Shattered (9 page)

I wanted to question that smirk.  She is up to something and I could feel it.  But what it was I had no clue.  But I was going to find out. “What is it that you aren’t telling me?  I can see that you are hiding something from me…..Don’t shake your head at
me; I can feel that you’re up to something.  I just know it.  Come on let’s go and get this show on the road I need to get drunk for whatever you have planned for me.”

We pull out of the drive and head over to the restaurant.  I love this place.  I try to come here once a week.  The best part is its right across the street from the salon so they know us by names.
Very sad but very true. Everyone else is already here.  Kylie did have a date, the same little frat boy from the bar the other night.  Come to find out he isn’t a college boy only looks like one.  He is the same age as Kylie and works as an engineer for one of the oil companies here in Houston, which is smart because they are very big in this area,  I think is name is Scott. There are two empty seats in the middle left.  I sit next to Amanda and leave the spot that’s open next to Kylie’s date.  I roll my eyes thinking great a chair for my purse and I do just that.

As I sit down the server comes over and takes my order.  I am so ready to have my diet coke and vodka so much that I ask him to make it a double.  After everyone is settled and has placed their drinks orders I start up the conversation.

“So is this an intervention of some sorts? Because I have a feeling that I am not going to like where this is going.  Am I right?”  I direct my eyes to everyone trying to get a read on them.  All the men just look away, even the new kid doesn’t meet my gaze.  Yep something is up.

“Well this is fun but I need answers if I am going to be hanging out with you bitches all night.  If you don’t give me answers then one of you will be holding my hair tonight while I puke everything up.
Any takers on that?” My sister was the first one to chime in. “So tell me what’s his name?”

Great so this is about my love life or the lack there of.
“Well there is no guy in my life besides Michael, which he so happens to be in your life also,  but the man in question, which I have no doubt you already know his name, is Caleb.” I take a sip of my drink and Amanda proceeds to tell her about him and when we met. “She calls him the Greek God. He is in a rock band called Love is War.  Which by the way he has a very sexy singing voice.” I lean back in my chair and cross my arms. 

“So how
much do you already know sis? This is no time to play coy with me.” She takes a sip of her Miller Lite, shrugs her shoulders and begins to tell me something that I have no intentions of hearing.  In fact I want to bolt right out of my chair and run for the hills.

“I know enough and I am about to know even mor
e.” Before she even got the word more out I could feel him.  All the hairs on my skin stood straight up, my heart started pounding out of my chest, my hands started sweating and if I could smack the knowing smile off my sister I would jump across this table and do just that.

“Mind if I sit here?” God that sexy voice just totally turned me on in like t
wo point five seconds. I can only imagine what he could do with all over my body. “Ryan….earth to Ryan…..” Amanda literally had slap me on the arm to get me out of my dream fantasy of him and his mouth all over my body…….Oh God this is going to be a long night.

“Sure, sorry.  I got lost a little there. Have a seat.” I move my purse out of the way and drape
d it over my seat.  “I get a little lost too when I think about you also. By the way did you get my flowers?” His voice is so dreamy when he whispers in my ear.  I had to catch myself before I leaned in all the way just to get closer to him.  Good thing I caught myself because that would be embarrassing.

“So you must be the Greek God I have been hearing so much about.  I am Renee,
Ry’s older sister.” My sister leans across the table and shake’s Caleb’s hand. “And this is my husband Anthony.” Caleb and Anthony shake hands as well.

I flag down the waiter and ask for another double because I know for sure I am really going to need more than just one drink.  “Yes I guess I am the Greek God, my name is Caleb which I am sure you know that as well.” Caleb sits down and drapes is arm over my chair, like it belongs there
, I try to hide my blush but it creeps up anyways.  I try to look down away from everyone.  This could not get any worse.  I know I am going to be like this all night.  I am so afraid to take a peek at him but my head and my eyes have other plans. Slowly turning my head ever so slightly I glance at his appearance. He is in a light wash, hip hugging pair of jeans, not too tight, but not baggy, and a black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up sporting tattoos on his right arm.

One day I would really like to see what’d underneath all that.  Maybe even trace every one of his tattoo with my fingers, hell better yet I could trace them with my tongue. God what I could do to this man with my tongue…… “Greek God, I like the sound of that.  I think maybe one night I will let you scream that instead of my name when I make you come.”

If my face wasn’t hot well it is now.  I didn’t realize how close he was sitting next to me or that I was leaning into him.  But his sexy little whisper just sent chills up my back and I think I will need a fresh pair of underwear.  I so hope he doesn’t smell the arousal on me.

“You smell nice tonight, good enough to eat.  I just may have you for desert later.” Shit, yep I am toast.
He leans in closer and I can feel his breathe lingering on my neck.  And just like that he kissed my weakness.  I am not even dating the guy or even had to guide him to the spot right below my ear.  It’s like the man knew that would be the place that would having me a whimpering mess.  My eyes drifted close and I balled my hands into fist on my lap.  I need to pull it together.

Amanda clears her throat and knocks me back into the now and away from my steamy little thoughts.  I flick open my eyes and my sister
is beaming at me and winks. Clearing my throat I look around for the waiter, where the hell is my drink I need it bad, among other things.  Finally he comes back and I swear I drink down half of it the moment I took it out of his hands.

Once he takes my order I stand up and announce that I need to go to the little ladies room. I enter the ladies room and run straight for the water and paper towels.  Getting the towel wet I run it all along my neck trying to get the heat to come down off my face.  Goodness this man is going to be hard on
my blood pressure. It doesn’t take Amanda long to enter. “Don’t give me that look.  This was entirely all your sister.  She wanted to meet the man that has the hot’s for her sister.” She has her hands up in defense. “So which one of you have his number?”

Now she looks guilty, I mean really guilty. “Um we all do. Don’t kill me.  We all got along so well at the bar
that he got all of our numbers.  He has even been making plans to go on the annual fishing trip with the guys. Look he really likes you so give him a shot.  I am not saying screw the guy but get to know him before you decide to close your heart out completely.” I know she is right. I know I need to at least make him my friend before I kick him out of my life. I told her ok and we head back out to dinner where it looks like the conversation is flowing. 

When I sit down he puts his hand on my knee and gives it a little squeeze.  The moment he touched me he sent a spark
through my body.  I knew he felt it too because he squeeze again.  He was great with my friends and my family.  They asked him about the band, he has been with them for six years, they asked him about his family, he has a younger brother and both parents live in Galveston and are still happily married. He didn’t get offended at all by the 100 questions that everyone through at him. He seemed to really enjoy talking about his life and family.  I also found out that he have a four year old little girl that lives here in town.  This made my heart worm up.  It was nice to know that I wasn’t the only one going into this with kids.  That is if there is anything to get into, maybe.  By the time our check arrived we were all in good spirits and just enjoying the conversation.  I felt more relaxed and loved every minute of it.

“So sis
tell me if I heard this right.  You got up on stage and sang three songs?” I was so hoping no one told her this.  This is something my sister has been trying to do since we were kids.  She loves everything about karaoke; she has always had the confidence without the alcohol involved.

“Did anyone get video of this?
Because in our 32 years I would never have guessed my sister on stage singing.” I put my head in my hands and try to explain to her how I was set up and was made to sign two songs by myself and one with them. To my utter surprise Nick takes out his phone and pulls up the video of my signing that night.

There are two reasons I don’t want to relive that moment, one is the singing and the other is the big lug named Brandon. But she doesn’t need to know about the latter, if she did she would try to hunt him down and take his balls off with a pair of pliers. I would hate to be any man that does my sister wrong.

She sat there looking at my video while I decided to bang my head on the table. When will this be over? When?

“Oh my, Ryan.” I left up my head as she is putting the phone down. She is unlashed tears in her eyes; the pride in them make my eyes start to burn. “She would have loved to see that moment sis.  Nothing would have made her happier than to know you climbed that stage and took it by storm.”

By this time my tears are falling.  Why did she have to go there? I feel strong hands on my back trying to sooth me.  Great just great, my first group date with the man and I am a blubbering mess.  I try to gain control but when sis comes over and bear hugs me they start back up.

I hear Amanda lean over to explain why we are all crying. Mom always wanted to hear the two of us sing.  She had a great singing voice and if she would have followed her dream she would have been somebody but she fell in love and got pregnant. She never regretted a single moment but we just knew she missed it.  So we tried to help her by singing at home.  Sis always sang in talent shows or for mom or sing in church.  I on the other hand wanted nothing to do with the stage.

My sister finally
lets go of me and whips the tears from my face. Having this moment with her makes my heart swell. “I know, I wished she was there to watch me do it but I could feel her with me the whole time.” I choke out the words trying to keep from the tears coming back full force. 

Gaining my composure I sit back down and look at my girls.  There is not a dry eye at the table.  These poor guys don’t know what to do with us.  We all must look like idiots for crying but at this moment I don’t really care.
“Well I think it is time we move this little party to the bar.  What do you say ladies?” Everyone agreed and we all got ready to leave.  The waiter came over and placed everyone’s bill down.  I reached for mine thinking that I would pay since Caleb was dragged here by my sister. But he just shook his head and gave my knee a squeeze.  That same shock was still ever so present when he touched me. After we all paid we headed out. 

As we walked out Caleb grabbed my hand and laced out fingers together.  The
contact and gesture made my heart sore.  “I know we didn’t come together but I would really love to walk into my bar with you by my side if that’s ok with you.” I couldn’t find the words so I nodded in agreement.  I don’t know what this man does to me but he leaves me breathless and I can’t ever seem to formulate the right words.  This is something that I am not used to and I need to get over fast.  I love to talk but with him I just lose it all.  If he asked me to go home with him right now I probably would. No doubt in my mind.  But I am not ready for that and I need to let him know before this goes any further than this.

He settled me into his
truck; it’s been a long time since a guy has opened a car door for me.  My ex never did.  I think he felt he already had me and didn’t feel the need to make any effort.  But in that little moment I realized that I enjoy having my car door opened. It didn’t make me feel like he was trying to impress me but it made me feel like he wanted to cherish me.

The drive to his bar isn’t very far but I still had some things that I wanted to get off my chest before we could go any further with our night. “Caleb
, can I tell you something before this goes anywhere?” He looked over at me took my hand, squeezed it.  “Sure tell me anything you want to.”  At that moment I felt a little tug. How do I tell this man I want him but I can’t have him?

Taking a deep breath I begin my speech. “Look I like you a lot and I am pretty sure you know this.  But I want you to know that I can’t sleep with you.  Sex means more to me than just some great fuck for one night.  I have never been that type of girl and I will never be that type of girl.
My emotions get involved when I get that intimate with someone.  I wear my heart on my sleeve most of the time and right now like I told you my heart is shattered.  So I don’t want you getting the wrong idea about me.”

I finish with a long sigh.  While waiting for his response I realize that he is still holding my hand and his thumb is drawing circles on the top of my hand. After a few minutes he begins to break the silence. “Well how about we just take it slow.  Look I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do.  I want to get to know you in any way that you will allow me too.  I like you a lot and I want to see were this goes. So we will just take it one step at a time.  Sound good?”