Page 53 of Untroubled Heart

I step back, setting the brochure down with the rest of our selections, seeing the full picture.

“Having fun?” Beth walks around the table, resting a palm on the surface as she delivers a knowing smirk to me, and something about it looks scarier than normal, but I can’t put my finger on it.

Callie jumps off the table, avoiding both our faces. “I think we’re doing okay. We’re certainly not as experienced as you with this stuff.”

“Good God, Callie! Do vegans not drink coffee either?” Beth stares wide-eyed at the iced, green drink in front of her.

“They can. I’ve just never been a fan.”

“Huh. What an interesting choice of free will,” Beth says, tacking on a pacifying smile.

“Are you having an allergic reaction or something?” I ask, staring at her forehead that’s redder than usual.

“What?” She shrieks, then starts rifling through her handbag until she pulls out a mirror.

“No.” She lets out a relieved sigh. “I just got them waxed.”

“Off?”

“Beauty is pain, brother. We can’t all use shampoo as hair, face, and body wash and still somehow look flawless.” Beth looks me up and down, mouth turning down in a grimace as if I’ve personally offended her. “Ugh, men.”

She stalks off into her office, and I look at Callie. “How was that my fault?”

She chuckles and picks up the paint deck, flipping through the colours.

“Sooo, how’s custody going with your ex?”

Her shoulders drop, and her lips twist as she continues to browse through the fifty thousand shades of white.

“It’s been delayed for more pressing matters for the moment.”

“Isn’t he in jail?” I ask, picking up another paint deck.

“Ah, so you were eavesdropping the other day.”

“I wouldn’t say eavesdropping… My door was open, and you and Beth weren’t whispering.”

She chuckles. “Yes. He still had another five months left on his sentence, but it looks like he’s getting out early. He and his lawyer are more occupied with that than his own daughter, but I’m used to the fathers in my life disappointing me.”

I hate that for her. A visceral, deep-rooted hate. My fists land against the table, steadying myself against a fight to act, to do something, anything, to make it better. “If you ever need help with that, let me know. My lawyers are really good.”

“Thanks. I doubt I could afford your lawyer considering what mine is, but thank you all the same.” She fans out the deck, pausing over one particular shade with a smile.

“What about this one?” She places a soft white next to the rest of the samples. “Love Note.”

Her hand rests against the table, fingers inches from mine. I watch as her pinky flexes. Mine does too, like a current of energy pulling us together.

I swallow. Eyes slowly tracing over her exposed skin.

Goose bumps pebble over her arm, and I don’t know if it’s the temperature of the room or my attention that conjures the response.

My lungs feel heavy as my eyes travel to her collarbone, then the freckle on her top lip.

My mouth grows dry when our eyes lock.

I’m thinking about kissing her again.

But I can’t go there. Can I? No, she’s my assistant. She’s going through enough with her ex and her dad. She has a baby. I overheard her just a few weeks ago telling Josh she’s not looking to date. I’ve never looked to date. I’m certain it’s the constant proximity to her that is sending my thoughts all over the place, because I don’t date. I don’t let women in because I don’t want to be disappointed when they inevitably show me all the ways I’m not good enough to be someone’s person, and it’s never truly bothered me, but I don’t think I could handle that when it comes to Callie. I like the way she looks at me, the way she talks to me as if she values my words, and how she makes me feel like I’m getting the real version of her. I think that’s just who she is as a person, though. It’s nothing to do with me. I need to remember she’s here to work, nothing else.