“Another leak. Hopefully I’ll get the guy out here to take a look at it before we have another storm.”
“I’d be happy to check out your roof,” Alex offered. “Do you have a ladder around?”
“You know about roofs?”
“Yeah. I worked for a roofing crew for a few months to make enough cash to travel. Can’t be anything too difficult.”
I shrugged. “Okay then. That would be great if you could take a look.”
“Where’s that ladder?”
“Let me get it for you.” I led the way outside and around the back of the building to where a tall extension ladder lay sideways on the ground.
He grabbed it and propped it up next to the building. “Where’s the leak coming from?”
I pointed to the roof. “I’ve got two of them. One in the front office area and another one that’s getting worse over in that corner.”
“I’ll take a look.” He checked to make sure the ladder was level and then started up to the roof. Once he reached the top, he turned around and his eyes grew wide as I climbed up after him.
He offered a hand as I cleared the roofline. I took it, sliding my hand into his. The feel of his skin on mine ricocheted through me. He may have felt a little flicker of something, too. The way his mouth parted as our fingers twined made me think he might not be so immune to my touch, either.
“You didn’t have to come up here. I could have filled you in.” He stood next to me, not letting go of my hand.
“It’s better for me to see for myself.” I didn’t mind. In fact, I enjoyed the way his palm felt against mine. It led me to imagine how the rest of him might feel pressed against me.
“You said it’s leaking from this corner?”
I nodded and reluctantly let my hand slide out of his as he stepped to the edge of the roof.
“Feels spongy over here. Has it leaked in this spot before?” As he leaned over, placing his hand near the darkened circle to get a better look, the roof shifted underneath him.
One moment he was there, the next he was gone.
I screamed, my pulse thundering through my ears as I rushed to the edge of the gaping hole he’d left in the roof.
Alex sprawled across the ground below, covered in debris.
“Don’t move, I’m coming.” I almost lost my footing as I rushed to the edge and scrambled down the ladder. I never should have let him go up on the roof. How many times had I told myself it wasn’t safe? Especially not with a known leak. I’d be lucky if he didn’t sue me.
As I flung the door open and raced through the office to the back of the building, my heart pumped so fast I thought it might explode right out of my chest. He had to be okay.
Finally, I caught sight of him. He’d fallen on top of a pile of baby mattresses that had been donated to the shelter to use as beds for the larger dogs. The breath I’d been holding slowly dissipated. Maybe he wasn’t dead. Please don’t let him be dead.
“Are you okay?” I leaned over him, searching for broken bones.
“Wow, did that look as uncool as I think it did?” He struggled to prop himself up on an elbow.
“Are you hurt?” My hand closed around his, and I helped him come to a seated position.
He patted his hand over his torso, his legs, and his head. “I think I’m okay. How far did I fall?”
We both looked up at where a man-sized hole let the afternoon light in through the roof.
“I think it’s about eighteen feet,” I said. “Are you sure you’re not hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital? See a doctor? Are you going to sue me?”
“Sue you?” He scowled. “I’m the dumbass who offered to take a look at your roof. You should probably sue me for making the damage worse.”
I sighed, the tension flooding from my system, leaving me shaky and a little unsteady on my feet.
