5. Claire
5
Claire
Artful Seduction
The clinking of China fills the dining room as I make my way down the grand staircase.
Mrs. Margaret, the housekeeper, offers a warm smile as I enter the room.
"Good morning, Miss Claire. Did you sleep well?"
"Morning, Maggie," I reply with a smile. "I slept in a bit, but I slept well."
She gives a knowing nod. “Late nights can be tiring, even for the young ones."
A twinkle in her eye suggests what kind of "late nights" she's referring to. My cheeks burn a little, and I quickly avert my gaze.
If only she knows the kind of thoughts she has in her head has never happened. Bobby sleeps far enough away on the couch for that not to work out. My stomach growls, reminding me I haven't eaten a thing since yesterday afternoon's tea party.
"What can I get you for breakfast?" Maggie asks, gesturing towards the nook laden with an array of breakfast items.
Fresh pastries, glistening fruit bowls, and platters of steaming eggs, potatoes, and bacon. One of the Carter family’s daily troubles is figuring out what to eat when so many options exist.
"Surprise me."
Margaret beams and claps her hands. “Will be right with you."
I sit at the ornate table, glad to have the silence. Maggie sets the table with two of her assistants and I start picking at my food.
I intentionally waited for the house to finish breakfast before coming down. Sharing meals and conversation with the huge family can be stressful, to say the least.
There’s only one person I want here with me. And he’s not even here. Bobby woke up early and left for another outing with my brothers. He left me a simple note to give a heads-up about his plans with Richard and Gavin.
I’m disappointed. He’s spending too much time with my brothers instead of his so-called girlfriend.
Should I drag him into bed? The bed is huge enough for both of us, and that would make it harder for him to sneak out. I can also wake up next to him this morning, tangled in the sheets, watching sleepy smiles playing on his lips.
The image sends a wildfire through my body that heats up my cheeks. I quickly shove the thought away. Bobby and I waking up together wouldn't be some romantic scene. We’d probably wake up bickering about who stole the covers and whose snoring kept the other awake all night.
The thought of him leaving in a few days sparks panic. I don't want him to go. I need him, of course, to help me navigate this family reunion from hell, but it's more than that. I actually want him here.
The dining room door swings open, and Mike saunters in. I can't help but roll my eyes. Growing up, I was closest to Mike because of our age, and we were practically always fighting as kids. He’s the best (annoying) older brother a girl could ask for.
"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence.” He pulls out a chair and collapses into it with a dramatic sigh. “Where were you at breakfast?”
“Didn’t want to see your face first thing in the morning. Ruins a good day.”
“You’re an awful sister.”
“And you’re not exactly the best brother,” I chuckle.
“You know we’re all really glad you came back, right? We miss you around here. Me, especially.”
I smile sweetly at him.
"So, what exactly is Bobby getting into with Gavin and Richard?”
I try to sound nonchalant, but Mike sees right through me, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Some brotherly bonding, I guess."
“Doing what?”
He raises an eyebrow, his smirk teasing. “Maybe avoiding some possessive girlfriends?"
My cheeks flush. “Is that your way of showing me you miss me? I'm allowed to be overprotective, especially when it comes to big brothers."
"Oh, come on, Claire," he leans forward conspiratorially. “I haven't seen you this territorial over something since that ridiculous toy set Gramps got us when we were kids."
The image of the hot pink Lego box overflowing with miniature bulldozers, dump trucks, cranes, and building pieces fills my mind. That toy set was the world to me then. Anything but Barbies.
“You mean the one you declared ‘ too masculine’ for me to play with?”
Mike lets out a mock sigh. "Clearly, a custom pink Lego set with construction workers and equipment is exactly what every little girl dreams of."
I shake my head. “Well, you male chauvinist airheads aren’t exactly a girl’s stuff of dreams.”
A surprised look flashes in his eyes, but he quickly covers it with a cough. “Some things never change, drama queen."
I narrow my eyes at him. “Says the guy who starts the drama.”
“Have a nice day, Claire,” he barks, walking out of the room.
Six hours after Mike walks out on me, I’m sinking my butt into a plush armchair in the lounge, my fingers idly twirling a stray strand of hair.
I don’t know if I’m having a nice day or not, but it was eventful.
After yoga on the lawn, another afternoon tea, followed by an hour of bonding that feels more like an hour of gossip that could rival the National Enquirer.
Let’s not forget the chaos.
Cousins Mae and Eloise got into a passive-aggressive fight over dibs on an antique watch. Aunty Emily, bless her clumsy heart, managed to spill Earl Grey all over Mimi's favorite velvet couch, leading to a raving lecture from Fiona that led the poor mother of two to tears. It didn’t end there. Evelyn, a cousin without the Carter last name since her mother took her father’s last name after marriage, completely disowned her dad by announcing that she officially changed her last name to Carter. Her ‘natural Carter blonde since birth’ lie took a nosedive today when her platinum wig slipped off during a yoga pose–queueing the teasing from the other cousins.
Good for me. I love watching drama from the sidelines, preferably with a glass of wine in hand. But I left the shouting matches today to find some peace and quiet in the lounge where I can think of the one name on my mind–Bobby.
He and my brothers still haven't returned from their mysterious trip. Bobby hasn’t called or texted to check in either. Total radio silence.
It makes me worry about him. This isn’t New York where he’s in familiar terrains. My brothers are also known for getting wild sometimes.
I rub a hand across my face. This is a strange scenario. I’m always the one who makes Bobby worry, not the other way round.
"Darling, is everything alright?"
I glance up to see Mimi. Her brow furrows with concern as she settles gracefully into the chair beside me, reaching out to pat my hand gently.
"Oh, I'm fine, Mimi."
Mimi doesn't buy it. "You've been distracted all day, sweetheart.”
“Just thinking about Bobby is all."
A smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “There isn’t a problem with your charming boyfriend, is there?"
My lips part, then close again. She’ll know what to do with this feeling. Mimi always does. But I’m afraid of leaving clues that will expose the web of deception I'm slowly getting caught up in.
"No, no," I fumble at last. "He's just out with Gavin and Richard, probably running some errands."
Mimi reaches for my hand, her touch warm and comforting. “If there’s anything at all, you know you can come to me, right?"
"Right," I nod.
“Good.”
Mimi excuses herself. A clatter immediately breaks the silence that settles in the room. Fiona must have been watching. She struts into the living room, and on her arm hangs the lanky redhead I met in New York a week ago.
"Claire," she drawls slowly. “I believe you’ve met my fiancé, Dylan?"
She throws an arm possessively around Dylan's waist, whose face is plastered with a look of utter boredom.
I force a polite nod in return.
"Lovely to meet you again, Dylan.”
“We can settle down with my cousin here, honey,” she coos.
I know what the witch has planned for me, and I’m not about to sit here and watch the second episode of the cringey PDA they put on show like in that restaurant back in New York.
I stand up abruptly, my chair scraping harshly against the floor. “I’m going for a stroll. You guys can have the place to yourselves.”
Before Fiona can say anything else, I hurry out of the room. I need fresh air and time to clear my head and figure out my next move. A quiet afternoon walking around the grounds won’t hurt.
***
As I return to the mansion, the scent of honeysuckle fills the air. Long shadows spread across the lawn and a gentle breeze rustles the leaves of the towering trees.
"BOO!"
The voice breaks out unexpectedly beside me, startling me half to death.
“Gotcha!” He exclaims, linking his arm with mine.
I smack his shoulder and he releases me with a mock yelp, rubbing his arm dramatically.
"Hey, that wasn't nice!"
Seeing him here, looking so good after missing him all day, fills me with both irritation and relief.
"You don’t deserve nice! Where have you been?"
"Right here," he gestures towards the mansion. “Waiting for you. Spent the last two hours camped out in the room, wondering where you disappeared to."
"Wondering?" I shoot back. "A smart person would call instead of wonder."
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out my phone. He holds it up with a questioning look. Then he unlocks it and flips it onto the screen – six missed calls. Shame washes over me, hot and prickly.
"Oh," I mumble, avoiding his gaze. “Right. Sorry about that."
I must have left it on the armchair in the lounge during my mad dash from Fiona.
“I’m feeling generous so…I accept your apology.”
"This doesn't exactly explain where you were all day, though.”
"We were getting supplies for the party tomorrow," he explains. "Lights, decorations, that kinda stuff."
“That’s not a good excuse,” I whine. "You spent all day hanging out with Gavin and Richard, and I barely even see you. Are you here to date them or me?"
The question hangs heavy in the air.
Bobby shrugs in confusion. "I thought charming your brothers was part of the assignment."
I can hear the hint of defensiveness in his voice. I know I should stop the nagging act now. I’m not even his girlfriend, so he’s free to go where he wants, but I found myself missing him. Him standing in front of me makes me realize it more. When I’m not with him, it feels like a huge part of me is actually missing and I can barely keep calm.
I wish I could tell him that, but I doubt he’ll understand. I don’t even understand the feeling myself.
"Charm them, yes. But spending all day with them, neglecting your…girlfriend? That doesn’t look good either. We gotta find some kind of balance."
He lets out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly, Claire," his voice is raspy with exasperation. "I'm getting more and more confused about what I should and shouldn't be doing with this whole agreement."
A spark of irritation ignites within me. “Maybe we should draw up a contract, then. Outline the rules, the expectations, the do's and don'ts."
“What?”
I cross my arms. “I mean it.”
He throws his head back and laughs. "Forget it, Claire," he shakes his head. “I'm leaving the day after tomorrow anyway. No need to keep all this up."
My breath catches in my throat. Seeing him here made me forget that. I open my mouth to disagree with him, but a flash of red catches my eye.
Fiona strolls down the garden path with her fiancé. They’ll see us in 3…2…instinct takes over. I lean towards Bobby and pop up on my tiptoes, pressing my lips against his in a hasty, awkward move.
I hear footsteps shuffle to a stop behind us, and for a split second I expect Bobby to step back and yell at me. Instead, his arms circle around my waist, hauling me against his body, kissing me back.
My eyes swell with shock at first, but then I close them and embrace his invasion.
He kisses me deeply. His lips mesh against mine perfectly like they’re made for each other. Little pulls, nibbles, and flicks that send waves of heat through my body. He caresses my lower back and I bring my hand up to massage the back of his head, pulling him closer to me.
It feels strangely… real.
We pull apart after a few seconds, both of us breathing heavily, eyes dazed with the emotions we both just felt.
"What…what was that?" Bobby asks, his voice soft.
I realize Fiona and her fiancé have moved past us.
“I heard Fiona coming.” I clear my throat, licking his taste from my lips. “We…we needed to keep up appearances."
The lie tastes sour on my tongue. At the time his mouth was on me, nothing else existed to me but us. I didn’t give a hoot about Fiona or anyone else then. But I can’t tell my friend that, can I?
He stares at me, his expression unreadable.
"Right," he finally says, a hint of bitterness in his voice. “I wonder how long they watched us for."
Long enough to see sparks flying. My cheeks burn. I suddenly feel like I've crossed a line.
"Why don’t we talk later?" I manage, my voice shaking. “I think I need to turn in early."
Bobby nods his head slowly. "Goodnight, Claire."
“Night.”
I turn away from him. My legs feel like lead as I head back towards the mansion. The house lights twinkle in the distance and I’m desperate to head back onto familiar grounds. Maybe when I’m back inside, this racing heart can stop pounding so hard.
Get it together, Claire.