sliding around to my hip as he tucked me into his side, sending all kinds of shivers dancing along my skin.
“Thank you,” I said once we were all the way across the café and away from Chuck.
“You looked like you were handling yourself just fine,” he said, spinning to face me but keeping his hand on my hip. “But I wanted you to have an out just in case you needed it.”
I furrowed my brow as I peered up at him, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “You’re way more perceptive than I’ve ever given you credit for, Caspian Foster.”
Caspian smirked with pure confidence. “There are probably a million and ten things you haven’t given me credit for, Ryleigh Dunham.”
“Is that so?” I asked, the tension and embarrassment easing from my body with each easy, playful tease between us.
“Absolutely.” He shifted closer, reaching his free hand to cup my cheek.
I swallowed hard, guilt eating at my insides. He’d been nothing but kind and helpful and funny, and I’d been so... “I’m sorry,” I blurted out, and he titled his head.
“For?”
“Earlier,” I said, motioning toward the French doors where we’d stepped out for air. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like I did. Shouldn’t have said you didn’t understand. It’s my own issues slipping past the surface, Caspian. You didn’t deserve that.” I shook my head, but he didn’t drop his hand from my cheek. He was content to let me spill my guts, and he wasn’t even flinching. God, he was stronger than I realized. “You don’t really deserve any of this, you know? I mean, I’m the definition of a mess.”
“You’re not a mess, Ry,” he said, then grinned. “But if you are, at least you’re a hot mess.”
A laugh ripped from my lips, helping chase away the spiraling of emotions turning my chest into a hollow cave.
“And I’m not unaware of what you’re going through. I get your reaction out there. I didn’t mean to push you, but it’s kind of in my nature to call shots like I see them.” I nodded and maybe leaned into his touch a tad more. “Look, I can come back to destroy these decorations later,” he said. “You want to get out of here?”
Heat blazed inside me, a rush of anticipation and desire flooding uncontrollably throughout my body. Damn it, how long had it been since I’d felt desired? Too damn long. That’s why my body reacted to Caspian’s teases like this. That’s the only reason, I told myself.
“I…” I struggled to find the right words, but one quick look from Caspian had my brain catching up with my body.
Chuck was within earshot again.
That’s why Caspian held me close to him like I was the grand prize at a competition. That’s why he asked me to get out of here with him. And he put on a good act, that was for sure because even I was fooled for a second. Me and my traitorous body.
“With you?” I asked, slipping into the roles we agreed upon. “You can take me anywhere.”
Something flashed in Caspian’s eyes with my answer, something molten and playful and just this side of dangerous. I couldn’t help but be enamored by it, because who wouldn’t be? This was Caspian Foster, for fuck’s sake. Star NHL player and panty-dropper extraordinaire. And when he looked at me like that? I couldn’t help it, I liked it. Especially after the so-called ex-love of my life had just ripped my heart to shreds, again.
“I have a place in mind,” he said, his voice equal parts tease and sex.
God, it made my thighs clench even though I knew we were playing a part. Seemed my love-starved body didn’t really care about that truth.
Caspian turned us toward the café’s front door after we each gave London and the rest of the crew a friendly wave goodbye. Once we cleared the doors and Caspian helped me into his SUV, I finally released the breath that had grown tight in my lungs.
By the time Caspian fell behind the wheel and turned onto Main Street, the playful role had completely left me, the easy smile slipping off my face.
“Want to talk about it?” Caspian offered after I’d been quiet a little too long.
“Not really,” I answered.
Where would I start? How could I explain the situation? Chuck had not only insulted me but had wanted to take steps to totally separate himself from me in every way possible. And that made me look like a complete idiot, still hoping he’d want to get back together. But…damn it, we’d made plans. And he loved me, I knew he did. We’d been together forever, he was my first in so many ways. “He’s just scared,” I said, more to myself than to Caspian. “He’ll come back to himself. He just needs time.”