"Remember? I've given up on men."
"I think I can change your mind." Caleb's lips were dangerously close.
"The song just ended," said Ally as she pulled away, but not before Caleb's lips brushed hers ever so gently, making her shiver. Ally knew then her sexual stirrings were no longer dormant. Caleb grabbed her hand and led her off the dance floor. They both let go when they neared the table.
"We're ready to go, if you don't mind," said Tara nervously. "You see, Robert is worried about Ally's refrigerator.”
"No problem," assured Caleb. "Besides, I have to get up early tomorrow since I'll be gone a good part of the day."
"Where are you going?" asked Ally.
"Jeb and I are going to look at some cattle about an hour's ride from here. We should be back by late afternoon." Caleb had grabbed his keys and unlocked the vehicle.
"Sounds like fun," replied Kat.
"It is. It's kind of like y'all going shopping. It's just the price is a little heftier."
"Ha. You've never been shopping with Ally, so you really can't say that," laughed Kat.
"I'm not that bad." Ally again glared at her sister.
"Yes, you are," remarked Tara. "Look what you just bought? The house? You should have waited until your father looked at it."
"It isn't Ally's fault. A lot of things should have been caught by the inspector, but they weren't. I'm helping Ally set it straight," explained Caleb.
"Tara, it could've happened to us," admonished Robert. "Ally did a good job, despite the circumstances."
"Mom, that's like an insult to me," complained Kat. "I helped Ally pick it out."
"Hello? Did I suddenly become invisible?" asked Ally angrily.
"No, not at all," said Caleb as he caught her glance in the rear view mirror. He smiled in assurance and winked at Ally.
"I'm sorry, Ally," said Tara. "I really don't mean to pick on you."
"Then don't."
"All y'all are starting to sound like my family," said Caleb good-naturedly. "No more fighting. What's everyone doing tomorrow?"
"I've got a luncheon which Mom is going to help me," explained Kat.
"My second refrigerator is being delivered," said Ally. "Hopefully, the real one is still working."
"Then why doesn't Robert come over on Sunday after church to go riding and see the farm?" asked Caleb.
"Can you ladies live without me for a whole day?" asked Robert.
"Of course we can, Robert." Tara patted his shoulder lovingly. "Kat, Ally and I will find something to do." When they had reached Ally's house and they filed out of the car, Robert went in first anxious to see about the refrigerator, followed by Tara and Kat. Ally stayed behind to speak with Caleb.
"Sorry about the fighting," she apologized. "My mother can be a real pain."
Caleb cupped her chin with his hand, his fingers tracing her jaw. "It's okay, Ally, your mother is very jealous of you."
"What makes you think that?" Ally stared at Caleb.
"Think about it. She has a famous daughter who can afford a house without a husband and she has to share you with her husband. Robert has done nothing, but dote on you and paid very little attention to your mother."
"How did you get so wise?" asked Ally softly. She grabbed Caleb's hand and gently kissed it.
"I think I just passed the test."
Ally stared at him intently before she answered. "Yeah, I think you did. Goodnight, Caleb." She squeezed his hand and started to walk away.
"Ally? I'm glad." Caleb jingled his keys as he waved goodbye.
Chapter Fourteen
"Ally, it's still broken." Robert had his head deep into the freezer. "You better call him."
"In the morning," yawned Ally.
"No, you have to do it now. His card reads twenty-four seven." Kat handed the card to Ally who took it with resignation.
"Okay." Ally dialed the number and left a message with the company's answering machine while Robert and Tara went off to bed.
"So, little sister, now do you think Caleb's sweet on you?" asked Kat.
"No, I'm an enigma to him. I think that's the only attraction. He told me tonight he had been the starting quarterback at Texas A&M. He probably had girls fawn over him like crazy. I'm not one of them and he doesn't know what to make of it."
"Sometimes, Ally, you can be so delusional. Why else would a man go out with the whole family if he's not interested?"
"He had nothing better to do?" Ally shook her head. "What time are you picking up Mom?"
"Probably around nine, you know what? I'll bring breakfast again."
"Good plan. I can't leave the house until the fridge is delivered."
Ally watched as Kat left and let Tank back into the house. She walked into her room with Tank faithfully behind her and got ready for bed. She couldn't fall asleep still thinking about Caleb. Did he think about her as much as she thought about him?
****
"Miss Duncan?" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded too cheery for Ally. She looked at the alarm clock which read seven o'clock. Ally sat up and kicked the covers off.
"Yes?"
"I'm calling for Jim, the man who fixed your appliance yesterday?"
"Oh, yes. He did mention he works with his son, are you him?"
"No. I'm a business friend of his, Richard. The family referred you to me to look at your Kitchen Aid."
"Why?"
"Jim suffered a mild heart attack last night.. He's still in the hospital along with his family."
"Is he going to be okay?" Ally began to panic. What if they filed a lawsuit? Did her service call stress him out?
"Yes, they got to him just in time. But he'll be out of work for a while. I used to work for Kitchen Aid and can help you. I can be there today between noon and four. Is that okay with you?"
"Sure. I do need it fixed." Ally hung up the phone and padded to the kitchen to start the coffee. Fortunately, her parents were still asleep and she had some time to herself to enjoy the solitude. She looked down at what she had just thrown on, a knee length night shirt and remembered how her mother remarked about it yesterday. According to Tara, it wouldn't be proper to be seen by company. Sighing, Ally walked to her bedroom to get dressed when the front door bell rang. Not thinking, Ally went to answer the door.
"Mornin', Ally." Caleb stood at the front door holding a big basket of food. His eyes traveled over her body, stopping at her legs. Stunned momentarily, Caleb shook his head to clear his thoughts. His eyes met hers and the lust for each other hung is the air.
"I'm sorry," said Ally, her face red with embarrassment she didn't understand. She had posed for pictures all the time. Why did Caleb's stare undress her even further? His heated gaze made her skin tingle.
"Why?" Caleb didn't understand why she was apologizing
"I'm barely dressed," hissed Ally.
"Oh honey, you look more then decent to me. With the exception of those legs, all the right parts are covered."
"You like my legs?" Ally smiled.
"Let's not go there, honey, because I have work to do and this food will get cold." Caleb handed the basket to Ally. "This is from Gracie. I told her about your refrigerator problem and when she got up this morning to fix breakfast for me and Jeb, she made this for you. There are fresh ham and egg biscuits and she even squeezed the orange juice herself."
"Oh, Caleb!" Ally started to tear up. "Why are you so good to me?"
"It's important that you like me," he whispered softly. "When you told me you didn't like me at first, well, it kind of broke my heart."
"Caleb, I told you last night I liked you, don't you remember?"
"I remember everything about last night," said Caleb solemnly. "I want you to keep liking me."
"I don't think that's going to be a problem," said Ally and she leaned in and gave him a full kiss on the lips. Caleb cupped her face in her hands and deepened the kiss, his tongue easily slid into her mouth. Reluctantly, Caleb pulled away.
"Good. What about your fridge? Is it still working?"
"No," explained Ally, still shaken by their kiss. "I called and they're coming out this afternoon to look at it. Well, a new person is coming because the first man had a heart attack and..." Ally stopped as she saw the expression of disbelief on Caleb's face. "What?"
"He had a heart attack? Ally, I thought you'd only give your husband a heart attack, but a repairman?" Caleb burst into laughter.
"It's not funny." Ally fumed as she crossed her arms over her chest
"No, I know that part is not funny, but the situation is. You're gonna get the reputation for being a black widow." Caleb could not stop laughing.
"How can you be so sweet one minute and incorrigible the next?" Ally stepped away, not amused. "Tell Gracie thank you." She shut the door and went to her bedroom to get dressed.
Caleb still chuckled as he left the front porch.
The repairman had a heart attack.
Caleb had read Ally like a book and he found himself more and more in love with her. Never in all of his years of dating had he run across someone like Ally. He'd to risk his life, his heart for her.
"Ally really appreciated the food," he said to Jeb. "She said to tell Gracie thanks."
"What took you so long? I thought y'all were gonna spend the whole morning in there."