Chapter 11
Eleven
Burke
“Who would blackmail me?” she whispers.
“Clara, we’re going to get to the bottom of this. I promise.”
I finish the conversation with Curt and start the car. Someone is connected, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep her safe. Technically they didn’t ask for anything, but still, trying to intimidate her isn’t going to work.
I’ve increased security at the house, but I didn’t think about the store. Rookie move. I should have been more vigilant. “Clara, do you know anyone your stepfather was close to?”
“No, as far as I know he just had some drinking buddies. I’ve only ever known him to be a drunk who rots at home. Andrew’s family died before he kicked me out at sixteen. I think it was the kindling that set the fire to get rid of me.”
“I’ve told Curt to meet me at the house. We’ll go over this, and if I have to, I’ll have security detail put on you.” Reaching over, I hold her hand, trying to comfort her while my mind races.
“Burke, I adore you and stuff, but I’ve been under someone’s thumb for my entire life. I can’t have someone watching me non-stop.”
I grit my teeth—she’s right, but her safety is important to me. “It wouldn’t be for long. Just to catch this son of a bitch.”
“You can call me names, belittle me—fuck, kick me to the curb. I understand, but I can’t be controlled again. I know you think you get what it’s like to be pushed down like a thumb tack, but you really don’t.”
Pulling into the driveway, I turn off the car and lean back against the head rest. “I respect your decision. You aren’t going anywhere, and you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
Clara squeezes my hand and grabs her bag before hopping out of the car. Sighing, I get out and lock the Lexus.
A sleek black car pulls in next to mine, and Curt steps out. “Good evening, miss,” he says to Clara.
Crossing her arms, she glances at him. “I don’t want any security detail. Don’t let him fool you.”
I close my eyes for a minute, not wanting to ruin how far her healing has come. I let out a breath while opening my eyes and leaning against the car.
“I’ll keep him in line, alright?” Curt says to her with a smirk.
Staring at her as she grins and sprints up into the house. Once the door is closed, Curt’s gaze burns into the side of my head.
“I suggested it. It was dumb. I don’t want to ruin anything for her. Just protect her.”
He toes the ground, scuffing his shoe. “Yeah, I get it, but she’s strong. Maybe arm her with some protection, but don’t stifle her.”
I hand him the pictures, and he goes through them. “I’ll see what I can come up with and do a deeper dive on her background, along with the whole damn family.”
“Thanks. I’ll see how I can smooth things over here. Do you think putting cameras up at the diner is overkill?”
He flops the folder onto his passenger seat. “For now I’d advise against it. She needs you in her corner, but with care. I can have someone do some patrol around the diner, but otherwise she’s gonna feel like you’re trapping her, and she’s spent her entire life in a psychological cage.”
Running my hand through my hair, I glance at the gravel driveway and look at the house. “Yeah, I know. She just means so fucking much to me.”
“Then let her breathe. You can’t contain a dragonfly and expect it to live.”
Empathy swallows me, and tears strain behind my eyes, but I know he’s right.
“Alright, get to the bottom of it if you can, and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Give yourself grace, Burke. Her, too. Healing… it’s a fucking trip, a wacked-out line that’s one step forward and leaps back. It’s the way it’s undoing the trauma worked into the threads of someone’s being.”
“Is it the baldness or the beard that gives you wisdom?”
Curt’s laughter breaks the silence into the night air. “Deflect all you want, tough guy, but you know I’m right.”
“Write in your journal or something.” I click the car button, and it starts up.
He circles his own before opening the driver’s-side door. “Just trying not to clean up your shattered heart. Stay safe, Burke.” Curt’s smile drops at his final words.
I nod, and after he leaves I back into the garage, making sure the main floor is locked.
Once I’m upstairs, Clara is half asleep on top of the covers.
“Dragonfly, get under the blanket. You’ll freeze.” I pull her light hair out of her face and shrug out of my joggers.
Peeling back the bed, I lift her slightly to cuddle her in.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You can’t control who you became to survive,” I whisper into her neck and wrap my arm around her.
She snuggles back against me, and I feel whole. “We have plans tomorrow. We’re gonna close early to double date.”
“Sounds good. Why did you say earlier I could kick you to the curb?” I should let things rest, but I know that communication is crucial.
Clara sniffs and moves onto her back to stare into my eyes. “Ryan always left when I wouldn’t do what he wanted. It was his third favourite thing to do to hurt me, but I’ve been hurt enough, and so I’ll figure it out. Always fucking seem to.”
I lower and kiss her nose. “I’m never going anywhere, and you’re always welcome here. I don’t care what you do or don’t do. Just try not to break my heart if it’s possible.”
“Deal. Night, Burke.”
“Sweet dreams, Dragonfly.”
We’re seated on a bench across from two empty chairs in a very rowdy steakhouse.
Wouldn’t have been my first choice, but Clara didn’t want me to go “overboard,” as she says, and I stare at the vacant expression of the steers on the wall. What a lawsuit it would be if they fell and ruined dinner.
“Bailey!” Clara squeals and jumps up to hug her. She’s wearing a flowy yellow dress, and a medium tall man stands behind her, dressed in jeans and a button-down similar to my own attire.
“George,” Bailey says, “this is Clara and Burke. Guys, this is George.”
We all shake hands and sit down. Reading the menu, I already know what I’ll get, but wait on the others.
The server comes by and we order drinks, sticking with water. Clara stares up at me with her green eyes and bites her lip before asking the server for a mixed cocktail.
She glances back at me for approval, and it breaks my heart a little. I squeeze her thigh, trying to let her know all is good.
“It’s so nice to get out and have a double date,” Bailey says. “I was worried we’d be in the diner forever.”
Clara giggles. “It’s just until Debbie comes back, then it’ll be easier. I think she’s going to hire someone else soon.”
They talk about work stuff for a bit, and I glance at George. He’s likely in his thirties, brown hair and eyes with a moustache. Standard-looking guy. He watches them talk and I stare around the restaurant.
“Burke is the CEO of a trading company,” Clara says.
I glance at Bailey and smile as the server drops off our drinks, then asks if we’re ready to order.
Everyone goes around the table, and she writes it down before taking off.
I swallow a sip of water as George starts talking: “I work in the contracting business. Moved up to be a supervisor, and it’s pretty good.” He takes a swig of his beer and Bailey stares at him with adoration in her eyes.
“Great business. Always growing,” I say and nod to him.
Once the food comes, the conversation cuts for a bit. I feel awkward tonight and should start talking to more people or something to cut through the uncomfortable energy. I’d rather focus on Clara, but I like making her happy. Anything I can do to help her feel free and in charge is my favourite.
“Earth to Burke,” she whispers in my ear, her breath sweet with a tart smell of alcohol.
“Dragonfly?”
“Ready to go?” she asks.
I curl my arm around her shoulder and glance at the other two, who are all cuddled up together. Grabbing the cheque, I move out from the booth and head to the stand to pay.
George runs up behind me and slaps a fifty at the same time. I don’t say anything and let it be the server’s lucky day. I’m not going to have a pissing match over a dinner bill.
“Thanks for tonight,” Clara says to me as she gets into bed. “It meant a lot to me for us to have a double date. I think it’s my first time ever.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It was my pleasure.” I run my fingers through her hair and pull her to me before kissing her forehead.
Clara runs her fingertips over my chest. “Bailey has had a bad track record with men. I’m glad she found someone that seems to treat her right.”
As she draws circles over my skin, it causes me to shiver. I need her, and I’ve been holding back. “They both seem happy. You, on the other hand, are driving me crazy.”
“I want to show you how much I appreciate it.”
Twisting my fingers in her hair, I grip her closer. “You don’t have to do that. Just because others made you show them how to say thank you, that’s not what we have.”
I release her tresses and caress her cheek before lowering my mouth to her jaw. I feather kisses and moan under her grip on my hair.
Flipping back the sheets with one hand, I use the other to take off her pajamas. Clara’s flush cheeks and hard nipples are a delicate sight which make me hard.
“Burke…”
I kneel in front of her with her legs on either side of mine. “Touch yourself, show me how much you want me to fuck you.”
Clara does exactly what I ask, her fingers dipping between her folds as she plays with her clit and arches against her fingers. I stroke my cock and run my other hand over her soft flesh. “You’re so goddamn beautiful. Fuck your fingers for me.”
Seeing her respond to my voice drives me wild, and I let go of myself before diving between her legs. Hooking her thighs over my shoulders, I inhale her perfect scent. She opens herself up for me and I taste her arousal.
“Fuck, Burke,” she gasps.
I suck on her clit as she fingers herself, working on her orgasm together. When she screams out, I continue rubbing her with the pad of my thumb until she shakes her head and squeezes her legs around me. Making her break under me is so fucking perfect.
Pulling away from her, I stroke myself as she basks in her post-climax glow. “You’re such a good girl for me,” I whisper.
“What if I want to be a bad girl?”
“You don’t have it in you,” I joke.
Clara flips onto all fours and grabs the base of my cock, moving my hand out of the way and advancing until I’m down her throat.
Closing my eyes, I swim in the pleasure she causes.