“What’s with the long face, kiddo?” Bea heard Caleb ask as he sat down beside her.

‘Great. The cavalry had arrived.’

Her brother, Lucas, had most likely put Caleb on the usual sister guarding duty while he was off somewhere. Too bad Caleb was the older and more mature version of the man she had a crush on. But where Will was easy-going and vibrant, Caleb was domineering and commanding everybody around her. He annoyed the hell out of her. Particularly when Caleb took his babysitting duties too seriously. His stern expression and stony stare scared away most men who were attracted to her. She had hoped Sally would lure him away, but even she looked like she’d given up tonight.

“I’m not a kid, you jerk,” Bea snarled at Caleb, hoping for a reaction. Any response would be better than the calm frown on his face. He always looked like he controlled the world and not the other way around. It made her irritated.

“You’re younger than me. So, ‘kiddo’ suits you.”

“Why are you here, Caleb?”

He shrugged as if he didn’t want to start their usual argument. The one they always had when he thought he could rule her life.

Bea recognised his bored look and realised that Lucas must have left. That could only mean one thing. Caleb was here as her babysitter, not because he wanted to talk to her. She hated it even more. For a second, she had hoped he’d sought her company for other reasons.

Bea sighed. There was no point wondering any longer. “You’re babysitting me, aren’t you? Someone should remind Lucas that I’m 22. I can look after myself.”

“Sure. You can tell Lucas when you see him. In the meantime, just answer my question. What’s bugging you?”

Bea wondered if she should ignore him or tell him the truth. Maybe Caleb would leave her alone if she did. She nodded to the dance floor. “Why doesn’t Will see me?”

“You’re not his type,” Caleb said smoothly.

She laughed. “Everyone else seems to be his type.”

“Exactly. Will is the ‘use-you-and-move-on’-type. Always has been. You’re wasting your time pining after him.”

“I like him.”

“So do I. That doesn’t mean I want to bed him.” Caleb grinned.

She gave him a push. “Funny. Really funny. What does he see in her?” Bea nodded toward Will’s latest conquest as they were dancing close together. Her short dress barely covered her ass.

“An easy target. All Will wants is what any man wants. A quick lay with a woman who knows the score.”

“What does that mean?”

Caleb turned to her. “Will is young. He doesn’t want to settle down yet. He would have gone for a completely different sort of woman if he was.”

“So if I dress like that, he might succumb?”

Caleb snorted. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Will knows we will kick his ass if he tries anything, kid.” His voice was silky smooth despite the threat he intimated.

Bea knew it was the main reason why so many young men gave her a wide berth. How would she ever meet anyone when she had two large brutes standing in the way?

“Piss off, Caleb. I don’t want a nanny. You’re scaring everybody away from me.”

“This was the only available seat,” Caleb said casually as he slowly sipped his beer, looking as if he was enjoying himself despite his duties.

“Yeah right. I know what to do. But first, you two must promise to stay the hell away from the man I choose.”

“Depends on who you’re chasing. But it looks like Will is occupied this evening, so just sit back and relax. Why don’t you set your eyes on someone else instead of wasting it?”

Bea sighed, feeling like she was wasting another dull evening pining after Will. Maybe it was time she set her eyes on something else. Or someone else. Someone the complete opposite of Will.

She drank her soda water while contemplating her options, letting her eyes slide over every man in the room while she tried to figure out which one she liked. Only to return to the man sitting so regally beside her as if nothing would surprise him. Yeah right. Caleb was always in control. She longed to spoil his calm. Just once.

“Great idea, Caleb. I want to get rid of my virginity problem,” Bea blurted out.

She noticed his shocked expression before she heard his beer glass drop on the table, the contents splashed over his shirt. He jumped up while she tried to hide her laughter. It was nice to see him knocked off his high horse for once. It made him seem more approachable. Besides, he deserved it for ruining her evening.

“Damn,” Caleb muttered, grabbing a paper serviette from the table and dabbing the mess on his shirt.

Bea grabbed some and helped him wipe the table. “I know beer doesn’t taste good,” she teased him. “But you should pour it down the drain next time.”

“Don’t spring something like that on me. Ever.” His voice sounded like he had to force himself to speak.

She bet he wanted to swear at her. Watching him trying to hold back made her feel even more pleased. To behave himself when he looked like he wanted to grab her arm and pull her away from the party. Bea had never thought it would be such fun to tease him like this.

Bea laughed. “Why not? Would you like to give me a hand with my problem?”

Caleb looked even more shocked. “Don’t even say it,” he wheezed. “Your brother will kill me.”

“Actually, it’s not a bad idea. I trust you,” Bea said, realising it was the truth. There was no one else she trusted as much as Caleb. He was like the extended arm of her older brother. Besides, with his short hair and tall body, he was handsome in a dark, brooding way. Tall, dark and handsome had a nice ring to it once she thought it over. And Caleb was the epitome of the troubled hero that saved the day and landed the heroine at the end of the two-hour tear-jerker movie. She let her eyes wander over his entire body. Strong and muscular, she noticed he was clenching his fists.

“I don’t,” Caleb muttered, talking so quietly that Bea wondered if she’d heard him correctly. Caleb got up and grabbed the empty glass before he headed for the kitchen.

‘Was he running away from her?’ Bea tried to control her smile. ‘Jackpot.’

Bea followed him. “It’s a great idea, and it would solve my problem. Besides, you can make yourself more useful than babysitting me.”

“What problem?” Caleb asked through clenched teeth.

Bea enjoyed his discomfort. It was time to go for the kill. Either he would run away or he would do something unpredictable and exciting. She wasn’t sure which but took the plunge. “I need more experience. You can help me. I’m sure you know everything there is to know about these things.”

Caleb glared at her. “Is this some sick joke? Did Lucas put you up to this?”

“No. I just came up with the idea. But it would be absolutely perfect. We can help each other. And you can relax, Caleb. I’m not a virgin.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Caleb looked even more confused.

“You and I can help each other.” Bea pushed her fingertip to his chest then to her own, spelling it out to him.