Love So Unexpected (The Lawson Brothers Book 6) (13 page)

Caleb was none of those things.

She loved him, and now that she pushed him away, she might not get the chance to let him know. Or she might get the chance, but he wouldn’t care anymore.

A man like Caleb didn’t love lightly. He didn’t share his feelings lightly.

Neither did she. They were alike in that respect as well.

They had so much fun together, even while doing simple things like making ropes and painting toenails. He’d taken her dancing. He’d shared every bit of his soul with her while she shared hers with him.

Without a doubt, she knew that if she left Jessamine, she’d be leaving a huge chunk of herself behind. Was she willing to risk that for a job? A job that Caleb had made possible to have here, albeit small, and yes, it was due to her cooking.

But still, he’d helped spread the word, had gotten his parents on board. How much more encouragement did she need?

What if I’m making the wrong decision?

What if blah, blah ... that man loves you and you know it.

And I love him.

She knew what she had to do. Mind made up, she picked up her phone to text Ione.

Sofia:
Hey there, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to say no to Oliver

Ione:
Wow. I’m shocked.

Sofia:
You could always take the job for me.

Ione:
IDK. I like being my own boss.

She laughed.

Sofia:
I found the right place for me in Jessamine. But I’ll come down to visit when I get some time.

Ione:
Sweet. Have to go. Need to make a line cook cry.

Just as she started to put her phone away, it rang.

“I thought you had to make someone cry?” she asked Ione.

“Just want to make sure you’re cool with me taking the job?”

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to work with Oliver. Who in their right mind would turn that down?”

Ione snorted. “You did, for one.”

“I know.” She grinned. “Thanks for calling me. It was a huge boost to my ego to know that Oliver wants me to come to Atlanta.”

“Your decline is my gain,” Ione chirped. “Talk to you later, Sof.”

“So you’re just up and leaving him.”

Sofia groaned inwardly as she put away her phone. “Apple, so nice to see you.”

Apple sat down in the chair opposite hers. “It’s not, and I know it.”

“But you’re going to have a chat with me anyway.”

“Smart and pretty. Who knew?” Apple made a face. “Anyway, I think you’re making a mistake by leaving Caleb.”

“I’m not—”

“I know what I heard. I’m an excellent eavesdropper.”

Nonplussed, Sofia sat back and said, “Have your say.”

“Thank you. Like I was saying, I can’t believe you would leave Caleb for a job. He’s done so much for you and to throw all that back in his face would be ... there are no words for women who do that.”

“Bitch.”

Apple’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

“You said there are no words for women who do that. I beg to differ.”

“Oh. Well. There is that.” She tossed her hair over a shoulder. “Then I should amend my statement by saying only a cold-hearted bitch would leave a man who mortgages a house he owns free and clear to purchase a
food truck
.”

Sofia could barely breathe. “He mortgaged his house for me?”

Obviously pleased that she knew something Sofia didn’t, Apple smiled widely. “Everyone is talking about it.”

“Seriously?” Sofia arched a brow.

“Everyone who is anyone is talking about it.”

She guessed that was better, but good grief the woman had a flair for drama. “I know you and I haven’t gotten off to the best start, and I know you want Cal—”

“
Wanted
to be with him, but not anymore.”

“Yet you’re here, telling me that he did something so incredibly selfless that I can’t ever possibly repay him for it, so I won’t leave.”

“Something like that.” Apple drummed her fingers on the table. “After all he has been through, he deserves love, and since he has found it with you, then I can’t stand idly by and watch you screw it up.”

“You still love him, don’t you?”

Apple smiled wanly. “What I feel for him doesn’t matter.” She stood. “I’d say I hope to see you around, but we both know I don’t mean it.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

“If there wasn’t all this history, I think you and I would be very good friends.”

The thought of being friends with Apple didn’t really bother her, especially after Caleb revealed his true non-relationship with her. She honestly felt sorry for Apple. “I don’t have that history holding me back, but when you stop living in the past, call me and we’ll do something. You know where I live.”

She didn’t wait for Apple to respond; instead, she paid the bill and dashed out of there. There was a man she couldn’t keep waiting any longer.

S
ofia found Caleb where she’d left him, in the barn, talking to Mule. He stood beside the most glorious food truck she’d ever seen.

“Nice truck.”

He barely spared her a glance. “Mule and I are thinking of going into business but our ‘eat all the chicken’ idea is already taken.”

She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “You didn’t have to mortgage your house to do this.”

He lifted his head, pinning her with his dark blue eyes. “I know I didn’t. I did it so you could be head chef of your own business.”

“I know. Apple told me.”

He laughed, but there was no joy in it. “She plan on publishing that in the paper?”

“Not exactly,” she said.

Pushing away from the stall, he started to walk away. “I don’t have time for another round of arguments. If you’re leaving, then say so. If you’re staying because you feel guilty about the damn truck, then don’t bother. I have a buyer already.”

“That would be a crying shame since I’m not very good at sharing counter space.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean, honey.”

“I want to stay here with you, Caleb. Food truck or not. I made up my mind before she ever said a word about it. Even texted Ione to turn the offer down. You can check my phone if you want.”

That made him stop. “Don’t need to, but I’m listening.”

“I want to make a life with you in Jessamine. ”

He turned to face her. “Why?”

“Because I love you,” she said, throwing her hands in the air. “Why else?”

“You can’t take it back.” He strode to her, taking her in his arms. “This isn’t post-orgasm Sofia talking.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not, but it can be... if you take me home with you.”

He eyed the truck and shook his head. “Too far away, but my old room isn’t.” Sweeping her off her feet, he ran to the house while she held on for dear life. To her surprise, he took her right to the room she’d chosen when she first moved here.

“That’s convenient,” he said before placing her in the middle of the bed.

She shrugged a little before sitting up to help him out of his clothes. “The room spoke to me.”

“Was it saying ‘Caleb has always wanted to get laid in here’?” he asked as he lifted her up and pulled off her panties.

She straddled his lap, tilting her head to one side and pretending to listen. “I don’t think so.”

“Try again.” As soon as his cock sprung free of his boxers, he thrust inside of her. She was already so wet for him that it didn’t take long at all to work his way completely inside.

“Caleb,” she gasped, grabbing his wide shoulders.

“You’re going to marry me.”

Thrust.

“Yes.”

“Have my babies.”

Thrust.

“Yes. Yes. Yes.” She clung to him, even as she rode him with abandon. Her head fell back. His tongue licked a hot path up her neck.

“Never leaving me again.”

“No.”

“You stay and talk to me. I’ll listen.”

How could he talk right now? “Whatever you want.”

“I want you, Sofia. Since the first day I met you.” He reached between them, rubbing her clit in just the right way. “Now come for me, sweetheart.”

She might have screamed his name and God’s. Might have clawed his shoulders and back. What she did know was that her orgasm was even better than the ones he’d given her before.

A few thrusts later, he joined her.

“No condom,” he panted.

“No pill.”

His face became serious. “I should—”

“Do it again?” she teased. “Right after you make an honest woman of me.”

He framed her face in his hands. “We’ll get married tomorrow. I know a preacher.”

“That’s...”

“Unexpected?”

She shook her head. “Perfect.” Just like him.

***

T
wo weeks later

“We have time. Sit still,” Tia Bianca ordered, and Sofia quit squirming. “I have to finish your eye make-up.”

“If I make Caleb wait any longer, I think he’ll kidnap me and have our wedding while we’re on the honeymoon.” He hadn’t been joking when he said he wanted to marry her as soon as possible. He’d bought a ring, proposed to her the proper way so she could share with her family and friends, then drove her into town to get the marriage license. The only reason he hadn’t married her the next day was so she could invite her entire family to the wedding.

He was sweet like that.

She smiled.

“I know that look,” Tia Carmen said. “You are truly in love with him.”

“Of course I am.”

“And he makes you happy. Truly happy,” Tia Bianca chimed in. “There. Take a look in the mirror.”

Sofia stood, moving the mirror propped against the closet door. “Oh wow.” She gently touched her face. “Is that me?” She looked so bride-like in her wedding gown, which was the point, but...

The door opened, and one of her soon-to-be sisters-in-law walked in the room, then froze as she saw Sofia. “Oh my goodness. You are a beautiful bride. Caleb won’t be able to stand himself when he sees you. I’m Joy, Adam’s wife. It’s okay if you don’t remember meeting me because there are so many of us and we tend to converge at once. It can be overwhelming.”

“A little, but give me time, and I’ll be the one introducing everyone.” Sofia gave the short, plump woman a hug. “I can’t wait to call you
sister
.”

Joy hugged her back. “I can’t either.” She stepped back, her face sweet as she smiled at everyone in the room and spoke to each person before turning her attention back to Sofia. “My husband sent me up here to let you know that the ceremony is about to start, and if he doesn’t get you hitched to Caleb in the next ten minutes, then Caleb’s liable to come get you himself.”

“I’d like to see him get past my
tias
,” Sofia replied with a soft snort. “But I don’t want to wait any longer either. Tell Adam I’m on my way.”

Joy nodded. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to tell you what a Proverbs 31 woman I think you are. Caleb is blessed to have you walking alongside him.”

“He’s not the only one who is blessed.”

Her tias nodded.

“We are all fortunate for this day,”
abuela
agreed, then she repeated her words in English for Joy’s benefit. The woman smiled so big that dimples appeared in her cheeks.

“See you in a bit.” Then she left the room, closing the door behind her.

*

S
ofia held up her skirt as she practically floated outside. All but her grandmother had gone ahead. Caleb’s brother, Austin, winked at her as she passed by. He was marrying Harper, a teacher who was the cousin of his brother’s wife, Lemon.

“Hold up. It’s my job to man the door.” He got in front of them, right in the middle of the doors and pushed outward. “You’re going to love this.”

The barn doors parted, and she walked inside, gasping at the transformation. Gone were the hay bales and equipment. Gone were the cows and feedbags. In their place were sweet smelling flowers and rose petals scattered on the cement floor. Rows of chairs faced an arch made of vines and fairy lights. More lights were twined around the beams in the ceiling and around each stall’s door.

When in the world had his family and hers done this? It must have taken hours, maybe even days.

“Is this why we had the rehearsal at Lemon and Tristan’s house?” she asked her grandmother, and the older woman nodded.

“My feet ache, but that smile is worth it,” Abuela said. “Your mother is in this place. I feel her. She’s happy for you.”

Sofia began to cry, but her abuela gently wiped at her tears. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how my bad luck changed so quickly.”

“It wasn’t bad luck that brought you here. It was fate.” With one last kiss on her cheek, she walked away and took her seat in the front row, right beside Dinah, who grabbed her hand. The two women smiled at one another, then looked at her.

Sofia didn’t think her heart could get any fuller than it was in this moment ... until Caleb walked in from the side to stand near Adam. In a simple white shirt and dress pants, he took her breath away.

His blue eyes met hers, the love in them shining brighter than all the lights combined.

David walked to her, holding out his arm as he joined her “If you don’t mind, I’d like to do the honor of walking you down the aisle.”

Fresh tears welled in her eyes as she slid her arm inside of his. “Why?” She’d planned on walking to Caleb by herself, and no one had said anything against that at the rehearsal last night. She hadn’t minded at all.

“You’ve become like a daughter to Dinah and me. I want to make sure my son knows how we truly feel about you, and that he’ll have to answer to us when he does stupid stuff.”

“My Caleb would never do anything stupid.”

“Yes, he will.” David laughed. “He’s a man. It’s in our DNA.”

The music started.

“That’s our cue,” she said. “I’m ready when you are.”

“Thank you for coming into my son’s life. You don’t know how much he needed you. We didn’t know how much, until we saw y’all together.”

“I don’t know ... I think I needed him just as much.”

Caleb gave his dad a pointed look.

David laughed, and so did Sofia.