Eventually the plates were cleared and Cal was still seated beside Antonio, his gaze laser focused on me while I pretended not to notice. As soon as the last plate left the ballroom, the music started, and the ball portion of the evening was in full swing.
Cenzo stood with a wide, devilish smile for Hannah. “Come on, let me twirl you around the dance floor, make these fools jealous.” He wiggled his eyebrows for extra effect and Hannah laughed before putting her hand in his.
“Don’t step on my feet or I’ll let it be known that Vincenzo Ricci is a terrible, terrible dancer.”
He laughed, the sound carrying as they made their way to the dance floor. “No one would believe it.”
People abandoned their seats in favor of the dance floor, small gossipy circles or the silent auction booths, and I took that as my cue to leave. I did what I came to do, and now it was time to head home, maybe get reacquainted with my Netflix account.
I gave the room a quick look and slowly made my way towards the exit, making sure no one noticed as I slipped out the door. Thankfully, unnoticed.
Or so I thought. “Teddy, wait up!” Cal’s breathless voice wasn’t close, but it was closer than I realized.
My footsteps slowed and I turned to find Cal less than ten feet from me, looking even more gorgeous in the mixture of moonlight and golden parking lot lights. Hannah was right, I wasn’t immune to the sight of Cal in a tuxedo, especially up close. Still, I tried to at least appear immune.
“What’s up Cal?”
He blinked, surprised at first by my chilly greeting, but he recovered quickly. “Dance?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No thanks. Where’s Kara?”
He shrugged at the question and took a step closer. “Don’t know and I don’t care. I’m right where I want to be.” His expression was serious and intense, his gaze a visceral thing I could feel all the way down to my toes.
I let out a frustrated sigh and took a step back. “Cal, we have to stop this.”
He took two steps closer so we were right back where we started. “Stop what?”
Oh, he knew damn well what. “This,” I shot back, motioning between us with my hand. “You and me and this thing we do. We’ll both move on, some of us sooner than others, but it will happen, so let’s just not prolong this…whatever it is.”
“I can’t do that, Teddy. I won’t.”
“Why?” The word came out almost like a whine. “Why,” I repeated the word on a soft, pleading whisper.
“Because Teddy, I’ve finally gotten my head un-stuck from my ass and figured out what my problem is.” Cal smiled and took another step forward, his confidence growing with his smile.
“Yeah, and what’s your problem Cal?”
“It’s not a problem for me,” he took another step forward until less than three feet separated us. “Because I love you, and I want you and I won’t stop until you’re mine.”
His words shocked me into paralysis. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move for at least a full minute. Then I blinked and shook my head, certain I heard him wrong and wondering if that champagne was stronger than it seemed.
Then, I laughed. “Cal Rutledge doesn’t fall in love. Hasn’t in thirty years.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” He seemed so steady and so sure, but I couldn’t accept it so easily.
“Why should I believe you, Cal?”
“Because,” he closed the final distance between us and laid a hand on my bare shoulder. “It’s the truth, Teddy. I love you and I didn’t realize it until tonight, a few moments ago actually.”
I sucked in a shaky breath because whether or not Cal was actually telling the truth, he believed the words he said. But I couldn’t let myself believe them so easily. “Maybe you’re just sad to know the great sex we had is in the past. I know I am.”
“I know the difference between great sex and love, Teddy.”
I folded my arms to hide the effect his closeness was having on my body. “Do you?”
“I’ve had good sex before, Teddy and I have never once mistaken it for love.”
“I believe I said great sex.”
He laughed. “Okay, let’s just say the great sex helped. It forced to me sit back and think about whether or not I was simply lusting after you, or if it was something more.” He raked a hand through his hair and a long exhale fanned my face, warding off the evening chill. “Then tonight I watched you and I thought about what you wanted and what I wanted.”
“And how they were completely at odds?”
Cal flashed a lazy smile and nodded. “I thought so, until I closed my eyes and imagined my life five years from now. Ten years from now. And you know what, Teddy?”