Restored Read Free

until something more substantial came along,” Lexi said. She set the drained water glass on the coffee table. She’d taken unpleasant jobs in the past, because she’d had to. Her mom had told her she was building character, but really it solidified a fear she couldn’t shake—there wasn’t enough jobs or money to go around. Mom hadn’t indulged her much—there was never money or time for that.
    “I told you it would work out… Mike put in a good word for you. I’m sure that didn’t hurt your odds.”
    Lexi smiled at Ashley. Mike’s brother worked at a local clinic, and it had a job opening. With Mike’s backing, Lexi was offered the job by the clinic’s founding physician. Lexi hadn’t yet met Mike’s brother to properly thank him.
    “I didn’t get to meet his brother, unless he was an older man. I was interviewed by a lady and by an older gentleman named Dr. Hale. I’m grateful though. I’m sure that was the pull I needed.” She’d had a hard time finding a job in Tampa, where the population was as vast as the available jobs.
    “Ha! Well, Mike’s brother is older than him, but only by a couple of years, like two or three, tops. Not at all what you would call an older man. I wish he was single. You’d make a terrific pair! His girlfriend is a piece of work. We can’t even do couple things with them.”
    Lexi smiled politely, not having anything to add. She didn’t know Mike’s brother or the girlfriend, so it was a dead conversation.
    Ashley ordered a delivery pizza for dinner—both were hungry, and ordering a pizza would be faster than cooking. Once alone, Lexi tried to clean up her purse. After her fall, all of her purse’s contents were just thrown back inside. She was finally able to put her license in her wallet properly. She noticed a small, folded-up piece of yellow paper with a phone number on it, but no name. She’d forgotten that he’d given her that. She wished it had his name on it. Then she could at least call to thank him. She wouldn’t just call him up not knowing his name. That conversation would be too awkward. She pushed the small piece of paper behind her license in her wallet, deciding to hold on to it for safekeeping. Maybe his name would surface at some point. Even though she couldn’t recall his name, she remembered how he tasted. His facial hair had bristled across her face and tickled her lips. He’d taken her by surprise, a memory etched on her mind. Just the thought of the way his skin smelled gave her goose bumps. There was something about that stolen kiss that seemed so intimate, so right…
    ***
    When Caleb pulled into his driveway, he could see Benjamin sitting in one of the porch windows on the inside. Benjamin was a large brown tabby Maine Coon that Corrine had rescued shortly after Caleb started dating her. Benjamin technically lived with Corrine, but he seemed more at home at Caleb’s house. Corrine wasn’t a naturally caring person, and Caleb had been confounded when she brought home the small, fluffy kitten. Benjamin knew his master though, so he gave most of his attention to Caleb.
    The lights lit up his restored shingle house. A shiver rippled down his back as he realized that Corrine was there. He’d expected her to be there but had hoped that she would somehow vanish from his life.
    When Caleb attended events with Corrine, other men were jealous of him for having her on his arm. Corrine looked like the total package—long, sleek dark hair, angelic face, ample curves, prestigious job, and a car that packed speed. Her aspirations were only wallet deep. Caleb was at a point where he wanted to settle down. Corrine wasn’t a good girlfriend, and she certainly wouldn’t be a good wife.
    Now that he had someone else on his mind, he couldn’t tolerate Corrine’s crap any longer. Her hot temper and silent treatment. Her demands that he work around her schedule. Her incessant whining about her subordinates at work.
    He’d kissed another woman, and he