Shifting Dreams Read Free Page B

smell fantastic.
    “Cream or sugar?”
    “Just black, thanks. Who is he?” Caleb nodded at the big guy. “Owner?”
    “Ollie? Yeah, his family’s had this place for years.”
    “And who are you?”
    She smiled and he blinked a little. Her smile was gorgeous. It made her eyes light up. Dark eyes. More than cute. When she smiled, she was beautiful. “I’m Jena.”
    “I’m Caleb. So, is Ollie your boyfriend? He seems pretty protective.”
    “Ollie?” She laughed. “No. No boyfriend. Ollie’s like a brother. A big, snarling one if I want him to be.”
    “Is that right? No boyfriend, huh? That’s hard to imagine.”
    “It wouldn’t be if you knew me.” She smiled again, and he let himself get his hopes up, just for a minute.
    Caleb glanced at her ring finger. No ring, not even the shadow of one. She hadn’t slipped it off for work. Not that he’d blame her if she did. A pretty, single girl was bound to get more tips with a crowd like this. The music kept pounding and he saw her head bobbing along.
    “You like the music?” he yelled.
    She shook her head. “Yeah, but that’s not really what you want to ask me.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “It’s not?”
    “Nope.” She leaned a little closer over the bar.
    “What did I want to ask you?”
    “If I want to dance.” Her dark eyes were lit up with mischief.
    He glanced at the owner, who was watching them—no, him —with suspicion. “I’d love to dance if your boss wouldn’t mind.”
    “He won’t. I haven’t taken a break all night.”
    “Then dance with me, Jena.”
    “You didn’t ask, Caleb.”
    Oh, he liked the way she said his name. Caleb stood and held out a hand. “Won’t you let me have this dance, Jena?”
    “I thought you’d never ask.”
    Jena untied her apron and stepped out from behind the bar, pointing to an imaginary watch on her wrist and mouthing “fifteen” at her boss while Caleb held out a hand.  
    The band had just switched to something more mellow. He pulled her toward the dance floor where several other couples were already swaying and took her in his arms, placing one hand at her waist. Just right. He liked the curve of her hip under his rough hand. It felt… nice. Comfortable and hot at the same time. She was tall for a woman, five nine at least, and he barely had to look down at her to meet her eyes, which was nice for someone over six feet.
    “So, you’re from Indio?” she asked.
    “No.” He wasn’t sure he wanted to talk, but then, she was quick, too. And that was even nicer than the feel of her hand in his. Caleb liked smart women. The flirting was so much more fun.
    “Aren’t you the talkative one?”
    He gave her a sly grin. “Sometimes.”
    Jena shook her head. “I bet you barely have to talk to the girls with that smile, cowboy.”
    “Why ‘cowboy?’”
    “Boots and attitude. You can always tell a man by his boots. You’re not an office kind of guy. I can tell. I’d even bet you’ve got a hat hanging around somewhere.”
    He nodded. “You could say that.”
    “So, just passing through?”
    “You could say that, too.” At least for tonight. “And I left my hat in the car. My mom would skin me alive if I wore it inside.” She’d skin him alive for a lot of things lately.
    “Good. I’ve had a tempestuous relationship with hats today.”
    “Now that’s a statement that begs a story.”
    She shrugged and leaned a little closer. “Maybe, but it’s not one I feel like telling tonight.”
    Caleb pulled her a little closer. “What do you feel like doing tonight?” No way in the world could he be that lucky.
    A slow smile spread over Jena’s face. “Dancing.”
    “We’re already doing that.”
    “And maybe kissing a cute cowboy who’s passing through.”
    Well, well. He wasn’t going to complain about that. Caleb looked around the bar. “Hold on. Let me see if I can find one for you.”
    Jena laughed and pulled him away from the dance floor. The band had switched to something