Hold Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

arm stops me.
    “No, go sit on the bed,” he says, heading for my dressing table, and my insides clench at the memory of what he did the last time he’d told me to do that. I settle myself on the edge of the bed and squeeze my shaky legs together, which only increases the heat pooling inside of me.
    He picks up my brush and comes toward me. “You have beautiful hair,” he says.
    “Thanks.” The bed shifts under his weight as he sits next to me, then gently places his hand on my shoulder.
    “Turn your back to me.”
    I move slightly and straighten my shoulders, bracing myself as Caleb’s fingers touch my hair. Whenever someone combs my hair, they usually pull a couple of hairs out since it tangles very easily. But as I hear him run the brush through my hair, I can’t feel anything because he’s gently holding the strands between his fingers. “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”
    He’s quiet for a moment, and I don’t think he’ll answer. “Yes, for a friend,” he finally says. “She’s always too nervous to do it herself.” As he moves the brush to the top of my head, he slowly and carefully runs it through my hair.
    “Why?” I ask. “Why is she nervous?”
    Caleb’s grip on the brush falters and he nearly drops it. “Because of her... job,” he quickly says.
    “Can I know what she does? Is she a model?” I don’t know if I’m asking questions that are too personal, but I’m still curious. If she were a model, then wouldn’t she have people doing her hair for her?
    “No, she’s... a singer. She sometimes performs in bars and going on stage can be scary for her.”
    Wow, it’s so sweet of him to do that for a friend. Or maybe she’s his lucky girlfriend.
    He gets to his feet and puts the brush back on the dressing table.
    “My hair accessories are in that drawer. There’s a silver band somewhere in there.” I point my finger at the left drawer of the dressing table. He rummages through it until he finds what I want and comes back toward me. I sit still as he busies himself with my hair.
    “There. All done.” He pulls back and I get to my feet, going for the mirror. My hair is tied into a perfect loose bun, one strand falling freely on the left side of my face. “Do you like it?” he comes to stand behind me, and all I can see in the mirror are his dark eyes.
    “Yes,” I say, breathless. He’s so close to me now that he could touch me, but he doesn’t.
    “Good.” He crosses his arms, a pleased expression on his face.
    I take a seat in the chair in front of the dressing table and pick up my mascara. “I can do the rest by myself. Thank you.”
    He nods, a smile stretching his lips. I can feel his presence behind me like a wave of heat. When I finish applying my mascara and eye shadow, I reach for my pink lipstick, but then I see Caleb shaking his head in the mirror.
    “What?” I hover the lipstick above my lips.
    “Red is better.”
    I eye the lipstick for a moment, then put it down. I rarely use the red one, but maybe Caleb is right. I can always wipe it off if it doesn’t look good. After I finish, I smack my lips together and look at myself in the mirror.
    “You look absolutely breathtaking,” Caleb says, and I can’t help but smile because he looks sincere. I almost feel as if he were really my boyfriend, except I know almost nothing about him, and what I do know is probably just a part of his act.
    “We’re going to be late. Let’s go.” I pick up my black purse and Caleb offers me his arm. As I slip my arm through his, I take a shuddery breath. Mark has never been so nice to me. And I know he and many other men would have rather jumped off the top of a building than help a girl with her hair or makeup, but Caleb seems different, and part of me wants to believe that this side of him is real. As we walk through the door, I hope I’ll find out.

 
    I can’t hide my smile as Caleb and I enter the restaurant where my father’s party is being held. The