Caleb, page 1
Caleb
She has no intention of getting involved with him....but how long can she resist?
A sexy single parent romance by Katie Dowe of BWWM Club.
Career woman Sydney Watkins has no desire for marriage or children and is intent on carving her way to the top of her advertising profession.
She’s not even swayed when she meets single father Caleb Compton and ends up in his bed!
The tall and ruggedly handsome billionaire is smitten by the smart and talented Sydney…
And the more time he spends with her the more he realizes he can’t let her go!
But Sydney is intent on being her own woman…
Can Caleb persuade her to throw caution to the wind and marry him?
Or will Sydney end up breaking his heart?
Find out in this emotional yet sexy romance by Katie Dowe of BWWM Club.
Suitable for over 18s only due to smoking hot sex scenes!
Tip: Search BWWM Club on Amazon to see more of our great books.
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
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Chapter 1
“Stop looking at me like that.” Sydney chided as she pulled on her boots.
“Like what?” Marlon Baker sat up in bed and stared at the woman as she finished dressing.
“Like you are out of your mind?”
“Syd, I just asked you to marry me.”
“And I told you three months ago that I am not interested in marriage. You should have listened honey.” She looked around for her watch and saw it on the side table. “I specifically told you that I am a career gal and not interested in marriage or kids. Can you see me as a wife and mother?” She scoffed as she shrugged into her jacket. Her expression softened as she looked at the man sitting up against the pillows. “I am sorry honey, but it is best that we end it now before one of us gets hurt.”
“You mean me.” He said bitterly as he watched the exquisite creature finish dressing in readiness to leave. “I am the only one who will be hurt.”
“I told you before who I am and what I am about.” She told him airily as she reached for her oversize pocketbook.
“Your damned career….! Is it going to keep you warm at night? You are not exactly a spring chicken Syd; you are thirty years old….”
“I know my damn age!” She snapped, her dark brown eyes flashing. “And if I was a man, you would be applauding me for being so ambitious. I am sick and tired of people thinking that being female means that you have to have a ring and the man’s name and pregnant to boot. I am not looking for a man to save me or be my anchor. I am perfectly capable to make it on my own. Yes! I love what I do, and I have no intention of taking time off to have a baby. I am a woman on a mission, and I will not be derailed. I will not apologize for who I am.”
“So you are breaking up with me. I thought we had something good going here….”
“We had and now it’s over.” She told him firmly.
“We can still see each other….”
“No. You made your feelings and expectations clear. I am not willing to be a wife and mother. You need to find someone who meets yours. Goodbye Marlon!”
“Can I at least call you?”
“No!” She turned at the doorway. “A clean break will have to suffice.” Sydney hurried out of the apartment and into the elevator, feeling a sense of relief that it was over. Nodding to the concierge, she went out into the parking lot and got into her car.
“Call Keisha.” She instructed as she backed out of the lot and onto the main road.
“Hey girl! I just got in I thought you were spending the night with Marlon.”
“Change of plans. I broke up with him.” Sydney navigated the heavy Friday night traffic, reluctantly staying off her horn as she felt the impatience coming on.
“Let me guess: he wanted a family.”
“He proposed.”
“Most women would jump at the chance of having an eligible brother who happens to have a very lucrative job and not so bad to look at – but not Sydney.”
“You know I am not the wife type,” pressing the button, she eased down her window. “Will you get the hell out of the road! Asshole!”
“Road rage. It is prevalent at this time of the year.”
“Christmas!” Sydney snorted in disgust. “I thought the economy was on a down-slide. I am five minutes away from your place. I am going to call Carla to come over so we can bitch about the fact that I am a bitch. Do you have any wine? And not that cheap crap you served the last time.”
“Honey, I am a nurse. I cannot afford the expensive stuff like you or Carla.”
“Call and tell her to bring something from her wine cellar.”
“Maybe you should do like Carla and find some rich man to marry and divorce and then get half his money.”
“I will certainly think about it. Be there in a few minutes.” Sydney said before hanging up.
*****
“Daddy?”
Caleb struggled out of the deep sleep as he felt the bed depressing, His eyes flickered open to see the dark hair of his son inching onto the pillows.
“Christian?” Leaning over, he switched the lamp on and turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Any idea why? Or should I guess? We talked about this Christian and I told you the next time you watch those scary movies, I will be taking the television set out of your room.”
“It did not look scary when I started watching it.” The boy complained as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Can I sleep in here with you?”
Caleb started to say no and then decided against it. He had been traveling for the past week and barely saw his son. He could not help the guilt that coursed through him because of it. He was the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company, but he had to find a way to balance his time. Nodding his head he ran his hand over his son’s dark hair fondly. “Just this once and I am definitely going to take the TV out of your room.”
“I know.” Christian pulled the comforter to his chin and turned his head to look at his father. “I miss you when you are gone, dad. Grandma is cool and all, but I have more fun with you.”
“You mean grandma does not let you get away with staying up all hours of the night.” Caleb said shrewdly, his dark blue eyes twinkling.
“Something like that.” The boy said with an answering smile on his face. “Will you be home for Christmas?”
“Considering that it is only a week away, I should think so.” He turned to switch off the lamp. “Get some sleep.”
“Goodnight daddy.”
“Goodnight buddy.”
“Dad….?”
“Hmm….?”
“I love you.”
Caleb felt a jolt straight to his heart at the words from his son. “I love you too buddy. Go to sleep.”
It took a few minutes for his son’s breathing to even out, indicating that he had gone to sleep. Caleb wished it was as simple for him. Turning his head, he smiled slightly as he watched his son burrowing beneath the cover, only his face showing. He was a ‘Minnie’ him, the same strong chin with the cleft in the middle and the shape of his face with the thick dark hair and strong cheekbones. It had been a relief that Christian took after him. Caleb had been frightened and furious when Sara had told her that she was pregnant. It had been a one-night stand and she had tricked into believing that she was on the pill. He remembered his father chewing him out and telling him that he was the man and he should have made sure that he was protected. “We are always top prey for women that want a piece of the Compton’s fortune.” And he had been right. Sara had told them firmly that she did not want to be a mother and had accepted the half a million-dollar check his father had paid her to get of their lives and stay out. She had gladly done so and was never heard from again. The last time he had checked, she was in Italy shacked up with some underwear model. Christian had asked about her when he was younger and Caleb had told him the truth, not wanting a lie between them and to his surprise, the boy had accepted the answer with equanimity. Caleb loved him and his grandfather had doted on him before he died three years ago. His grandmother was the same. She was firm with him but loved him fiercely.
Caleb handled his love life discreetly; never letting the woman he was seeing come into contact with his son. It also helped that he had never felt anything for anyone except passion and lust. He had an apartment where he would take his current flame so that she did not have to come to the manor where he lived with his mother and son. He had no intention of putting them through that disrespect. One day he hoped that he will find a woman he could love and one who will love his son as if he was her own but until then, he was contented with the situation as it is.
*****
“You got me out of my very warm house and on the verge of taking a lovely man to my bed.” Carla complained as she walked into Keisha’s spacious living room with a bottle of wine in her hand.
“Who was it this time?” Sydney asked with a grin as she jumped up from the sofa and grabbed the bottle. “Costa Pique! Now we are talking. Who was the poor sucker?”
“Lionel Brady. Next door neighbor and newly divorced.” Carla grabbed the glasses and handed them to her friend. “He needed consoling and I was on the verge of doing so. This better be good.” She warned them as she handed a full glass to Keisha who was curled up on one of the single sofas.
“Sydney dumped Marlon.”
Carla fluffed out her curly wig before sitting on one of the straight back chairs. “Didn’t we place a wager on how long this one would last?” She asked Keisha. “What’s was wrong with this one?”
“He proposed.” Sydney took a sip of the excellent wine in appreciation.
“Poor bastard. Didn’t he know that was the sure way of getting dumped?”
“Guys, I feel awful!”
“Awful enough to take him back?” Keisha asked her dryly as she arched her aching muscles. “The guy has his own law practice and drives a Beemer. Most women would kill for that.”
“I am not most woman. You know how hard I work to get noticed in that agency and I am not going to allow anyone or anything to undermine that.”
“You do realize that nowadays women are doing it all? Having a full-time career and a family.”
“Not me!” Sydney told her firmly. “I have to concentrate on my career. I certainly cannot allow anything to distract me from achieving my goals.”
“When did you become this person?” Carla asked her. “You sound like a guy honey.”
“So it is normal for a man to have ambition and not a girl?” Sydney blazed at her.
“Get off your high horse, my friend…. I am simply saying that you should consider the possibility that you can have a career and still have a family.”
“What about you?” She stared at Carla. “And you?” she pointed to Keisha. “Carla you are divorced without a child and Keisha, you have not been in a relationship in months.”
“And you know why!” Keisha burst out. “That creep messed up my credit and left with a mountain of debt. I am being cautious.”
“And Michael never alerted me to the fact that he liked men!” Carla said bitterly as she got to her feet and refilled her glass. “For months, I lived in agony thinking that I had AIDs or some other STD. For now, I am flying solo. I am going to have sex, with protection of course, and with no strings attached. I have enough money to travel and I am doing that. Did I tell you I am going to Jamaica for Christmas?”
“Bitch…!” Keisha said mildly. “Not all of us can jet-set all over the place.”
“I would invite you, but you have work.” She said with a grin as she looked at Sydney. “And you always have work.”
“I cannot help it if I love what I do.”
“So, no regrets?” Keisha asked her soberly.
“About Marlon?” Sydney shook her head. “None. Is something wrong with me?”
“One of these days you are going to meet a guy who will make you give everything up.” Carla warned her. “Mark my words.”
“It has not happened before. I strongly doubt it ever will.”
*****
Violet Compton looked up as her son strode into the dining room at a quarter to eleven the next morning. “Your son told me you were still fast asleep. I was just about to send you breakfast in bed.”
“Where is he?” Caleb pulled his chair out and nodded to the maid who was hovering next to the table. “Just coffee and some orange juice please.”
“He ate and went outside to play on his sled.”
“You allowed him?” His thick eyebrows lifted as he stared at his mother. “It’s only thirty degrees.”
“And he is padded up like an Eskimo. He has been cooped up inside the house since he has been back from school darling, he needs some fresh air.”
“The air is icy.” He accepted the coffee and orange juice with thanks before looking at her.
“Why are you eating so late?”
“I was up late last night trying to put the finishing touches to the banquet on Saturday. You will be able to attend?”
He nodded. “I have a meeting with an ad agency on Monday, but my weekend is free.” He sipped his coffee and eyed her over the rim of the cup. “I told Christian that I will be confiscating his TV set.”
“Will you?” She asked him mildly.
“Why mother, I do believe you are implying that I spoil him.” He said with a grin.
“You do darling.” Violet patted her lips delicately before pushing her plate away. “That boy gets away with murder around here. You cannot make up for the fact that he does not have a mother.”
“He has a mother.” Caleb muttered; the subject still somewhat sore to him. “One who does not give a flying fig about him at all.”
“He is loved and that is more than I can say about a lot of children his age. And you could remedy that if you wish.”
“I am not marrying someone so my son can have a mother.” He said firmly. “We are quite fine the way we are.”
“Of course we are darling. But one day you are going to have to make a decision.”
“Just not right now.”
They both looked up as the topic of their conversation came charging into the room, still wearing his coat and boots.
“Back to the lobby and remove that clothing darling, and we do not tolerate running inside the house. You sounded like a herd of wild elephants just now.”
“Yes ma’am.” He bowed his head in ‘sham’ respect and looked at his dad with laughing blue eyes. “Dad -are you finished?”
“What am I up for now?”
“A game of tennis.”
