Risk & Reward

Nineteen

"Fuck." Shi groans, rolling off the warm and comfortable chest she'd been sleeping against, fumbling blindly for the nightstand and her ringing phone.

"What time is it?" Calum's voice is thick with sleep as he startles awake as well.

"Six, or there about." She sighs, finally managing to answer the phone. "Caleb, you know I hate hearing from you this early." She talks into the phone.

"And you know I hate calling you this early, but the coffee and side tables you ordered for the Fulmer project aren't in and the staging is supposed to be done by noon. I've already called in and they won't have them until next week due to some hold up at the port."

"Shit." She groans, sitting herself up against the headboard. "What's in the unit that's not claimed? Anything we could use for now?"

"Nope, I've already gone through the catalog too. If there had been I'd have just sent a text letting you know I switched it up for now."

"Dammit, I'm in LA. You guys set everything else up, I'll figure out what to do with that, maybe I can find something. I'm at least two hours out though, so hopefully most of the set up is done before I get there."

"Sorry for the bad news, boss. Let me know what I can do to help, and when to expect you when you know."

"Ya, thanks for the heads up. I'll see you in a few hours." Her phone drops to the bed as the call disconnects.

"Running out so soon." Calum fake pouts, his arm falling around her hips as he is still laying in bed.

"Unfortunately. That was Caleb, he leads my installation team. The company we got some of today's furniture through has a last minute back order, I now have a very big client without part of their main living room set. So, I need to fix this."

"Wow, I've never heard you talk all boss-lady-like. Taking charge and fixing all the problems." He chuckles. "Can I at least make you breakfast for the road?"

"If it's for the road, because the house is west of Bakersfield and I need to get there as soon as I can. I'm going to change back into the outfit I wore for my work meeting yesterday and head pretty quickly."

"I'll make you a smoothie for the road." He nods softly, pushing up and leaning to peck her lips quickly before leaving the bed.

Wandering across the hall, Shi finds her clothes still folded in the bathroom where she'd left them when she'd changed for their date. Slipping back into the button up and slacks as she hears the blender turn on through the door. Glancing in the mirror quickly she frowns at the state of her hair, hurrying back into Calum's room and into his bathroom, opening a couple drawers she finds a wide tooth comb, grateful he even has one. Carefully, she picks through the mess of curls before pulling it up into a mess of a bun that will have to do.

"Shi?" Calum calls, wandering back into the bedroom as she exits his ensuite.

"I borrowed a comb, I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. I got a smoothie to go, and a bagel if you want one."

"You are the best. I'm sorry I have to run, but work calls."

"I get it. I'm grateful for the time we did get, and I will be making my way north shortly to see you." Calum pulls her close by the waist.

"I look forward to it, I'll call you tonight, when this work mess is situated."

"I'm looking forward to that call." He mumbles, kissing her lips softly a couple times before grabbing her things off the end of his unmade bed and taking her hand with his other.