Claire's POVI practically floated into Nova Designs, my heart still soaring from the perfect morning with my boys. My fiancé and my son. God, I loved the sound of that.Grinning like a fool, I breezed past the reception desk with a wave, too giddy to stop for my usual morning chitchat. I had a feeling my face said it all anyway - I'd caught my reflection in the car window and I was lit up like Times Square on New Year's Eve.The delirious joy lasted all the way to my office...until I pushed open the door and found Anna already at my desk, meticulously sorting files and clearing the surface. She glanced up as I entered, surprise flickering across her face."Good morning, Anna," I said, trying for nonchalance as I hung my purse on the back of my chair."Ms. blakes! You're here early." Her brow furrowed, a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "And you look...different. Good different."I bit my lip, feeling a telltale flush creep up my neck. "Lucas just dropped me off, actuall

Lucas's POVI couldn't wipe the grin off my face as I hung up with Claire, her sleepy, happy voice still echoing in my ears. God, I loved that woman. Loved knowing I could bring a smile to her face, even from across town."Jason!" I called, already reaching for my phone. "Get in here. I need you."He appeared in the doorway a second later, ever-present tablet in hand. "What's up, boss?""I need you to place an order for me. Top priority." I rattled off a list, my mind whirring. "A dozen sunflowers, the biggest basket of fresh fruit and cheese you can find, and throw in some of those fancy French pastries from that bakery Claire loves. Oh, and a few slices of that almond cake she made this morning, if they can swing it."Jason's eyebrows shot up, but to his credit, he didn't comment. Just nodded and tapped away at his screen. "Got it. Anything else?"I hesitated, then figured what the hell. In for a penny... "See if they can add a bottle of that raspberry champagne. The really good stu

Claire's POVAs I watched Lucas leave my office, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The way he frowned, the tense set of his shoulders...was he jealous of Eddie? I shook my head, trying to push the thought aside. Lucas trusted me. He knew how much I loved him. There was no reason for him to feel threatened.Right?Sighing, I gathered up my files and headed for the conference room, determined to focus on the task at hand. But even as I arranged my notes and samples, my mind kept drifting back to Lucas's pinched expression.The sound of the door opening jolted me out of my musings. I looked up, pasting on a bright smile as Eddie Spencer strolled in, all easy confidence and megawatt charm."Claire Blakes ," he drawled, crossing the room to pull me into a hug. "As I live and breathe. You haven't aged a day, you know that?"I laughed, returning his embrace. "Eddie Spencer, silver-tongued devil. You always were a smooth talker."He grinned as he pulled back, holding me at

EDDIE’s POV I paced the length of Claire's waiting room, my agitation growing with each passing second. Where the hell was she? How long did it take to pick up a kid from school, for chrissakes?I glanced at my watch for the hundredth time, the numbers blurring together in a haze of frustration. I couldn't do this. Couldn't just sit here, twiddling my thumbs, while the woman who had haunted my dreams for the past five years went about her merry way."I'm sorry, Mr. Spencer," Anna, Claire's annoyingly perky assistant, chirped from behind her desk. "Ms. Blakes should be back any minute now. Can I get you a coffee while you wait?"I waved her off with an impatient grunt, my jaw clenched so tight I could feel my molars grinding together. I didn't want coffee. I wanted answers. I wanted to look into those fathomless blue eyes and demand to know why she had left me, why she had run away without so much as a backward glance.But most of all, I wanted to know about the boy. The one with my c

Claire's POVI clung to Lucas, drawing strength from his solid warmth, his unwavering presence. How did he always know just what to say, just what I needed to hear?"Thank you," I murmured, pressing a kiss to his chest. "For being here. For...everything.""There's nowhere else I'd rather be." He squeezed me tight, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. "I love you, Claire. So much.""I love you, too." The words came easily, naturally. A simple truth that anchored me, even in the midst of this chaos.We stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other. Breathing each other in. And slowly, gradually, I felt the knot of tension in my chest begin to ease.Lucas was right. We would get through this. Together. Just like we always had.As if on cue, Brian came barreling back into the room, his face scrubbed pink and shining. "Pancakes now? I'm starving!"Lucas and I broke apart with a laugh, the heaviness of the moment dissipating like mist in the sun. "Pancakes now," Lucas confi