“Gambling’s like drinking,” Caleb said. “It’s addictive. If you need help—”
“I don’t,” Kent said sharply, his voice lifting. He shook his head and lowered his voice. “Look, Caleb. I appreciate the help and the concern, but I’m fine. And I’ll get this favor returned.”
“I still can’t believe I’m going to Italy,” Sharon exclaimed as she rushed into the room. “Italy!” She hugged Caleb. “I love you, son, and not because of Italy. Because you’re you.” She patted his cheeks. “And you’re so darn handsome.” Before he could respond, she’d let him go and was talking. “I looked up the hotel online, and they have cooking classes. I’m going to come back and cook you all kinds of wonderful meals.”
Caleb’s gaze lifted to Shay, where she now stood in the kitchen doorway, looking awkward and downright upset. He patted his stomach. “I can’t wait.”
“Please tell me we’re ready to leave,” Bob grumbled as he slid into the doorway next to Shay. “If I don’t get your mother on the plane with a glass of wine in her hand soon, I’m going to blow my top.” He eyed Shay. “What’s this about you locking your keys in your car?”
Shay glared at Kent. “You blabbed that fast.”
“Didn’t I?” Kent asked with a grin.
“That patient of yours must have had you flustered,” her father added. “You normally don’t do things like that.”
“I was flustered,” she agreed. “At Caleb acting like a bodyguard I didn’t need.”
“Oh, now,” Caleb said, “that’s where I have to object. Your building was dark and deserted. You shouldn’t have been there alone.”
“I’ve done just fine on my own for the last ten years, Caleb,” she countered, clearly trying to maintain their normal siblinglike banter. “You’ve been home two months, and I’ve barely seen you, but suddenly, you’re all over me and my business.”
Caleb arched a brow, barely containing a laugh, because she was right. He was all over her and liking every minute. Shay’s eyes registered what she’d said, and she paled.
“You’re too independent sometimes,” Bob said. “I’m glad Caleb is here to look after you while we’re gone.”
Shay crossed her arms in front of her body. “Oh, good grief,” she said. “You’d think I wasn’t a grown woman with a medical practice.”
“The great thing about family,” Bob said, “is no matter how grown up you are, you still get love and protection. And a good kick in the ass when you need it. And for the record, daughter of mine, going to an office building alone, in the dark, deserves a kick in the ass.” He grabbed her and kissed her cheek, then eyed his wife. “Come, woman. We have a flight to catch. Kent—chauffeur and baggage handler—get that bag by the door and take it to the truck.”
Fifteen minutes later, Kent was off on his business trip and her parents were off on their adventure. Shay fell against the door after watching Kent’s truck pull out of the driveway, packed with baggage and family, leaving Caleb and Shay alone. “Oh, my God, Caleb. I practically announced we were sleeping together when I said you’ve been all over me and my business.” She hit her forehead. “What was I thinking?”
He chuckled and pressed a hand on the wall over her head. “No one caught that but me, but I admit, I almost laughed out loud.”
“I know!” she said. “I saw your face and wanted to strangle you.” She shook her head. “And Mom called you ‘son.’ Son, Caleb.” She leaned her head against the door. “This, after we just had sex in your shower together. We’re playing with fire here. They are never going to trust you again if they find out you’re sleeping with me.”
He smiled with the memory of that time in the shower—straddling her hips with his, his hand on her slender waist. “We had amazing sex in my shower.”
“Exactly,” she agreed as if that was the point. “Amazing sex makes it worse.”
He wasn’t even going to try and understand her logic, because there was none. “We’re alone for two weeks, Shay. What would have seemed a nearly impossible feat, but we’ve achieved it. Let’s just relax and enjoy being together.”
She pressed her hands to his chest. “How do I relax when we’re headed toward a crash-and-burn? I don’t want you ostracized from the family, Caleb. They trust you to look out for me.”
“I’m not breaking that trust, Shay,” he said. “You need to know right now—I have no intention of keeping our relationship a secret. Not if we decide that’s what this is. Either we’re working through a fantasy or we’re working toward a future. And I can tell you right now…I like who we are together. I like us, Shay. I don’t want to throw that away because we’re afraid of the family’s initial shock that we’re together.”