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out of the bar and stay with me. There was no deterring him.” She lowered her voice and then said, “The kissing wasn’t something I wanted. He wouldn’t stop.” Lexi reclined her seat to ease the pressure building in her head.
    “He wants you, Lexi. You can’t tell me you didn’t see that. God only knows what he would have tried if I hadn’t gotten there when I did,” Caleb muttered. His hand resting on the steering wheel tightened.
    Even though it was summer, Lexi’s exposed arms and feet made her shiver. Caleb turned the heat up.
    Lexi began picking at her fingernails and pulled off a small pinkie hangnail. “Well, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and I couldn’t exactly mange myself on my own either.” Her cheeks flushed. She wasn’t used to being so dependent on anyone. Nor was she accustomed to explaining herself. If this was what drinking shots did to her, she was done…
    “So would you sleep with him to just to avoid hurting his feelings?” Caleb’s face remained unchanged, like a mask.
    “What? No!” Lexi’s voice quavered. What Caleb said stung, and it was insulting.
    “I’m sorry, but really, Lexi.” Irritation, maybe even a tad of amusement, laced his tone.
    Lexi’s head still throbbed, but the adrenaline rush that had surged through her body dimmed the headache’s intensity. She said nothing as she tried to rally a defense. Caleb put the SUV in park. Lexi looked out the window and realized she was home already.
    “Why are you saying this stuff? It’s as if what I do has an effect on you,” Lexi said. Her head wasn’t quite clear from the alcohol. Maybe honesty could disarm him?
    Caleb unbuckled himself and turned to Lexi. She’d already unbuckled, preparing to go inside.
    “I just don’t want you to do something that you’re not ready to do. I know this sounds parental, but you just seem so innocent, and I don’t want you to be taken advantage of,” Caleb said, once again sounding composed—and concerned.
    His words had an edge to them, as if he knew what was best for her. “Caleb, you don’t know me. I’ve been through more than I even want to talk about.”
    “I know you have…I know about your parents, Lexi…”
    A chill prickled her spine. Of course he would find out about her—his brother knew her story. “I see.”
    “Lexi, I can’t explain it. I just feel like I need to keep you safe. When you called tonight, I knew that you really needed me. And when I saw you being taken advantage of, I couldn’t help myself. I had to make sure you were okay.” He looked younger than his age. His brown eyes intensified as he tried to make her to understand.
    “Where have you been all week? I mean, I saw you at work on Monday, and then you were nowhere to be found.”
    “I was out…I had somethings to take care of,” Caleb said, expertly deflecting her question.
    “What about Corrine?” Lexi asked with a defensive edge.
    “I’m technically not with Corrine anymore, and how do you know about her anyway?”
    Lexi smiled. Had he not caught on yet? “From your brother, Mike. And then I heard you talking to her on the phone before you changed my dressing on Monday,” Lexi admitted.
    Caleb shifted, looking uncomfortable. “I dated Corrine for two years. It ended not long ago, and it was a bad breakup.”
    Lexi crossed her arms in front of herself for warmth, despite the blaring heat from the vents. “What did you mean when you said it was a bad breakup?”
    Caleb’s eyes looked pained. He sighed. “After I broke it off with her, she didn’t take it well. There were a lot of loose ends to tie up.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
    “When exactly did it end?” There was more to this, and she had to know what he was hiding.
    “The first day I saw you and helped you at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. I felt so drawn to you…I can’t explain it really. I never looked at Corrine like I did you. I knew if I stayed I’d be sacrificing what could