Just a Number (Thirst Trap #2)

7. Mel

Chapter seven

Mel

I t’s mid-afternoon and I’m driving home when a call comes through on the Bluetooth. My meetings have finished for the day and I decided to do a few more hours from home rather than head to the office. I’ll get more done without the distractions of my colleagues and all the office politics I’ve been sick and tired of lately.

I glance at the screen; it’s an unknown number. I often get those from potential clients and luckily, the spam calls are few and far between that it’s worth answering, even when I don’t know who it is.

I click the ‘answer call’ button on my steering wheel. “Mel Watson speaking.”

“Hey, it’s Alex.” His gravelly drawl coming through the car speakers has my thighs clenching together. “Zack gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s no problem. Everything okay?”

“I just wanted to check if it’s okay if I stay through to the weekend. My sister is, err, busy and has no space at the moment. She knows someone that I can stay with, but I just need somewhere for the next couple of nights.”

“That’s fine, Alex, it’s no bother.”

“I’ve got a shift at the bar tonight, so I won't get back until late. Zack said to ask you for a spare key, so I don’t disturb you guys when I get in.”

“Are you still at my place now?”

“Yeah, Zack set me up with his laptop so I could look at room listings.”

“I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes. I can find the spare key for you then, if that works?”

“Ah, that would be great, thank you.”

“I’ll see you soon.” I hang up wondering if this might be the worst decision I’ve ever made.

As I let myself in the house, there’s music playing. It’s not overly loud, just enough that I know the place isn’t empty.

I can’t place where it’s coming from, so I take my time, removing my heels and putting them away in the hall cupboard along with my coat. I keep my briefcase with me, to take my laptop and papers upstairs to my office once I’ve sorted Alex out with a key.

I poke my head around the lounge door on the way to the kitchen, but there’s no sign of him. The sounds are a little louder now and I can make out voices as well as the music. I push the door open for the kitchen and see him sitting at the breakfast bar. Zack’s laptop is set in front of him and he appears to be on a video call.

“I can hardly hear you with that music blaring,” he tells the woman at the other end and she laughs at him.

“Oh, Alex, you’re such an old man. How can it be that you’re younger than me?”

I step into the kitchen, not wanting to intrude, but realising it’s probably best to get him the spare key and head upstairs while he’s still on his call, so I don’t disturb him. He glances up and gives me a smile as I head over to the junk drawer near the sink.

“I’ll get you that key,” I mouth just as the girl speaks again.

“Hey, you’re not even listening to me. What’s got you distracted?”

“Uh, nothing. Sorry, what were you saying?”

“Davey says that he knows a guy called Si that has a spare room, but he’s away on business this week. It sounds like you can stay there. It’s quite close to the Arts Centre, so should be good for work.”

“Okay, how much is the rent?”

“Err, that’s what I don’t know. He’s only just started thinking about looking for a roommate and there’s not an ad up yet. But I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

I grab the spare keys from the drawer. There are two—one for the front door and one for the back—attached to a little clog keyring from a long-ago trip to Holland. I place them on the worktop beside Alex and, out of nowhere, his hand covers mine. My pulse thrums as his touch sets me alight.

“Thank you,” he whispers, giving me that same gentle smile that he gave me last night when he asked about my day.

“Earth to Alex!”

“Alright, Laura, I was just saying thanks to Zack’s mum for the keys.”

“Oh, let me say hi.” I glance at the laptop and see her peering to the side of her screen in my direction.

“Sorry,” Alex mutters. “She’s nosy.”

I step closer to him so I appear on the screen and try to school my features into a nice old lady who hasn’t been having inappropriate thoughts about this woman’s brother.

She waves at me. “Hi, Zack’s Mum.”

“Hi, Laura. Call me Mel.”

“Thank you so much for letting my baby brother stay with you while we sort out his living arrangements.”

“It’s no bother. He’s not any trouble.”

“He must be making the effort to behave himself then.” Laura snickers and I watch Alex’s face through the screen as he rolls his eyes. Our eyes meet and it’s strange, looking at him on the laptop while standing right next to him.

I’m flustered and switch my focus back to Laura instead. I can make out the family resemblance. It’s impossible to tell if they share the same hair colour because Laura’s is dyed an electric blue. It looks amazing. She has similar brown eyes to Alex, and their facial features share some similarities. She’s wearing a strappy top and her shoulders and arms are covered in tattoos, her nose is pierced, and she has heavy eyeliner on.

She’s watching me, no doubt, looking me over in a similar way as I’m doing to her.

“Hopefully this new place will work out and he’ll be settled soon,” I say. It’s easier to speak to her and ignore the waves of heat that seem to be bouncing between Alex and I.

“Well, as a thank you, if you ever want a tattoo on the house, you know who to come and see.” Laura gestures to the space behind her and I realise she’s in a tattoo studio. The wall behind her is covered in hand drawn designs.

“That’s really kind of you. Thank you.”

Alex chuckles. “Not a likely customer, Laura.” He glances at me, a grin on his face.

“You don’t like tattoos?” Laura asks me, a curious expression on her face.

“I love them. I just haven’t been brave enough to get one yet.”

“You should come to me. I promise I’m gentle. Alex can vouch for me. I did most of my practising on him.”

Ah, that explains all his ink when he’s saving to move out.

“Lovely to meet you, Laura. I better go back to work.” As I step away, I’m finally able to take a deep breath, free from the musky scent of Alex. He smells like leather and earth and it’s divine, but I really shouldn’t be fixating on the scent of my temporary lodger.

I’m reviewing a contract from one of my earlier meetings when there’s a gentle tap on the door.

“Come in,” I call out. The door opens wide, and Alex stands there, filling the frame.

“Sorry to disturb you. Just wanted to let you know I’m heading into work soon and I’ll be back late.”

“No worries, I’ll leave the porch light on for you. The gold-coloured key is for the back door. The silver one does the front lock.”

“That’s great, thanks. There’s not an alarm to deactivate or anything?”

“No, I’ve been meaning to get one installed, but nothing at the moment. Are you at The Arts Centre tonight?” I ask, racking my brain, trying to remember if there’s an event going on there that I’ve forgotten about.

“No, I’m at The Thirst Trap tonight. It’s a bar down in the town. I just started this month. Casual shifts but hopefully turning more permanent.”

“Oh.” I try to hide my surprise that he’s working at Tom’s bar and then my mind races as I realise that Alex might be the new blood that Abby was talking about.

“Do you know it?” he asks, brows quirked.

“I do. My friend Cassidy… she’s in a relationship with the owner.”

“I’ve not met her yet, but I’ve heard lots about her from Abby. Tom’s not a big talker, but he seems like a good guy.”

“Yeah, I’ve met him a couple of times and I think he’s good for Cassidy.” I smile fondly as I think about the clear adoration they have for each other. It’s cute. “We drink there quite often. I’m surprised I haven’t seen you there.”

“I’ve mostly been cleaning up and serving food, but I’m going in early today so that Abby can show me the ropes behind the bar.”

“That’s a good sign. They must be pleased with your work,” I reassure him, but inwardly, jealousy creeps insidiously through my belly. If Alex is working closely with Abby, will they get together? Will she decide to take the ‘new blood’ for a ride?

“Yeah, hopefully. I’m gonna need all the shifts I can get. Thanks again for letting me stay. I really do appreciate it.”

“No worries.”

He pauses for a moment and I watch as his gaze falls from my eyes downward and then back up. I glance down and notice that the neck of my blouse is sitting rather low, giving him a glimpse of my lacy, pale blue bra. I pull at the collar, trying to cover it as my cheeks heat from the worry that he thinks I’ve done it on purpose.

“Sorry,” he blurts, his jaw set firm with a pained expression on his face that I can’t figure out.

“It should be me apologising. I didn’t mean to flash you.” I laugh, hoping this awkward moment will pass.

“I wouldn’t mind if you did, Mel.” His voice drips with suggestion, causing my nipples to harden.

“W-what?” I stutter.

“I wouldn’t mind if you did flash me.” Heat prickles my skin as his gaze moves over me.

“Alex, that’s not appropriate.” I try for my most responsible voice, despite imagining his reaction if I gave him a slow striptease.

His head tilts to the side, his cocky smirk making an appearance. “Mel, you’re stunning. Please tell me you realise that. I could happily look at you for hours.”