Page 18 of Starlight Salon
He tenses beneath me, hands dropping from my hips, taking his warmth with him.
“The double date I set up last month?” She blinks at us cautiously. “I can leave? Reschedule it?”
Scrambling off Lachlan, I’m glad my underwear is on and I don’t have to face the indignity of them falling around my ankles. “No, that’s fine.”
“It’s fine.” Lachlan stands, a frown marring his beautiful face. “I’ll leave you to it then. Thanks for the haircut.”
“Lachlan, wait. I?—”
He leaves the salon and is striding across the road before I finish my sentence. My nails dig into my palm. What just happened? One second there’s an us, and the next he’s leaving before I can explain what Isla meant.
“Are you okay?”
I run my hands through my hair, heart clenching when they bump the pink clips he’d put there so I was more comfortable. I sniff against the stinging in my eyes and remove the clips. “Yeah.”
Isla gestures to the chair and coughs. “What happened? Were you…”
I swallow against the thickness in my throat. “He fixed the water.” And left without letting me explain anything.
“And you were on his lap, why? I thought you were annoyed he didn’t show up?”
“I was. But he was sick, so I stayed at his place to help him, and I’ve been looking forward to seeing him for so long.”
“What happened to the mysterious guy you like but never mention?” Isla’s eyes widen and glance to the road. “It’s him, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, why are you here and not running after him?” Isla shoves my bag at me.
I lean on the reception desk. “He just left. Wouldn’t let me explain it to him, even after that.” I wave a hand behind me, to the chair where he’d had his fingers inside of me.
“Chloe, if he’s been pining for you, like you have been for ages, he might not know you want him. He might have thought you wanted to get some and leave.”
I grimace. “He wouldn’t think that, right?”
She raises her brow. “If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have run out of here as soon as I mentioned a date.”
My throat closes and blood pounds in my ears. “I’ve got to find him.” I grab my bag, usher Isla out, and lock the door behind me. Have to find Lach. Isla’s right. He needs to know how I feel.
How I’ve been feeling for weeks.
6
Lachlan
The door slams behind me. I drop the keys on the bench, stalk to my room, and collapse on the bed. I drag a hand down my face, stilling when I can smell her on them. “Fuck.” I move to the bathroom to wash her off me. Apparently, she doesn’t want to be with me. I doubt she wants me carrying her scent around on me, so I’m not going to keep it there.
I shove my hands in singeing water and scrub them. I can’t believe I thought she wanted to be with me.
My chest tightens. Who am I kidding? Of course, she doesn’t want to be with me. It’s common knowledge on The Esplanade I’m a plumber. I’m on speed dial for most of the stores. When we shared glances at the bar, I thought we were thinking the same thing, trying to learn everything about each other. But maybe not.
I’m ready to marry her, but she didn’t even know my job.
It made sense when she explained it away, comforted me knowing she also struggled with these feelings, but then Isla showed up.
She’s going on a date. Is probably getting ready for it now. I rub a wet hand smelling of soap across my face.
Like I would have a chance with her.