Chapter 32
Adam
Progress.
So much progress in the last month and a half.
The case hasn’t moved a ton, but things with Claire? They’re so damn good I’m afraid the smallest thing will crumble it all in a second.
That’s the real reason I don’t want to deal with my sisters tonight. I don’t want them to go wild like they usually do and scare her off. Although I know Claire can handle herself, I’m just … scared.
“Okay, before we go in there, I’m sorry.” We stand outside of my apartment.
“About what?” She smiles.
“About them.” I sigh. “They’re … wonderful, but they never stop talking.”
Her chuckle is cut off by my front door opening.
“Dick. You talk a lot too,” Autumn, the baby of the family, says with her hip cocked.
“Not like the four of you,” I mumble, ushering Claire in.
“Oh my God, we are so excited to meet you.” Daisy rushes over, holding Claire’s shoulder and looking at her.
Claire’s eyes are so wide I’d laugh if my sisters weren’t the ones causing it.
“Dais, chill out.”
“We’re just excited,” Heather says as she comes forward, wine in hand.
“It’s fine,” Claire says with a tight voice.
“No, it’s not.” I gently shove Daisy away and pull Claire with me to the couch. “We can go back to your place.”
“No. No, I’m fine. I’m just … not used to the attention.”
“Sorry!” Ruby yells over the other three who haven’t stopped talking.
“It’s okay!” Claire yells back.
I can’t hide my smile to save my life. “You sure you’re okay?” I ask, hand immediately moving to her bump and rubbing where Teeny was earlier.
“I am.” She blows out a breath. “It will just take some time to get used to. I’ve lived in silence for quite some time.” She chuckles.
“Okay, so we made pancakes, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and omelets,” Heather calls from the kitchen.
“That’s too much.” Claire scoffs, but I can see how excited she is. I made sure my sisters cooked all of her favorites.
“Can we do introductions?” Ruby rolls her eyes. “I’m Ruby. Sorry for how rude everyone else is.”
“So sorry! I’m Daisy. I’m the one with the baby—toddler. Gah, I hate that she’s getting older.”
“Where is my niece, by the way?” I ask.
“With Luka. I didn’t want to pull attention away from Claire.” Daisy says it like I’m the crazy one, but I haven’t seen Evelin in a long time. “I’ll bring her over tomorrow, promise.”
“I’m Heather! The oldest. They like to say I mother everyone, but whatever,” Heather yells from the kitchen.
“I’m Autumn, this one’s favorite sister.” She points at me with a smirk.
“You can’t say that shit with everyone here.” I sigh, knowing I’ll never hear the end of it.
“It’s true.” Autumn shrugs.
“It’s lovely to meet you all. I’m Claire Daniels, and this is the newest member of the family, I suppose.” She points to her belly that I still have my hand on.
“You have no idea how excited we are for you both.” Autumn sits in a chair across from us.
“It’s been a lot.” Claire laughs.
“Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Daisy asks, sitting on the floor by Autumn.
“We’re actually waiting to find out,” I interject.
“Woah. Mister Always Has a Plan is waiting?” Autumn looks at me with wide eyes.
Claire tilts her head when she learns this information. “I wouldn’t have guessed that.”
“A lot has changed.” I run my hand across the back of my neck.
“Seems so,” Ruby mutters.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, silence falls over my apartment. When I look around, all four of my sisters are looking at me with a mix of pride, joy, and disbelief.
“What?” I question.
“Nothing,” they all say at the same time before acting like nothing happened.
“Dinner’s up!” Heather calls.
I help Claire up and get her set up at the table before making her a plate. My sisters have gone quiet again as they watch me like a hawk.
Once everyone is seated—even though it’s crowded, it’s nice to have everyone in one place—everyone starts eating.
After a few minutes, Autumn looks over at Claire. “So, tells us about yourself.”
“Guys …”
“No, it’s fine, Adam. Really,” Claire hushes me. “I’m twenty-nine. No family, and I’m rebuilding—well, ‘I’m starting over in my career’ is more apt.” She takes a bite of biscuits slathered in gravy before she looks up. “Oh, and I’m pregnant with Adam’s baby.”
The room goes still before all hell breaks loose with laughter and hands pounding on the table.
“Oh my God, I love her.” Daisy wipes tears from her eyes.
I wish I could join in, but one thing Claire says catches my attention. Twenty-nine. She had a birthday while we were separated, and I missed it. I remember her saying her birthday was next week before the case went to complete shit.
I missed her birthday.
My mind races with thoughts of how to make it up to her while she and my sisters talk.
Ruby picks up my plate, pulling me from my distracted thoughts, forcing me to focus back onto the conversation.
“I brought a ton of hand-me-downs. All the neutrals I could find,” Daisy says, pointing to a couple of huge bins in the corner I completely missed.
“Oh my gosh, that’s so generous. I feel so behind on everything,” Claire says.
“I’ve learned you don’t need everything done.
Just a bassinet for them to come home to and some onesies.
The rest can come after. I was so obsessive with getting everything done, and Luka—my husband—kept telling me everything would be fine, and we didn’t even put her in her own room until she was almost eight months old,” Daisy tells her.
“That makes me feel a little better.” Claire sighs.
Little does she know I’ve already completed the nursery here. Autumn helped me make it look “pretty”, so I think Claire will like it. The next step is convincing her to move in so we can both take care of Teeny. I want to help her through every single second, but I also don’t want to push too hard.
Lord knows I’ll drop down to my knees to make this woman stay with me. I’m just not sure she’s there yet.
Fingers snap in front of my face. I shove them away and glare at Ruby.
“Earth to Adam.”
“What?”
“We asked how work was going,” she says.
“Umm, good. Slowly getting information on a case. I’m finally caught up on paperwork.”
“Any new undercover cases coming your way?” Autumn asks.
I feel the heat of Claire’s gaze on my face.
“Nope. I think I’m done with that.”
Silence. For once, my sisters are completely silent.
“Holy shit.” Heather’s eyes are wide with shock.
“How the mighty have fallen,” Daisy mutters.
“Damn.” Ruby shakes her head, and Autumn just stares at me.
“I take it you all thought he’s never leaving undercover work.” Claire interrupts the shock. She wasn’t aware of what a big deal it is, but I did tell her I didn’t plan on going back to undercover cases.
“Never,” all four sisters say at the same time.
“But you’re staying here?” Autumn asks.
“I am.” I glance at Claire, wordlessly telling them that I won’t ever leave Claire.
“Good thing I have access to a private jet,” Daisy mumbles.
“What?” Claire’s eyes look like those from cartoons, where they pop out a foot.
“I’m assistant to the CEO of Empress Racing. The Formula 1 team.” Daisy perks up, smiling like it’s just an everyday job.
“You’re more than that,” I counter.
“I mean, sure. But the title has stayed the same. Sydney was bitching about that the other day actually.” Her tangents never cease to amaze me.
Claire leans over to me, grabbing my arms and pulling me closer. “Is it okay if I stay here tonight? I’m exhausted.”
“Always. Why don’t you go crash. I’m sure these four haven’t helped.” I smile.
She presses a kiss to my cheek before clearing her throat. “It was so incredibly nice to meet you all. I hope we can do something tomorrow, but this pregnancy is kicking my ass, so I’m going to catch some sleep.”
A chorus of gratitude and yeses rains out as Claire makes her way to my bedroom.
My sisters at least have the decency to wait until the door is shut before they bombard me with statements and questions.
I hold up my hands, stopping the barrage, because I can’t understand a word any of them are saying.
“One at a time. My God, you guys.” I sigh.
“She’s lovely,” Heather, the eldest and matriarch of the group, starts.
“She is.”
“You love her,” Ruby says with a lack of emotion. I swear she runs from them as far as she possibly can.
I glance at my bedroom door before I answer her. “I do.”
“Are you really done undercover?” Autumn chimes in.
“Yep.” I nod.
“So how can we help? Do you need nursery stuff? Are you staying in this apartment?” Daisy enters the fold, instantly in problem-solving mode.
“I have a nursery set up here,” I say quietly. “But I am considering looking for a house or something bigger.”
“I’ll send you some listings,” Daisy says, pulling out her phone to take notes.
“She’s perfect for you. She doesn’t let you hide away in your shell,” Autumn says.
I’d argue with her, but she’s right. Outside of my job, I’m not a very open person. It took my team at work years to really get to know me.
“So, what’s your grand plan?” Heather asks. “Are you going to ask her to marry you?”
“Umm, not right now, no. I’m not pressuring her into anything she doesn’t want. Not with Teeny due so soon.”
“You call the baby Teeny?” Daisy has hearts in her eyes.
“We do. And I’m letting her lead. She’s been through a lot, and I’m not pushing her for more. It’s all in her hands. I’m totally gone for her, though.”
“Aww, baby brother is all grown up,” Ruby says.
“I’m double your size. Stop calling me baby brother.”
“Never.” Heather smirks.
“How long are y’all in town?” My Texas twang always comes out when I’m around them, no matter how long it’s been since I’ve lived there.
“Until you tell us to get out,” Daisy says. “Plus, you need some uncle and niece time. You have to practice, after all.”
“She’s almost three,” I deadpan.
“Yes, and her attitude is off the charts, so good luck. Luka and I are having a date while you have her.”
“Good to know. Thanks for just dropping that on me. What if I had to work?”
“You don’t. I called Woodcroft,” Autumn says.
“Jesus, even from hundreds of miles away, all of you have no sense of privacy.” I shake my head.
Truth is I miss them. I plan to make more of an effort to make it to Texas after Teeny is here. I want them to grow up knowing their extended family.
“Duh. We don’t stop being your sisters just because you chose to move.” Daisy rolls her eyes.
“I missed you guys,” I say quietly.
“Aww, Adam.” They all coo, huddling around me in a group hug.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get big heads about it.”
They release me and step back.
“We’re going to head out, but if Claire is feeling up to it, can we take you both out tomorrow?” Heather asks.
“I will let you know. Thank you … for coming.” I sincerely mean it too.
After walking them out, I make my way to my bedroom.
Claire is gorgeous, curled up with her pregnancy pillow, her bump just barely noticeable through all the blankets.
“They’re really great,” she says, stretching her back.
I sit behind her, using my hand to massage her lower back, which has been bothering her a lot.
“They are. They’re a lot, but they always have my back.”
She’s quiet for a moment before she shifts and faces me. “Did you mean what you told them?” Claire whispers.
“I did. That doesn’t mean that I want to pressure you or make you think that you have to feel the same.” I want her to know that I’ll never be the man who makes her do anything. If it takes her ten years to fall for me, so be it.
“And here I am, still thinking that you feel trapped.” Her sniffled laugh tries to brush off her words.
“What did you therapist say about that?” I murmur, cupping her cheek.
“To ask you.”
“Then ask.” I press my forehead to hers.
“Do you feel trapped? Is that why you said that to your sisters?”
“No. I think from that first time I saw you at Bella’s, I knew I was screwed.
It’s why I kept coming back. It’s why I brought you into the case.
I couldn’t not be around you. I’ve been falling for you for a year, Claire.
I can’t wait to have Teeny with you.” I hold off telling her that I love her, even if she did hear me tell my sisters.
I’m still not confident she’s ready to hear that.
Her head nods against mine. The wetness of her tears runs along my hand, but I don’t move. I need to make sure she really hears me.
“I think I’m falling in love with you,” she whispers.
“Thank God because I’m so in love with you.” I breathe a sigh of relief before pressing a kiss to her lips.
Once we separate, she shifts to get comfortable again. “Change and come cuddle. There’s something I want to talk to you about,” Claire demands, making me smile.
My clothes come off quickly, and then I lie down facing her. My arm goes around her middle, and I press the heel of my palm into her back again.
“God yes.” She groans.
I’m not sure how pregnancy looks for other women, but Claire has had a rough go. I’m trying my hardest to make it better, but there’s only so much I can do.
“So, what are we talking about?”
“What to name Teeny.”
“Ah. We’re figuring out a boy and girl name?”
“It would probably be smart.”
“Charlie or Charlette.” The silence that greets me after I say what I’ve been thinking since I found out Claire was pregnant makes me worried.
“Charlie Morrison either way,” she whispers.
“Feels right.” Her brother is the one who brought us together anyway. She would never have been near one of my cases if it weren’t for him.
She buries her head into my chest and cries. I know it’s cathartic for her, but it’s still damn hard to just let it happen.
“Thank you,” she finally tells me after her tears have run their course.
“Never thank me for keeping the memory of Charlie alive. He’s as important as my sisters are.”
I so desperately want to ask her to move in with me, but I think that’s enough overwhelming emotion for the night.
Maybe next week.
For tonight, I’ll hold the woman I love and continue to plan for our future.