It’s been almost an hour since she texted me.
Our time together has always been dictated by her. I let her slack on the rope, and then I snatch up what she gives me.
When she texted me earlier that she wanted to try something more, I didn’t hesitate to jump into my truck and drive straight over to her, desperate to see her. To hear the words out loud. But she’s not home. There are no lights on inside, just the porch light.
It’s Saturday, so I’m guessing she and her friend Lex went out. Probably to The Wayside.
I tried calling her, but it rang out. She might not have heard her phone if she was at a club. I try to ignore where my mind wants to wander, that she’s probably out there looking beautiful, as always, and I’m not there to stop the eyes of those who want to look. But if I can be the one to touch, to hold her, to have her attention, then they can look all they want.
I’m about to call her again when I see lights bounce over the driveway, followed by tyres crunching over the gravel.
A sleek sports car rolls to a stop, and my eyes strain to see through the shadows to the driver as they step out of the car.
Determined footsteps finally bring the owner into light, and I’m stunned to see Caleb Heart dashing up the porch stairs.
“Caleb?”
He pauses at his name, tilting his head as he approaches me. We’ve only met in passing a few times.
“Lee Connors. I’m friends with Mason,” I say, mentioning his brother’s name as I lean forward with an open palm. “We’ve met at The Wayside, I think.”
Caleb accepts my handshake, then takes a seat in the deck chair beside mine.
“Right. I remember.” He nods. “Who are you waiting for?” He’s tentative as he asks, a hand squeezing behind his neck.
“Claire. She was texting me before, but I think she and Lex might be out dancing.”
“Thank fuck.” He blows out. “Yeah, they were at The Wayside. My brother told me they were there. They left about twenty minutes ago.”
It can’t have been Mason telling him that. He would have texted me if he recognised Claire. Surely, he doesn’t know Lex. It must have been Gage. But why would Gage be texting Caleb about Lex and Claire’s whereabouts? A memory hits me from when I was doing the cleanup at Claire’s salon after her roof leak.
“Are you friends with Claire? Or just business partners?” I ask. Caleb owns an investment company and finances any new and dead businesses he can get his hands on. The surprise on his face from my question makes my own brows pop to my hairline.
“Claire? I’m here for Lex.”
At that, more lights roll over the driveway, making both of our heads pop up like meerkats.
The sound of a door slamming is followed by girlish giggles and scuffling footsteps.
“Here come the stairs, babe.” I can hear Claire’s feminine rasp carry through the night, and my heart instantly settles.
Another giggle I can only assume belongs to Lex follows. Claire comes into sight with one arm wrapped around her friend’s middle. Her other hand holds Lex’s hand, whose arm is draped over Claire’s shoulder as she guides Lex to the door.
“Good night, Bombshell?” I ask.
Claire halts on the spot, struggling to steady a swaying Lex. “What are you doing here?”
The wooden chair beside me groans as Caleb rushes over to them and pulls Lex from Claire’s arms.
“I’ve got her,” he says, his voice forcing Lex’s bleary eyes to open and take him in.
More twittering laughs and a hiccup escape her as she leans over and whisper-shouts at Claire, “He’s so pretty. Even his dick is pretty.”
I would be more interested in figuring out what the fuck seems to be going on with Lex and Heart City’s favourite billionaire if it weren’t for the fact that Claire and I left our conversation on a rather important note.
With a grimace, Claire moves to the front door and unlocks it, holding it open for Caleb and Lex.
When Lex stumbles over the threshold, Caleb hoists her into his arms and carries her into the house. The sound of a door slamming echoes down the hallway.