Chapter 3

I was taken aback and hurriedly said, "No, no. Just your shirt is enough." Caleb glanced at me before grabbing the hem of his shirt and pulling it over his head. He threw it aside. I put on my gloves and helped him clean and bandage the wound. It wasn't deep but was very long. I disinfected it before doing the sutures. When I was done, I admired Caleb's strong and trim body. As expected of a soldier—his muscles were tough and chiseled. I almost wanted to poke them. The thought formed in my mind, and I put it into action. I prodded his abs, then smiled and said, "Nice muscles." I thought Caleb would be flustered or angered by my teasing, but he was neither. Instead, he said calmly, "Thanks." He was serious and composed—as expected of a soldier. After that, he grabbed his T-shirt and put it on. I reminded him of what he needed to pay attention to before he and his rookie soldier left. After a while, I packed my things, changed, and prepared to leave. I received a few texts from Michael. "If you apologize to Quinn and me and bring us breakfast, I'll consider forgiving you." "This is your last chance, Carissa. I won't forgive you if you don't come and apologize to me right now!" What a nuisance. Michael had too much confidence in himself. I deleted the texts and blocked his number. Did he really think I'd die without him? I went to the parking lot after leaving the hospital. There, an offroad vehicle in camouflage honked at me. I looked at it to see Caleb in it. He lifted his jaw in my direction. "Get in." I pondered the matter for two seconds before getting in. A cigarette dangled from his lips as he asked, "Should we head to your place or mine?" "What are you talking about, Uncle Caleb? I don't get what you mean." I looked at him innocently. He kept one hand on the wheel as he leaned close to me. "You told me to take my clothes off in the hospital. Now, you're telling me you don't know what I mean?" He blew the smoke at me, his warm breath fanning over my ear. I chuckled and wrapped my arms around his neck, deliberately teasing him. "You're Michael's uncle, and I'm his fiancée." In truth, Michael and I had already broken up. Caleb didn't know that, though. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me flush against him. He was as strong and tough as he looked. "You seduced me despite knowing I'm Michael's uncle. Have you always been this wild, Carissa?" He nibbled my earlobe. "I've waited for you for two hours. Come on—your place or mine?" He gripped my waist, a little impatient. Men in the army probably didn't get much action—he looked like he was aroused from my seduction and raring to go. "Let's head to Goldman Manor. Would you have the nerve to do that, Uncle Caleb?" I gave him a provocative look.