Caleb Read Online Free PDF Page B

which was hers. He’d take the one next to her or pick one of the others. It really didn’t matter.
    When he hadn’t returned downstairs by the time she finished heating his dinner, she piled everything on a tray and headed to the second level of the house. He was probably as uncertain and tentative about everything as much as she was and would appreciate taking his meal in his room where he could unwind and process just as she craved to do.
    Having a man other than her uncle or Franklin underfoot would be a new experience. She couldn’t ignore him as she’d done with her relatives when she’d wanted to. Caleb was a guest in her house. A guest that, despite the fact she was paying him, was doing her a huge favor. She’d be responsible for his comfort above hers.
    “Hello?” she called when she reached his closed bedroom door. He’d managed to find the room right next to hers after all.
    A second later, he opened the door, his expression brightening as he surveyed the tray of food. “Oh, wow. That’s more than a bowl of chili. You didn’t need to bring this up here. I could have come to the kitchen.”
    “I thought you might like a chance to unwind without me hovering.” She slipped past him, her gaze snagging on the way his long-sleeved dark gray t-shirt outlined the muscles in his upper arms. She set the tray complete with bread, butter, a bright red apple and a cold glass of milk on the small table next to the chair in the room and turned, surprised he was only a few steps behind.
    “Sorry,” she said as she stepped aside. “Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”
    “Nah, this looks great. Really great.” As he spoke, his stomach grumbled, impatient for food. He splayed a hand across his abs. “I guess I’m hungrier that I thought.”
    “Then you’d better eat,” she said and followed her comment by a lighthearted laugh which sounded forced rather than natural.
    The echo of wolves howling drew Rachel’s gaze to the closed bedroom window. Caleb’s reflection appeared in the glass behind hers.
    “We have a pack that spends winters up in the hills at the edge of the property. They’re known to give us trouble sometimes.”
    He reached around her and opened the window a few inches as another call vibrated the night air. “Beautiful and yet eerie.”
    “Yes. Hearing them always gives me chills. Beautiful creatures, but also very deadly when they want to be.”
    “No worse than humans.”
    She turned her head toward her shoulder and looked up at him. “That’s what I always say, too. I hate it when we lose some of our herd to them, but they’re hungry too, you know. If we were in their situation, we’d also kill.”
    “Not many would agree with you.” His grin sent warm tendrils curling through her.
    “Trust me. I know.” She moved from the window toward the door. “With that I’ll say goodnight.”
    “Okay.” He tipped his head toward her. “Thank you again for dinner, Rachel.”
    “You’re most welcome. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to my rescue.” She’d never be able to express in words how much it meant to her.
    An easy smile slid across his tempting lips. “My pleasure.”
    With that, she slipped from his room and closed the door behind her. She’d used the pretense of going to bed to escape his presence, but really, she needed to get away from all that irresistible testosterone and those fiery green eyes that held her spellbound.
    All she’d wanted was peace in her life, and now she had anything but. Surprisingly, that was okay with her.

Chapter Five
     
    “Oh, my God, Elle,” Rachel whispered into the house phone early the next morning. “Why didn’t you tell me you were sending the hottest cowboy this side of the Mississippi?”
    Elle’s pleased laugh came across the phone. “I figured I’d let you make your own decision about him. Besides, I didn’t want you to get cold feet and change your mind.”
    She almost had. “I can’t