Carved in Stone (The Stone Series) (6 page)

             
“Norwood couldn’t give too fucks about a new Vegan restaurant for his hotel opening Gabriella. He wants to fuck you. So no, you won’t be going out to dinner with him.”

             
Oh hell no! He did not just say that! And who in Sam Hill does he think he is, telling me whom I can and can’t go out to dinner with.

No Way Jose
!

             
“Well firstly Mr. Stone,” I retort coldly, squaring my shoulders. “Regardless of what you think – it
is
a business dinner. For your information, sourcing caterers for a function
is
my job, a job I take very seriously and in doing such, does actually require me to go and sample the menus at various restaurants. Secondly…” I pause inhaling a deep breath to forcefully deliver my other point.

             
“Secondly, who I go out to dinner with, on my own time I might add, is frankly, none of your damn business.”

             
With my heart pounding in my chest, my breath puffing, the car doors open and seizing my escape, I briskly walk out of the elevator, leaving Aidan fuming behind me.

             
“Don’t you walk away from me Gabriella,” thunders Aidan, completely ignoring the people who are now standing in the lobby of Stone Tower gawking at the pair of us.

             
Ohmigod, he is making a scene and he doesn’t even care. Well two can play this game!

             
“Or what Aidan,” I seethe, spinning around to glare at him; his hands are fisted down by his side as he stalks out of the elevator car towards me.

             
“Tell me, what will you do? Break my heart?” I hurl sarcastically.

             
He winces at my words and a warped sense of satisfaction arises in me knowing I scored a direct hit with that.

             
“Been there, done that Aidan, remember?” I hiss, turning away; briskly walking towards the exit but not before I see another flash of pain flicker across Aidan’s beautiful face as he halts his advance.

             
Outside Caleb stands relaxed, leaning against a red sleek sports car, his legs crossed casually at the ankles and hands in his pants pockets. A lazy smile is curved on his lips but as I approach, he must read the expression on my face because his brows draw together in a frown as he quickly pulls himself up to his full height.

             
“Gabby? Is everything okay?” He asks soberly.

             
“Fine thanks,” I mutter. “Can we please just leave?”

             
“Sure,” he replies, opening the car door for me to get in. He glances over my head towards the lobby entrance to Stone Tower then glances back at me still frowning.

             
“Let’s go. Buckle up,” he says, closing my door then promptly walks around to his side of the car.

             
As Caleb pulls the car out into the early evening traffic I catch a brief glimpse of Aidan through the side mirror; fists clenched, jaw rigid and eyes narrowed in our direction, the ominous scowl he’s wearing is nothing short of murderous. 

Oh fuck
ing hell!

****

             
“Do you want to talk about it?”

             
“Sorry?” I ask, glancing up at Caleb.

             
My mind has been replaying the scene with Aidan over and over as I vacillate between being righteously enraged to bitterly remorseful at the words exchanged between us as I absently push my fork through some weird looking concoction on the plate before me. I don’t know about Caleb but Vegan cuisine is an acquired taste.

             
“Well, apart from you not saying more than a dozen words all night and playing with your meal while completely zoned out, I’m beginning to think I’ve lost my touch. Women normally find my company somewhat stimulating to say the least.”

             
Scrunching up my nose, I push the plate to the side.

“I’m sorry
Caleb. Vegan cuisine is um…well it is… different.”

             
“It’s an acquired taste”, Caleb smiles with a nod towards my uneaten plate of whatever the hell it is that I’ve ordered. It looks like a mushy green pile of dog shit!

             
“So Gabby apart from you not enjoying your meal, what’s really on your mind?”

             
“Um...” I stall, looking anywhere but at Caleb’s penetrating gaze.

             
“Your in love with him,” states Caleb flatly, my eyes shifting instantly back to his.

             
Swallowing hard I nod once praying to all that is holy that the unshed tears that burn at the back of my eyelids won’t fall.

             
Caleb’s eyes soften and a small understanding smile curves his lips. He really is gorgeous with his inky black hair and clear cerulean eyes. And the fact that the guy is built like a Greek god doesn’t help. Although he’s not as breathtaking as Aidan, his charming swagger and sexy southern drawl is very endearing. I can only imagine the line of beautiful women that swoon at his feet.

             
Caleb just has this alluring quality about him that just draws you in and makes you want to divulge all your hidden secrets. There is just something so…
safe
about him.               In all honesty I really enjoy his company and if I’m not careful he will have me spilling my guts to him like the pathetic heartbroken wench I apparently am.

             
Clearing my throat, I steer the conversation firmly out of Aidan Stone territory.

             
“So Caleb, Vegan for the opening? Really?”

             
His low deep baritone laugh melts away some of my anxiety.

             
“You’re right Gabby, I think we’ll stick to Japanese. It’s a safer choice for the event.”

             
“Excellent idea.”

             
The rest of the evening Caleb and I bantered back and forth about a whole range of topics. He flirts outrageously and I mercilessly tease him about his choice in restaurant. Finally the evening’s looking a bit brighter and I’m feeling relaxed in his company.

             
Caleb doesn’t mention Aidan again which was incredibly sweet and thoughtful of him and when he excuses himself to head to the restroom, I text Mia a quick update on my night so far.

             
“Thank you for tonight Caleb. I really enjoyed myself,” I say sincerely, as we’re walking out of the restaurant.

             
“Your welcome Gabby. It’s always a pleasure to take a beautiful woman to dinner,” he says on a wink.

             
“You Mr. Norwood are an incorrigible flirt.” Teasingly I bump his arm with my shoulder.

             
“Can’t help that I’m afraid. It’s helplessly ingrained in a southern gentleman’s DNA,” he drawls in reply, drawing me close with an arm around my shoulder.

             
The gesture reminds me of my brother when we would tease each other and I almost half expect Caleb to ruffle my hair like Dean always would.

             
And this is how Caleb and I exited through the front doors of the restaurant, me tucked close to his side, his arm casually slung around my shoulder, laughing as we hit the sidewalk and right smack bang into the furious glower of Aidan
freaking
Stone.

Seriously!

Could this day get any fucking worse?

Chapter Five

             
Instantly the smile vanishes from my face, my heart rate increases as I take in all six foot two inches, from head to toe, heartbreakingly beautiful but one seriously pissed off Aidan Stone.

             
His posture is one of indifference, leaning back against the door of his white Porsche, ankles crossed and both hands are tucked into the front pockets of worn designer jeans that mold deliciously against his strong long muscled legs. His stance is similar to that of Caleb’s earlier this evening and although Aidan’s body looks deceptively casual even relaxed, the tight line of his jaw; the thinning of his normally full sensual lips and the hard livid glare of his glittering emerald eyes communicates anything but casual.

What the hell is he doing here?

              “Norwood would you mind removing your arm from Gabriella,” he growls in a low menacing rumble, unfolding himself. “I’ll take it from here.”

             
“I see you found the place easy enough,” shrugs Caleb, dropping his arm from around my shoulders.

             
My gaze shifts from Aidan to Caleb who doesn’t appear to be surprised at all to see Aidan here.

             
“What’s going on?” I ask hesitantly.

             
Turning, Caleb faces me. “I called Stone to meet us here Gabby,” he says gently.

             
“Ah yeah… I can see that. But why?”

             
“Because gorgeous,” he begins softly, pausing, rolling his eyes when Aidan emits another growl at the sound of Caleb’s endearment.

             
“There are a very few number of women in this world who have an extraordinarily exquisite beauty that not only radiates on the outside but is inherent from deep within them. You gorgeous are one of those priceless gems. So when a man looks at a woman, a woman whose smile alone could bring him to his knees, a woman as precious as you Gabby, full of sadness, hurting and unhappy, there is nothing on this planet he wouldn’t do to put that smile back on her face. He apparently,” Caleb motions to Aidan with a nod of his head.

             
“For some unknown reason, puts that beautiful smile on your face and lights up those pretty blue eyes of yours. Listen to what he has to say and if he doesn’t make you smile, if he doesn’t put that light back into those pretty blue eyes, then give me a call because I’ll jump at the chance, the opportunity to be the lucky man who can do that for you.”

Oh.

My.

God!

              Gaping, I just stare open mouthed at Caleb.

             
That is the sweetest, most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.

I really liked Caleb Norwood before
, but now I think I love him. As a friend of course – even though the ratfink sold me out to Aidan.

             
To the world Caleb Norwood comes across as this sexy, cool, confident playboy but I think deep down he’s a hopeless romantic - who would have guessed.

Beyond lucky
, is the woman that captures his heart. And even more fortunate is I, to have found another genuine new friend in LA.

             
“I
said
Norwood, I’d take it from here,” grates Aidan impatiently, obviously done. Straightening to his full height, he takes a step towards us.

             
Totally unaffected by Aidan’s blatant hostility Caleb smiles warmly, chucking me under the chin.

             
“Take care gorgeous. I’ll see you around,” he drawls.

             
Facing Aidan, he warns in a harsh tone, “Don’t make me regret calling you Stone.”

His g
lare is hard, communicating something to Aidan that I don’t quite understand but Aidan nods once in silent answer, then Caleb pulls out his car keys from the pocket of his dress slacks twirling them around his fingers, turns and saunters down the sidewalk towards the direction of his parked car.

             
“Get in the car Gabriella.”

My gaze still following Caleb’s departure
, I jolt at his tone of voice breaking the weighted silence between us. Bracing, I whirl to face him. All my previous feelings of warmth from Caleb’s words are instantly replaced with growing aggravation.

What’s with the tone buddy?

              “I can call a cab home Aidan. I don’t need a lift thank you.” My voice is even, firm yet polite and mentally I congratulate myself at staying calm.

             
“You’re coming home with me Gabriella. We need to talk and we’re doing it now.”               His glorious emerald eyes are a little softer then before but no less determined, however it’s the impassive mask on his handsome face, which gets my back up.

             
Just looking at him, I’m caught with conflicting emotions - a gut stabbing pain of heartache and serious case of resentment with his haughty authoritarian attitude.

Of all the nerve!

              “One, I’m not going to your house tonight…” I hiss.