However, no one seems to notice except for a subtle gleam in the man’s blue gaze.
“Lori!” my dad exclaims, a large smile spread across his face. Frank looks happy to see me, but is also clearly a couple of beers deep. He pats my hand affectionately. “How are you, sweetie? I didn’t know you’d arrived.”
“Hey Dad,” I murmur, planting a quick kiss on the top of his balding head.
“Caleb, this is my daughter, Lorraine, or Lori, as Margaret and I have always called her.” Dad flashes a proud smile up at me, and I smile weakly back at him. “Last time you saw her she was probably knee-high to a grasshopper.”
“Lori,” the man growls from across the room. A shiver runs down my spine and I wish that he’d say it again. Um hello? I’m mortified by my own insipidness and stand up a little straighter. I really have been getting too much into those romance novels.
“Um hi,” I manage in a cheery voice and do a little wave like I’m Miss America. “I’m Lori,” I parrot. OMG, I’m coming off like a complete idiot. Meanwhile, my dad burbles on, oblivious to my discomfort.
“Lori, this is Caleb Minor. He’s an old Army buddy of mine. You may have met before, but it would have been when you were still a tiny kiddo.”
Oh. I find myself fascinated that we’ve met before, and at the same time wonder what brought him back into my dad’s circle once more.
“Hi Mr. Minor,” I manage in a normal voice while extending my hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Please, call me Caleb,” the older man growls before taking my hand his own. His grip swallows mine because his palm is so large, and another hot shiver runs up my spine. Our handshake only goes on a millisecond too long, but it’s enough to make me wonder what it would be like to have his touch on my body. I’m sure he’d fling me around like a rag doll before using me for his pleasure, and I’d love it so much.
But then my dad’s voice jerks me from my daydreams.
“Caleb was over at the shop today,” Frank continues, oblivious to the sparks flying around the room. “We get together – what Caleb? Every other month or so?”
“That sounds about right,” Caleb agrees.
I never really ask my dad too much about his Army days, mostly because he likes to keep that part of his life separate from his family life. I’ve met a couple of his buddies here and there, but never this man. Meanwhile, my dad continues brightly.
“Caleb moved back to Great Falls a few years back, and it’s been amazing hanging with you again, old friend,” my dad burbles. “I’m sure you guys would have crossed paths sooner except Lori is always busy with her science experiments, and you’re always traveling for work, so I’m glad this finally happened.”
Yeah, but none of Dad’s other Army buddies are this hot, I think to myself. Aloud, I smile and ask a presumably innocent question. “Where were you before coming back to Great Falls?”
Caleb’s eyes go slightly dark. “Here and there,” is all he offers in an off-hand manner. “I got around.”
Mysterious, I hum delightedly.
“Anyways, I thought it’d be nice to have Caleb over for a home- cooked meal,” my dad chortles. “Just for old times’ sake. And to finally have him meet my daughter since I brag about you all the time, sweetheart.”
I smile weakly. Oh no. My dad’s been boasting about me? I hate when he does that because sometimes my dad makes it sound like I deserve a Nobel prize, although of course I’m just a junior scientist. But our guest nods, blue eyes flashing.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lorraine,” the big man growls. “I look forward to hearing more about your scientific discoveries.”
I smile as my pelvis floods with heat.
“Um, thanks, Mr. Minor,” I say in a quivering voice. “I’m glad you were able to come to dinner,” I manage in a calm tone before mentally patting myself on the back for sounding so collected. But the feeling immediately goes out the window when Caleb turns to me, those blue eyes seeing through my veneer of sanity.
“Call me Caleb,” he reiterates again, flashing a short but brilliant smile.
“Um, right,” I repeat. I swallow hard. “So, Caleb, you were at my dad’s shop today?” I ask, hoping that some mundane small talk will humanize this godlike man. Seriously, he looks like a movie star, he’s so gorgeous. It’s hard to fathom that he’s standing in our living room like nothing’s wrong.
“Yes,” he answers in a smooth tone. “I’m having some fixtures replaced in my house, and Frank is the best electrician in town. It’s useful to have a buddy in the business because serious professionals are always so hard to find.”