Burning For Claire (The O'Connell Family Book 2) (4 page)

“If you have any male clients today, give them to someone else,” I commanded in a hush.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want men getting a view of your breasts bouncing in their face while you’re cutting their hair.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” she laughed.

“No. I’m being serious,” I warned.

“I don’t care. I have a business to run. You can just deal with it,” she declared.

“Sweetheart, don’t try me. I’m not the only one that finds you beautiful. I just don’t want your breasts that belong to me in another motherfucker’s face.”

“I don’t have my breasts in anyone’s face,” she hissed as she moved toward the door. “Don’t you have to leave?”             

“Rushing me out now. I have to leave, but let me tell you this. This conversation isn’t over.”

“It is for me.”

“Woman,” I snarled before I grabbed her and kissed her goodbye. Moving away only after we were both breathless, I reiterated, “I’ll be here at six. Be ready.”

“Okay,” she whispered. Her eyes were fuzzy with her afterglow.

I walked away with a grin. No matter how mad she was at me, my kisses had a calming effect. There was an older lady who gave me a dirty look, so I smiled harder at her.

“Tad, I’ll be back to pick her up at six, make sure her ass doesn’t cut out on me.”

“Yes, Stallion,” he replied as licked his lips while he noticeably eyed my junk. I looked down at my cock and it was outlined in my jeans, giving anyone with eyes a show.

“This ain’t for you. Get over it.”

“Pity. Claire’s a lucky girl.”

Actually embarrassed, I had to walk out of there in a hurry. Claire was going to pay for it later.

“Oh, Lord,” I sighed as I fell back against the closed door. “What just happened?”

I thought I hated him before he walked in the door. The moment he looked at me the hatred for him faded, but grew towards myself. I was a pathetic mess.

The man was a delicious specimen of hotness. He came in his cowboy boots and belt and my panties were soaked. After calming my racing heart, I walked back to my messy desk and took a seat. I had work to do, and he messed with my head. I needed to get it together—fast.

There was a knock at the door, and I foolishly got excited thinking he’d come back for more. Tad marched into my office with a big ass grin. I wanted to knock it off his face because I knew why his ass was in here.

“Don’t you have work to do?” I snottily asked.

“Don’t you, Miss hot pants?” the shithead retorted.

I pointed out. “I’m the boss.”

“Whatever. So what did the urban cowboy want?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing my ass. He wants your goodies and looks like he got some of them. By the way, if you toss him to the side I’m going to end our friendship. That man is packing and hot. Lord, I needed to get some air after he left. Shit, I want me a cowboy.”

“He’s hot, but…”

“Girl, quit with the ‘buts.’ You look like he’s already got you. He marked you up in ten minutes flat.”

“He didn’t do anything to me,” I denied.

“Deny all you want, but that flushed face, swollen lips, and big as hickey on your neck are dead giveaways.”

“What!” I shouted as I jumped up and ran to my wall mirror. Tad started cracking up, but I didn’t find anything funny at all. My neck was pale until you got to the big reddish purple blotch.

“I’m going to kill him!’ I shouted as I tried to think of ways to cover it up.

“Ha…Lord, girl, if you didn’t know he was doing that to you, what else was doing to you?”

“Shut up,” I hissed. “I have ten minutes before my first appointment. I need to cover this up.” I grabbed my makeup bag from my desk drawer.

“Honey, I don’t think he wanted you to cover it up. Besides Mrs. Duncan is already out there waiting,” Tad said as he made a face and rolled his eyes.

“Already,” I whined. Damn it, I didn’t like that woman. She was bitchy about everything. She always complained about the haircuts yet she always came back, requesting me every time.

“Fine. Is this covered enough?” I said after I moved my hair around my face.

“No, but who cares? Anybody that says anything is just jealous that it didn’t happen to them.”

“Oh, well. I’m so not going out with him tonight. I’ll teach that ass,” I sneered and walked out of my office.

Mrs. Duncan saw me and already started with her nonsense. “There you are. I’ve been waiting for over ten minutes while you were busy with your lover.”

“You’re early,” I replied clearly annoyed with her.

“You shouldn’t be conducting affairs in your office.”

“I’m not having an affair, but what I do in the privacy of my private office is none of your concern,” I stated. If she didn’t like it, she could leave—not that it would ever happen. She just huffed and told me how she wanted her hair done. It was the same style she got every time. I wanted to wring her fat neck.

I was working on her hair when three more clients walked in. I looked at the clock; Jane and Rita were supposed to be here already. They were not on time again this week. I was going to have to get on them. I couldn’t have my place getting a bad rap for taking a long time. I let it go because they had been helping me with my paperwork, but I was fed up already.

I paused with Mrs. Duncan and addressed the ladies waiting. “Please have a seat. You’re stylists should be here shortly.”

“Tad, do me a favor. Give the girls a call and find out where they are,” I asked as I returned to the grumpy old lady.

“No prob, Éclair.” He loved calling me that especially when I needed to be cheered up. He came back two minutes later telling me both girls had lame excuses why they wouldn’t be coming in. Of all days…not today. I was exhausted from working eighty hours this week so far.

“You know if you’d taken me when I came in instead of playing with that man then you wouldn’t have to make those clients wait.” Angry visions clouded my mind. She was lucky I wasn’t like my uncle.

Tad walked up with the broom and warned, “If I was you I wouldn’t insult a woman with scissors so close to your throat.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” I said sternly, then I hid my grin behind my sleeve.

“I think you’re going to need to keep your date tonight. A man that delicious can alleviate your stress. Yum.” He smiled and walked away with a pep in his step.

The day seemed to last forever. I had one client after another. By the time I finished the last client, I was so tired that I just wanted to go to sleep. I was on my feet all day and was glad I ate before I started my workday or I would’ve fainted by then. I walked back to my office and started on the backlog of paperwork.

I needed to put an ad online for new employees. By the time the day was over I was ready for staff members that actually came to work. I was just getting to some of the bills when my door opened with a slam.

“Travis, I don’t want to go out tonight,” I mumbled.

“Okay,” he said calmly. I was shocked that he just let it go.

I worked at the mall for about four hours before I had to report to the team. I hated working in the mall. I couldn’t wait until it was over. Maybe today I’d get lucky and be done with the job. I was sure Martinez and the other boys, back in McAllen, were enjoying my weekly reports.
Assholes.

I was meeting with the Detectives Cole and Kennedy today and just got to our meeting location. “Williams, I’m glad you came in. I want you to meet with our informant.” I turn to see none other than John O’Connell sitting at the table.
Informant? What effed up world was I living in?

“You’re the informant? Since when? After she ran from you?” I asked with a roar.

“No. As it happens, I was there on the night to test the truth of what I heard. I played it up, but someone let it out that I’d been working with the cops, so I had to drop back and go back to my old way until the heat was taken off me.”

“I supposed to believe that?” I questioned skeptically.

“Yes, you are Agent Williams,” Detective Kennedy said. He was one of the main agents from the Chicago field office assisting with the case. “We have the proof we needed to proceed with the Lakes’ arrest, but we still need the other bidders and make the arrest when they’re on our soil. There are more kids on the market, Miss Lake is not the only one, so that’s what matters.”

“What do you need me to do? She’s on vacation with Rick O’Connell right now,” I said with a grin. I knew John knew about them, but I just wanted to rub it in.

“Then just keep going as you are, and then we’ll move in when they come to claim her.”

“Good.” I got up because I needed to get ready to see Claire, but I turned back to him with an even bigger smile and said, “O’Connell, I’m dating your niece. If you’ve got a problem with it, it’s too freaking bad.”

That was the moment that Detective Kennedy took his leave, clearly not wanting to get involved. He knew the issues between O’Connell and me. If he thought I was going to let this go he was out of his mind. My brother-in-law, Detective Cole stayed behind to have my back.

“Don’t touch her unless you’re ready to put a ring on her finger because my niece is more special than you know and not a part of the issue between you and me,” he demanded.

“My relationship with Claire has nothing to do with you or our former issues.”

“I got you suspended. Are you going to tell me that you’re over it?”

“Look, you old bastard, I want your niece despite the issues. You’re a sneaky lying criminal. I want her more than you can understand, so much so that I can forget that you’re related to her.”

“That better be the case.”

“It doesn’t mean I forgot that you fucked me over for doing my job, but I still have my job and you did time. You were the one forced to play ball, so who is the one with the issues? How was life in prison?”

“It was short and sweet and so is Claire. If you hurt her there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to destroy you.”

“She’s mine to worry about. You just worry about yourself.”             

I walked away. I was wasting time. I had to get home, shower, shave and find a restaurant to take her to. I couldn’t find a place I really wanted to take her that was special enough. I just decided I would give her a choice between two places I liked.

I was about fifteen minutes behind schedule. So when I got to the doors Tad was locking up. He saw me and started to unlock them.

“Hey Cowboy! I thought you weren’t going to show.”

“She’s still here right?” I asked anxiously.

“Sure, but I don’t think she’s up to going out.”

His concern made me nervous so I asked, “Why not?”

“One, she’s mad about the rather large love bite she sported all day,” he chuckled and shook his head. I couldn’t help but smile at my success. “Two, she’s had a long day. Two of our stylists didn’t come in, leaving her to take all the clients that didn’t just cancel and walkout.”

“Damn. Is she firing them?” She was if I had anything to say about it.

“She should be, but knowing her she won’t. She’s a sweetheart under all that bitchy exterior.”

“Thanks.”

“No prob. She needs a good dicking,” Tad suggested as he walked away and began unplugging all their tools.

“No filter,” I called out as I walked to the back

“None,” he shouted.

I wasn’t happy that she was too tired to go out. She shouldn’t have to work that hard. I was getting pissed just thinking about her working like that all the time. I had a feeling long nights were the norm.

In my eagerness to see her mixed with my frustration, I opened the door a little too forcefully.

“Travis, I don’t want to go out tonight,” she mumbled. I could see she was tired.

“Okay.” It was clear she was shocked that I’d just let it go.

“Okay?” she asked in confusion.

“Yes. I’ll take you home, and we can order some take out.” I could see that she was feeling a bit indecisive about the change in plans.

After a minute, she finally caved. “Fine…but I live upstairs.”

“I know. It’ll be a quick trip.” I gave a bright smart-ass smile and a wink. 

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I have a lot of work to do still that I can’t put off.”

I shook my head as I walked up to her. I grabbed her hand and started to massage it. I knew it had to hurt. I’ve worked with my hands on the ranch or when I had to type a report. They could seriously ache.

“I know, babe. I just want to get to know you. You choose the place, I’ll order, and then I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

“Whatever I need,” she said as she did the air quotations and a roll of her eyes.

“Babe, I’m not talking about sex at all. When I take you I want you ready to be possessed, and you’re going to need all of your strength for me.”

She paused after giving me an “I’m so full of shit” look then said, “I like Chinese. Will that work?”

“Sure. Anything you want in particular?”

“No shrimp or noodles. Everything else is fine.”

“Good. I’m going to go ask Tad if he wants anything.”

“I think he’s probably gone by now. He’s going out of town to visit his family today.”

“I’ll check, anyway.”

I walked out of the office and looked for Tad. He was just getting on his messenger bag. “Hey, Claire and I are ordering some food, want some?”

“As much as I’d love to, I can’t. I’m about to get picked up by my brother. Come here so I can show you how to lock up, since you’ll be getting delivery.” He showed me what I needed to do, making sure to get close enough to smell me twice. The boy was obvious as he could be. When I gave him a glare, he just grinned at me like a fool. 

“Tell Claire I said goodnight…and to do everything I would do!”

I laughed as I locked up after him. The boy was a character, a little too flirty but entertaining. I called in the order, making sure to order extra just in case she was really hungry; I knew I was.

I walked back to her office and took a seat in front of her desk. “Sweetheart, Tad said goodbye.” I wasn’t going to tell her the rest. I didn’t want to make her feel like I was just there to do her. “I called the order in, and they said about thirty minutes. How about you tell me what I can do to help while we wait?”

“That work’s for me. I really don’t need your help, but if you want to stay in here and chill that’s fine.”

Hell, she was so tiny behind there, and unbelievably beautiful as she bit her lip in concentration. I got out of my chair and walked up to her as she continued to work. She looked up at me with a tired smile. I decided at that moment that I was going to do all in my power to keep her from feeling that way again. I didn’t ask for permission as I bent down and captured her lips in a sweet long kiss.

Once I pulled myself away from her tempting mouth she uttered accusingly, “I thought you said no sex.”

“Babe, it was just a kiss.” It was more than that, but it couldn’t be helped.

“But I know you want more.”

I grabbed her chin and looked sincerely into her eyes. “Yes, but I promised you I wouldn’t try to screw you today.”

“Okay…” she whispered.

“Just go back to working, and I’ll just watch you,” I ordered.

“So did you and Sam ever…you know…hook up?” she asked hesitantly.

“No, my job is to protect her. There was never anything intimate in our relationship.”

“But you lived with her?!” she asked in disbelief.

“I told you I didn’t fuck her. You need to listen to me. In truth, I haven’t gotten any in over two years,” I confessed.

“Two years,” she repeated in awe.

“Well…it’s not easy in my line of work. My last relationship ended with me walking in on her giving her neighbor head in her car. She complained that I was never around, and she was lonely. I don’t take back a cheater. I took the assignment and didn’t bother looking for another woman. Believe it or not, but I don’t like lying about my real name. That’s not a way to start a relationship.”

“Don’t you have one night stands?” I knew she was testing how much of a rodeo cowboy I was, but I wasn’t a playboy at all. I liked sex and had my fair share as a teen and in my early twenties, but I was an adult now.

“I don’t have them, but I don’t really date, either. My career is not conducive to it. Women want more than I’ve been willing to give.”

“Being a cop, I guess it’s not. So why are you here then, if it’s not going to work?”

“It’ll work between us. Unlike the others I really want you, and I’m not going to walk away. I won’t let anything get in the way. So stop trying to make excuses and get to work.”

I checked my phone for messages as she continued to order supplies. Sam texted that she was having fun and safe with Rick. I got a text from Eli too, informing me that there was some movement in the Middle East and in France. We didn’t know which of her buyers would be coming first, but we couldn’t do anything but wait. It was about ten minutes later when there was a knock at the store window.

“I guess that’s our food. You grab what you need to take upstairs, and I’ll get our food.”

“Yes, sir,” she said with mocking salute.

I just shook my head and walked out the door. Once I got our food and locked the door again, hitting the alarm like Tad showed me, I walked back to the room.

“Wow, I can smell it through the bags. It smells so good.” She sniffed the air with a smile. Then she looked at how much I had ordered, asked like a smartass. “You sure you ordered enough?”

“I want to make sure you eat. Come, babe. Direct me to your lair,” I insisted in a sensual tone.

“Silly man, it’s just through this door and up the stairs.” I watched her grab a lot of papers.

“Babe, give me those and move your cute bottom up the stairs.” I took the papers and followed a few steps behind her. This gave me a great view of her sexy ass. Once we got upstairs my brain moved off her butt and focused on her walk. It was clear that her feet hurt.

Just as she was opening the door, she turned to me and said, “Don’t mind the mess. I didn’t expect company.”

I walked into an almost pristine apartment, and I laughed out loud.

“What’s so funny,” she said clearly offended.

“Babe, you said this place was messy. Seriously, poor Rick is in for it because Sam is a messy girl. This is nothing.”

“Really?” she said it like she was shocked. Sam was a total tomboy before she met Rick.

“Yeah, I was the one who cleaned up in the house.”

“Well, then I don’t feel so bad.”

After setting everything down on the table, I asked, “Where are your plates?”

“In the kitchen?”

“Nice, smart ass. Where in the kitchen?”

She smiled at me, mischievously. It was nice to see how playful she was. “Second cabinet, on the left, right above the dishwasher.”

“Thanks, Babe.” I walked into her kitchen that had a total of three dirty dishes in the sink. I grabbed the plates and took some silverware from the strainer. When I got back I realized I didn’t get us something to wash our food down with. “I forgot to get us some drinks.”