Love So Unexpected (The Lawson Brothers Book 6) (5 page)

“Lucky me.”

“Don’t you forget it either.”

“I’m sure you’ll post all about it on Facebook so I can’t.”

Mason hopped down, his dark blue gaze intently studying Caleb. “What’s got you so chatty today? I picked the brother who communed with cows for a living so I didn’t have to talk.”

“Gee, thanks,” Caleb grumbled.

“Who is she?” Mason crossed his arms over his chest, his wedding ring gleaming in the afternoon sun.

After a moment’s hesitation, Caleb said, “No one you know.” Unless he’d already met Sofia. Then again, Mason wasn’t about meeting new people.

“Is she on Facebook?”

“You plan on stalking her?”

“Only for informational purposes.”

Caleb gave his brother a look, then shook his head. “I don’t have time for this.”

“All right. I won’t stalk her,” Mason grumbled, his face contorting in such a way that Caleb almost believed his younger brother was in pain. Mason suffered from PTSD. He was a former SEAL and had been injured so badly he ended up being discharged. What followed were very dark times for his brother—so dark that Caleb didn’t think Mason would ever see the light again. Until Skylar moved next door and changed everything.

“Good. Besides, I don’t know if Sofia has Facebook.”

Mason smiled at that, the scar on his lip distorting it a little. “I knew it. Skylar told me about the woman staying with Mom and Dad. Never took you for a fast mover.”

“Yeah, haven’t asked a woman out in over a decade, somebody stop me.” Caleb went back to work on the fence. It always needed repairing in this spot. Maybe one day, he’d figure out who or what was doing it.

Maybe the wire was too old, too worn out, and should just be replaced. Would that be how Sofia looked at him? He wasn’t quite sure of her age, but at thirty-four, he felt damn near ancient at times, and—

“Is that how you plan to impress her?” Mason asked.

Caleb squinted against the sun. “I don’t think she’d want to have dinner out here by the cows.”

“I meant your epic moments of retreating inside your head. Women don’t like that.”

“You’re a great authority, huh?” Caleb countered.

“Most women don’t like that. Maybe you lucked out and got the one who won’t mind, but my point is that you can’t go inside your head, Caleb. Be present for your date by doing more than just showing up. Hell, pretend she’s one of the damn cows if you have to.”

There were times that Caleb wanted to punch his brothers, especially Mason with his sarcastic mouth, but right now...

“Thanks for the advice. It’s not easy for me, but I want to ... try.”

“That’s all we can do, brother.”

C
aleb’s first glimpse of Sofia in her red dress almost knocked him on his tail. “Wow. You look beautiful,” he couldn’t help but say as she walked down the steps to him.

Her skin glowed, and he was tempted to run his fingers through her silky dark hair. He wouldn’t though. For one, women didn’t appreciate a man mussing up their hair. And two, he didn’t have the right to touch her.

Yet.

“You look very nice yourself,” she said, running an appreciative gaze over him.

Wearing his best button-down shirt and a dark pair of jeans, he hoped that she’d find him attractive. Maybe more than attractive.

Just a date. Just a date
. Just. A. Date.

He chanted the words in his head so the rest of him would be in agreement. Wasn’t easy, though, because his body had other ideas, and it was signaling his brain all sorts of thoughts that involved kissing Sofia’s neck and full lips.

“If you’ll allow me,” he said, opening the passenger side door.

“A girl could get used to these Southern manners,” she said as he held out his hand. Taking it, he helped her inside while ignoring how good it felt to touch her.

Reluctantly letting go of her, he said, “You’ll have to sit in the middle. The seatbelt isn’t working right on this side. Been meaning to get that fixed.” He could have taken one of parents’ vehicles instead, but he wasn’t a teenager anymore. Hopefully, Sofia wouldn’t think poorly of him. “Promise you’ll be safe.”

She scooted over in the seat, adjusting the little red number she was wearing as she went. “Is this good?”

He nodded. “Seatbelt’s beside you.” Closing the passenger side door, he jogged to the other side. His sweaty palm slipped off the door handle the first time.
Great
. Wiping his hands on his jeans, he hoped she wouldn’t notice.

“You said dinner, so I took a chance on wearing a dress,” she said with a little smile as he climbed inside the truck.

He didn’t say anything to that, mostly because he couldn’t think of something to say that wouldn’t make him sound like a dumbass. So he started up the engine and put the gear into drive.

Man, dating is hard.

So is life. Say something.

“Hope you don’t mind if we go to the beach instead of Jessamine. There’s a restaurant called Bluebelle where a lot of people go when ... they like it.” Could he sound more like an idiot? “You like seafood? Not allergic or anything? I didn’t think to ask first. We could go to the Shake Shack instead.” He swallowed. Apparently, he
could
sound more like an idiot.

“I love seafood. Actually, I love food,” she replied.

“It’s right on the ocean. View’s pretty.”
Just like you
, he wanted to add.

“Really? I’ve never seen the Atlantic.”

“You haven’t?” he asked in astonishment.

She shook her head. “Only in pictures.”

His truck hit a deep rut in the road, and Sofia fell forward. Automatically, his arm shot out to protect her and ended up hitting her in the stomach.

She coughed, her hand covering his arm, as she sat up again. “
Oww
.”

“Shit!” He winced, coming to a full stop before turning to her. “I mean, shoot. I’m sorry. Habit. Are you okay?”

Wide brown eyes regarded him. In their depths he found amusement ... and—
please don’t pity, me
—kindness.

“I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

She nodded. “You were only trying to protect me.”

Tugging at the collar of his shirt, he began to ease the truck down the long drive again. “Won’t take long to get there. Thirty minutes at the most.”

“That close?”

“Yeah.” He got quiet again, and the temptation to get lost in his own thoughts beckoned. At least there he wouldn’t say something stupid, but there, he couldn’t get to know Sofia either. How in the hell had Iris ever gotten more than two words out of him while they dated?

“I helped your mother in the garden today. It’s beautiful, Caleb,” Sofia said, mercifully breaking into his internal musings.

“You like that sort of thing?” he asked.

“Put it this way—when I was the head chef at
Las Rosas
, I would have killed to have access.”

“I’ve had some offers, but our farm doesn’t produce enough to supply to multiple vendors.”

“That’s a shame because your vegetables are
perfecto
.”

He blushed a little at the compliment. “Doesn’t take much to grow ‘em. A little sunlight, water, and ... encouragement.”

“You talk to the plants, too?”

“They’re less moody than the cows.” He glanced up into the rearview mirror to judge her reaction. A breathtaking smile curved her lips at the corners, and his stomach dropped. “Did you always want to be a chef?”

“Yes. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be in the kitchen. There’s something very satisfying about preparing food for people you care about, or maybe it’s the conversations that always happen.” She grew more animated as she began to talk, her hands gesturing in a controlled wildness that appealed to him. And sweet Lord, her face ... it was so alive.

He cut his eyes back to the road, narrowly avoiding Walter Matthews’s mailbox. “My family loves to eat and talk.”

“But not you?”

“I prefer listening,” he said. “And eating. I love eating. Who doesn’t love eating?” he added, then clamped his mouth shut.

“Smart. You definitely find out more that way.”

There was no way she could be this perfect. Okay, so maybe not perfect, but she sure was overlooking a lot. Maybe he should just come clean to her. Well, as clean as he could. No way would he tell her about his wife just yet. He didn’t want the inevitable pity that would lace her words and every look she’d give him.

He cleared his throat, keeping his eyes fixed on the road. “I’m sure you’ve noticed how bad I am at this, but in case you haven’t, I haven’t been on a date in a long time, so uh, if I start heading off in the wrong direction, let me know.”

She lightly touched his knee, and damn if he didn’t feel it everywhere. “You’re doing fine. Besides, like you said, it’s just a date, not a proposal.”

“When you put it that way...” he muttered. “How about you find something on the radio?”

“If that would put you more at ease.” She leaned forward and began searching through the stations. “You’re not bothering me, Caleb. I think you’re charming.”

He almost ran off the road. “Ah ... thank you.” Was ‘charming’ code for
you’re a nice guy, but I prefer bad boys who go after what they want
? He couldn’t be a bad boy, had never been one, not even when he’d been acting the fool after Iris died. It just wasn’t in him.

“That was a compliment. I’m not into drama or playing mind games,” she said, as if reading his mind.

Warmth flowed over him. “Here’s to a great dinner.”

“I know it will be,” she assured him.

*

S
ofia had meant what she said on the ride over. Caleb charmed her. There was something about him that made her want to cradle him to her chest and stroke his hair while he put those big, capable hands on her at the same time.

Stop lusting over the man.

You stop lusting. I’m admiring his hands.

Tomato. Tom-ahto.

“Dinner was wonderful,” she said. “I can’t wait to pick out a dessert. Want to share?”

Caleb’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Maybe we can get two to share.”

“You so know the way to this woman’s heart.” She laughed, then sobered. That was taking things a little too far. Besides this date being only dinner, she eventually planned on leaving.

He leaned in. “We must share the same one.”

Oh my.
For such a quiet man, he had such a way with words. “Next time, I’ll cook for you, and we’ll see if your heart can handle it.”
Stop it. Stop flirting with him right this instant.
She didn’t want to stop, and, for whatever reason, she couldn’t help herself.

“I’ll take you up on that.” Holding out the menu, he said, “The lady gets first pick.”

Taking it, she quickly scanned the page. “I’ll try the banana pudding.”

“One of my favorites. I’ll go with Death by Chocolate Decadence.” He grinned at her, and she ignored the fluttering in her heart. “Afterwards, I thought we could take a stroll on the beach so you can get a proper introduction.”

She shifted her gaze to the window to watch the waves roll in. They crashed against the shore as small birds darted to and fro, never quite letting the water touch them.

“Is it cold or warm?”

“A little chilly, but since we’re not swimming today, your feet should be fine.”

Tearing her gaze from the water, she focused on the man sitting across from her. “Do you think it’s strange that I ended up in Jessamine, of all places, and that your mom, of all people, was the one to come save me from the bus station?”

“She is on the hospitality committee,” he pointed out. “Normally, the committee puts people up in the Jessamine Inn for the night, but you were the exception.”

“Because your mother was friends with mine.” She shook her head in amazement. “After all the bad things that happened along the way, it seems too good to be true.”

Caleb leaned back in his chair. “Bad things?”

“My tickets had the wrong destinations. I foolishly withdrew all the money I had in savings and had it stolen while I slept.” She sighed thickly. “I wasn’t even supposed to go through North Carolina, much less end up on the coast. By now, I should be in Roswell, staying with my friend, Ione. But she’s not answering her phone or my texts.”

“That doesn’t sound like a very good friend.”

“She’s more like a culinary school colleague I’ve kept in touch with. Don’t you have friends like that?” she asked.

“My friends are my brothers,” he said evenly, his gaze steady. “I don’t get away from the farm much.”

“Cooking in a professional kitchen is similar. My friends were the ones I worked with, and I didn’t have time for anyone outside of that.” She made a little face. “Unfortunately, the one time I did, he ended up being a real loser. Bragged about how long he could stay on unemployment and took cash-only jobs.”

“That’s a ... shame,” Caleb said, his nose wrinkling a little.

“Unfortunately, love made me stupid. I’m able to forgive and gloss over so many things because of love.” A flaw to be sure, but it was in her DNA. Hadn’t her mother fallen for a man who had no desire to stick around to help raise his child ... unless he needed a place to crash, or some money?

“How long ago was that?”

“About two years. Haven’t had time for anything since then.” She canted her head side to side. “Mostly because I haven’t made time for anyone else, but all that’s changed. I left Flagstaff to start over.”

“It took you two years to decide that?” His question wasn’t accusing.

She grinned sheepishly. “It took me that long to convince my abuela to let me go with her blessing. Family is one of my weak spots, and I left a ton of primos—cousins—as well as aunts and uncles behind.”

His eyes widened. “That’s pretty gutsy. I can’t imagine ever leaving Jessamine to live in another place.”

“Your roots are too deep,” she said softly. “That’s how it should be.”

“What about your roots?”

She paused as the server came by to get their dessert orders. When he left, she continued, “My roots are looking for a new place to grow.”

Caleb smiled at her admission, but he didn’t comment. However, she knew he was thinking about what she said. She’d give almost anything to know his thoughts.