Caught Up In Love Read online

  “I guess you’re right. But no cops. Not this time. I swear if he comes back, I’ll call the minute I see him. Even if he just drives by.”

  She glanced down at her watch. “Come on. Let’s go grab something to eat, my treat.” She grabbed her purse, and I hesitated.

  “I guess so.” I gave in and grabbed my keys and handbag. “I could eat. A certain cat ate half of my sandwich.”

  She glanced over at Jasper from the stoop and gave him a thumbs-up as if their plan had worked. “Good job, little buddy.”

  I shut the door and locked it. “I always knew you two were in cahoots.” As we left the house, I wondered, for no reason at all, if Greyson Young liked cats.

  9

  Greyson

  “Get out of my flowerbed, you fucking feline menace.” I had just paid a fortune to have my landscaping done, and for some reason, the neighborhood stray wanted to shit in my flowerbed right next to the water spigot. It was like it knew just where to do it so I would have to see it each time I hooked up the hose.

  I had wanted to spray off the Vette before going into town, but that idea was ruined, and I was already unsure if I should carry my bad mood with me to the lumberyard.

  Not only did I have to deal with pesky cats, but Dodd’s had delayed me once again, and my house’s new paint job was coming in their sweet time.

  I was glad to drive away from the house and happy I had a good reason to go down and see Sage, who Eric had teased was my new Spice Girl. I had called him, and he had threatened to do an emergency intervention if I didn’t ask her out. So with any luck, I’d stop dicking around and get my shit together.

  I drove up to the lumberyard and parked next to an old Ford sitting in the lot. It was nice and probably belonged to the little punk who had flirted with Sage right in front of me. I made a sound that one could only describe as a growl and then got out of the car.

  I went inside hoping she’d be up front and was horrified when I did see her. She stood on the other side of the window in the warehouse on a short ladder with a large box over her head, passing it up to the young prick.

  I ran out as she teetered on the rickety ladder. “Here, this is the last one,” she said, hefting the box up to him.

  “Damn, that’s heavy,” said the boy. “I’ve got it. Thanks.” He disappeared into the loft over my head. And I wondered why the space didn’t have a ladder.

  “Sage?” My voice was full of concern.

  “Hey,” she said with widened eyes. “Mr. Young. What brings you in?”

  “It’s Greyson. And did you need any help?” I hated to see her on the ladder lifting such heavy things. “You’re a bit too small to be lifting anything that heavy above your head.”

  “Oh, it’s okay. I do it all the time.” She waved me off and then brushed off her hands on her jeans. “Did you need something?”

  “Um, well, yeah. I thought I should probably order more wood.”

  Her eyes lit up with surprise as she looked down from the ladder rung where she sat. “More? Of the same thing?”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure I had enough lumber.”

  As she turned and came down the ladder, I put my arms up in case she fell, holding the ladder steady when it wobbled.

  She made it down and gave me a long look. “Not enough? It’s probably in your best interest to go ahead and use what you have, and then when you’re getting low, you can make your next order. That way, you don’t have a lot of unused wood.”

  She had a point, and I liked that she was so smart and helpful.

  “You’re probably right.” I felt kind of silly for even coming down, but now I was more determined than ever to ask her out.

  “Come on; let’s go inside.” She led me back to the front counter, and I walked around to the other side as she stepped in front of the register. “If you’re sure you want to order, I guess I could put one in.”

  “Nah, it’s okay. I think I’ll do what you suggested.”

  She gave me a half-hearted smile. “Okay. So, is there anything else I could help you with?”

  Oh, so many things. “Actually, there is something else. I’m new to town, and I was wondering if you knew of any good restaurants.”

  “There are several. What do you like?”

  “Good company, for starters. Would you like to join me? You can choose any place you like.”

  “Are you asking me out on a date, or do you just want friendly company?” She gave me the same narrow stare she had at the boathouse. I couldn’t read this girl, and she drove me absolutely crazy and threw me completely off of my game. “I’m not opposed to taking you out on a date if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “I’m not asking anything, but technically, you didn’t ask me on a date, and you still haven’t.” She had a point. I’d gone about it in a roundabout way.

  “Sorry. I guess you just put me off of—”

  “And now I put you off?”

  “Off my game. Dear God, woman. Let me finish. You’ve already got the wrong idea about the boathouse. I wasn’t saying no to meaning what I said. I meant no, I really didn’t know you were standing there. I was embarrassed.”

  “So, you’re here, trying to turn on the charm? Or to ask me out on a date?”

  “Both, and I’m failing miserably, aren’t I?”

  Her smile lit up her face. “Yeah, you totally are.”

  “So, I guess I should start over.”

  “Yeah, you should. Right down to the reason you came in. So, go on.” She came around the counter and shooed me out of the office. “Come back in and try again, and if you use some baloney story about ordering more wood, this time, I’m going to take the order, and you’re going to have to line your closets with the leftover cedar.”

  Little did she know, my closets were already cedar lined. “Fair enough.”

  She slammed the door in my face, and I laughed because no one had ever put me in my place like she was, and it was such a turn on. I cleared my throat and walked back into the room.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Young. May I help you?”

  “Yes, you can. You can help me by doing me the honor of being my date tonight.”

  She rolled her green eyes up to heaven and then met mine directly. “Okay, but where are you taking me?”

  I leaned in over the counter, giving her my best, charming smile. I’d almost thought I’d left it somewhere in New York. “Anywhere you want to go. I’m new in town, and I really don’t know any good restaurants.”

  She looked surprised. “Ah, so there was some truth to what happened earlier?”

  I shrugged. “Earlier? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I wasn’t going to ruin my do-over by looking back, and it seemed to make her smile even bigger.

  “You’re funny.”

  My phone rang, and I took it out of my pocket and hit the ignore button. “Is that a yes?”

  She reached out and took my phone from my hands, and I let her do it. “Yes, it is,” she said, opening my contacts. “What time tonight?”

  “How about seven-thirty?” I glanced down as she typed in her number, then met her eyes, eager for her response.

  She slid the phone back across the counter. “Sounds good to me. Dress nice. I want the best place in town.”

  “Not a problem. I can’t wait.”

  She leaned in over the counter, a breath away from kissing me. “Now get out of here before I change my mind. Some of us have to work.” She stepped away, and I wondered if she had heard that I didn’t have to hold a job.

  Surely, it was just a figure of speech and not because I’d told Christian that I was retired. I didn’t want a girl who wanted me for my money, but Sage really didn’t really seem the type. It was a small town, and I was sure word got around fast. Just like it had about my house. There were people driving by just to get a look at it.

  I took my time leaving, and as I stepped out the door, I stopped and took one more glance over my shoulder.

  I breathed a sigh o
f relief as I got in my car, and then I started it up and checked my phone for her number, making sure there were enough digits and she hadn’t shorted me just to get back at me for earlier. “Time to open a line of communication,” I mumbled to myself. Then I typed out a message to text to her: Miss you already.

  A few moments later, there came her response: I can see you. You’re still here.

  Fine, I’m going.

  I started the car and backed out of the space. Then I headed out of the lot and toward town, glancing to see who the call was from that I missed. The auto trader in Rockport had called. It was time to go pick up my new Jeep.

  I had always liked Eric’s Jeep, and when I got to the place, I took a photo and sent it to him and then dialed his number.

  “Looks like you got the girl anyway,” he said upon answering. “When you said she was a redhead, I should have known you were talking about a Jeep.”

  “Ha! You’re a real riot. But get this, my friend. I got both girls. The Jeep, and I’m taking Sage out tonight.”

  “I’m super proud that you’re back to your old self.”

  “Me too. She’s a tough one. Let me tell you. I go in, still fucking shit up, and she pushed me out of the place and made me come back for a do-over.”

  He laughed and then pulled the phone away from his mouth and told Cassie. “Damn, I’m surprised you didn’t get in your car and drive away.”

  “No, it was so hot, my dick got hard. I never thought I’d like to be put in my place, but damn.”

  “Hmm, you know, maybe she’s the one? Anyone able to do that to you, she’s bound to be special.”

  “Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll get to meet her.”

  “I’d like that,” said Eric. “I can’t remember the last one of your girlfriends that I actually met. I mean, I don’t count the one I caught you banging in your office, but you know what I mean.”

  He had walked in as I was full thrust, banging the beautiful blonde I’d been seeing. She had wanted to see the city from my high rise, so I’d brought her into my office. “Yeah, if I had shown her your view, that might have worked out. I don’t think she believed I ran the company.”

  “Keep us posted, my friend. And be happy. Have a good time. You’ve worked hard, and you deserve it. I better get down to this meeting, man. I’ll call you later.”

  With that, he hung up the phone, and I looked up to see the salesman crossing the lot with the keys to my Jeep.

  “Here you go, Mr. Young. That beauty is all yours.” In my mind, I was thinking about Sage. All mine? I’d love that.

  “Thanks, man.” I had to go home and get things ready.

  10

  Sage

  I had never been so nervous for a shift to end, and even as it inched closer, I wondered if I had made the right call. The man could be a serial killer for all I knew, and there I was, committed to going out with him.

  “You look green,” said Lissa as I came out of the bedroom.

  “I feel like I’m going to puke. I don’t know why I said to dress up. I mean, we’re in Camden, on the water. And I haven’t worn a dress in ages.”

  “It’s a fun, casual dress, though. You’re a bohemian goddess. Besides, you don’t look as fancied up as you feel.” She was trying to be helpful, but I stood there wondering if I looked as sick as I felt. The butterflies in my belly had steak knives.

  “I should just change and put on jeans.”

  She shook her head. “All of your jeans have paint on them, and you look beautiful, just nervous. Like you’re going to be sick, honestly. You’ve got this. He’s just a man. Deep breaths.”

  I took a deep breath and walked over to the bowl where I kept an assortment of tumbled stones. I picked out a few of the blue ones and then chose one, which I stuffed in my bra.

  “What are you doing?” Lissa looked at me as if I had just eaten one.

  “Blue lace agate.” I needed it to control my mouth and to help me not make a complete fool of myself.

  “I don’t even know what that means,” she said, giving me a worried look. “Is that supposed to be a sex deterrent? Because if he finds that, I’m pretty sure all bets for sex are off.”

  How could she think I was going to sleep with him? “It’s the first date!”

  “And?” She gave me a sly grin as a car pulled up in the drive, his headlights reflecting through the window.

  I glanced out to see his red Vette which looked a deep cherry color in the dim light of dusk. “That’s him. You’ll lock up, right?” I left the stone where it had rested snug in my cleavage and grabbed my handbag.

  She picked Jasper up and held him tightly. “Good luck.”

  I threw her a look over my shoulder and hurried out, my sandals clanking along with my jewelry as I approached the car.

  Greyson stepped out of the Vette looking like he was ready for the Academy Awards. “Wow,” he said, looking me up and down. The look on his face was a mix of surprise and uncertainty. “You look beautiful. But I feel—”

  “Overdressed?” He definitely was. He had on a dark blue and black fitted suit with shoes so shiny they put off a glow that no one could miss.

  “Yeah.” He looked down at his suit and then tugged his cuff links and straightened his tie. “I guess this is a little too much.”

  “And I thought I overdressed.” I gave a playful laugh, and that seemed to put him at ease because he laughed too.

  “Look, I’m kind of having a hard time fitting in.”

  “I always have a hard time fitting in, but if you want, we can go find you something else to wear. You look a little uncomfortable.”

  “Actually, I’m not. I’m kind of at home in a suit like this, but I keep forgetting I’m not at home. But I’d like to relax a bit. Do you care if I go by my place and change?”

  “Not at all. As long as you’re not going to kill me and stuff me in your closet.”

  Greyson gave me a horrified look. “Do what?” he asked as he opened my door.

  “I’m kidding. I just realized tonight that I don’t really know you. You’re a new stranger in town. You could be a murderer for all I know.”

  “The only thing I kill at is fashion. But only in New York, apparently.”

  “Apparently,” I said with a chuckle. “But a suit like that around here might start a fight.”

  “Noted.” He shut my door and then walked around to get in the car.

  As he got in and started the engine, I looked up to see Lissa staring out the door. I knew she was just waiting on us to leave so she could go. And she was probably getting an eyeful of my “too hot for Camden and his own good” date.

  As he drove toward Lincoln street, we made small talk, and soon we approached the big periwinkle house. “I can’t believe they haven’t put up torches on your lawn. Everything on Lincoln is usually so restricted.”

  “Don’t give them any ideas. With any luck, this ugly color is going to be gone soon. It’s supposed to be gray.”

  “Well, I like the color. Maybe not for your house, but it has its place in the world. Even in Camden.”

  He laughed. “What would you call it? Blue or purple?”

  “It’s blue. It would need a touch more red to be purple.”

  “Tell that to the neighbor. He called it lavender.” He pulled into his drive and shut off the car. “I’ll just be a minute, but you should probably come in and have a drink while you wait.”

  “Sure.” I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the stone. So far, I was doing okay and hadn’t shot off at the mouth.

  Eager to see inside, I stepped up onto the porch as he unlocked the door. “Come on in,” he said, walking into his house. The furnishings were sparse, and the driftwood mantle caught my eye.

  “Wow, it’s so homey.”

  “Thanks, I’ll be right back.” He kicked off his shoes, picking them up from the floor. I noticed his socks, which were baby blue, navy, and black with an argyle print, and surprisingly complemented his suit perfe
ctly.

  “I love your socks,” I said as he approached the stairs.

  “Thanks. That’s my signature, I suppose. I have quite a collection of argyles.”

  “Can I see?” I didn’t know what made me ask, but I supposed it was wanting to see the rest of his house and to be near him.

  “Sure, as long as you don’t think I’ll lock you in the closet.” He waved me up, and I joined him, staying one step behind on the stairs which gave a gorgeous view of his living room.

  “You have an amazing house. It’s so big and roomy.” I could only imagine having a place that big to do yoga and meditation.

  “Here, this is my room.” He opened the door, and I stepped in to look around. “And here is the dressing room, where I keep my socks.” He went into the closet off of his bedroom, and while I expected to find a crowded closet, it was a whole other room that was just as big as my bathroom.

  Along the walls were clothing racks, where he had an impressive display of suits, and on the other side were his shoes, with a cabinet right in the middle. “Everything below this are socks, and above it, are my ties.”

  “Wow. Did you design this place yourself?”

  “Yes. I had a little help from Cassie. She’s my best friend’s wife. I told her what I wanted, and she and Katrina, both are my business partners, drew it out.”

  “Well, they did you right.” I couldn’t help but wonder if Katrina had been someone special in his life or if they had kept it strictly business. I looked up to the racks and found a pair of jeans hanging, and then on the other side were a few button-down shirts. “How about this and this?” I took them down from the rack and passed them over. Then I bypassed the ties and went right in for the socks. He truly did have every color and style imaginable, as long as they were argyle. “I love your collection.”

  “If socks could be considered a collection. Thanks.”