Good Enough - Completed

Good Enough - Chapter Four

She walks in beauty, like the night

  Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

       And all that’s best of dark and bright

          Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

           Thus mellowed to that tender light

             Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

                                               -Lord Byron-

The five years apart had been good to Kaitlin who looks like a visual buffet of beauty; reminding him of Lord Byron’s ode to a lady.  If she has changed, it was all a sight to behold.  Caleb feasted on every feature as he watched her blow away her audience talking about façades, elevations, columns, perspectives, tension structures and curtain walls – architecture vernacular that he has no fig of an idea.  The only lingo he can relate to and appreciate at the moment is the smooth column of her neck down to the expanse of skin just above her cleavage with an obvious elevation of the generous swell of her breasts beneath that fitted dress that he wants to peel it out of her piece by slow piece.  Yeah, pathetic of him that he’s undressing her in his mind when he should be paying attention to the design of his building.  Well, he didn’t really need to because he would give her carte blanche on the design and he has complete faith in her work that it would no doubt be enlisted in her impressive portfolio. The only thing that bothers him is the obvious fake façade of cheerfulness she exudes at the moment when her body language says a different story; the stiffness in her shoulders that seem to carry an unimaginable weight upon them, the rigidity of her back that screams of an invisible wall to protect her vulnerability.  The tight smiles she gives does not reach her eyes like she used to and this unsettled him to no end because one of the best things he enjoys the most about looking at her is every time he is afforded with those smiling eyes that lights up her face iridescently.  It now felt and looked almost dead and he had a part in all of this.  But thank God she is still the same smart woman with a depth to her personality that only a few people can catch a glimpse of and only the ones she allows others to see.  When they first met, he already felt that strong bond; like mated souls.  There was that connection that the universe conspired to bind them as one; a kindred spirit who was as broken as he was by circumstances but she was the stronger one who stuck it out with him and helped heal and pick up the shattered pieces of his soul.  What he did to her, leaving her all those years ago had caused him to regress to that brokenness again that it nearly killed him but now he can’t stay away.  Kaitlin was oblivious to his open perusal and admiration of the woman she has now become and envied the fact that Reyne Zaragosa had the luxury of looking at it and physically able to admire and touch for five fucking years.  He did a good job guarding her as the job demanded though he obviously did not miss that there was something more to Reyne that he let on.  He tempered his rage seeing her in his arms and took everything in him not to barrel into the room and pummel his face.  He may be acting cave-like but when it comes to Kaitlin he is not feeling magnanimous to any man besides himself. 

“I will take your questions now gentlemen.”  Kaitlin’s sweet voice drew him back into the present; a soft caress to the tension in the room.

He was hyperaware of the easy flow of discussion where his angel addressed all the technical aspects of the project.  The character of her voice was slowly changing, becoming more relaxed and that gladdened him as he sees it as an opening for a proper reunion where he can openly lock her in an embrace, kiss away her pain and implore for forgiveness. 

After the round of questions and the setting up of timelines, Stefan prompted Caleb to talk about the business aspects of the project which was his area of expertise. He nodded at the invitation without taking his eyes off Kaitlin who has been avoiding his gaze.  A short break ensued; Stefan exited the room and took a call while Kaitlin’s team made a beeline for the doorway.  Kaitlin gathered her things decidedly to escape his attention and Zaragosa swiftly moved and was beside her like a pest, helping her make that hasty retreat.  His commanding voice boomed; unabashed with Stefan’s presence by the door.