Page 57 of Trusting the Fall
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.
