Page 20 of Untethered Heart
“Turns out this was more fun than I expected,” Caleb says.
I look at him, trying to understand their connection. His gaze is soft as he stares back at me and mouths,my sister.
My chest deflates with relief. Not that I have any claim over Caleb. We’ve hooked up twice. I don’t have his number. I literally don’t know anything about him other than his ability and willingness to give me orgasms.
“Who’s your friend?” Beth sing-songs, and I pause, not knowing how Caleb would want me to answer that question.
“She’s—”
“Lex!” We’re interrupted by Claire rushing over with wide eyes, panic on her face. She clamps a hand around mine. “My salon. It’s flooded.” She’s near tears as she forces out the words.
“What? What happened?” I pull my hand from Caleb so I can hold both of Claire’s hands in mine, devoting my attention to her.
“The office above me had a pipe burst. It came through my ceiling and flooded the floor. Trevor just called me. I have to go there.”
I nod. “Okay, babe. Let’s go. Have you called an Uber?” She shakes her head. I turn back to Caleb. “I’m sorry, I need to go.”
He steps into me, a hand landing below my elbow. “Can I help with anything?”
I shake my head. “I just need to get my friend to her salon. Let her assess the damage.”
“I can drive you. I brought my car.”
My eyebrows rise at the gesture he so readily gives. “I don’t want to put you out. I don’t know how long we’ll need to be there.”
“You’re not putting me out. Please.” There is such sincerity in his words. “Let me help.”
I look at Claire, and when I see the desperation in her eyes, I find myself nodding.
He bends down to whisper in my ear. “I just need to clean up quickly.” He pulls back with a wink, and heat blooms on my cheeks.
***
It’s bad. There’s a gaping hole in the ceiling where water has crashed through from the office above, right in the middle of the salon. Thankfully, it seems the walls are okay, but her timber floorboards are completely destroyed.
I helped Claire put together her business and renovation plan, so I made sure she had proper insurance and a slush fund for unexpected emergencies. Between that and the building insurance, I’m sure all the costs will be covered, but it’s the further delay in time that really has her hurting.
I rub my hand gently up and down her back as she talks to Trevor, the upstairs owner, before letting my eyes wander over to Caleb.
I expected him to drop us off and go, but he came in, looking over the space with an assessing eye. Sensing Claire’s okay, I joinCaleb over by the front window where he stares out into the night.
“She picked a good location. Lots of foot traffic in this spot,” he says.
“She waited eighteen months for a vacant space on this street.” He looks down at me with one brow arched.
“And it’s going to be a hair salon?”
“More beauty.” I nod. “Makeup, tanning, facials, that sort of thing.”
“Lots of boutique fashion stores and nice cafes. She did well to wait for the right space.”
“That’s what I told her, too,” I agree with a smug grin, earning one back from him.
He turns his body into mine, hands in both pockets as he leans a shoulder against the window.
“And what would you know about it, Siren?” He’s genuinely curious with his question, but I’m more focused on the way my heart stutters over the nickname.
Every time he uses it, I feel an excited flip in my stomach. I wish I could ask him why he sees it fitting for me. I match his stance. “I created her business plan. Used it for a project during my degree.”
