21. Claire
21
Ten Minutes Earlier
As if the last forty-eight hours weren’t enough, life just had to fuck me some more.
I stare at the bestower of the best sex of my life as my brain tries to reconcile Leif with Lee.
One calls me a good girl when I’m coming for him, and the other is the deliverer of the most teeth-grinding headaches of my life. And you know how this bastard does it? Wearing a goddamn backwards cap.
I pull my phone from my pocket to text Lex.
ME: OH MY GOD!!!!!
LEX: What??
Leif, or Lee, pins those bright blue eyes on me with smug amusement while I furiously punch letters on my phone.
ME: The thorn in my side.
ME: The source of my afflictions.
ME: The bane of my very existence.
“Well, that has to end now,” I say.
LEX: Yes…
“What has to end, Bombshell?” The bastard purrs at me. Purrs! The fucking nerve of him.
“Me and you.”
ME: Is… my Viking *crying emoji*
ME: The arsehole contractor I’ve been emailing for the last eight weeks is the same man I’ve been riding into oblivion to work out the very frustrations he’s been the reason for!
LEX: Seriously? How did you not know this any earlier?
“What specifically about me and you? Me doing your renovations?” Leif says as he crosses the divide between us, bringing his leather and sandalwood scent with him.
I send him a glare, hating how blue his eyes look with his hair pushed off his face by his hat. That delicious smell he carries threatens to make my eyes roll to the back of my head. I just want to rub all over him like a cat, soaking his scent all over my skin.
ME: We’d only spoken through email. It’s a different guy who supervises on-site.
LEX: What about his name on the emails?
ME: His email says Lee Connors. When I was coming on his dick, he made me call him Leif. Apparently, Lee is a nickname.
“Hmm?” He steps toe to toe with me, dipping his head to trace his nose up my jaw. I stiffen, holding strong against the pull to submit to him.
“Or the way you scream my name when I’m making you come on my cock and tongue?”
I push against his rock-hard chest, feeling the warmth of it seep through his smoky blue shirt bearing the Connors Construction logo.
“Which name would that be? Leif or Lee?” I ask.
Delight sparkles in his eyes, but before he can unleash that smooth, honey-coated voice on me, a whistle pierces the air.
“Shit! The floors are fucked,” Jeremy says.
Leif takes a step back from me, but his eyes stay fixed on mine.
“Yep. Gonna have to replace them all and the skirting boards, but the wallpaper seems to be okay,” Leif says.
ME: Lex, this man has fucked my arse figuratively and literally. You should see the smug look on this dickwad’s face.
“Don’t worry, darling, we’ll get it back on track in no time,” Jeremy says as he throws an arm around my shoulders and gives a reassuring squeeze.
I offer a tight smile, glancing down at my phone, waiting for Lex’s reply. I can feel eyes on me and when I look up, Leif looks wholly pissed off.
Goddammit, why did I have to keep encouraging those ridiculous nicknames? I feel so stupid. So blindsided. Fuck, is this what Mum felt like when my dad told her he had another family?
At least I’m not pregnant. I’m just trying to set myself up. My mum had to raise a baby on her own.
He burrowed under my skin a lot more than I was expecting. I can’t remember the last time I had a hookup last this long and now it’s come back to bite me in the fucking arse. My contractor. Seriously?
What’s even worse is I know it’s my fault. I broke my own rules, and this is what I get.
Leif’s glare is narrowed in at where Jeremy still has his hand resting against my biceps. The poor guy is completely oblivious to the wrath thrown his way as he takes in the shambles of my salon. How the fuck am I going to keep working with this guy?
First of all, he’s seen my O face. So many times. Because the man is just that good. God, he’s so patient and dedicated.
No, Claire! Don’t get distracted by the man’s dick. But it’s such a nice dick.
Oh my god, what if he brags about us around the office? Purposely creates delays? I don’t think he’s that kind of guy, he’s too nice. Sweet. That's why it was so easy to keep going back, he’s different. This is so out of my area of expertise, I need my bestie!
ME: I AM MORTIFIED. You know me, Lex. I don’t get mortified. I am a fortress of composure.
ME: A queen of unflappable cool.
Jeremy pulls away and starts walking around the salon. I grant my eyes a moment of weakness to look up at Leif. And fuck, he’s still looking at me.
He finally pulls his eyes away as Jeremy talks about repairs. I return my attention to my phone, where Lex has been inconveniently quiet.
ME: I’m dangerously close to losing my cool.
ME: Lex?
ME: Alexis Cordelia Morgan?
ME: Are you ghosting me right now? WTF!?!?
ME: Here lies Claire Jade Pryor. Survived by her impressive collection of battery-operated boyfriends. She leaves behind no friends or family since her bestie discarded her like a used condom.
ME: *wilting rose emoji*
“We may need to look at alternative flooring options,” Leif says, startling me as he stands by my side. When the fuck did he get there?
“Alternative? What are you talking about?” I ask.
“I’ll have to call the supplier. We got lucky last time, but if they don’t have more stock of these floorboards, we’ll need to order them in, which could take up to four weeks”.
I feel my jaw drop. I already had to insist on the floorboards when he tried to steer me against them from the beginning.
My arms fold over my chest, and I delight in the way his eyes give in to a peek at my cleavage.
“Let me guess. It would be quicker to go with tiles?” I ask.
I tilt my head with an unamused raise of my eyebrow as he gives me a pacifying smile.
“We could have the floorboards ripped and tiles laid and still be back on track since this week was meant to be tools down to let the stain cure anyway.” He matches my stance, but where my body deflates with resignation, he stands taller in victory.
He knows this is the better option. He knows that’s the way I’m going to go.
Fuck, I hate being wrong.
I grit my teeth and avoid his eyes.
“Fine,” I say. “Do the damn tiles. I can always change them later on. Let’s just try to stick to the opening date that was planned.”
“As you wish,” he says and drops his arms, letting one brush against mine as he passes me, but not before he whispers in my ear, “You know how I love to please you, Bombshell.”
I turn my head and make sure Jeremy isn’t still hanging around.
“Don’t call me that!”
“Why?” He shrugs, and his face shows nothing but delight. “Isn’t that what you kept telling me your name was?”
“Yeah, and hindsight’s a bitch.”
“Poor baby. I bet I can make you feel better.”
My core clenches at the suggestion.
He could totally make it all better. Goosebumps rise on my skin as we continue to stand off. Eyes focused on each other. Those neon blues bore into me. The longer he looks at me, the deeper I feel it. His presence, the effect of his attention.
Why is he the only person that makes me feel seen when he looks at me?
Why does it make my heart beat hard and steady like a drum, and at the same time rapid and light like a hummingbird?
It’s been like that since the first night. The way he throws off my balance challenges everything I’ve known and felt before.
I feel like I’m at the top of a podium, waiting to jump into the unknown. It’s scary and exciting, and I’m not even sure if I want to do it. Leif’s face is waiting at the bottom, his arms open wide. My body wants to fall, but my heart doesn’t trust it.
I don’t trust myself right now.
“I don’t remember orgasms being a part of the contract.”
“I like to take care of my clients.” He winks, and then I feel sick. He must see it on my face. Whatever I fail at hiding on the inside. “Wait, Claire, I didn’t mean it like that.”
I turn, trying to hurry out the front door, but I’m stopped by a hand on my elbow. I’m so embarrassed right now. Fuck, this guy makes me feel things I’m not used to, and in no way prepared for.
“Claire,” Leif whispers. “Baby, I didn’t mean it like that. I’ve never slept with a client before. This is new for me, too.”
His hand stays on my arm, his thumb rubbing soothing strokes along the skin there. Why the fuck do I care? Why am I freaking out from his words right now?
I shrug out of his hold. “I’m just mad about the floors,” I quickly lie.
“Don’t worry about the salon. I’ll get it fixed, okay?”
I can’t say anything. All I do is nod and rush through the open door leading back outside because nothing feels okay right now. My stomach is gurgling with uncertainty and doubt.
I’m almost to my car when my phone chimes from my back pocket. I’ve got a missed call and text from Lex.
LEX: I am so sorry, babe! My brother called and then the big boss came in. Call me!
LEX: Dylan got a backer for the distillery. We sign contracts in two weeks 3
Holy shit! They got an investor for Legacy Malt. My heart slows and allows the heat to temper as elation takes over. Seeing this dream through is so important to Lex. And Dylan. Legacy Malt is for their dad. To carry on his memory. It’s what she’s spent the last five years working her arse off for, learning everything she could about the industry and business so they can feel like their lives are still shared with their dad. So he’ll never be forgotten.
ME: WHAT!!! OMG!!! Tequila tonight! We both need it!
LEX: Love you
ME: Love you, boo *kiss emoji*
This is just the kind of distraction I need right now. Not a contractor who wants to fix things. A man who wants to show up. And definitely not a lover boy who makes me question everything.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Project Update
Good morning Bombshell,
The floorboards have been pulled and floor prepped for the new tiles which will be installed tomorrow. You should be able to inspect them Friday afternoon.
L