Cal Whaley is the second hero in TART and a man Jules has had a crush on since she was in her early teens. They’ve always had chemistry, they’re extremely close friends, but he’s never made a move, fearing things would go wrong and he’d lose her.

From the first time Cal appeared on the page in NEVER ENOUGH (he’s Gillian’s attorney as well as a family friend) I saw him as the delicious David Gandy

When Gideon comes back into Jules’ life and they start a relationship, Jules’ friends bring Cal up, knowing the history…

“Well now. I can most certainly understand the appeal of that.” They headed out to the living room where Gillian leaned against the couch. “I’ve been arguing with myself as to whether or not I should say anything.”

Jules knew. Cal.

“I’ve watched you watch Cal. And watched Cal watch you for years now. This Gideon is not the same as the others you’ve dated. I’ve never seen you like this with anyone before. Just . . . what about Cal?”

“Yeah, Gillian, what about Cal? Huh? All he’s done is look. He’s never made a move. I’m thirty-three years old and he’s never made a move. Am I supposed to wait around and pine forever? I want what you have with Adrian. I want a man in my life. Gideon is different. Or, well, he feels different anyway. Who knows? He may not be. He might be a jerk who never makes me come. But I won’t know if I don’t give this a try. I can’t wait for Cal. I have to move on and I will. Cal has moved on, for god’s sake. He’s had how many girlfriends and boyfriends?”

She’d waited so long and he’d never stepped up. As much as she’d wanted Cal, it was time to let go of something that would never happen.

“You’re right of course. I just love you. Him too. I want you to be happy. And you should move on.”

“I bet no one ever says, What about Jules? to him. It’s stupid. And while I know everyone is just trying to be nice, it’s not going to happen. There is no Jules and Cal, no matter how much I might have wished it, or you all wanted it. I’ve wanted Cal for a long time. I can’t lie about that. But he doesn’t want me back. Not the same way. It’s long past time I move on. And so I am.”

Gillian sighed. “I know. I know. For what it’s worth, I absolutely believe with all my heart that he does want you. But you’re right to say he’s never moved on it and you have to let it go. I don’t even know Gideon; he could be far better for you and you should make that choice yourself. I’m sorry.”

And when Jules sees him naked the first time….

“Well now.” He got to his feet and she watched, unable not to. Cal Whaley was absolutely gorgeous. His hair was dark, but long on top so it always made him look as if he were up to something. Normally at work he had product in it, she knew. But he’d had his fingers in it, most likely as they were talking. One rakish lock had fallen over his forehead. His eyes were blue, fringed by dark lashes.

Acres of taut, olive-toned skin. She’d seen him in shorts and swim trunks. So she knew what he had lurking beneath his clothes. But this . . . well, fantasy had nothing on reality. His cock was fat and meaty and it sent her heart pounding.

His legs were long and powerful, particularly his very muscled thighs. A high, tight and toned ass. He had great arms and hands.

“You’re giving me a complex just staring at me without a comment.”

She smiled, her fingers still tangled with Gideon’s. “I’m glad I had never seen you naked until now. I don’t think I could have taken it.”

Cal’s intensity extends to his man and his woman – but it’s always Jules – Jules he’s burned for. And now that they’re finally together, she can’t quite believe her good fortune

“There she is.” Cal tossed his stuff to the side, toeing off his shoes, and moved right to her. She’d wanted him for so long, had watched him be with other people. Most of the time she hadn’t been bothered by it; she’d dated too after all.

He’d looked at her like she mattered. Even when he’d been with other people he’d looked at her like she mattered. He’d been her friend and someone she loved like she loved his sister and Gillian.

But this Cal? The one who moved to her like there was nothing else he wanted to do in the world but touch her? Yeah, his attention was like a hundred billion times better this way.

This was laced with their friendship and the trust they’d formed after knowing each other so long. They confided in each other, cheered each other on. But his gaze burned with something a lot more than friendship.

It was as if he’d suddenly turned the dial up. That intensity he always carried had deepened. Aimed it at her. She’d seen him with enough people over the years to know he never looked at any of them the way he did her.

That thrilled her to her toes.

And scared the hell out of her.

He got on the bed and didn’t stop until he’d laid on top of her and touched his nose to hers. “Hey. This is good. Goddamn, I’ve needed this all day long.” He kissed her, slowly at first, nearly sweetly. And then once she’d wrapped her arms around him, it deepened, he slid his tongue into her mouth, his taste filling her up. His taste mixed with Gideon’s.

He didn’t stop that kiss until she was thoroughly boneless and her fingers dug into his upper arms as she held on.