Caleb

Chapter Four

She's so fucking cute.

Understanding that they were going to be there for a while, Caleb silently lowered himself down to a seated position on the wood floor, resting his forearms on his knees and enjoying the view of the trees in front of him, but secretly stealing glances of the breathtaking view of the woman sitting beside him.

Her eyes darted and danced side to side as she read the words on the pages of her book, giving an occasional grin at the text.

"What are you reading?" he asked.

She turned her head and raised her brows at him in response.

"Right, sorry... Not here," he reminded himself.

Turning her gaze back to her book, the corner of her lips tipped into a smile and he knew he had put it there.

Silence wrapped around them as she read and he watched, but after a while the wood floor became extremely uncomfortable. Caleb shifted his weight before laying down flat on his back with his hands laced behind his head. The wood creaked and groaned as he shifted his large body, but the sound eventually stopped once he got settled.

"You know, you're awfully loud for someone who isn't here," she said without moving her eyes from her book, keeping her tiny smile still intact.

"Sorry, my ass fell asleep," he joked as he laid beside her.

Her eyes closed and her smile spread as she tried to suppress a laugh at his comment.

"So you just sit up here like this and read every night?" he asked, trying to understand her routine.

"Not every night, but most nights or when I've had a really bad day...but it's not usually like this."

"Not usually like what?" he asked.

"Noisy," she stated flatly before sliding her eyes toward him with that tiny smile inching its way up a little higher on her cheek.

"Alright, I can take a hint." 

"Can you now?" she sassed.

Silence took over the room once more and he admired her as she read and felt complete satisfaction when those bright eyes would drift from her book over to him, before darting back to the text in front of her.

I see you Darlin.

Unable to control the grin on his face, he admired the gorgeous little book worm, taking in the features of her profile and memorizing every dimple and freckle that made Lainey - Lainey.

"You're staring," she said with a grin, keeping her gaze down at her book.

"So are you," he countered.

Lifting her gaze and turning to head in his direction, she laughed at his comment and closed her book around her finger.

"Yes, but I'm staring at a book."

"So am I," he lied.

"What, you're just admiring the cover art?"

"Exactly," he confirmed.

Turning the book over in her hand she glanced at the cover that was solid red with absolutely no text or graphics, just plain red leather.

"Riveting," she sassed before opening the book again.

After a few more minutes had passed, Caleb shifted his weight again, trying to get comfortable, but failing miserably. He interlocked his fingers and rested them on his abdomen as he closed his eyes.