“I didn’t buy it yet.”
“Why the rush for an answer?”
“Because it’s a good time to make an offer.” The vague answer heightens my suspicions. His eyes lock with mine, and I know immediately he’s done something impulsive.
“What did you do?”
“The owner agreed to have a preliminary inspection prior to offer. This gave me the leverage to counter on the asking price. I made a fair offer the sellers are willing to take. The difference between the two will be moved to the renovation funds. Now, all I need is for my beautiful wife to stop her phony hold out.”
“I’m not being phony.”
“Claire, you should know by now it’s impossible to fool me. I saw your expression when you stepped off that back deck and onto the sand. We’re not playing this game. You want it, I’m going to give it to you.”
There’s a collective sigh, reminding me we aren’t alone. I cut my eyes to the side and see Shaw and Nick at their wives’ sides, both smiling haughtily. Through the years, I’ve learned to read their expressions pretty well, and right now, it’s obvious they’re involved in whatever Mathis is up to.
“You’re right, it’s wonderful, but taking on a project like this isn’t a good idea right now.” My focus goes back to Mathis.
“Give me a reason why not.”
“Because you’re ass deep in this research study with Dr. Andrews, and your workload is insane. A project of this magnitude is too much.”
“Too much for who?”
“You!”
“Do I need to remind you where my commitment lies? Dr. Andrews and I spoke today. We’ve made some changes to our timeline, and this project has a lot of moving parts. This is the perfect time.”
My brain searches for another argument but nothing comes to mind. Mathis is right; as soon as I saw the view, I loved it. The potential and possibilities of redesign are endless.
“Here’s the offer.” Shaw slides a stack of papers across the counter. “Financing is secure. As soon as you sign, and bearing no complications, we can fast-track the sale. The house can be yours in a week.”
My excitement takes over, and I leap on Mathis, climbing his body and smashing my mouth to his in a quick kiss. “Yes!”
He grins against my lips, squeezing my ass tight. “I want us in by Christmas.”
I freeze, speechless at the impossible request. I’m about to tell him this when I glance over and finally know what Nick and Shaw found so amusing. With their influence, nothing is impossible.
“Christmas at our house,” I announce.
Bizzy and Grace’s faces light up with the same excitement bursting inside of me. “This calls for a celebration,” Grace declares, eyeing Nick.
“The champagne and beer kind of celebration? Or should I grab the martini glasses?”
She raises an eyebrow to me for a decision.
“I’m going to say champagne. Let’s save the martinis for when I don’t have to wake up tomorrow and start planning a rebuild.”
This earns me another ass squeeze. “Good plan,” Mathis whispers. “Although, I wouldn’t mind seeing your sweet ass crawl across the floors again.”
“You bring that up again, it’ll be a long time before you get anything from this sweet ass.” I swat his shoulder and reply quietly, not wanting to relive the ridicule from everyone.
“You wouldn’t dare.” He smiles arrogantly, daring me to argue.
“It’s called resistance… I’m learning.”
His brows draw together, his eyes holding mine.
I burst out laughing because we both know he’s right.
Mathis
Christmas Night
“Claire, get your ass in here.”
Soft fur tickles my side as the puppy jolts at my voice. He uncurls himself, crawls halfway up my chest, and promptly closes his eyes again. The distinct sound of a camera clicks, and I glance up to find Claire with her phone pointed at us as she types furiously.
“What are you doing now?”
“Uploading the newest addition to our family with hashtag Bennett babes.”
“I thought we stopped that shit.”
“We kinda did, but all the fans of hashtag heartthrob hottie are dying for an update.”
I roll my eyes and point to the empty space in the bed. She drops her phone on the nightstand and crawls in, cuddling up to my vacant side and bracing an elbow on my chest to face me. “I thought today went well.”
“It was perfect like I knew it would be.”
“We were lucky the weather was nice, so the kids could play on the beach.”
“Yep.”
“Why are you grouchy?”
“Are you seriously asking me that?” I dart my eyes to the sleeping puppy and back to her.
“You don’t like him?”
“Baby, I told you I wanted a baby and you gave me a puppy.”
Her blue eyes dance with humor, and she bites her lower lip to keep from smiling.
“You think it’s funny. Everyone thinks it’s funny. My fucking brothers think it’s hilarious and enjoyed razzing the shit out of me today.”
“It’ll pass. Besides, this cute little guy will help satisfy your urge for a while.”
She can play coy all she wants, but she’s not getting out of this. I tap her arm to slide back, then knife off the bed, carrying the dog to his crate in the corner. Once he’s secure, I climb back in bed and haul her on top of me. “Let’s have this conversation again.”
“What conversation? The one where you inform me it’s time to try for a child while our house is finally completed, I’m working with movers, packing like a wild woman, shopping for a zillion people, and trying to decorate and plan the perfect Christmas for our first holiday in our beachfront castle?”
What she says sinks in, and I recognize where I went wrong. The three weeks leading up to today have flown by in a whirlwind. Even with all the women in our lives, she took the brunt of getting us settled the best way possible. Not to mention, she’s still working full time. My arms link around her waist, and I press up to kiss her softly. “Maybe I didn’t handle it right the first time.”
“You think?” she huffs.
“Let me try this again. I’ve never resented my brothers until recently. Every time I watch you with Brayden, Brinley, and Kayla, a spark of envy rolls through me. You’re gorgeous anytime, but when you are with those children, you are breathtaking. It’s natural for you. We’ve had a lot going on, but now is our time. I want to try for a family.”
I know I’ve gotten through when she slides her hands up my throat, circles my neck, and drops her forehead to mine. The resistance is gone and replaced with a radiant glow. “I have some conditions, non-negotiable.” The familiar snark edges into her voice.
This should be good. “Let me have them.”
“Our daughter will never wear one of those gaudy, hideous bows that Bizzy loves so much. We make a statement from birth and stand together. No backing down to peer pressure.”
I’m not sure why this matters, but it’s best to agree. “Done.”
“You can’t turn into an overprotective caveman like your brothers did.”
“I’ll do my best.” My answer is noncommittal.
“Here’s the biggie. It requires the largest promise of all.”
“Don’t push it.”
“If at any time you see signs of me turning into the tearful, weepy, emotional basket case Grace was, you have to stop it.”
“Baby, there’s not much I can do about hormonal reactions. That’s human nature.”
“No way, you see it coming, you do something.”
“Like what?”
“You’re the doctor. Find a cure. We’d be billionaires if you can find an antidote.”
My hands slip under the hem of her nightgown and skim along her back until they settle at her shoulder blades. “I’ve told you before; there’s no fixing my perfection.”
“Gah! No! We can’t be mushy ei
ther.”
“Any more conditions?”
“Not now, but I reserve the right to add when needed.”
“What about our son?”
“What son?”
“You had the stipulation for the bow on our possible daughter, nothing for our possible son?”
“The Bennett brother trend is girls right now. I haven’t thought of boys. That’s why I picked out a male dog.”
At this, I roll us to our sides, pulling apart only to whip the gown over her head. “You’ve issued a challenge.”
Her hands go back to my scalp, tugging my hair and tilting my face to hers. “It’s very annoying you always get your way.”
“Give me an hour and see if it’s still annoying.”
“Cocky.”
“Confident,” I counter.
She flashes her beaming smile, and her eyes begin to sparkle. For a split-second, I’m transferred back in time. Catching her staring at me from across the room, those eyes, that smile, brilliance and beauty so stunning it was blinding. I never stood a chance. At this moment, the same feelings race through my mind, a sense of possession so strong it rocks me. She’s still and always will be untamed, spontaneous, and crazy. She’s also affectionate, loving, and has a sensitive side that runs deeps. All that mixed together is sheer perfection.
I understand what Mitch said on the terrace. Being in love with Claire would always be a curse and a blessing. He’s had a lifetime of keeping on his toes with Kelly. I have the same. Our new puppy is proof of this.
“I love my present. And tomorrow…” my lips trace the column of her neck, “we’ll name him.”
“You know, if you think about it, I actually did give you our first baby, even if it is a fur baby.”
I smile against her skin. “Always the smartass.”
“Always.” She laughs, her body vibrating against me.
Sheer… fucking… perfection.
Bonus Scene
Bennett Babe Baby Revolution Cult
Mathis
22 Months Later
“I can’t wait until Riley turns one! Payback is hell, and Nick is going to regret this,” I hear Claire telling Grace followed by loud huff. On this, I will agree. Nick insisted on choosing the cakes for today’s celebration and, stupidly, we agreed. Teal and orange icing mixed with two overexcited one-year-olds was a disaster.
At the sound of her voice, my sons lift their heads from my shoulders and look around. I kiss each of their foreheads and round the corner to the kitchen. Grace is scrubbing a wall while my mom and Bizzy clean the floors. Through the back doors, I spot Mitch and Dad hosing off the high chairs. Nick and Shaw are chasing their kids on the beach as the dog runs after them.
Claire is leaning on the counter, her hands on her slightly swollen stomach, and when she sees us, her eyes grow warm. “How bad was bath duty?”
“I had to wash their hair twice, and I’m pretty sure their outfits are ruined.”
“Ranger licked the majority of the cake off the floor before I could stop him.”
“He’ll be okay.”
“Good, I’d hate to kill your brother for poisoning my dog.”
Caleb and Lucas lurch for her at the same time, and I tighten my hold to keep them from tumbling. “Go sit down.”
“Why?”
“Because these boys want you.”
“So give them to me.” She spreads her arms.
“I’m not going to argue about this again. They weigh over forty pounds. That’s too much for you right now.”
She rolls her eyes but goes to the sofa. Both boys give her about three seconds of attention before crawling down and tottering to the back door to bang on the glass.
“I’ll take them out,” Kelly offers.
“Fine with me.”
“Are you going to bathe them again when they roll in the sand?” Claire raises an eyebrow.
“Yep.”
She nods to her mom, and Kelly scoops them up, covering them with kisses as she goes outside.
“I think we have it all,” Bizzy announces, blowing out a deep breath. “I don’t remember pink icing ever being this hard to clean.”
“Because it isn’t. Can we please call a truce? I’m not sure I can handle your payback after Kayla’s birthday. I’m still cleaning up glitter,” Grace pleads, her eyes on me to reason with Claire.
I sit next to her, scooting her gently onto my lap and placing my hand on her stomach. “Let’s call it even.”
“I’m not sure you’re in a position to ask for favors.”
“There’s no way I can control these things.”
Claire getting pregnant with twins was a surprise, but when we found out they were boys, she made me promise to wait a few years before even discussing more children. She swore our predicament was caused by working so closely with Dr. Andrews since he had twin boys. Then she said we were done after their birth. Her argument was I got my sons, and she only had to endure one pregnancy. Lucas and Caleb were born and, immediately, I wanted more. I didn’t hide this from her. It took months, but she agreed we’d discuss it again when the boys turned two.
So, seven weeks ago, we found out she is pregnant again, and she went into shock. This baby is a complete surprise. She’s convinced I jinxed us.
This morning at her OB appointment, the sonogram was easy to read. I saw him clearly. She took one look at me, back to the screen, and knew as well. She isn’t getting a girl.
“I’ll try better next time.”
“You think it’s a joke, but I’m dead serious,” Claire insists. “This is it. No more after this.”
“I had three boys and survived. You will do just fine.” Mom tries to sound reassuring.
“Maria, you had three boys with a healthy time span in between. I’m going to have a newborn when my kids hit the terrible twos.”
“You’re being dramatic again. It’s going to be wonderful.” Bizzy rolls her eyes. “Grace and I are the ones you should feel sorry for.”
“Why should I feel sorry for anyone?”
“Because Shaw and Nick are not going to let this go. He’s already told me he’s ready to try again for a boy. Evelyn is only six months old.”
“Nick said the same thing, and Riley is four months,” Grace agrees.
“Oh my God! This is ridiculous.” Claire twists into me. “You and your brothers have to stop. It’s dangerous to keep reproducing all these Bennetts. Pretty soon, a reality show is going to come after us.”
“You want me to tell my brothers to stop having children with their wives?”
“Yes.”
My mom barely stifles her laugh, hearing the suggestion. She’s in love with the thought of having a dozen grandchildren, and it looks like she may get her wish… and then some. I glance over at the pack ‘n play set up with Riley and Evelyn sleeping together. They both lasted long enough for family pictures with the boys before the cake smashing and then passed out.
I’m not surprised to hear Nick and Shaw have started in about more children because we have all learned, in our own ways, it takes time to convince our wives to agree. Shaw and Nick are competitive by nature, so the twins upped the ante.
I had great fun in rubbing it in Shaw’s face that taking the slow boat paid off in spades. He didn’t think it was funny and had Gail plan a romantic getaway. Brinley stayed with us while he and Bizzy took the boat to the Bahamas for four days, hence came Evelyn. Nick wasn’t far behind, taking Grace to New York. This time, we didn’t get Kayla because the whole Monroe clan descended to Miami. As we all suspected, Grace announced her pregnancy nine weeks later.
“I think maybe we can try for one more.” I caress Claire’s stomach, pulling her earlobe between my lips. “I swear to try for a girl next go-round.”
“Meaning you aren’t hearing me that this is the last time. I have a lifetime of hell-raising, head-banging, stubborn boys to wrangle in. Even my dog is a boy!”
As if on cue, the door opens and Ranger bolts in. Ranger�
�s tongue hangs out of his mouth as he looks around and finds Claire. He rushes to her, nudging my hand to the side, and nuzzles her stomach affectionately.
“I do love my boys,” she admits so only I can hear, her eyes going outside. “And I’ve always loved the name Seth Mitchell.”
My heart skips a beat, and I peer over my shoulder at Dad and Mitch following the boys who are teetering in the sand as Kelly takes pictures. “It’s perfect.”
“And you have to promise me, if we don’t have a girl after this, we are done.”
“I’m not promising that.”
“We really are brooding a cult.”
“I don’t think cult is the right word.”
“A lawyer, a doctor, and an undeniably talented athlete having babies like crazy. I’d say that’s an elite group.”
“When you put it that way, I guess so.”
She smiles slyly and nudges Ranger away, standing and grabbing my hand.
“Where are we going?”
“Outside to play with my babies on their birthday until we wear them out enough to sleep twelve hours straight.”
“Sounds good to me.”
She leads us to the back deck where everyone is out of earshot, whirls around, and throws herself at me. “I’m ready to give you another challenge.”
“Hit me with it.”
“I’ll give you Seth Mitchell, and you give me my little girl. Then we are done.”
She knows, without me saying, this is a challenge I accept.
︎
Three years later… my twin daughters are born.
Acknowledgements
First of all, to my readers—A huge, overwhelming, and enormous THANK YOU for your support. Jumping back into the Bennett Brother world was as crazy as I expected. Mathis and Claire’s relationship has been brewing in my head for years and giving them the love story they deserved took some time.
My Team—you should be awarded for your patience and talents. I hope you know how much I appreciate you.
There’s a small tribe of women who keep my grounded and help make even my bad days bearable. You know who you are and hopefully you know how much I appreciate your kindness, wisdom, and insight.
Heartthrob (Bennett Brothers Series) Page 28