Page 48 of Trusting the Fall
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 justthatgood. 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.
