Page 107

Shit.

Music travels. The last thing I’ll need is complaints from an upstairs resident when classes go on late or start early in the morning.

“Um… how good will the soundproofing be? Only music from the studio is likely to travel,” I say, pointing to the room. “Some classes may run late into the evening.”

Jaxson gives me a confused look, which surprises me. An architect who hasn’t thought about that.

It’s Caleb who steps in. “Don’t worry. Soundproofing won’t be an issue. I promise. I don’t want any complaints any more than you do.”

My gaze moves to Caleb’s, and he smiles reassuringly. “I’m trusting you. If I get a series of complaints—” I add, raising my eyebrows to let him know I’m not joking.

“Don’t worry,” he says, taking my hand and raising it to his lips.

Jaxson coughs for dramatic effect, and I can’t hide my smile. Caleb is being attentive, and I like this side of him.

“This door is optional,” Jaxson says, pointing to a door that leads from my reception area into the space next door. “This will be the community cafe. From which the Frazer Foundation will set up its counselling centre and support groups. It’s up to you whether you want your students to be able to walk from your reception back and forth.”

I think of the success of Scarlett’s Cafe and all the parents who used to visit Betty and Don. Being able to go from one building to the other would make life easier, especially in the winter. Free up reception and allow parents and children to wait in a safe and welcoming environment.

“I like it,” I say. “It would have made life easier for many of my students if they had easy access to next door. Especially with the younger students. Parents can wait there, and the students can be released to them via the door.”

“We can add security to ensure people can’t just move between the two, maybe key cards for teachers. But it’s there as an option. As I said before. You have time to think about it.”

He pulls out another roll of plans.

“This is the community centre. The cafe is here, and the upstairs will have offices and rooms. Speaking to the team, Francesca and her foundation are assembling. They’re hoping to add family planning, a full-time counsellor, and career advisors.”

I stare at the plans. This is not what I imagined the first time we headed to Caleb’s office. Or when we protested outside, feeling a large corporate would run us out of our neighbourhood. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“What do you think?” Caleb asks, coming to stand next to my shoulder.

I look up and lose myself in his dark gaze. I could not have been more wrong about a human being if I tried.

“I’m speechless if I’m honest.”

Jaxson moves to the other side of the table. “Have you not taken April to the Copper Town Development?”

Caleb looks across the table.

“What’s Copper Town Development?” I ask.

The name sounds vaguely familiar, but it is not somewhere I can place.

“One of our first projects,” Jaxson says, his eyes moving to me. “It highlights all the things we like to put into our developments, although I have improved many of the eco features since. We will upgrade them as we go. It showcases how an old and new community can work together.” He looks at Caleb. “You need to take April. She’s your spokesperson. I can’t believe you haven’t shown her Copper Town.”

Caleb shrugs, and I know why. Maybe if I hadn’t been a porcupine when we first met, he might have. Or after he kissed me when I ran for the hills. Until we fell into bed, we were ships passing in the night.

“We’ve been busy getting the dance school up and running at an alternative venue,” I say, stepping in and defending Caleb. “But I’d like to see it,” I add, turning to Cal, who smiles.

“Your wish is my command.”

The doorbell goes. Our dinner has arrived. While Cal goes to the door to collect the food, Jaxson rolls up the diagrams. I make myself useful by grabbing plates and cutlery from the kitchen.

Dinner is a blast. Jaxson reveals that he’s a close friend of Elijah, Caleb’s older brother. He used to spend the summer holidays at the Frazer’s house in Hampshire. How the house was never empty. Francesca and Robert opened their doors to whomever wanted a place to stay, and how Robert helped Jaxson get his first internship.

My heart twinges. It sounds amazing. No wonder Cal waswilling to open his home to me. His upbringing shaped him that way.

By the time Jaxson leaves, I’ve learned a lot about Caleb and his family. They are not what I expected. But Caleb and I have an undefined expiration date, but it’s still there. As we make our way to bed, he takes my hand in his, an unspoken question in his eyes.