24. Leif
24
“I think we need to have a chat with the boys,” Westley says as he drops into the chair on the other side of my desk.
I minimise the email I was working on and give him my attention. He just started back after two weeks off with his family.
“Why?”
He looks back to the hallway outside my door, then leans in to whisper, “I found a condom wrapper on the floor at Claire’s salon.”
I do my best to control my reaction. Pulling my lips together, I fold my arms over themselves on the desk and adjust in my seat.
“I’m sure no one was having sex in the actual salon. Maybe it just fell out of one of their pockets.” Lamest fucking excuse ever.
“Who shoves a wrapper back in their pocket?”
A smarter person than me, that’s for sure.
“I just hope it wasn’t one of our guys hooking up with Claire,” West says.
I can’t help the way my face hardens with unexpected jealousy. “I don’t think Claire would be interested in any of those boys,” I say, feeling the ice in my words as they pass my lips.
It’s stupid to feel jealous. I know damn well it was me with Claire in the salon, and she’s definitely not fucking anyone else. Fuck, I’m pretty sure she’s not. It’s not like we spoke about being exclusive. Things are so up in the air since we found out each other’s true identities. We’re not even dating. I don’t know what we’re doing.
Westley’s brows furrow at my words.
“I mean, a woman like that would want a man,” I say. “Someone who knows what he’s doing. She’d never settle for a boy who was out for his own pleasure before hers.” I do my best to answer in a way that speaks to my indifference on the subject instead of confirming first-hand that I know what she needs.
Westley chuckles. “Yes, you’re right. She certainly isn’t afraid to ask for what she wants. Speaking of, thanks for handling the salon so I could take the time off.”
“No problem. How were Cas and Callie?” I ask.
“She’s two months along. Looks like she’ll be doing it on her own. Boyfriend got picked up for possession. He’s in jail now. It was the third time he was caught. But when Callie went to see him, he told her he wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. I helped her move all her stuff into Caspian’s place while I was there. She seems okay, though.”
“Shit. Sorry, man. That’s rough. Let me know whenever you need to take more time. We can handle whatever you’ve got going on here.”
“Morning.” Jeremy pops his head into my office. “I’m heading over to Parlour Tricks. The cabinetry is getting dropped off today. Think we’ll be ready for handover by the end of next week.” He smiles, but my stomach sours.
With Claire’s project over, I’ll have no excuse to bump into her. To email her. To see her. I’m not ready for goodbye.
“While you’re here,” Westley says. “Make sure you’re not leaving any rubbish around the place when you’re done. I found a condom wrapper in the salon this morning.”
Jeremy hoots. “Wonder who’s been getting lucky.”
“I certainly hope none of our boys. We want to maintain a professional standard here,” Westley says with an eyebrow raised.
Jeremy throws his hands up in defence. “Not me. Maybe it was Claire. Pulling the old ‘Hey, I have my own salon. Wanna come check it out?’ She comes across as that more dominant type. You know, always taking the reins.”
Smug amusement causes my lips to tilt up, thinking of how well my girl likes to beg and submit. Her snark turns soft when she comes for me.
“What’s that face for?” Westley asks. I regain focus and find two curious stares waiting on me.
“Just remembering a fiery one I recently encountered.”
It was only six weeks ago that I met Claire at The Wayside.
Before we realised just who we were to each other outside of the bedroom, I was spending more nights in her bed than my own. But not all night. She was always quick to remind me that if I’m ready to sleep, then I’m ready to leave. No snuggles or pillow talk. Whenever she tried to push me out the door with nothing more than a brushed-off ‘thanks for the orgasms’, I would pull two more out of her, then leave her in a sex coma with a kiss on her forehead and a satisfied smile on my lips when I strutted out.
It was fine at first. A game I thoroughly enjoyed playing with her. I was ready for more before learning her name, but it’s even stronger now.
I want to feel her quivering around me. To feel her surrender in my arms. I want every piece of her, far more than she’s willing to give and for far longer than I think she’s ready for.
“Let me know when you’re leaving,” West says to Jeremy, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Sweet Escape wasn’t open when I went by earlier. I want to catch Liv if I can.”
“Oh, has someone got a crush?” Jem bobs his eyebrows up and down as he dances around my supervisor, who looks completely unamused.
“No. She’s a single mother, and my sister is now, too. I wanted to ask her if there’s something I could send down to Callie, something to help with her pregnancy, like snacks or a book or something. I don’t know.” He shrugs.
“Nice.” Jeremy nods. “Acting like a sweet, thoughtful big brother. The ladies love that.”
Westley throws his hands up. “Jesus, Jem, I’m not trying to hook up with the woman.”
Jeremy scrunches his face. “Then why do you always go to the bakery when we’re at Parlour Tricks?”
I hide my smile behind a closed fist as Westley makes big eyes at me and shakes his head.
“You’re lucky you’re pretty, man.”
“Thanks.” Jeremy smiles.
“Not sure about that moustache though,” Westley mumbles under his breath.
“Are you guys going to the street party this weekend?” Jeremy asks as he leans against the doorframe to my office, crossing one leg over the other.
I shake my head. “What street party?”
“Down Main Street. They’re doing open bars, music, and food trucks. The stores along the street will be open after hours. It’s this whole revival of rundown tourist spots that the Callahans have been funding lately.”
“Oh, yeah, Tristan was telling me about plans he was doing for that old boathouse restaurant along the foreshore. I’m sure he said that was from the Callahan Group,” I say.
“Not the group.” West shakes his head. “Those Callahan brothers have been getting themselves into trouble lately. The sister, Tenley, she’s been doing all these community projects to save the family’s reputation.”
“Still, it’s a Callahan project. They’ll throw big money at that. I’ll talk to Tristan, see if there’s any word on a preferred builder. And I’ll pop down to Parlour Tricks later to check the cabinetry. See if I can catch Claire and have our sign in the window for the party. If Tenley Callahan’s organising this thing, it’ll be good for her to see our name working on a project.”
“Hey! I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you say her name without a sneer.” West smiles.
“You should see the way he looks at her,” Jeremy says, and my heart jumps to my throat. My cheeks heat, and my eyes pivot to Westley, who arches a brow at me.
“Told you she was hot,” Jeremy throws over his shoulder before leaving my office.
A cool sweat breaks over my skin as West continues to stare at me. “Well, isn’t that an interesting little development?” He stands from his chair with the speed of a sloth. “If you do happen to catch Claire at the salon, maybe you should mention to her about not leaving rubbish around.”
Whoops.