Prologue
“I understand why you want to be involved with your children,” Partridge said. “But you realize that if you proceed down that route, you’ll be waiving the more than generous compensation offered by the University?”
“I don’t care about any money,” Clay said. “I want to see my kid.”
“Very well,” Partridge replied. “I’ll make some calls to the university and see what I can do.” He cleared his throat. “I assume that all of you feel this way?”
All of the men nodded.
“I’m not sure how they’ll respond,” Partridge said carefully. “They may try to pursue legal action to keep you away.”
“I don’t care,” Clay repeated. “I want to see my child.”
Partridge nodded. He looked defeated. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll start drawing up a possible contract, and we’ll make sure that you all have the contact information for all of the women who accidentally were impregnated with your sperm.”
Chapter One
The morning sun shone brightly into the room as Chloe Parks stretched in bed. She yawned, reaching up over her head and stretching as far as her thin arms would take her. With a contented sigh, she pulled off her eye mask and sat up, gently rubbing at her eyes.
“Noah?” Chloe climbed out of bed, pulling a silk kimono around her lean frame as she ducked into her son’s bedroom. “Noah, are you awake?”
Noah was still asleep. His thumb was in his mouth and he was sucking contentedly. Chloe sighed as she reached down into the large crib and gently tried to pull his hand out of his mouth. She remembered what Dr. Horvath had said: “Your son’s accelerated growth may trigger some inert desire to remain as young as possible.”
“Noah, sweetie,” Chloe said softly. “It’s time to wake up. We’re going to the zoo today!”
Noah opened his big, golden eyes and stared at his mother. As always, Chloe was slightly stunned by the intelligent expression on her son’s face. Even though he was only two, he was frequently mistaken for a much older child – sometimes as old as four. She’d been more puzzled than anyone by his seemingly-constant growth spurt, and his odd behavior. No time to think of that today, she thought hurriedly. We’re going to have fun.
Noah put his arms up and Chloe scooped him up, snuggling him for a moment before carrying him over to the changing table. He was so big that his arms and legs hung off the edges and Chloe watched carefully to make sure that he wouldn’t tumble off.
“You are getting so big!” Chloe said under her breath as she searched for a clean outfit. “You’re already wearing toddler clothes, isn’t that something?”
Noah gurgled. “Mama!” He cried loudly, beating his stubby fists against the side of the table. “Zoo!”
Chloe broke into a wide grin. “That’s right sweetie, we’re going to the zoo today. Can you tell me who lives at the zoo?”
Noah closed his eyes and wrinkled his tiny features. “Tigers!” His voice was a startling burst of energy and Chloe jumped a few inches off the ground.
“That’s right, honey,” she crooned as she reached over and pulled Noah’s pajamas off. “Tigers! And bears, and lions, and lots of other critters. We’re going to have a fun day.”
By the time Chloe was ready to leave the house, half of her wished that she could climb back into bed and sleep. Noah was exhausting. She’d always heard that two-year-olds were their own special kind of trouble, but she wished that someone had really warned her how tiresome Noah would be. Chloe loved her son more than anything else in the world, but sometimes she felt like the job of parenthood would have been better suited to a married couple than a single woman in her early thirties.
She remembered the day that she’d decided to have Noah.
“Chloe, I haven’t heard from Richard Abrams about a sequel confirmation. You may be looking at a dry spot of a few months.”
Chloe shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It was hard to concentrate on what Dick, her agent, was talking about. She was in tremendous pain from the stiletto heels strapped to her feet and the compression garment sucking in her already-tiny waist.
“That’s fine,” Chloe chirped. “I was actually hoping to have a few months off. I have family on the West Coast and I’d love to go see them.” She wasn’t lying. After spending fifteen years trying to make it in “the business,” she felt like she more than deserved a break. She could practically feel it now – the relaxing heat of the California sun, the warm sand baking beneath her body.
Dick frowned. “And Chloe, have you ever thought about getting married?”
Chloe burst out laughing. When Dick glared at her reproachfully, she felt a blush come over her cheeks. “No,” she said, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. “I’m sorry, Dick, but that’s not even close to being a priority right now.” She composed herself. “I’ve always wanted a family, but I don’t think now is the right time.”
“You’re not exactly getting any younger,” Dick replied. “What about Mack Stratton? He’s single, and he’s told me before that he thinks you’re the most beautiful actress in New York.”
Chloe pulled a face. “No,” she said firmly. “No, thank you.”
“Will you at least consider it? It might help to improve your image?”
Chloe frowned. “Dick, what are you talking about?”
“Well, it’s just….” Dick trailed off. He straightened up in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. He was a fey, slim man in his early fifties and until now, Chloe had trusted every word that had come out of his mouth. They’d had their differences, but overall she felt as though they’d worked together quite successfully. “Chloe, it might help the way you’re perceived. Women don’t like to look at gorgeous, single actresses. They feel belittled about their own choices in life.”
“That’s stupid,” Chloe scoffed. She sighed. “I wish I had a family, Dick. But my career isn’t where I’d like it to be, and I just…well, I just don’t know. I mean, I’ve never really dated that much, you know? I don’t have any idea of what marriage is supposed to be like.”
Dick’s eyes widened. “You want to have a family?”
She nodded. “Of course I do,” she said. She was telling the truth – recently, passing mothers with strollers in Central Park had given a kick to her insides. She knew that her time was ticking, but it just didn’t feel like the right moment.
“Why not have a baby?”
“What?” Chloe frowned. “With whom?” She held up a hand before Dick could reply. “And do not say Mack Stratton, please.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s so pretentious. He’d be a terrible father.”
Dick shrugged. “Don’t they have sperm banks for these types of things? Why not have a baby, by yourself? You’d be a great mother, and it would really open you up to a whole new category of roles.”
Chloe bit her lip. Everything in her wanted to say yes, but there was one small hesitation. “What about my career? What if it never bounces back?”
Dick gave her a small smile. “Then you’ll know that you had a good ten years of it, and you can retire fabulously,” he said. “You’ve done an excellent job managing your resources. And don’t forget, there are always reunion shows. Directors love those.”
Chloe closed her eyes and thought for a moment. “I’ll do it,” she said quickly.
Now, Chloe knew that deciding to have Noah had been the best decision of her life. The two of them had just moved from New York City to upstate, near Ithaca. The wilderness was proving a startling change for Chloe, but she knew in her heart that it was the best decision for Noah. After all, she’d taken him to expensive child therapist after even more expensive therapist. The consensus was all the same: sure he exhibited some odd behavior, but he was stuck in a concrete jungle! Everything would change when he got out in the wild!
“Yeah, right,” Chloe said under her breath. She strapped Noah into a car seat – made for five year olds – and gently closed the door.
At the zoo, Chloe and Noah picked up a map and then met up with the rest of his nursery school class. Noah was technically too young to be in nursery school – his classmates were all three and four – but Chloe had batted her eyelashes at the school coordinator. She was glad that he had a chance to socialize with his peers, it was one of the reasons why they’d moved to the country.
Chloe hated to admit it, but while Noah had enjoyed some success with his peers, she hadn’t exactly had the same luck. She was used to New York Women, like herself. The kind of women who wore heels, lipstick, and jewelry to the grocery store. The kind of women who toted their children around in designer sacks, stayed incredibly thin after pregnancy, and looked like a magazine spread on perfect motherhood.
No one around here is like that, Chloe thought dismally as she surveyed the zoo group. The other “class moms” seemed to regard Chloe with a mix of envy and disdain. Every time she’d tried talking to one of them, she hadn’t been met with friendliness.
“Oh, are you the nanny?” One woman had snidely suggested. “I don’t know how you can possibly fit into those skinny jeans!”
“My fat jeans became my new skinny jeans after having Allie!” Another mother had crowed in response.
Chloe had politely shaken her head. She didn’t want to be seen as aloof, but it was hard feeling like she had nothing in common with the other women her age.
Today’s going to be better, she thought determinedly. I’m here to make a new friend, just like Noah. Fortunately, Noah hadn’t suffered the same predicament: he was immensely popular among his classmates. Chloe had even observed Noah teaching the other boys a kind of game: wrestling and pretending to claw at each other.
The day was surprisingly hot and Chloe could feel sweat beading on the back of her neck as she carried Noah through an exhibit of sloths. She was wearing her usual casual outfit: black skinny jeans, peep-toe ankle boots, and a sleeveless black peplum blouse that showed off her trim figure. She’d brought a hat and her favorite designer sunglasses for the sun, but now she was beginning to regret dressing in all black.
“Hey there!”
Chloe turned around at the sound of a male voice. Lowering Noah to the ground, she gazed over the rims of her sunglasses at the man approaching her. Something clicked inside her belly and she shivered with a tiny thrill of lust. Stop it, she thought in irritation. Just because it’s been a year since you had a date does not mean this is the right guy.
“Hi,” Chloe said. She extended her hand. The man seemed surprised, but they shook – his huge paw engulfed her slender hand. “I’m Chloe.” She gazed around at the kids laughing and playing by the sloth exhibit. “I’m Noah’s mom.”
“I’m Clay,” the man replied. He had an easy grin, a broad, tan face, and perfect golden-brown eyes. They were hypnotizing, like liquid caramel or honey. “Want some water?” He held out a bottle, dripping with condensation.
Chloe’s mouth went dry and she nodded furiously. “Thank you so much,” she said graciously as she unscrewed the bottle and took a long drink. “I’ve been dying. I normally have a bottle, but I guess Noah and I were running a little late this morning.”
Clay raised his eyebrows at Chloe in a way that made her feel like he could see what she looked like naked. The same shiver of lust came over her – much stronger this time – and she tried to fight it away. She was aware that Clay was staring at her and she tried to straighten her posture, suddenly glad again that she’d worn something flattering. Chloe didn’t even notice the scathing looks from some of the other class moms.
“This is my son, Noah,” Chloe said.
Clay squatted down – his frame was so large that he was still fairly high off the ground – and looked at Noah. “Hi, little guy,” he said. “Having fun at the zoo?”
Noah blinked before running behind Chloe’s legs and peeping out from between her knees. “Animals,” he said uncertainly, putting his thumb in his mouth.
Chloe bent down and scooped Noah up, letting him rest on her hip. “He’s a little shy,” she explained. She frowned. “But if you’ve met him before, it’s unusual for him to act this way.” She smiled at her son. “C’mon, Noah, you know this guy, right? He’s one of the class dads.”
Noah gurgled and tangled his hands in Chloe’s low ponytail.
“Want to go check out the otter exhibit?” Clay grinned. “Those little guys are my favorites in the whole zoo.”
“Sure,” Chloe replied. She felt grateful for the distraction. “Let’s go.”
As the three of them walked through the otter exhibit, Chloe couldn’t help herself from sneaking the occasional glance at Clay’s sculpted, muscular body. He wasn’t the kind of guy she found herself normally attracted to – her last boyfriend had been a skinny, model-type, much like herself. But she couldn’t deny that there was a sizzle of tension between Clay and herself that only seemed to get stronger as the day went on. He was wearing a pair of dark jeans and a plaid button-down shirt that she normally would have found goofy. But somehow, on Clay, the look was quite sexy.
“Have you lived around here for a long time?” Chloe peeked over the edges of her sunglasses, into Clay’s golden-brown eyes. In the sun, they were like liquid amber. She found herself hypnotized by the little flecks of black.
Clay laughed. “Pretty much my whole life,” he said, shrugging and holding his arms high over his head. “I love this place. It gets a little crowded sometimes – you know how moving to the country has gotten so damn trendy.”
Chloe blushed. “I moved here recently,” she admitted. “I used to live in New York.”
“We’re still in New York,” Clay said playfully. “But judging from that outfit, I’m going to have to guess that you meant the city.”
Chloe nodded. Just thinking about it made her miss it. Suddenly, her bones ached for the jangly excitement of Manhattan, for the sour summer smells of hot trash and grease and people.
“I know you’re a city girl,” Clay continued. He was eyeing Chloe in a way that, again, made her feel like he could see more than he was really letting on. “But you’ll find that you like living out here, too. It’s different, but it’s better. It’s healthier.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I felt pretty damn healthy when I was walking six miles a day in heels,” she grumped. “And it’s not that I don’t like it here.” She looked around, trying to view the small zoo uncritically. “But it’s so different from what I’m used to.” She swallowed hard, suddenly aware that she was about to divulge more than she’d normally feel comfortable with. “And well, I’m just not sure. I want a good life for Noah. I don’t want him to be miserable, cooped up in an apartment.”
Clay threw his head back and laughed. He had a full mouth of even, white teeth and Chloe shivered. “I can’t imagine growing up in one of those skyscrapers,” Clay said after he’d stopped laughing. “I mean, it sounds miserable. No green, no trees. No room to run or play.”
Chloe shook her head. “That’s not true,” she argued. “When I was growing up, I spent every weekend in Central Park. We even went horseback riding,” she added defensively. “And I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.”
“And how about Halloween?” Clay raised his eyebrows and looked down at her petite frame. “Don’t tell me; you didn’t celebrate because your parents were too afraid someone would give you a razorblade chocolate.”
Chloe blushed. “No,” she replied. “I celebrated. My sister and I ran around in our apartment building, knocking on all the doors.”
“And you got candy? Or just apples from a bunch of health conscious city freaks?”
Chloe giggled. “One time, we got a whole box of cookies,” she said shyly, running a hand through her ponytail and smoothing Noah’s damage. “Our neighbor was this….woman, who stayed home all day…and had a lot of male guests. She showed up at the door in a black negligee and handed us an unopened box of Oreos.” Chloe laughed again. “My sister was terrified but I thought it was the funniest thing ever.”
Clay laughed politely. “Okay, that’s pretty good,” he said. They resumed walking lazily along the path. “Well, if you love the city so much, why’d you move here? It’s nothing like New York City,” he added.
“Well,” Chloe said hesitantly. She bit her lower lip and looked down at Noah. He was standing towards the edge of the otter pen, looking at the creatures bathing and sunning themselves on large rocks. “Noah….Noah didn’t do so well in the city. He was always crying, unhappy. I thought it was colic, but the doctors all said he was perfectly healthy.” She swallowed hard. She’d never talked to anyone except for medical professionals about Noah’s condition before, and she was suddenly afraid of scaring Clay off. “I took him to a couple of child psychologists, and they all told me that he’d do better in the fresh air and sunshine. I couldn’t handle the idea of leaving the state entirely, so we moved out here.”
“How long ago was that?”
Chloe frowned. “It’s been a few months,” she replied quietly. “It doesn’t feel that way, though.” She sighed and blushed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be spilling my guts to you. I barely know you.”
Clay raised his eyebrows again and Chloe giggled. “It’s my face,” he said confidently. “I get that a lot. Everyone wants to confide in me.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I think you’re just a master of talking to ladies,” she teased. “You’re probably married, and you didn’t even tell me.”
Clay shook his head, holding up his ringless left hand. “Nope,” he said with a grin. “Never married. Don’t even have a girlfriend right now.”
“Oh, god,” Chloe said. She covered her mouth, pretending to be scandalized. “Now you must really think I’m fast.”
Clay laughed. “No,” he said. “I don’t. I just think you’re lonely. And I get that – this can be a pretty lonely place, especially for someone who looks like you.”
Chloe frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t be offended,” Clay said. He shook his head. “I just meant, well, you don’t really look like what most mothers look like around here. You’re all….” He paused, waving his hand in the air for emphasis. “You’re all glamorous,” he finished.
Chloe blushed. “That’s not true,” she demurred, knowing full well that what Clay had said was the absolute truth. “I don’t want people to think I’m standoffish.”
Clay laughed again. “You’re a little spitfire, you know that?” He winked at her. “And if you’re so restless, why not come out with me tomorrow night? I’m going to a club with my brother, Rock, and his wife Gemma.”
Chloe perked up. “There’s a club? In Ithaca?”
Clay gave her a weird look, then shook his head. “A real spitfire,” he repeated. When he winked at Chloe, she felt her heart thud against her ribs with excitement and desire. “I’ll pick you up at eight,” he added. “So be ready by then.”
Chapter Two
When Chloe and Noah got home from the zoo, she immediately ran over to the neighbor’s house. Mrs. Renthro was a woman only a few years older than Chloe, but with four kids and a loud, yappy dog. She looked up from power-rinsing her driveway with a pinched expression on her wrinkled face.
“Mrs. Renthro!” Chloe waved her arms in the air. “Mrs. Renthro, can I ask you a favor?” She skipped closer, breathless, still flushed with excitement over the possibility of going out.
“What is it?” The older woman frowned. “I’m busy right now.” She eyed Chloe from head to toe.
Chloe straightened her posture and stared right back. “Can you watch Noah for a few hours tomorrow night?”
Mrs. Renthro stared. “And why would you ask me to do that?”
“I’m going out,” Chloe said.
Mrs. Renthro kept staring. “And you can’t take your son? What would your husband say?” She shook her head from side to side. “It’s bad to leave your children, Chloe,” she added in a judgmental tone. “You know what my church says about that?”
“I’m not married,” Chloe said defensively. “And I’m going out with some friends.”
Mrs. Renthro sighed, as if Chloe were asking her to move the moon or something equally unlikely. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “What if your boy starts corrupting my children?”
Chloe raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“I’ve seen him,” Mrs. Renthro snapped. “Running around outside and screaming, biting trees! He acts like a wild beast, not a little boy!”
Chloe put her arms over her chest and glared. “He’s a normal little boy,” she said coolly. “That’s what all the doctors have said.”
Mrs. Renthro stuck out her lower lip. “Well, I’ve raised four and I can tell you, your boy ain’t normal.”
Chloe shook her head. “You know what? Forget it,” she said, turning around and crossing the driveway. I’ll find someone else, you old hag, she thought to herself as she scooped Noah from his car seat and carried him into the house. Noah chirped with excitement as Chloe set him down in the kitchen. He raised his arms over his head and darted off in the other direction, making a beeline for the living room.
“Not too loud, sweetie,” Chloe called as she pulled her laptop onto the kitchen table. “Mommy’s got a little research to do!”
An hour later, she had a babysitter for the following night: a local college student named Kristin. Chloe was relieved – Kristin had gushed over the fact that Chloe and Noah were recently from New York City, and Chloe could tell that the girl wouldn’t give her any grief over her decision to go out.
“Noah,” Chloe called as she walked into the living room. “You’re going to meet a new friend tomorrow.”
Noah’s face fell. For a moment, he looked dangerously close to tears. Please don’t cry, Chloe prayed silently. Please don’t cry. Her silent thought seemed to have worked – Noah’s face settled.
“Fwiend?” He looked up at his mother expectantly.
Chloe nodded, bending down and scooping Noah up in her arms. “That’s right, sweetie, you’re going to meet a friend,” she cooed. “Now let’s go find Mommy something to wear.”
Even though Chloe had a wardrobe full of cocktail dresses and fancy, cute things, she couldn’t find something that struck her fancy. She dismissed everything as being either too out of season or too trendy.
In a huff, she sat down on the bed. After what had seemed like hours of looking, she’d only managed to see her old favorite: a black bandage dress with subtle black sequins down the bodice. Chloe frowned.
“Noah, do you like this?” She held up the dress in front of her petite frame. “Do you think Mommy looks nice?”
Noah pouted. “Mommy, Noah hungry,” he said, sticking his lower lip out. When it began to tremble, Chloe sighed.
“Let’s go have dinner,” she said, almost more to herself than to Noah. “Maybe I’ll have an idea there.”
--
The following night, Kristin arrived at seven-thirty. After giving her a brief tour of the house and telling her about Noah’s special, macrobiotic diet, Chloe darted into her bedroom to put the finishing touches on her outfit. She’d decided on the tight black dress after all, and she paired with strappy gold leather heels that made her legs look even longer than they already were. Still, something felt off.
“Is this too much?” Chloe stood in front of Kristin and turned around in a slow circle. “I mean, do I look like I’m trying too hard?”
Kristin laughed. “You look amazing,” she said. “I love that dress! Where did you get it?”
Chloe shrugged. “Bloomingdales, maybe, a few years ago?” She frowned at her reflection in the mirror. “I don’t want people to think I’m trying too hard.”
“This is a first date, right?”
Chloe nodded.
“Then who cares?” Kristin shrugged. “I assume this guy already knows what you look like.”
Chloe laughed and blushed. “Yeah,” she admitted. “We met at the zoo.”
Kristin laughed. “That’s perfect,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. You look great, Ms. Parks.”
“Chloe, please,” Chloe replied, holding up her hand and blushing. “I am way, way too young to be called anything other than my first name.”
When Clay arrived, Chloe stood in the foyer and watched him through the small windows on the sides of the door. Part of her expected that he would just sit in the driveway and honk. When he didn’t immediately get out of the car, she cringed, expecting to hear the klaxon blare at any second. Instead, he reached over and grabbed something in the passenger seat before gracefully leaping to the pavement and striding up the walk to Chloe’s house.
“These are for you,” Clay said as Chloe opened the door. He pressed a giant bouquet of purple, pink, and white roses towards her. “I thought you might like them.”
“They’re beautiful,” Chloe said honestly. She lowered her face to the flowers and gratefully inhaled. “Thank you.” She blushed. “I can’t remember the last time someone brought me flowers.”
Clay frowned. “That’s a damn shame,” he replied. “You’re beautiful. You should be used to getting flowers.”
But I’m not, Chloe thought as she trimmed the ends of the roses and tucked them into a glass vase shaped like a box. I’m used to guys who treat me like crap.
“You look great,” Clay said with a grin. “You sure you don’t wanna wear jeans, though?”
Chloe frowned. “You said we’re going to a club,” she said with a pout. “I don’t wear jeans to clubs.”
Clay held his arms up in the air and laughed. “Alright,” he said with a roguish grin that made Chloe’s heart skip a beat. “Off we go, then.”
During the drive into the small downtown of Ithaca, Clay chattered a blue streak. Chloe couldn’t remember the last time that she’d talked with a guy so effortlessly. You have to hold back, she found herself thinking more than once. You don’t know this guy. You don’t know anything about him, hardly!
Even though Chloe had grown up in a small town, she’d lived in New York City since turning eighteen. Most of her friends had been people much like herself – artists, dancers, and other creative types who enjoyed a more Bohemian lifestyle. She’d watched from the sidelines as people played games with one another, vowing that even though she found it a waste of time, she’d never do anything to compromise herself. She couldn’t imagine anything more embarrassing than being dumped by someone she really liked.
“Been single long?”
“What?” Chloe jolted out of her mind. “Sorry,” she added, flashing a charming grin. “I missed that, what did you ask?”
Clay shook his head. “You’re a little spacey,” he commented. “Everything okay? Something on your mind?” He turned and looked into Chloe’s green eyes. For a moment, she felt the sudden urge to tell him what had happened with her neighbor. She had a feeling that somehow, Clay would understand.
“No,” she said finally, flashing another smile. “I’m fine. Sorry, just a little tired I guess.” Chloe mimed a yawn. “What did you ask?”
“I asked how long you’d been single.” Clay raised his eyebrows as he pulled into a parking lot. Chloe’s hopes were dashed as she gazed over the row of ramshackle buildings. “I’m willing to bet it hasn’t been long. Not with a looker like you, anyway,” Clay added.
“It’s been a few years,” Chloe murmured. “I haven’t really wanted a boyfriend, though. I don’t feel like I’m missing out.”
“And your son?”
“He doesn’t have a boyfriend, either,” Chloe said, sticking out her tongue and making Clay laugh. “I mean, I had him by myself.” She swallowed, blushing slightly. “I wanted to start a family but there wasn’t anyone I wanted to marry. So I did it myself.”
“You and Gemma are gonna get along famously,” Clay replied as he switched off the ignition. “She had her son by herself, too.”
Chloe frowned. “Didn’t you say that she’s married to your brother?”
Clay laughed again and winked at her. Chloe felt strangely disarmed. “I did,” he replied casually as he slid out of the car and walked around to her side. “But sometimes things have a funny way of working out like that.”
Chloe’s glance darted around nervously as Clay escorted her into the club. It wasn’t like she’d imagined. It was more like a dive bar, with pool tables and a jukebox in the corner that was playing Top 40 hits from twenty years ago. The air was hazy with cigarette smoke and Chloe’s eyes burned almost immediately.
“This is a club?”
Clay laughed. “I thought you might be more comfortable in jeans,” he teased. “But nope, you were dead set on having every man stare at you all night.”
Chloe blushed and tried to tug up the front of her dress. “Sorry,” she said as she glanced around. “I mean, I guess I thought when you said club, that you meant something different.”
Clay put his arms over his head and thrust his pelvis out in an approximation of boy-band dance moves. “Like this?” He winked at Chloe as he gyrated wildly and she was surprised to find herself more than slightly turned on by his little display. “Or like this?” Clay smoothly transitioned into sexier dance moves, bumping and hopping along the floor. Chloe laughed out loud, even though she felt slightly embarrassed that everyone was staring at them.
“Something like that,” she muttered. Once her eyes adjusted to the inside of the dim room, she saw that it was even more dilapidated than she’d first imagined. “What kind of club is this?”
Clay grinned. “It’s a karaoke club, baby,” he said as he put an arm around Chloe’s shoulders and pulled her close. “And just wait until I have a few shots of tequila!”
A man who looked much like Clay and a cute, casual-looking brunette woman walked over to Clay and Chloe.
“Chloe, this is my brother Rock and his wife, Gemma,” Clay said as they shook hands.
“Do you two have another brother named Tree?”
Clay and Rock laughed uproariously. “No,” Rock said with a glint in his eye. “But we do have one named Rust.”
Chloe blushed hard. “Wow,” she said. “I had a sister named Allyson.”
The foursome walked over to a table and slid into battered wooden chairs. Chloe’s feet were already aching from her stiletto heels and she winced as she crossed her legs at the knee.
“Shoulda worn better shoes,” Clay said with a guffaw. “You’re gonna be too sore to dance with me!”
Chloe glanced around the dark club. “People dance here?”
“Yes, princess, they do,” Clay replied playfully. Chloe blushed again.
“Sorry,” she said, more to Rock and Gemma than to Clay. “I’m not exactly used to places like this.”
“Where are you from?” Gemma’s voice was soft and sweet, just like the rest of her. She was a few inches shorter than Chloe with laugh-lines in the corners of her mouth, pretty grey eyes, and long brown hair tied back in a ponytail.
“New York City,” Chloe said. She glanced around, feeling self-conscious. “I moved here because of my son, Noah. He…..” She trailed off. “He didn’t do so well in the city. Everyone said he’d be happier in the country.”
“Our son, Arthur, loves it out here,” Gemma said. She beamed. “Kids love nature and trees.”
“And Chloe even had her baby like you did, Gemma,” Clay said casually. He rested his big hands on the table and Chloe blushed at the sight of them. There was something about his large, muscular, hairy frame that turned her on. She imagined how it would feel to be in Clay’s arms, to feel his strong hands caressing her slight body.
“Really?” Gemma smiled, more genuine this time. “I felt so self-conscious for going to a sperm bank!”
Chloe laughed out loud. She was beginning to feel a little better, now that she was actually talking to reasonable adults. “I had my agent take me,” she said, glancing down. “And I wore sunglasses.”
Rock stared at Chloe. His eyes moved from Chloe to Clay and then back again. “So, you two-“
“Shut up, Rock,” Clay said good-naturedly. “We all need a beer. Who wants a beer?”
Chloe bit her lip. “Wine, please?”
Clay laughed and shook his head. “Nope, beer it is. Sorry, Chloe. You’re in the country now!”
As the night progressed, Chloe was surprised to discover how much fun she was having. Rock and Gemma were a sweet couple, and she and Gemma even exchanged numbers. Gemma wasn’t like any of her old friends, but she didn’t seem completely dissimilar, either. Deep down, Chloe hoped that she was making a new friend.
“How did you two meet?” Chloe leaned over the counter. Her skin felt hot and itchy and she was well aware that she’d already had too much to drink. The inside air of the bar suddenly felt stifling and hot, and she put a hand to her forehead.
Gemma blushed. “Well, I had a birthday party for my son Arthur,” she said softly. Chloe had to lean forward to hear her – Gemma was one of the most soft-spoken women she’d ever met. It was funny to see her with Rock, who was basically a louder version of Clay. They even had the same shaggy brown hair and golden eyes. “And Rock showed up. He basically saved the day,” she said, looking at her husband with clear affection in her eyes. “And he even brought Arthur a pet rabbit.”
“Aww,” Chloe cooed. “That’s so sweet! But how did you really meet?”
Rock and Clay and Gemma all exchanged looks. “Well,” Clay said carefully.
Rock held up a hand. “I had a feeling that Arthur’s party was exactly where I needed to be that day,” he said with a grin and a wink. “And once I saw Gemma, well, I was a goner.” He pulled his wife close and kissed her temple.
“When did you get married?”
Gemma blushed. Her left hand sparkled with a small, tasteful diamond and matching wedding band. “Well, about six months after we met,” she said casually.
Chloe’s jaw dropped. “Six months?” She opened her eyes wide. “That’s all?”
Gemma nodded. She smiled sweetly at Rock. “It just felt right,” she said with a shrug. “I couldn’t imagine not being Rock’s wife. And Arthur just loved him right from the beginning.”
“We’re a great family,” Rock said. He grinned at Gemma and Chloe felt her stomach twist. She swallowed hard, faintly aware that she was jealous for one of the first times in her adult life. How is that even fair? They barely even knew each other and they got married and they look like they’re so in love! I’m never going to find anything like that!
“I can tell,” Chloe said honestly. Clay pushed another shot of tequila towards her on the table and she tilted her head back, swallowing all of the clear, fiery liquid.
“Sometimes when people meet, they just know,” Clay said. He gave Chloe a knowing look and she shivered. It felt like he was speaking about some hidden meaning, and although she didn’t know what he was getting at, she couldn’t deny the warm feelings of arousal and pleasure that were shooting through her body. Suddenly, all she cared about was being alone with Clay. She wanted to wrap her arms around his strong, muscular neck and pull his lips to hers.
“I get that,” Chloe said softly. She glanced down. “I’m just used to a different lifestyle.” She winked at Clay. “You know, most of my friends wouldn’t even date men they’d known for years!”
“What was the hold-up?” Rock leaned in close. “Are things really that different in the city?”
“Well, everyone does like to pretend they’re about twenty years younger than they actually are,” Chloe said dryly. “My friends never wanted to admit they were growing up. I was the youngest one to have a baby, and I had Noah when I was twenty-nine.”
“Wow,” Rock replied. “Well, things ain’t like that out here. Are they, Clay?”
Clay snorted. “Enough,” he said, standing up from the table. “Come on, Chloe. Better get you home before my brother embarrasses me any more tonight.”
Chapter Three
“My head,” Chloe whined as she leaned against the window on the passenger side of Clay’s car. “Ouch.”
Clay laughed. “I take it you’re not used to tequila,” he said in a smooth, low voice as he turned the key in the ignition. “Strong stuff, that,” he added. “I’ve had my fair share of nights feeling like shit over it.”
Chloe closed her eyes and winced. Her head was throbbing and she could still taste every shot of the liquid fire that she’d swallowed back at the karaoke bar. Talking to Rock and Gemma had been so much fun. It was the most fun she’d had since moving west from New York. Impulsively, she leaned across the seat and tried to press her mouth against Clay’s. For a moment, they were tantalizingly close. Clay’s breath washed over Chloe’s face and she shivered with lust. As her hot lips pressed against his, she moaned softly.
Then, Clay’s firm hands were on her shoulders and he was pushing her away. When Chloe opened her eyes, Clay was staring deep into her face.
“Whatever happened to not even dating people you’d known for years?” Clay’s voice was teasing, but Chloe could sense an underlying current of serious meaning beneath. Even in her drunk state, she felt embarrassed about the comments she’d made earlier in the evening.
“It’s just a kiss,” Chloe protested. She leaned in again but Clay gently held her off.
“It’s not just a kiss to me,” Clay replied. “I’m not that type of guy. I don’t hook up with women and then just forget about them. That’s never been my deal.”
Chloe felt a shiver of anticipation rip through her body. She pouted. “I understand,” she said softly. There was a moment of silence in the car, then Chloe hiccupped loudly and covered her mouth.
“You’ll be okay,” Clay said in a soothing voice. He handed Chloe a capped bottle of water. “Drink as much of this as you can, and when you get home, take some painkillers. You should be alright in the morning.”
Chloe obediently drank the whole bottle of water. By the time Clay had pulled up in front of her house, she was feeling much better When he got out of the car to open her door for her, she felt suddenly shy.
“Wanna come in?” Chloe unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face Clay. “I have the sitter for another hour or two. You could have a coffee, or another drink.”
In the dark of the car, Clay’s golden-brown eyes seemed to glow. “Alright,” he replied. “I’ll come in. Just for a little bit, though. I don’t want you getting too worried that I’m going to try to marry you immediately.”
Chloe bit her lip. “Clay, I didn’t mean anything rude about your brother and Gemma,” she said. “It’s just, well, I’m from a different planet. You understand that, right?”
Clay laughed good-naturedly and again, Chloe wondered if there was some kind of hidden meaning in that sexy grin of his. “As long as we can understand each other,” he replied as he climbed out of the car. “That’s all I care about.”
Inside the house was quiet. Chloe could hear the TV on a muted whisper in the living room. She turned to Clay. “Well, coffee or a real drink?”
Clay licked his lips and Chloe felt another pang of lust. “What are you having?”
“A vodka tonic,” Chloe replied. She put her hand on her forehead. “I feel better,” she added. “I mean, I’m not going to be sick.”
Clay raised his eyebrows. “You got any beer?”
She shook her head and giggled. “Nope, it’s gonna have to be a girly drink. Let me pay the babysitter and I’ll join you,” she added, winking at Clay.
The two of them settled down in the spare bedroom, which Chloe was currently using as an office. Unlike the rest of the house, it was still cluttered with boxes and dust from moving.
“Sorry,” she apologized as they settled down on the carpeted floor. “Noah’s room is down the hall, and I don’t want to wake him up if we went into my room.”
Clay raised his eyebrows. “And just why would we do that?” He took a long pull from the cocktail glass Chloe handed him. “I mean, after all, we barely know each other.” He winked at Chloe and she blushed.
“So,” Chloe began. She bit her lip. “You probably think I’m a real mess, don’t you? Some stuck up city girl who had a kid because she wanted a family, yet couldn’t actually commit to a relationship.”
“Not at all,” Clay said smoothly. He leaned back against the wall and took another long slurp of vodka. “I think you’re probably feeling a little out of water around here.” He paused. Chloe waited for him to speak again, hanging on the edge of his words. Some of the effects of the tequila were leaving her body, and being around Clay again was making her skin feel tingly and excited.
“That’s probably true,” Chloe admitted. “It’s been hard for me to find people that are actually willing to talk to me around here.”
Clay chuckled. “I know you think everyone is pretty unaccepting of you, but maybe you should do some thinking about how you’ve treated everyone else.” His voice was smooth and calm, free of judgment. “Sometimes, people have gone through things that aren’t so readily apparent on the outside.”
Chloe nodded. She blushed slightly. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I mean, I’m sorry if I’ve somehow offended you.”
Clay shook his head. His golden brown eyes stared into Chloe’s green ones and she shivered again. “I vowed to spend my whole life as a bachelor,” Clay said. He stretched his arms high over his head and Chloe tried to avoid staring at his sculpted chest beneath his worn T-shirt. “I thought, you know, bachelorhood. That’s the life for me. No family, no responsibility, no heartbreak.” He paused. “And then I found out, pretty recently in fact, that I’ve fathered a child.”
Chloe gaped. “So….you’re not one of the class dads from Noah’s program?”
Clay shook his head. “Nope,” he said with a lazy grin that sent sparks of desire through Chloe’s body. “Can’t say that I am. When I saw you with Noah, I just knew that I had to talk to you. You looked so pretty, and so unhappy.”
Chloe looked into his eyes. “And now you probably think I’m horrible.”
Clay laughed. “No, stop saying that,” he teased lightly. “I don’t think you’re a bad person at all. I’m telling you that sometimes, big things happen to people and then we change. I always expected to be a bachelor, and then I fathered a child. Sometimes, things can change in an instant. Big things,” Clay said, spreading his hands around in the air. “Things that I had no idea would ever change.”
Chloe bit her lip and nodded. “I get that,” she said softly. “But somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen to me.”
“You never know,” Clay said. His tone was light but serious and when Chloe looked into his golden-brown eyes, she saw no trace of laughter there.
“You’re right,” Chloe admitted. “It could happen. I just don’t necessarily think that it will.”
Clay got to his feet, brushing his hands off on his jeans. He handed the empty glass back to Chloe. “I should go,” he said, stifling a yawn. “Early day tomorrow.”
Chloe followed him to the door, her heels silent on the plush carpet of her house. When Clay’s hand was on the knob, she knew that she couldn’t wait anymore.
“Hold on,” Chloe said. She stepped closer. The air between the two of them crackled with intensity and lust. “Wait, I mean,” She added. “Please.”
Clay’s face wore an amused smile. “And why should I?”
Chloe leaned in and kissed him. It wasn’t like the kiss in the car. This time, it was a real kiss. Clay leaned in to her body and pressed his warm lips against her own. Chloe melted against his strong frame, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down.
“Will you stay?” Chloe whispered into Clay’s ear.
Clay shifted his posture. When he straightened up, he looked deeply into Chloe’s eyes. “If you consider having a relationship – a real relationship – with me, then yes, I’ll stay,” he replied. “If that’s not in the cards, that’s fine, but I need to know now.”
Chloe bit her lip. The lust storming her body made it impossible to think of anything other than Clay. “Yes,” she said softly. “Yes, this feels right.”
A fraction of a second passed before Clay reached for Chloe and pulled her into his arms, nuzzling her face before kissing her deeply. Chloe’s knees went weak with the passion of the kiss. She moaned softly into Clay’s mouth as his tongue slipped between her lips. Desire licked at the base of her spine like a fire and Chloe tangled her fingers in Clay’s soft brown hair, tugging at his scalp until he groaned with pleasure.
“I want you,” Clay whispered in Chloe’s ear, sending a fierce chill through her body. “I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you, you’re gorgeous,” he added, nibbling at Chloe’s earlobe until she whimpered with pleasure. Chloe laced her fingers with Clay’s and gently tugged him down the hallway and into her dark bedroom.
Once inside, Chloe and Clay tumbled down onto the bed together. Their two bodies pressed and clung against each other, as though they were drowning and in need of a life raft. When Clay found Chloe’s mouth and kissed her, she felt as if they were breathing the same air. Her belly tensed with arousal and as Clay stroked his hands down her back, she moaned loudly into his neck. Clay gently pushed her down on the bed and nuzzled her neck before biting and sucking at the tender skin. Chloe gasped at the incredible sensation of Clay’s warm, wet tongue and his scratchy stubble. The feelings racing through her body were too strong to be ignored, and she lay back with her eyes closed, enjoying the way her body responded to well to Clay.
“I want you out of this,” Chloe said with a smirk as she slipped her hands under Clay’s shirt. As he tugged it over his head and tossed it to the floor, she let her eyes wander down his muscular chest. “You’re the gorgeous one,” Chloe said shyly, reaching forward and stroking his hairy, strong body. “I love this.”
Clay grinned. He unbuckled his belt and yanked it out of his pants, tossing it to the floor and bending over Chloe’s frame. For a moment, he stared directly into her eyes. Chloe shivered as his warm, honeyed amber eyes penetrated her own.
“When you look at me like that, I feel like you can see everything inside of me,” Chloe said softly. A blush covered her cheeks and she licked her lips slowly. “It feels so private, Clay.”
“I want to know you,” Clay murmured huskily as he crawled back on the bed, clad only in dark jeans. “I desperately want to know you, Chloe.” He kissed her roughly, until the stubble on his chin was painful against her own skin. Still, Chloe didn’t pull away. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her slender, taut body against his, liking the feel of their skin together. Clay’s hands slid down her body and began to tug at the hem of her dress. Chloe arched her back and allowed Clay to pull the dress all the way down, until she was clad only in her bra and panties.
Clay stared at her with reverence. “You’re gorgeous,” he murmured again. The sound of his deep voice sent shivers through Chloe’s body and she closed her eyes, letting her head sink back into the silk pillows on the bed. Clay’s touch on her body was just as she guessed it would be: half-clumsy, trying to be gentle, but still a little rough. His fingers and hands were strong – she guessed that he did a lot of work outside – and the rough callouses on her soft belly sent a spike of lust and arousal through her body. Clay leaned down and kissed Chloe softly, sucking on her lower lip until she moaned and shuddered. As they kissed, he slipped his hands down her bare back and gently squeezed her ass. Chloe sighed and pressed her body against Clay’s, desperate for more of his touch. She closed her eyes as she felt Clay’s hands slip inside her panties and tug them down her legs.
Chloe sat up and reached behind herself, unclasping her bra and dropping it to the floor. When Clay’s hands covered her breasts, she moaned at his rough touch. Clay stroked and rubbed her nipples until they were as stiff as pebbles. The feelings running through her body were so intense, she didn’t think she could last for very long. She could feel her face flushed with arousal and desire and her crotch was thumping for want of Clay’s attention.
As Clay pinched and tweaked Chloe’s nipples between his fingers, she groaned and arched her back. Chloe spread her legs and Clay climbed in between them, grinding against her bare crotch with his jeans. She could feel a large, stiff erection between his thighs and she slid her hands down his muscular body and unfastened his jeans, tugging them down his hips and thighs.
Clay shifted and pulled his pants down, throwing them to the ground. He was naked under his jeans and Chloe almost gasped again when she saw his cock: it was large, and wide, and perfectly proportional to the rest of his amazing body. She blushed hotly as he climbed between her legs and thrust against her labia.
“Touch me, Clay,” Chloe begged. She closed her eyes and relaxed her head on the pillow as his rough fingertips stroked her inner thighs. Spreading her legs as wide as she could, Chloe anticipated Clay’s touch on her wet pussy with a hot, pulsing sense of pleasure. When he finally slipped a finger inside of her, she cried out. She was so wet that she could already feel a wet spot forming on the bed underneath of her, and Clay’s finger wriggling around inside of her body felt heavenly. She gasped as his thumb found her clit and began moving around it in slow, torturous circles that sent a delicious spike of pleasure through Chloe’s body.
Clay groaned. “I can’t take it anymore,” he growled. “I need you. I need to have you, Chloe.”
“Take me,” Chloe moaned. She spread her legs wide again, anticipating the heavy feel of Clay’s body against her own. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and tugged her forward so she came off the bed and crashed against him. Clay held onto Chloe firmly as he laid down on his back. His massive cock was sticking straight up in the air and Chloe shivered as she straddled his thighs. The head of Clay’s erection brushed against Chloe’s labia and she felt an electric pulse of lust between her legs. Her lower belly was throbbing and without warning, she sank down hard on his cock, letting it fill every inch of her most secret place. Clay groaned at the feel of Chloe sliding down on his cock. For a moment, she stayed there, unmoving. Then she began to rock her hips gently back and forth, teasing Clay with her body.
Clay reached up and began stroking Chloe’s breasts, rubbing her nipples with his thumb. The sensation was exquisite and she cried out as she arched her back. Chloe moved her hips faster until she was grinding on Clay’s hard erection. He strained and groaned and pushed far inside of her. After a moment, they matched their rhythm and began to move as one, as one perfect muscular being. Chloe stared down at Clay’s gorgeous amber eyes, feeling truly exposed and vulnerable. All traces of the alcohol had left her body as they sensuously rocked back and forth and she realized that she’d never felt intimacy as true as what she currently felt with Clay.
Clay took one hand away from her breasts and gently pushed it between her legs, rubbing against her clit with each movement of Chloe’s hips. His touch felt incredible and she gasped loudly as her wetness gushed from her pussy. Clay’s cock twitched inside of Chloe and she moaned, gripping his chest with both hands and grinding her hips hard. She began to feel like something kept gripping her between the legs and she held her breath as she desperately ground her clit against Clay’s waiting thumb.
Beneath her, Clay’s body was soaked with sweat. He closed his eyes and strained his face as he thrust up and deep inside Chloe’s body. A thrilling sensation racked her limbs as they moved together and when she began to come, she let out a strangled cry of pleasure. The orgasm was forceful – it left her shaking and breathing hard, her forehead damp with perspiration. Clay grabbed onto Chloe’s hips with both hands and thrust as forcefully as he could. She watched as he groaned and strained beneath her, his muscular body tensing with the lust that flowed easily between them.
Chloe gasped as she felt Clay’s cock tense and pulse inside of her body. As he filled her with his seed, she collapsed against his chest in a mess of sweat. Her limbs felt sated, relaxed, like someone had just given her a full-body massage.
Clay gently took hold of Chloe and pulled her close. She slid off his body and wrapped her limbs against his, falling asleep before she’d even had the chance to kiss him goodnight.
Chapter Four
In the morning, Chloe woke up with a dry mouth and a pang in her chest. She opened her eyes, afraid that Clay would be gone. Instead, he was sitting up in bed and staring at her.
Chloe blushed. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Clay chuckled. His voice was husky and still thick with sleep, and Chloe felt another pang of desire as she looked at his tan, sculpted body. “Nothing’s wrong,” Clay said with a lazy grin. Chloe’s heart fluttered in her chest. “I just like watching you sleep.”
Chloe bit her lip before grinning widely. “You wanna go get Noah and have some breakfast?”
Clay’s stomach growled in response and they both burst out laughing.
As Chloe climbed out of bed and wrapped her silk kimono around her lean frame, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of hesitation. What was going to happen? Now that they’d slept together, she was worried that Clay would change his mind. What if he didn’t want anything to do with her? She frowned. And what if….No, I can’t think that way, she decided firmly. I like this guy, and I told him. If he chooses to play games with me now, well, I’m just not going to do that. We may not be in New York any longer, but that doesn’t mean he’s any different. He’s a man, after all.
“What’s wrong?” Clay leaned over Chloe. “You look tense.”
She shook her head. “Nothing,” she lied.
Clay stared. “Don’t give me that,” he said as he pulled his shirt over his head, covering his carved abs. “I know something’s the matter. You’re acting different. Shy, again, like you have something to hide.”
Chloe glanced down at her painted toenails. “I’m starting to think that I was wrong,” she said softly.
“What, like I’m never gonna see you again?” Clay’s tone was light but Chloe could tell that he was vulnerable behind the jokey words.
She shook her head quickly. “No,” Chloe replied. “Not like that. Nothing like that.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Chloe sat down on the bed and put her face in her hands. “I think I was wrong, before,” she mumbled into her fingers. “I think I’ve always been wrong.” She looked up at Clay and sighed before patting the bed. When he sat down next to her, she continued: “I used to think that everyone played games, Clay. I used to think that no one was genuine, and the only people who were acting that way were doing it to get some advantage. I never thought I’d meet someone like you.”
Clay grinned. “I know, I’m one of a kind,” he teased. “But Chloe, you have to know, most people aren’t like that.” He snorted. “Hell, it sounds exhausting. I couldn’t imagine jumping through hoops just to make someone happy because they were too afraid to say how they really felt.”
“I like you more than anyone I’ve ever met,” Chloe confessed. She looked away. “And I know I’m not supposed to say things like that, I know I’m not supposed to just open up and tell you how I feel. I’m supposed to play hot and cold, and then only after you confess that you like me,…” She trailed off, feeling stupid. “But I can’t live like that anymore,” Chloe said firmly. “It’s my life, and I have to take responsibility for my own happiness. I want to trust my gut, and I want to be with you.”
Clay grinned. “That’s fantastic,” he said. “You have to know by now how much I like you, too,” he replied.
Chloe felt a hot rush of adrenaline spike through her body.
“Noah’s my son,” Clay continued. “And now I’m just happy that I get to be a part of your lives.”
“What?” Chloe gaped. “Are you kidding me?”
Clay shook his head. “Dead serious,” he said with a grin. “I donated sperm. It wasn’t supposed to be used, it was supposed to be for this…project,” he added. “But I was contacted recently, and told the truth. And Noah’s my son. I was looking for you,” he added. “And when I saw you, I just knew in my heart that I was going to love you forever.”
“But-“
“There’s more,” Clay said, “The whole point of that project was to do research on Bear Shifter DNA. I’m a Bear Shifter, Chloe, and that means Noah is too. I know this is a lot to take in, and if you need time to process-“
Tears came to Chloe’s eyes. She sniffled and melted against Clay’s shoulder. “I should be freaked out right now,” she said softly. “But I’m not. I’m just excited. Is that weird?” She giggled. “I can’t believe that for once, my stupid intuition was actually right about something.”
Clay wrapped an arm around Chloe and pulled her close. “I’m glad,” he said as he nuzzled her tousled blonde hair. “And I promise, I’ll always make sure your life is exciting. It’s not going to be like New York City, but Ithaca’s not so bad.” He winked at Chloe.
“Really?” A tear ran down her cheek. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me before.”
Clay winked. “As long as you like hiking,” he added casually. Chloe’s face fell. “I’m kidding!” Clay said quickly. “No hiking, I promise. Just lots of love, and lots of excitement.” He looked into Chloe’s eyes and she felt a flutter of love. “That sound good to you?”
Chloe kissed Clay, closing her eyes and gently pressing her lips against his. When they broke apart, she sighed softly. “That sounds perfect. Me and my two Bears.”
“Good,” Clay whispered into her hair. “Because I wouldn’t have it any other way.”