Claire blew Liam away for who she really was, and he wished like hell he knew a way to say that that wouldn’t come across as an insult.

“I don’t trust myself to tell you what I’m feeling,” she said. More than what she’d laid out for him in the truck? Yeah, that was better left unexamined.

“You’re not going after the chainsaw, are you?” He really didn’t want to know, because she was coming at him with purpose. She put her fingertips on his chest and pushed him backward until he landed on the sofa. She must have uncovered and cleaned it, because the drop cloth was gone, and the leather shone. What she apparently didn’t know, however, was that he’d stolen the fluffy stuff from inside one of the cushions for the fire, so when he hit, he went down all the way. Hard.

She laughed—which was the best possible reaction to his pilfering of her sofa innards—and crawled on top of him, straddled him on her knees, and kissed him. And she meant business. Her hands drove through his hair, holding him, keeping him close, as if she needed to hold on to keep him there. Not fucking likely.

He didn’t waste any time sliding his hands under her shirt, lifting the fabric until she finally took the hint and let him drag it over her head. Then she turned her full attention back to his mouth, her sweet little tongue tangled with his. It was a fucking injustice that all her bare skin was wasted on his shirt, so he lost that, too, then dove right back in, earlier trepidation forgotten.

The fire hadn’t been touched in the short time since they’d returned, and the embers did little to heat the place. The cavernous room was cold enough to elicit chills from her that he doubted had anything to do with his kisses, but he resisted the urge to close his mouth on her tightly beaded breasts. Instead, he explored with his hands. She arched against him, whimpering against his lips when he skated his palms along her sides, making her shudder. Loving the way she squirmed against him, he pinched her nipples, both of them, both through her bra, both hard. She gasped and slammed against him, dislodging his grip.

Screw that.

As much as he liked her on top of him, he was done waiting. All the damned thinking he’d done, trying to figure this thing out, trying just as hard to shove it aside because in two days it wouldn’t be a thing anymore, flew like the force of an avalanche hit it. Thinking was overrated.

Having good girl Claire Stevens come onto him was more of a turn on than it should have been, all things considered, but he was tired of considerations.

She wanted him, and he wanted her, and that was enough. 

“Who’s fighting?” Michelle said from the doorway. She wore slacks and a silk blouse. Professional. Alex mentally nailed his feet to the floor to keep from going to her. Creating a scene in front of his parents—and her brother—would only make matters worse. If that was possible.

“No one.” Kyle backed away from Alex but continued to pin him with a glare. 

“We hear congratulations are in order,” Dad declared as he rose from his seat and went to pull Michelle into a bear hug. Mom joined him, and even Chase got up and gave Michelle a pat on the shoulder. Alex stood and watched the display of affection. He’d already had the last embrace he’d have from Michelle. Besides, trying to touch her while her irate brother still glowered at him wasn’t a great idea.

“I’m so proud of you, Mickey,” Dad said. “You’re going to do great things.”

Exactly what Alex had said to her in the cottage. She’d flinched a bit then as she’d realized he was telling her to take the job and leave him behind. She took it better from his dad, smiling at him. But sadness remained around her eyes.

“We want to hear from you about how things are going,” his mom added. “Regular updates.”

“You’ll get them,” Michelle said. “I promise.”

Kyle put his arm around her shoulders. The protective big brother. “You ready to go, sis?”

“Not so soon.” Mom hugged Michelle again. “At least, have something to eat.”

“No time.” Michelle embraced Mom for a bit and then stepped back. Mom tried to hide the fact that she was wiping her eyes when she went back to the stove. This visit had started with guilt, and it would end with guilt squared. And Alex deserved every bit of it.

Finally, Michelle gave them all a smile that wouldn’t fool a toddler. “It was a wonderful party. Thank you for inviting me.”

“You come back real soon, honey,” Dad said.

“I will,” Michelle said. Of course, she didn’t mention when.

“Come on, sis, we don’t want to be late,” Kyle said.

Her gaze scanned the room. It briefly fell on Alex, but she made no move toward him. “Well, good-bye.”

No one said a word. They all could have turned to stone. Finally, she turned and left, Kyle right behind her.

Alex still couldn’t move as the two of them went out onto the driveway. Car doors opened and closed with a heavy finality. Then the truck’s engine started, and tires kicked up gravel as they went down the driveway.

Eventually, all three of them looked at him again, and if eyes could really shoot daggers, he’d be sausage about now. Did they think he was so callous that he didn’t care that the woman he loved had just walked away from him forever? Could they honestly think he’d been playing her?

Oh, hell. His parents probably just thought he’d messed up things with their Mickey again, and they’d be right. Chase was angry because he considered his brother a dumbass, which he was. None of that would get Alex through the misery that he’d caused with his own stupidity.

Suddenly, all the air seemed sucked out of the room, and he had to get out of there. “I’m going for a walk.”

“Breakfast’ll be ready soon,” his mother said.

“Don’t wait for me.”

He headed out the same door Michelle had used to leave him, and he crunched along the same gravel drive. When he hit the road, he’d go for a few miles or twenty. When he got back, she’d still be gone, and the cottage would be as empty as his heart.