Burning For Claire (The O'Connell Family Book 2) (15 page)

That night as we got ready for bed, I asked her about Everett. “I know you were hurt by Everett’s involvement. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not hurt so much so as I feel like a fool. We didn’t date long, but he tried to make it more than it was. You know I wasn’t ready for more until you, so I sent him packing. We hadn’t dated for over six months, but he would call to borrow money and up until the day you and I met, I had always said yes.”

“Was it because of me that you said no to him?”

“No, not at all. Rick interrupted me when Everett had called, and I never called him back. He left a message and I texted him that night that I wasn’t going to lend him anymore money since he hadn’t paid me back once.” 

“What did he say?” I growled.

“He said I was a frigid bitch, but that was it,” Claire said with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Pixie, don’t be upset by that ass. He was strung out when they picked them up for questioning yesterday.”

“You’ve known who was involved since yesterday?!” she screeched.

“Yes,” I said nonchalantly. I didn’t think it was a big deal.

“Why didn’t you tell me? You promised me you would,” she asked tearfully and full of hurt.

“I didn’t want to let anything slip through before I was sure we had them. I couldn’t tell you, and then we had to release them without filing charges. I had to be a hundred percent sure their goose was cooked.”

She rested her head on my chest as she mumbled, “I’m sorry. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the idea that you’ll have to keep things from me.”

I lifted her head up so she looked up at me. “It’s my job, pixie. Besides, I’m thinking of retiring soon.”

“Aren’t you a little too young to retire?” Normally, hell yes I was, but I was lucky.

“Claire, I may be a Federal Agent with a less than six-figure salary, but I come from a wealthy family, and I have my own successful investments that I’ve let grow over the past decade. We should be well taken care of for the rest of our lives.”

After she let it soak in that I’d get to spend more time with her she responded with gleam in her eyes. “Fine, cowboy. Let’s get naked and fool around.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing,” I replied with a devilish grin.

It had been three weeks since Rick was shot in the head and chest and the family was still on pins and needles. Our plans for the wedding were well under way, and it was scheduled for two weeks from now. Claire had gotten her period which really sucked. I wasn’t allowed to be in her sweet goodness until she was done with that bullshit bleeding. I wanted to howl because she wasn’t pregnant. I guess that was fine since she wouldn’t want a baby bump showing with her pretty dress she picked out.

John showed up to see how everyone was doing and just had a lovely little chat with Sam. It was clear to him as it was to the rest of us that Sam was carrying Rick’s baby. The news had been a blessing amongst all the pain.

I’d been sitting with Claire out by the pool in the cushy beach chairs, when Ethan ran outside screaming, “He’s awake!”

We both sat up in a hurry as Claire removed her hand from my swim trunks.

“What!? Rick’s awake!” Claire shouted.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Ethan called out. I took a breath and realized that was a close call; we thought we were alone. She was about to whip it out and suck me off.

We rushed out of the house and to the hospital. Once we got there Claire’s parents just walked out of the room. “How is he doing?”

“He’s doing great,” Mrs. O’Connell said with a choked sob.

“He wanted a few minutes alone with Sam,” Richard added, his eyes suspiciously moist.

“Of course,” I said as I squeezed Claire’s waist. It was an hour later when we looked in and my future brother-in-law was sitting up groggily with his arm around Sam rubbing her arm. Sam was just drying up the tears on her face and stared at him with such love.

“Claire bear’s here,” Rick said with a drugged smile.

Claire ran up to her brother and hugged him tightly. “Oh, thank God,” she cried.

“I need a haircut,” he groaned.

“Sure thing. As soon as your doctors give you the all clear I have the scissors in the car,” she sobbed her tears of joy.

It wasn’t a party in there because Rick could barely keep his eyes open. The only time he opened his eyes was when Sam tried to let him rest and started to move away. He’d given her a silent shake of his head and pull her back to him. I heard his whisper to her. “Don’t leave me, please.”

We stayed another hour before leaving him to rest with Sam. The doctor said Claire would be allowed to cut his hair tomorrow when he was able to sit in a chair. Rick looked at me strangely several times during our visit. I thought he was so out of it that he didn’t notice our slight touches. We didn’t tell him about us yet because he was recovering, but if he asked we wouldn’t hide it.

We all got to the house and had cheerful and peaceful dinner. Even Ethan wasn’t being a prick to me. Once we were done and on our way to bed, Claire wanted to share her happiness with me. I’d gladly received all the joy she wanted to impart. We both fell asleep fully satisfied.

Claire was up early the next morning. She was getting ready well before visiting hours started.

She opened the shades and let sun in, then climbed on the bed to wake me up, with a kiss. It was nice, but then she told me to get ready and happily jumped off the bed.

“Babe, it’s only six in the morning,” I groaned, tossing the pillow over my head. It was too early to be up with my morning wood when she wasn’t going to do anything about it.

“I know, but I want to be the first one there. I promised him.”

I threw the pillow and covers off of me and jumped out of bed. I walked up to her and took her into my arms. “Claire, calm down. Your brother has Sam with him. He’ll be okay. I need you to eat and relax before we go.”

She looked up at me with her chin pressed lightly to my chest and her eyes smiling. “I’m cool, Travis. You don’t have to worry. I’m just really happy that he’s awake.”

“Okay. I get that, but I still want you to eat.”

She nodded then asked, “Are you going to come with me?”

“Yeah. Of course, baby.”

“Thanks.” I didn’t think her smile could get any brighter, but I was wrong. She was so damn happy, not that it was a bad thing, but it was a turn on. Hell, anything she did was a turn on.

We got to the hospital before his parents because she wanted to make Rick’s hair look good and make him presentable. 

“Hey there, handsome,” Claire said as we walked into the room.

“Claire, did you bring your tools. I need it bad.” The man hated to look a mess. I had to admit he really needed it.

“Yes, caveman. I got everything to make you look like a normal human being again.”

“Good because I can’t keep kissing my fiancé with this fur on my face. I’m going to mess up her pretty skin.”

“I kind of like it,” Sam said with a sexy giggle.

“Babe, now is not the time to torment me,” he groaned clearly well enough to be turned on. 

“Actually it’s the perfect time, since you can’t do anything,” I added with a grin. I was just being a dick for fun. I actually felt bad for him.

He looked at me with a glare and growled. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

“Nope,” I said with my smile still plastered on my face. 

“Have you found who tried to kill us yet?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact I have. They were a part of a group of Turkish militants.” I gave him a look before I added, “They had their own enemies and were dispatched on their own soil as soon as they landed.”

“Really?” he asked not completely understanding my meaning.

“Yes, but I don’t have any of the details. All I know is that they’re dead.” I tilted my head gave him the same look of “I know nuthin’” hoping he would understand and drop it.

He got my drift this time and let it go.  “Good. Claire, can you get started?”

“Sure. Travis, can you help my brother to the chair?”

“Sure thing, babe.” Oops, I let it slip. Oh, well, might as well let him in on it.

I watched as Rick looked between Claire and me, and then he noticed the ring on her finger.

“Red, you said I was out three weeks only, right?” he turned to her.

Surprised by his question, she asked, “Yes. Why?”

“Since when did you two start hooking up?” Rick glared at me.

“We’ve been a couple since the Saturday after you two met. We’ve been engaged for the last three weeks.”

Sammy jumped to my defense. “Don’t say anything Rick. How fast did everything happen for us?”

“I was just asking. I frankly don’t care for it, but I see the ring on her finger so I guess it’s cool. Right now my brain still hurts too much to care,” he grumbled with a shake of his head.

“Rick, are you okay?” Sam jumped to his side at the chair.

“Babes, I’m okay. It’s normal. I’m just waiting for the day that it isn’t. Give me a kiss before my sister cleans me up.”

I started helping Claire set up while Sam and Rick got reacquainted. We sat around while Claire did her thing. It was about half an hour in to the haircut when Sam got sick. She ran into the bathroom and started vomiting.

“Sam!” he called out.

Claire tried to soothe his panic. He needed to relax before he relapsed. “Rick, calm down. She’ll be fine. She’s just a little sick.”

“A little sick, my ass. She just ran to throw up.” We could hear the loud retching, only making Rick look more panicked.

I already started toward the bathroom when I said, “I’ll check on her.”

She was rinsing her mouth when I knocked on the door. “Sam, it’s Travis. I’m coming in.”

I opened the door and whispered, “He’s worried about you. Did you tell him about the baby?”

“No. I haven’t yet,” she said sheepishly.

“Well, I think now would be a good time before he calls a doctor or makes himself sick.”

“I’m going right now.” She rushed out of the bathroom fast as hell.

The moment she reached him, Rick pulled her down onto his lap. “Baby, tell me you’re alright.” The poor guy was freaking out.

“Rick, I’m great, never better in fact.” She smiled in an attempt to reassure him, but he wouldn’t stop looking at her with apprehension.

“You were just sick. Then you’re going to tell me that you’re great. Come on now. I’m hurting, but I freaking out more because you’re keeping something from me.”

She caressed his scruffy cheek and whispered sweetly, “Rick, I’m nauseous because I’m having your baby.”

I pulled Claire from the room while they had a small private celebration. We walked back in the room ten minutes later.

When we came back they were both beaming with joy. “Thanks for giving us a moment,” Sam said.

“Sure, not a problem,” I said.

“Come on, Sammy, scoot so I can make him pretty again.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She hopped off of Rick’s lap, then Claire continued to work on cleaning up her brother.

She was almost done when Sam came up to her. “Claire, I was wondering…” Sam paused nervously.

“Wondering what?” Claire asked.

She played with her hands anxiously. “I was wondering if we could, well, could we share your wedding day?”

My girl didn’t hesitate one iota. “I don’t mind at all.” Claire turned to me and asked, “What do you think, Travis?”

Really it wasn’t a big deal as long as Claire became my wife. “If you don’t mind babe, I don’t care, but I don’t know how your mom will take it. She had to already rush with ours, so maybe she wants it to be fancier.”

Sam said with hope. “I’m going to start showing soon, and we don’t have anything planned, so it would be great if we could share the day.”

“That’ll be awesome. Now we need to get you a dress. Rick has tons of suits, so he’s good,” Claire responded rapidly.

“Lord, Red, you created a monster,” Rick said, shaking his head. I agreed when I looked over at my woman. Claire’s eyes widened with excitement. She wasn’t that excited about ours, but that was because she was upset with Rick’s condition, but now that he was better she was floating.

I looked at them and had an idea. “We’re getting married in two weeks. Is that going to be enough time or should we push it back a week?”

“I couldn’t ask you guys to do that,” Sam said meekly, but I could see the idea was appealing.

I replied, “You didn’t. I know Rick isn’t feeling well yet. Will that be okay, Claire?”

She smiled and came up to me. As she looked up at me she slid her hands around my waist. “You’re amazing, and I love you, Travis.”

Claire stood on her tippy toes and kissed me thankfully.

“Thanks, Travis, Claire. It means a lot to me to get married to my woman as soon as possible, but I know it’s better if I’m sturdy enough to endure the ceremony and the public.”

“When mom comes we can talk to her about getting the items like invites, special napkins and such made up,” my giddy pixie said. 

The moment their mother came she was beaming from ear to ear about doing a double wedding and the new addition to the O’Connell family. I had to call my family because they were expecting to come in two weeks not three. I knew Abby had to go back to school by then, but she could make it for the weekend. Thankfully they would all be able to make it.