Burning For Claire (The O'Connell Family Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

take her to. I couldn’t find a place I really wanted to take her that was special enough. I just decided I would give her a choice between two places I liked.

    I was about fifteen minutes behind schedule. So when I got to the doors Tad was locking up. He saw me and started to unlock them.
    “Hey Cowboy! I thought you weren’t going to show.”
    “She’s still here right?” I asked anxiously.
    “Sure, but I don’t think she’s up to going out.”
    His concern made me nervous so I asked, “Why not?”
    “One, she’s mad about the rather large love bite she sported all day,” he chuckled and shook his head. I couldn’t help but smile at my success. “Two, she’s had a long day. Two of our stylists didn’t come in, leaving her to take all the clients that didn’t just cancel and walkout.”
    “Damn. Is she firing them?” She was if I had anything to say about it.
    “She should be, but knowing her she won’t. She’s a sweetheart under all that bitchy exterior.”
    “Thanks.”
    “No prob. She needs a good dicking,” Tad suggested as he walked away and began unplugging all their tools.
    “No filter,” I called out as I walked to the back
    “None,” he shouted.
    I wasn’t happy that she was too tired to go out. She shouldn’t have to work that hard. I was getting pissed just thinking about her working like that all the time. I had a feeling long nights were the norm.
    In my eagerness to see her mixed with my frustration, I opened the door a little too forcefully.
    “Travis, I don’t want to go out tonight,” she mumbled. I could see she was tired.
    “Okay.” It was clear she was shocked that I’d just let it go.
    “Okay?” she asked in confusion.
    “Yes. I’ll take you home, and we can order some take out.” I could see that she was feeling a bit indecisive about the change in plans.
    After a minute, she finally caved. “Fine…but I live upstairs.”
    “I know. It’ll be a quick trip.” I gave a bright smart-ass smile and a wink. 
    “I don’t think it’s a good idea. I have a lot of work to do still that I can’t put off.”
    I shook my head as I walked up to her. I grabbed her hand and started to massage it. I knew it had to hurt. I’ve worked with my hands on the ranch or when I had to type a report. They could seriously ache.
    “I know, babe. I just want to get to know you. You choose the place, I’ll order, and then I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
    “Whatever I need,” she said as she did the air quotations and a roll of her eyes.
    “Babe, I’m not talking about sex at all. When I take you I want you ready to be possessed, and you’re going to need all of your strength for me.”
    She paused after giving me an “I’m so full of shit” look then said, “I like Chinese. Will that work?”
    “Sure. Anything you want in particular?”
    “No shrimp or noodles. Everything else is fine.”
    “Good. I’m going to go ask Tad if he wants anything.”
    “I think he’s probably gone by now. He’s going out of town to visit his family today.”
    “I’ll check, anyway.”
    I walked out of the office and looked for Tad. He was just getting on his messenger bag. “Hey, Claire and I are ordering some food, want some?”
    “As much as I’d love to, I can’t. I’m about to get picked up by my brother. Come here so I can show you how to lock up, since you’ll be getting delivery.” He showed me what I needed to do, making sure to get close enough to smell me twice. The boy was obvious as he could be. When I gave him a glare, he just grinned at me like a fool. 
    “Tell Claire I said goodnight…and to do everything I would do!”
    I laughed as I locked up after him. The boy was a character, a little too flirty but entertaining. I called in the order, making sure to order extra just in case she was really hungry; I knew I was.
    I walked back to her office and took a seat in front of her desk. “Sweetheart, Tad said goodbye.” I wasn’t going to tell her