Page 17 of Drive Me Wild (Owl Creek #2)

C aleb doesn’t show me anything. He grunts about fixing a car and leaves me in his apartment with my vag still on high alert.

So, I do what any self-respecting woman would do. I masturbate on his bed, and then I pull out the binder of materials that Mabel gave me about the bookstore.

As I read it, I think that she and I must have been related in another lifetime.

There’s a page about the history of the building and the business.

There are tear sheets from any press she’s gotten locally, as well as information on authors who’ve given talks over the years.

There’s information about insurance, periodic inspections, building repairs, and upgrades.

Then there’s the cost of goods, her annual sales broken down by month for the last ten years, income from the rooms on the third floor, property taxes, and utilities.

These pages answer every question I could possibly have, including the final page, which is how much she wants to sell the house and business for.

Half a million dollars for the whole thing. The house, inventory, and reputation.

I have some money saved, but even if I sell my online business first, it wouldn’t be enough for a downpayment.

But as I look over these pages, it’s as if my whole being is screaming for me to take a leap of faith. I think about what my mother said the last time we spoke, and I know I have to go for it.

I put the binder and my laptop in my backpack and throw on my shoes to head downstairs. I want to talk to Serena. If anyone in this town knows who can help me write a business plan to convince a bank to lend me money, it’s her.

When I open the door to leave, Caleb is standing there with his hand reaching for the knob.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You’re leaving.”

“I’m done working and need to see someone about something.”

“Sounds important.” He winks.

“I need help writing a business plan.”

“I can help you.”

“What? How—?”

As if letting me use his home as my free office weren’t enough, now he wants to help me with a boring and time-consuming project, and my heart turns to butterflies.

“When Buzz sold me his shop and this building, I had to write a business plan to get a loan.”

“Oh. Yeah. Okay, that’s exactly what I need to do. Write a plan for a building and the business that’s in it.”

“You want to let me in my apartment? I can give you some of the papers I kept.”

“Sure, but um…can we talk about what happened?” I step aside and follow him back into the living room. Even though the butterflies are still fluttering in my chest, I want to know why he isn’t showing me how to be better in bed.

“What happened with what?”

“You. Earlier today. When I asked you to show me stuff.”

“Zoe.”

My name is a growl on his lips, and it sends a tremor through my whole body, upending those butterflies and turning me into mush. He’d never want me for real, but this isn’t real, so my sassy side shows up, and I take my shot.

“You know, for a guy who has a reputation as a total player, you don’t seem to be that interested in taking me up on any offers of letting me give you a blow job.”

He stops walking, turns around, and pins me up against the wall.

I can feel his breath on my neck as his hulking body towers over me. It’s thrilling to be this close to him and this close to knowing how to be a sex kitten. I know if he would just show me what to do, I could be good at it. I’d make it a project to get good, just like my business plan.

Practice makes perfect, right?

“You don’t know what you’re asking me to do.”

My knees are losing strength as my body responds to how close he is.

I look up at him as my body hits a boiling point. “I’m asking you to teach me how to suck—”

In a flash, his mouth is on mine. His kiss is desperate and wild, and I feel his strong hands reach around and grip my ass.

He pulls me up so I’m straddling him with my back against the wall, and then he pulls my shirt off.

Moments later, my bra is on the floor, and his mouth is on my nipple, teasing and licking, and I think I’m going to explode.

I feel the absence of his mouth on me and look down to see him staring at me.

“Do you like it when I tease your nipples, Zoe?”

I nod.

“Tell me what you like about it.”

I’m breathing so hard, the words don’t come. Caleb blows on my wet nipples, and a whimper escapes me.

“Tell me, Zoe.”

Just then, there is a knock on his door.

“Shit. Probably the teenager.”

He puts me on my feet, and I grab my shirt and bra and duck into the bathroom while he answers the door. I hear a male voice, but I don’t recognize it, so at least it’s not Cole. When I hear him shut the door I come out of the bathroom. Caleb is standing next to the door, rubbing his face.

“That could have been Cole.”

“I know, but it wasn’t. And that was…”

“Zoe.” He pushes some hair behind my ear and runs a finger down my cheek. I see something flash in his eyes that isn’t hunger, it’s almost like sadness, and my body starts to freeze up.

“If you are worried about hurting me, you won’t. I’m asking this from you so I can be everything my future husband wants.”

Again, the sadness flashes in his eyes.

“Let’s start again tomorrow, okay? I’ll help you with the business plan and we can sort out this.” He waves his hands between us. “By the way, what business are you thinking of buying?”

“The bookstore.”

His mouth falls open, and he stares at me like I just told him I’m buying the Empire State Building. But instead of talking, I think of how I want those lips locked on my vag and heat rises to my cheeks in an instant. I want to grab his face and pull him to me.

“So you’re going to stay here in Owl Creek.”

“If I buy the business, then yes.”

“Which means you hope to meet this mysterious future husband here. In Owl Creek.”

“That would be great if it works out that way.”

He nods his head and then walks toward the kitchen. I follow him, but he keeps his back to me as he leans his hands on the counter. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Zoe. I need to make a sandwich and get back to work.”

I nod, even though he isn’t looking at me. Then, I walk out the door and head home.

It’s time to take the proverbial bull by the horns.