Page 29 of Hard Deal
Caleb: I didn’t see you walk past. I hope you’re not avoiding me.
Busted. Caleb might seem like he was as chill as an ocean breeze, but the guy didn’t miss a trick.
Imogen: I took the long way around. My Fitbit says I gotta get those steps in!
Caleb: Take a few more and come to my office.
She wasn’t ready to confront him yet. Would he act like nothing had happened? Or would he make it clear that once had been enough? What if she was going around thinking it was the best sex of planet Earth’s history and he thought it was average?
Imogen: I’m busy.
Caleb: I have something of yours.
Her dignity? Her ability to think clearly? Her underwear? She’d lost all three on Saturday night.
Imogen: Later.
Caleb:...
The three little dots ticked over and over. When Imogen reread what she’d written, she cringed. This day definitely needed coffee. Without waiting for his response, she stuffed her phone into her bag and headed out of the office, taking the long way back to the elevator.
* * *
Caleb leaned back in his chair and interlaced his fingers behind his head, giving his back a deep stretch. Every muscle in his body ached. He’d spent all of Sunday in “distraction” mode—going for a run, rearranging all the furniture in his apartment, taking his neighbour’s dog for a walk. He’d been certain that if he didn’t keep himself busy there was a high likelihood of him landing on Imogen’s doorstep ready for a repeat of Saturday night.
But he knew rushing into things would only make Imogen more skittish than she already was. And fair enough, too. It wasn’t every day that one had spontaneous public sex...unfortunately.
“Yo.” Jason walked into Caleb’s office and shut the door behind him. “Where were you all weekend? I thought we were going to grab a parma.”
Caleb smacked his head. “I got caught up. Sorry, man.”
He hadn’t, really. But something had stopped Caleb from heading out to see his brother. Perhaps it was the fear that Jase would take one look at him and know what’d happened. Or maybe it was the fact that their father’s words were still niggling at him—the idea that Jason was a better match for Imogen. That he’d treat her properly whereas Caleb would chew her up and spit her out.
“Got caught up, huh?” His brother raised a brow. “Not much comes between you and the pub. She must have been good.”
Caleb wasn’t sure if that was jealousy or disapproval tinging his brother’s words.
“If she rendered you speechless, I have to meet her.” Jason chuckled. “I ended up catching the game with Daniel, anyway, but I shouldn’t have bothered. St. Kilda got us ninety to forty-eight. Bloody disgraceful.”
Caleb’s ears pricked up. “I didn’t think Daniel was into the footy.”
“He’s not. But he and Penny were having a blue over something.” Jason shrugged. “He was happy to be out of the house.”
“Is there a wedding cancellation on the horizon?”
“I don’t think so. Just petty stuff.” Jason shot him a look. “Why do you care?”
“I was hard on him at the ball.” Caleb got out of his chair and wandered around to the front of his desk, doing his best to look as casual as possible. This was the perfect time to dig up some dirt for Imogen. Because Caleb might be a joker, but he always upheld a promise. “I was thinking the three of us should grab a drink.”
His brother looked at him like he’d suddenly sprouted a second head. “A drink?”
“Yeah, you know, one of those liquid things humans consume to relax after work.” He grinned. “I was a bastard for riling him up about the mask and I want to make amends.”
“Will wonders never cease?” Jason muttered.
“You were the one telling me to cut him some slack,” Caleb reminded his brother. “And I can admit when I’ve gone too far.”
“We’re going to Riverland after work on Friday if you want to join us.” Jason speared him with a serious look. “No funny business.”