A Very Merry Hockey Holiday (Assassins #6.5) (9 page)

L
eaning against the back wall, Claire Anderson surveyed her work with a wide smirk on her face. While three girls hung from chandeliers in seductive acrobatics, nine girls were on stage dancing provocatively to Sia’s “Chandelier.” It was her favorite dance she had choreographed yet. She was so proud of it, and it was everything she could have ever dreamed it could be. Moving her head to the music, she watched as her girls killed it. The crowd seemed to like it too. The place was packed, money flying as the men hooted and hollered at her girls.

She had done a fantastic job.

Content with everything, she smiled as the song ended and the girls went still, the lights going black. She knew this meant she had to go, but she didn’t want to leave yet. She had seen the show over a billion times it seemed, but she couldn’t get enough of it. This was her dream come true, and she loved watching it come to life. Watching until she knew she couldn’t any longer, she said bye to everyone before rushing out of the club to the car that was waiting on her.

Sitting back in the seat, she let out a long breath before pulling her phone out. Clicking her fiancé’s name, she smiled as she texted him.

Claire: I don’t want to go home, I want to come to New York. I miss you.

She didn’t have to wait long for his response.

Jude: I miss you, babe, but I’m gonna be so busy. Just enjoy your family. I’ll meet you on Thursday. No biggie. I’ll have your present and everything.

Claire: I don’t want any, I want you.

Jude: I want you.

Claire: Then I am coming to New York.

Jude: Don’t be difficult. You won’t even miss me, you’ll be too busy with Sawyer.

She would, but she really wanted to spend Christmas with the guy who made her life worth living. Yes, she loved Phillip, Reese, and Sawyer and really didn’t want to spend the holiday without them, but she would if it meant she got to spend it with Jude. He had completely changed her life. He was the missing puzzle piece and gave her everything she needed. Yeah, she would see him the following day, but he wouldn’t be there to open gifts and get stuffed on food on the actual day.

Christmas never really mattered to Claire before. That changed when she came to live with Phillip and even more when she got with Jude. He made everything twenty times better, and she knew that she would be sort of bummed that he wouldn’t be there that morning. It sucked that he played and lived in a different state, but that’s what they’d signed up for. They saw each other a lot and she got by, but she decided that she might not sign the next contract when hers was up. She wanted to be where Jude was, and because of that, she was saving money like crazy.

They might have to miss some holidays together for the next couple years, but when it was time to have kids, that wouldn’t happen. She refused to raise kids in Vegas. And while it had been her hope and dream to headline a show, she figured that since she was doing it now, she wouldn’t regret it when she quit to be a wife and mom. That would be a long time coming, but she knew what she wanted in life and that was Jude Sinclair.

Claire: Fine. I’m gonna be miserable without you.

Jude: I’m always miserable without you.

She smiled as his next text came in.

Jude: I’ll see you soon. Have fun, get a dress or something for our wedding.

Her heart fluttered as she smiled dreamily. Their wedding. They were getting married very soon and she couldn’t be happier. She couldn’t wait to have Phillip give her away and to become Mrs. Jude Sinclair. When that happened, she’d have everything she could only dream of before.

Claire: 10-4 good buddy.

Jude: I love you. Have a safe flight.

Claire: I love you too. You too.

It was a long plane ride, but when she got off the plane and saw her aunt and nephew waiting for her, she almost came out of her skin in excitement. Running to them, she wrapped her arms around the both of them and hugged them tightly. It had been nine months since she had been home, and she couldn’t believe how big Sawyer had gotten.

“My goodness! What are you feeding this kid? Miracle-Gro?”

Reese laughed as Claire took Sawyer, kissing him all over his sweet face. He tried to get away, but he wasn’t going anywhere from his Claire. “He’s Phillip’s kid, what do you expect?”

Claire giggled as she nodded, hugging Sawyer tightly. “You have a point. He eats like a horse!”

“For sure! Ready? Your appointment is in an hour.”

“Appointment?” she asked, confused.

“Yeah, Jude asked me to get you an appointment for wedding dress shopping!”

Claire’s face broke out in a grin. “He did?”

“Yeah, he’s kind of sweet.”

“Yeah, he is,” Claire agreed as they made their way to claim her baggage and then out into the freezing Tennessee air. It had been so long since she had been home that the cold surprised her, and she cuddled closer to Sawyer.

“You look great, sweetheart,” Reese said as they walked to the car.

“Thanks, you do too!”

Reese grinned as they loaded the car up and then they were off. Blasting the heat, Claire held her hands to the vents, waiting for them to thaw as Reese navigated out of the airport. Pulling out her phone, she sent a quick text to Jude.

Claire: Landed and heading to the appointment you planned.

Jude: :) Hope you find the dress that will blow me away. I love you.

Her heart skipped a beat as she sent him back a smiley face along with that she loved him too and then leaned back in the car. She missed him like crazy but was glad to be home. Looking over at Reese, she smiled. Her aunt looked beautiful and almost like she was glowing. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she wore light makeup with jeans and an Assassins tee. Even all comfy, she was beautiful. Reese had always thought she wouldn’t be a good mom or wife, but she was both. The best, even.

“How’s everyone?”

Reese grinned. “Good, big dinner tonight to welcome you home. Elli has been cooking all day.”

“Great, I’m hungry,” she said with a grin. “Can’t wait to see everyone.”

“They are excited to see you. Guess what?”

“What?”

“Harper is pregnant.”

Sitting up erect, she shouted, “What?”

“Yup!”

“Oh my God! I thought she couldn’t have any more kids.”

“We all thought that, hell, she thought that, but she’s ten weeks!”

Happiness and excitement poured out her pores as her grin grew. “That is so awesome.”

“I know, we are all so excited. She’s a blubbering mess, but she’s not the only one.”

“Really! Elli?”

Reese laughed. “Nope, the in vitro worked and Audrey’s pregnant too.”

“Awww. That’s so awesome!

“Yeah, she isn’t telling the world, but everyone who knows is pretty excited. Our little Assassins family is growing.”

“This family has never been little,” Claire said with a scoff, but she couldn’t stop smiling. This was so awesome. All these women were basically aunts to her, and to know they were all getting their Happily Ever Afters was so fulfilling. She was next, and that made her giddy with excitement. “I’m so happy for everyone.”

“Yeah,” Reese agreed. “Also, Phillip and I have decided to start trying for another baby.”

Gasping, Claire completely turned in her seat and shrieked. “What!”

Reese giggled. “Yup, I stopped taking birth control, so we will see.”

“Eek! I am so excited!”

“We are too.” Reese giggled as she pulled in the bridal shop parking lot. Getting out, Claire ran around and hugged Reese tightly which caused her to laugh. “I’m not pregnant yet.”

“I know, but it’s exciting. I love babies.”

Reese’s smiled dropped. “Doesn’t mean you need one yet.”

Claire laughed out loud, hard, and shook her head. “Believe me, not happening. We are gonna wait till my contract is done. I don’t want to raise kids in Vegas.”

“Thank sweet baby Jesus,” Reese muttered as she got Sawyer out. Claire grinned as they made their way inside. They were greeted by a gorgeous blonde and then escorted back into a room. When they entered, Claire immediately saw the big bouquet of white roses and grinned. They were her favorite flower and Jude knew that.

“The groom has these waiting for you.”

Reese awwed as Claire giggled. Going to the vase, she took in a big breath of them before grabbing the card and tearing it open.

Claire,

It was chance that I met you.

Fate that we fell in love.

And a blessing that you want to marry me.

I can’t wait to be yours for the rest of my life.

Enjoy picking the dress that will be the start of our forever.

I love you.

Yours,

Jude.

“Oh my God,” she gasped, covering her mouth. “He is so amazing.”

Reese smiled as she took the card and read it, tears gathering in her eyes. “You need to frame this.”

“I plan on it,” Claire agreed, taking the card and tucking it back in the envelope. On cloud nine, she began searching for her dress, but she wasn’t having any luck. She had tried on thirteen dresses and really didn’t like any of them. She wanted something perfect. She wanted a forever kind of love dress. Defeated, she let out a breath and met Reese’s gaze.

“The dress might not be here.”

“But yours was,” Claire said and then she paused. She loved Reese’s dress. Like, a lot. Turning slowly, she met Reese’s gaze. “Wait. You’re like my mom, right?”

Reese smiled. “Well, yeah.”

“You know how brides wear their mom’s dresses… So can I wear yours?”

Reese’s eyes clouded with tears as she slowly nodded. “I would love that.”

She wrapped her arms around Claire tightly, kissing her cheek. “I love you so much, Claire.”

“So that’s a yes?” she asked and Reese laughed.

“Yes, of course!”

Closing her eyes, Claire hugged Reese and knew this was the right choice. Phillip and Reese’s love was something out of books, and her dress was gorgeous. It was a forever kind of love dress, and Claire couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather wear than Reese’s dress.

Her mom.

Being home was great. She spent time with her family, got to see some of her friends, and it was wonderful. But, she missed Jude. It was Christmas Eve night and Claire knew she should be happy, but she wasn’t. She hated that she wasn’t with him. Closing her eyes, she waited for him to answer as a tear rolled slowly down her cheek.

When he answered, she said, “I miss you.”

His chuckle sent chills down her spine. “I miss you, baby, two more days.”

“But you won’t be here for presents or pie or anything. I’m going to be lonely without you.”

“You will not. I bet Sawyer is driving you crazy.”

“He is, but I miss you,” she whined, wishing like hell that there was no distance between them. “I’m going to wake up and you won’t be here on my favorite holiday.”