Chapter 2
Claire
I opened my eyes and glanced at the stranger sleeping in my bed.
“Shit,” I mumbled as I placed my hand on my forehead. “Hey.” I shook his shoulder.
He moaned and opened one eye. “Hey.” A small smile crossed his lips.
“You were supposed to leave last night! You need to leave now.” I climbed out of bed, grabbed his clothes from the floor, and tossed them on the bed. “Come on. Get up, get dressed, and get out.”
“Jesus, Claire. Can you give me a second to use the bathroom?” He climbed out of bed.
I quickly pulled his wallet from his pants pocket and looked at his driver’s license.
“Hurry up, Camden. I have things to do.” I slipped on my robe.
“Last night was fun.” He walked over with a smile and ran his hand across my cheek. I grabbed his wrist. “Ouch.”
“I was drunk, so I don’t remember. But if you say it was, great.” I let go of his wrist.
“Can I at least have a cup of coffee and maybe get your number before I leave?” he asked, pulling on his pants.
“No.” I walked out of the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
As I was brewing myself a cup of coffee, Camden stepped in, sat at the table, and put on his shoes.
“You’re a real bitch. Do you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.” I leaned against the island, sipping my coffee.
“I know someone like you, and you know where she is now?”
“Do tell, Camden.” I smiled.
“Living a very lonely life full of regrets. I foresee that future for you, Claire.” He pointed at me. “Good riddance.”
“Bye, Camden. Last night sucked, by the way!” I shouted as he slammed the front door. “Asshole.” I shook my head.
My phone rang, and when I looked at it, I saw my realtor was calling.
“Hi, Elyse.”
“Hi, Claire. Excellent news. I have an offer on the house.”
She rattled it off, and I immediately accepted it.
“They want a two-week closing and move in within thirty days,” she said.
“Not a problem. The sooner, the better. Tell them they can move in right after we close.”
After ending the call, I dressed and headed to the company, where Richard was sitting in his office.
“I knew you’d be here today.” I smiled.
“Always am on a Saturday.” He smiled. “What brings you in?”
“My realtor called. I sold the house.”
“That’s great news, Claire.”
I set my purse down and took the seat across from his desk.
“I want to sell my shares of the company.”
“You’re leaving Connecticut, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, it’s time for a fresh start. Besides, I need to check out five brothers, sisters-in-law, a sister, and nieces and nephews. And I want to talk to this Barb woman.”
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Claire?”
“I’m sure.”
“And what will you do for work out there?”
“I’m a financial manager. I can get a job anywhere. Ill be fine with the sale of the house, my savings, the money from the shares, and my mother’s life insurance.”
“I’m not sure your mother would have wanted you to quit working here,” he said. “It is hers and Joseph’s company they built together.”
“Then she never should have told me about my other family. I think she would have wanted this, or she wouldn’t have said anything.”
“Or she was just trying to ease her guilty conscience on her death bed.” His brow arched.
“I have to do this, Richard. I’ve given it a lot of thought over the last month.”
“Then go.” He stood up, walked over, and embraced me. Do what you have to do. Just remember to stay in touch.”
“I will. Thank you, Richard.”
“I’ll handle the sale of the shares and have the money deposited into your account.”
Two Weeks Later
Ipacked the last of my things in my car, climbed inside, and stared at my childhood home. Memories flooded my mind as I stared at the sidewalk where my mom helped me set up my lemonade stand in the summers and the porch where Steve Connelly broke my heart and set me on a path of destruction where relationships were concerned.
Pulling out of the driveway, my stomach sank. This lost family of mine could be a bunch of weirdos. What if they were mean? What if they hated me and didn’t welcome me into their family? What if they rejected me because of our father? What if this were the worst decision I’d ever made? I didn’t know what Los Angeles held for me, but I sure as hell would find out.
After five days on the road, stopping, resting, and seeing some sights, I’d finally arrived in Santa Monica, where I rented a fully furnished apartment on a monthly basis. I rented in Santa Monica because it was only ten minutes from where my brothers lived. I needed to tread carefully and check them all out first before springing the news on them. I would watch, wait, and when the time was right, I’d tell them who I was.
After settling into my new place, I pulled the folded paper from my purse and studied it—the paper that had my brother’s names, addresses, and places of employment. I needed a drink, so I headed to the Kind Brewhouse right down the road. With any luck, my brother Sebastian would be there.
I stepped inside and looked around, noting a few open seats at the bar. As I sat down, the bartender walked over.
“What can I get you?” He smiled.
“A scotch. Make it a double.”
He took down a glass, grabbed the bottle of scotch, and poured.
“Is Sebastian here tonight?” I asked.
“He was. He left about an hour ago. You know him?”
“A friend of mine does. I just got into town. She told me about this place.”
The bartender smiled. “He’s a great guy and boss.”
I picked up my glass and sipped my scotch.
“What can I get you, my man?” the bartender asked.
“Scotch. Make it a double.”
I slowly turned my head and eyed the man who took it upon himself to sit next to me. To be fair, it was the only stool left at the bar. I was happy he did.
“Rough day?” I asked.
He looked at me, his blue eyes staring into mine. Damn.
“Yeah.” A handsome smile crossed his lips as he pointed to my glass. “You?”
“I just spent five days on the road, so yeah.” I smiled.
“Five days on the road?” His brow arched.
“I just moved here from Connecticut.”
“Welcome to California—” He picked up his glass and held it up.
“Claire.” I lightly clanked mine against it.
“I’m Nick. It’s nice to meet you, Claire.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Nick.” I threw back my scotch. “What’s your excuse for the double scotch?”
“Rough twenty-four hours in the ER.”
“Patient?” My brow arched.
“Doctor.” He chuckled. “We have something in common, Claire.” He cocked his head.
“And what would that be?”
“I just moved to California myself a couple of months ago.”
“Where are you from?”
“Seattle.”
“Nice.” I reached into my purse, pulled out some cash, and tossed it on the bar. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Dr. Nick.” I stood up from the stool and hooked my purse over my shoulder.
“You’re leaving already?” he asked as he downed the last of his scotch.
“I’m tired. It’s been a long week.”
“Me too.” He pulled out some cash and handed it to the bartender. “I have a comfy bed calling my name.” A smile crossed his lips as he stood up. “I’ll walk out with you.”
His car was parked next to mine.
“Do you think I can get your phone number?” he asked, standing at his car door.
“Maybe next time.” I smiled, climbed into my car, and drove back to my apartment.
Dr. Nick was incredibly handsome—all six feet three of him. He had short dark hair, piercing blue eyes, a sexy stubble gracing his masculine jawline, and a cute little dimple in his cheek when he smiled. If I hadn’t been so tired, I would have definitely asked him back to my place for the night.
I pulled into the lot of my building, and when I looked over, Nick pulled up next to me.
What the fuck? This guy can’t be serious.
We climbed out at the same time, and I cocked my head.
“Are you following me?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“How? I pulled in first,” I said.
“I live here, and I’m assuming you do too.” A wide grin crossed his face as we walked into the building.
“You live here?” I asked.
“Yep.” He pushed the button to the elevator. The doors opened, and we stepped inside. “Which floor?”
“Three,” I said.
“Me too.”
He gestured for me to step out first when the doors opened to the third floor.
“Look at that. It looks like we’re neighbors.” That handsome, dimple-filled smile graced his lips again. “I guess I won’t be needing your number after all. I can just knock on your door.”
I smiled as I shook my head, opened the door, and stepped inside. I couldn’t believe Dr. Nick lived next door. After changing into my nightshirt, I climbed into bed and texted Richard. I knew he’d be worried about me.
“I made it to California, and so far, I’m liking it.”
“Good. I’m happy to hear that. Any Kind sightings yet?”
“Not yet. I went to the Kind Brewhouse for a drink. My brother Sebastian wasn’t there, but I did meet a cute ER doctor,”I sent the smile emoji.
“Already, Claire? Leave the poor guy alone.”He sent the rolling eyes emoji.
“I’ll think about it. Goodnight, Richard.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart. Stay safe.”
Richard Rothschild was like an uncle to me. He was Joseph’s best friend and always around as I grew up. He had a thing for my mother, and they had slept together a few times after Joseph passed away, but that was as far as she took things. He wanted more. She felt guilty. He looked out for us and the company. I sat her down once and told her there was nothing wrong with getting involved with Richard, and I fully approved. She told me it was a betrayal to Joseph, and she couldn’t do that to him.
Grabbing my laptop from the nightstand, I opened it and stared at the picture of my father. I looked like him and knew my mother saw it whenever she looked at me. I also looked like my brothers. We all had the same blue eyes. But the one thing I noticed was that I looked more like Sebastian.