bond we'd all built. That Lucas's feelings for me...for us...were strong enough to weather the storm.The sudden blare of a car horn jolted me from my anxious musings. Heart leaping into my throat, I hurried out of the bathroom just in time to see Brian dashing out the front door, sketch pad clutched to his chest."Uncle Lucas, Uncle Lucas! Look what I drew for you!"Snatching up my purse, I locked the apartment and turned to see Brian already bouncing around Lucas, chattering a mile a minute as he waved a piece of paper in his face. Lucas, bless him, just grinned and nodded along, squatting down to look at Brian's latest masterpiece. "Wow, buddy, this is fantastic! Is that you and me playing catch in the park?""Uh-huh! And there's Mommy, see, watching us and smiling."My heart turned over in my chest. Tears pricked the backs of my eyes at the sight of them together, so easy and affectionate. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.And that's when it hit me - this was right
Claire's POVThe chirp of my alarm roused me from a deep, contented sleep. I rolled over with a lazy smile, memories of last night's dinner - and Lucas's proposal - washing over me in a warm, giddy rush.My fiancé. God, I loved the sound of that.Grabbing my phone, I saw a text from the man himself. "Good morning, beautiful. Wishing you the sweetest of days. xx"A little thrill went through me at the endearing. It still didn't feel real, him choosing me, loving me. Wanting to build a life and a family together.Grinning like a fool, I sent back a string of heart emojis before dragging myself out of bed. As much as I wanted to spend the day basking in newly-engaged bliss, there was a little boy who needed his breakfast.Speaking of... "Brian? Time to get up, sweetie!"No response. I poked my head into his room, only to find it empty, the sound of water running in the bathroom. "Morning, Mommy!" he chirped, popping his tousled head out. "I woke up early today. Did you sleep okay? You w
Lucas's POVThe second I pulled away from Nova Designs, I felt a pang at the loss of Claire's presence beside me. It was ridiculous, really - we'd only been apart for a minute and already I ached to have her back in my arms.Grinning ruefully, I shook my head at my own foolishness. If this was love, it had well and truly done a number on me.And God help me, I wouldn't have it any other way.Still riding the high of the perfect morning with my fiancée and soon-to-be stepson, I made the drive to Anderson Industries in record time. The roads were clear, the day was bright, and my heart felt lighter than it had in years.I practically bounded into the office, startling poor Jason where he sat hunched over his computer. His head snapped up, eyes going wide behind his glasses."Mr. Anderson ! I...I wasn't expecting you so early...""I had an exceptionally good reason to start the day off right." I clapped him on the shoulder as I breezed by, unable to contain my ear-splitting grin. "Walk w
Claire's POVI practically floated into Nova Designs, my heart still soaring from the perfect morning with my boys. My fiancé and my son. God, I loved the sound of that.Grinning like a fool, I breezed past the reception desk with a wave, too giddy to stop for my usual morning chitchat. I had a feeling my face said it all anyway - I'd caught my reflection in the car window and I was lit up like Times Square on New Year's Eve.The delirious joy lasted all the way to my office...until I pushed open the door and found Anna already at my desk, meticulously sorting files and clearing the surface. She glanced up as I entered, surprise flickering across her face."Good morning, Anna," I said, trying for nonchalance as I hung my purse on the back of my chair."Ms. blakes! You're here early." Her brow furrowed, a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "And you look...different. Good different."I bit my lip, feeling a telltale flush creep up my neck. "Lucas just dropped me off, actuall
Claire's POVI was elbow-deep in fabric swatches and paint chips when my phone buzzed for the umpteenth time that morning. Biting back a giddy grin, I glanced at the screen, already knowing who it would be.Lucas. Of course."Hey there, handsome," I answered, cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder as I continued to rifle through samples. "Miss me already?"His warm chuckle sent shivers down my spine. "Always. Just wanted to make sure you weren't working too hard. I know how you get when you're in the zone."I snorted, even as my heart fluttered at his thoughtfulness. "Lucas, it's barely been three hours since you dropped me off. I think I can manage a morning without you.""Are you sure about that? Because I seem to recall a certain someone clinging pretty tightly to me in the car earlier..."I could hear the smirk in his voice. Laughing, I abandoned my swatches and leaned back in my chair, already picturing his face. "Can you blame me? I'm marrying the most gorgeous, attentiv
Lucas's POVI couldn't wipe the grin off my face as I hung up with Claire, her sleepy, happy voice still echoing in my ears. God, I loved that woman. Loved knowing I could bring a smile to her face, even from across town."Jason!" I called, already reaching for my phone. "Get in here. I need you."He appeared in the doorway a second later, ever-present tablet in hand. "What's up, boss?""I need you to place an order for me. Top priority." I rattled off a list, my mind whirring. "A dozen sunflowers, the biggest basket of fresh fruit and cheese you can find, and throw in some of those fancy French pastries from that bakery Claire loves. Oh, and a few slices of that almond cake she made this morning, if they can swing it."Jason's eyebrows shot up, but to his credit, he didn't comment. Just nodded and tapped away at his screen. "Got it. Anything else?"I hesitated, then figured what the hell. In for a penny... "See if they can add a bottle of that raspberry champagne. The really good stu
Lucas's POVI couldn't shake the uneasy feeling as I drove away from Nova Designs, Eddie Spencer's smirking face haunting my thoughts. Something about that guy set my teeth on edge, despite his alleged history with Claire.Or maybe because of it."Keep an eye on him," I muttered to Jason as I slid behind the wheel. "I don't like the vibe I'm getting."Jason, to his credit, didn't even blink. Just nodded and tapped something into his ever-present tablet. "You got it, boss. I'll have a full workup on your desk by morning."I flashed him a grateful look, already peeling out of the parking lot. I didn't like leaving Claire alone with Spencer, but I trusted her judgment. And more importantly, I trusted her.Still, the sooner I could put some distance between them, the better I'd feel.The drive home was a blur, my mind too caught up in worst-case scenarios to focus on the road. By the time I pulled into my driveway, my head was pounding and my jaw ached from clenching.All I wanted was a h
Claire's POVAs I watched Lucas leave my office, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The way he frowned, the tense set of his shoulders...was he jealous of Eddie? I shook my head, trying to push the thought aside. Lucas trusted me. He knew how much I loved him. There was no reason for him to feel threatened.Right?Sighing, I gathered up my files and headed for the conference room, determined to focus on the task at hand. But even as I arranged my notes and samples, my mind kept drifting back to Lucas's pinched expression.The sound of the door opening jolted me out of my musings. I looked up, pasting on a bright smile as Eddie Spencer strolled in, all easy confidence and megawatt charm."Claire Blakes ," he drawled, crossing the room to pull me into a hug. "As I live and breathe. You haven't aged a day, you know that?"I laughed, returning his embrace. "Eddie Spencer, silver-tongued devil. You always were a smooth talker."He grinned as he pulled back, holding me at