LOGINOh. No...
The children filed out onto the stage as the lights dimmed to almost complete darkness.“Shhh. To your spots, guys.” Claire ushered the last of them out for the grand finale. Her fingers steepled together in front of her lips to calm her racing nerves. This was it for the kids. After this performance, the donors would know their donations were being put to good use for the kids and their musical talents. And the kids get their chance to showcase their natural talents and gain attention for future endeavors. For some of the older kids, this will be the last time they perform on a stage.This had to go right.The lights brightened on the stage, and she took her place at the piano on the stage left. She mouthed, “Ready?” to the kids, who gave her a slight nod. The first few notes of Rent’s “Season of Love” flew from Claire’s fingers, and the kids killed it. She let out a sigh of relief as the audience let out a roaring applause. She stood from her spot on the side stage and motioned
“Don’t pull your punches!” Malachy barked as he dodged Claire’s fists. Red-faced and panting, Claire shook off Mal’s critique and took her stance, preparing herself. Mal’s quick charge almost caught her off guard, but she stepped aside and let him run past her. She took advantage and kicked him in the middle of his back, making him crash to the floor. She lunged to the ground to pin Mal down.As soon as her hands gripped the back of his shirt, Mal spun around and flipped her underneath him. The intense movement caught her off guard, and her head cracked on the mat. Momentarily disoriented, her vision contained black spots. Panic took over, and her breathing turned erratic.“Breathe through it and focus. You’ve got this, Claire.” Mal’s normally soothing voice penetrated her thoughts. “Focus on my voice. Listen to your surroundings.”Claire shook her head and rubbed her eyes, trying to clear her vision. “What the fuck, Mal? My head is throbbing!”“Shut up.” He punched her gut, making h
“Yes Robyn. I agree. Everything will be fine. The kids are excited and ready to perform. I’ll see you Wednesday, and I’ll bring a ton of coffee and donuts.” Claire nodded her head in agreement, biting her bottom lip. “I knew that would make it better.” She set her phone down unceremoniously on Mal’s desk and spun herself around in the chair, her head back in exhaustion. The winter program was fast approaching, and Robyn was freaking out on the staff, Claire included.Robyn was always a little hysterical before the winter program, since it’s the Foundation’s biggest fundraiser, but with Claire missing work lately, she was more worried than normal. Claire was confident her group of kids were ready; none of the teens had called or texted with any concerns or doubts. She took pride in her job and prepared herself and the kids early for the program.Mal slowly appeared in the doorway from the shadows, arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the frame. “You really take advantage of
“How in the hell did you allow her to escape? AGAIN?!” Sloane was seething, spit spewing from his angry mouth as he listened to his informant on the cell phone.He set his phone on speaker, then pushed away from his desk to pace the large office. He listened intently as the vampire on the other end of the line muttered excuse after excuse. If Sloane could have, he would have sworn he was about to have an aneurysm from the stress. He was surrounded by idiots. “I don’t care about your excuses! What the fuck happened?” he leaned over his phone, braced his hands on either side. He raked a hand over his face, trying to calm himself. “Now tell me once again. What happened?” Silence fell in the room.The informant cleared his throat before speaking, “Sir. I kept tabs on the girl and Malachy for most of the night before they slipped away, out of the ballroom at Opal Moon.”“And?” Sloane groaned out through gritted teeth, not hiding the irritation in his voice.The informant’s heavy breathi
Caramel brown liquid flowed from the decanter into the two glasses on the bookshelf. Jack took a deep breath, refusing to meet Mal’s gaze. He handed Mal a glass, then drank the entire contents of the second. “I know that you two are…um.. Jeez, Mal. This is very difficult to talk about. She’s my daughter, damn it.”Mal looked down at his glass and swirled the amber liquid before he spoke. “How long have we known each other, Jack?” He lifted his eyes to stare back at his best friend. “Decades. I am calm and deliberate. Correct?”Jack nodded in agreement.“When have you ever seen me truly smile? When have I ever stayed in one place for more than a few months? I’m crazy in love with your daughter, Jack.” He waited for Jack to say something, to say anything. But silence filled the space between them.Jack walked around his desk to stand in front of the window that overlooked the backyard. His eyes fell on the tattered swing that hung from a low tree branch. He smiled to himself.Malachy wal
The fresh smell of coffee made Claire stir in her bed. Still a little groggy, she rolled over to a set of muscular arms that wrapped around her. She snuggled even closer and nuzzled into his neck. “You’ll be the perfect man if you have food and coffee on the nightstand for me,” she joked.Mal sighed deeply and leaned away from her to grab a steaming mug and bowl. “Lucky for you, I am pretty perfect,” he teased. “Here. Sit up. Be careful, it’s still pretty hot.” He helped Claire sit up and relax against the headboard before he handed her the coffee.She greedily wrapped her hands around the ceramic mug, held it to her lips and inhaled the fumes deeply with closed eyes. “Ah. I didn’t think I could love you more. Thank you.” She gently kissed his lips and sipped her black coffee with closed eyes. “Have we heard anything from Opal Moon?” Eager eyes searched his as she took a bite out of the oatmeal, waiting for Mal to respond. He couldn’t help thinking how incredible she was. So much happ







