Claire stood in the control room, keeping an eye on Andrew's final check in for the Allosaurus. Like usual, he was behind on Claire's revised schedule for the dinosaur. She knew it was strictly because Delta put him a little behind, so she wasn't pestering him.
She was about to head back to her office when her phone dinged, informing her of the incoming text message. Come back. I'm bored.
Claire smiled down at her phone, wishing she could be sitting there with Owen. I wish I could. Stuck doing paperwork on the Allosaurus.
You have to have lunch.
Sighing heavily, Claire hated to blow him off. Eating in my office today. Too much to do. If I work through lunch I may just get out on time tonight.
Sure, get out on time the day I have my hands full. Claire could imagine Owen pouting and she couldn't help but smile.
"Hey, Claire." Zara called out, pulling Claire from her phone. She continued when Claire looked up at her. "Mr. Masrani is on line two for you."
"Thanks." She sighed and walked into her office, the text conversation forgotten. Sitting down at her desk, she quickly reached for her phone. "Hi, Mr. Masrani. I'm sorry if I kept you waiting. It's been a long morning."
"Yeah I saw on the itinerary for the attractions. How's the Allosaurus?"
"Dr. Carter is just finishing up his final check-up with it. Should be awake for the afternoon showings." Claire informed him.
"Great news." Simon commended. "I will be making a trip next week for the banquet. There will be many investors attending and I'd like you to have your presentation ready."
"Wait," Claire leaned back in her chair, turning towards the big windows behind her. "The presentation you asked me to put together was for Friday?"
"Yes." Simon answered.
"We have a group of investors already interested in the new asset." She pointed out.
"I know, but what better way to raise the competition. This banquet is in honor of the new asset's production starting. So there will be a larger group of investors other than the small one you will be presenting to." Simon took a breath before continuing. "The investors you will be presented to have been given VIP tickets to the banquet."
Claire leaned her head back against the chair and closed her eyes. The stress settling in. "Yes, Mr. Masrani. I will present the asset at the banquet." She was glad he couldn't see the scowl on her face.
"You're my favorite!" Simon cheered.
Claire rolled her eyes. "How do I know you don't say that to the other managers?"
Simon laughed. "Because no other manager could live up to what you do for my park. I'm sure you'd take my job if you fought hard enough."
Claire couldn't help but laugh at that. It was true. She never backed down from a challenge.
After saying goodbye to Simon, Claire got to work on the charts from Andrew and busied herself in mapping out the showing times for the rest of the day.
It was almost dinner time by the time Claire finished for the day. She stretched and yawned as she rose to her feet to pack up for the day. Pausing at Zara's desk to say a quick goodbye, she hurried down to the innovations center, passing the lab on her way out, she suddenly remembered Owen in the animal hospital.
Pulling out her phone she sent him a quick text. Sorry, my day ended up being swamped. Hows it going?
It was seconds later she got a reply, making it obvious he was bored. It's going. Delta has been sleeping all day. Haven't been able to bring myself to leave her.
Claire halted as she read his text. She was on her way to her car, but she turned towards the main entrance to the Innovations center. Putting her phone away, she walked up the taco cart, ordering food for both her and Owen.
She felt her phone buzzing in her pocket as she drove over to the hospital, but knew it was Owen. Pulling in to a parking spot, she grabbed both meals and entered the building.
"Ms. Dearing…" Russ, one of the nurses stood up when she walked through the doors. "Dr. Carter left for the day. Dr. Roman is on duty." He said glancing down at the bag of food in her hands.
"It's ok." She waved him off. "I'm here to check in on Mr. Grady."
"Oh the raptor guy. Yeah, he's back in treatment."
Claire nodded her thanks and walked down the hall.
Owen heard the heels and didn't bother to look up. He was so tired of hearing those damn heels on the floor just to get excited, look up and see one of the techs or nurses walking by. Instead, he weighed his phone in his hands, waiting for Claire to answer his latest text.
"Hey." Owen snapped his head up, eyes locking with Claire.
"Hey!" He replied, jumping to his feet. "I figured you went home."
She shook her head, holding up the bag of food. "After your text, I figured you didn't have lunch, so I brought dinner."
Owen's stomach growled at the smell of the food. "No, I didn't. This is…" He trailed off as he reached for the bag. "Thanks." He said and opened the bag, doing a quick double take. His vision landing on the familiar salad sitting in the bag.
When he looked back up at her, Claire shrugged. "Figured you'd want some human company."
Owen immediately reached for a second chair, pulling it beside his. "That's exactly what I need."
They sat, both balancing their meals on their laps as they chatted about their day. Owen seemed to hang on every word Claire said. He was just grateful to have her sitting beside him that he didn't care what she talked about.
"Hey, I've got a question." Owen said once the conversation between them slowed down. He leaned back in his chair, wiping his face and tossing his empty container in the bag beside them.
"Hm?" Claire raised an eyebrow waiting for him to ask.
"Do you still need help on that presentation?" Owen wondered, his eyebrow raised in anticipation, hoping she would get the not so subtle hint that he wanted to have another night like last night.
"Erm…" Claire hesitated, nibbling on her bottom lip. "I do, but—" She cut off, but Owen could clearly see the internal battle she was having with herself.
"You know what, I don't even know how late I'm going to be here, anyway." Owen shrugged, matter of factly. He didn't want to force her into making any kind of decision she'd regret in the morning.
Claire straightened up. "Really?"
"Yeah," Owen lied and turned his attention to Delta asleep beside them. "I'm not ready to leave her yet." His face softened, crinkling into a more concentrated stare at Delta. He wasn't about to show any sign of disappointment at her relieved tone.
Claire nodded, thankful that she didn't have to explain herself to him. As much as she wanted to, she just wasn't ready to jump into bed with him. Feeling the need to prove herself to him, she was happy she didn't have to try and come up with a better excuse.
Owen could see the nerves settle down as he watched her eyes soften. He was beginning to realize all her emotions may be hidden well behind her face, but her eyes always give her away.
They sat in silence for a while, both settling in on watching the rise and fall of Delta's chest as she slept.
"Speaking of my presentation…" Claire trailed off, shifting nervously in her chair, her focus dropping to the floor.
"Yeah?" Owen pressed, turning back towards her, watching her body language closely. Whatever she had to say was way out of her comfort zone. "Hey," he said softly, leaning in towards her and placing his hand on her knee. "Whatever you need. Just say it."
The look in her eyes reminded him of a child wanting to ask a parent for a much wanted toy and hoping the answer would be yes. He'd never seen her look so vulnerable and it took everything in him to not scoop her up and hold her in his arms. He'd give her the world if she'd ask for it right now.
Claire contemplated on how she wanted to word her question, but she just couldn't find the right words. She forgot how to form a proper sentence.
"Ok," Owen huffed, reaching out and grabbing Claire's hand, dragging her behind him as he walked towards a more private room, his eyes watching cautiously so they wouldn't be seen.
"Owen!" Claire hissed, but didn't fight him. She didn't want to cause a bigger scene. Luckily no one was in the hall as he yanked her into a dark room, shut the door behind him and locked it. "What are you doing?" She shrieked, blinking a few times to try and get her eyes to focus in the dark. Her hand flung out in front of her in search of Owen.
His hand immediately found hers and he squeezed tight. "This is better," He sighed. "You're going to literally kill me if you keep looking at me that way!"
"What way?" She wondered and couldn't help but feel a bit offended that he chose to talk to her in a pitch-black room rather than face to face.
"That look," Owen breathed, his hands moving up her arms, feeling for her face and cupped her cheeks in his hands. "Those eyes are going to be the death of me. What did you want to ask me?"
"You're going to make me ask you in the dark?"
"Yes."
"Well, there's this banquet," Claire spoke quickly. "I have to attend and well, I was wondering if you'd…" She tailed off, and Owen could feel her shifting, his hands still light on her cheeks. Taking a deep breath, Claire let the rest of her question spill out. "If you'd like to accompany me." Claire couldn't help but smile, she was actually feeling a bit more confident now that she couldn't see his initial reaction.
Owen's breath hitched and he was thankful the darkness hid his jaw dropping open in surprise. He collected himself quickly, standing tall and began moving his thumbs, caressing her soft skin. "Are you asking me out, Ms. Dearing?"
Claire could hear the sarcasm in his voice and reached out blindly to hit whatever part of him her hand could come in contact with. "Shut up!" She hissed. "It's just a banquet. I figured you'd want to hear my presentation you were so generous to help me with."
Sliding his hands from her cheeks, he guided them down her neck until the came to a rest on her shoulders. "I don't really do formal events." He said quietly.
"Oh, well. That's fine." She tried her best to hide the disappointment in her voice, but Owen saw right through her. Even in a dark room he could practically see the look she was giving him.
He sighed heavily. "What would I have to wear? I don't own dress pants. I sure as hell don't own a suite or tux or whatever the fuck we're supposed to wear to those kind of things."
"It doesn't matter. Don't worry about it." Claire said quietly.
"It doesn't matter what I wear?" He asked, his eyebrow raising in question even though she couldn't see it.
"No. I meant you don't have to go." She said and moved to step around him and feel her way to the door somewhere behind him.
"Hey," Owen said quickly, squeezing his hands lightly to keep her in place. "I'm sorry. I want to spend the time with you. I just—"
"Not the formal type of guy." She finished for him. "I said it's fine."
This time Claire twisted her body, forcing him to let her go and he didn't fight it. Letting his arms drop beside him, he stood still while she felt her way around him.
"You mad?" He asked, causing her to pause with her hand on the doorknob.
She shook her head even though he couldn't see her, but the silence from her gave him a different answer.
"Damn it." Owen mumbled under his breath. "Is there an open bar?" He asked just as she was about to open the door.
"Yes." She spoke quietly and Owen could tell her back was towards him.
He took a small step in her direction. "Will you be in some sort of sexy dress?" He asked, stepping closer to her, stretching his hands out in front of him to search the dark for her. His hands were low as he made contact with her. Claire's breath caught in her throat when his fingers grazed her ass and he quickly stepped behind her, slipping his hands around her waist, his body pressed against her back. "You know, one of those damn dresses that scream fuck me."
"You are one cocky asshole." Claire said breathlessly as she spun around in his arms, their mouths sloppily trying to find the other's in the dark.
This kiss was different than the others. The passion and desire behind this kiss had them both craving more. Owen's hands slid around her waist and moved to fist her blouse, tugging it out of her skirt. Her hands slid down his chest and moved under his shirt, her palms against his skin on his hips pulled a low growl from deep in his throat. The sound echoed by Claire as she let her fingers roam across his stomach.
Owen brought his hands up to the top button on her blouse and began to work his way down, undoing each button with a quick flick of his fingers.
"Dr. Roman to exam 5." The voice over the intercom had Claire gasping and jumping back. Her heel tangled in something and she let out a startled scream as she fell backwards. A loud clatter echoed through the room as she fell.
"Claire!" Owen called out, his hands flailing around in front of him trying to find her. "Are you ok? Hold on!" He felt his way to where he knew the door was groping the wall until he found the light switch.
"AH!" They both complained and squeezed their eyes shut from the brightened of the light.
By the time Owen's eyes adjusted he found Claire desperately trying to unwrap the extension cord from around her ankle.
"You ok?" He repeated, kneeling beside her.
"I'm fine." She huffed.
Owen reached out and swatted Claire's hands away. "You're just making it worse." He said and slipped her heel of to unwind the cord. He looked up at her and smiled, but his eyes got stuck on her half open shirt that shifted when she fell. The left side of her white lace bra completely exposed.
Following his eyes, Claire gasped and was quick to pull her blouse closed. Owen wasn't sure if he should have been offended or not. He was the one that unbuttoned it and she allowed him to. But he clearly saw the humiliation on her face and turned his back so she could put herself back together.
"I'm sorry." She whispered as she situated herself. "I can't do that. Any of that… not here."
"Been there, done that?" Owen snorted. He meant it as a joke, but as he turned slightly to peek back at her, he quickly turned the rest of the way, his eyes growing wide. The look she was giving him was one of complete hatred and disgust.
Her eyes narrowed as she dropped her chin towards her chest, her jaw set in a deep frown and she balled her hands into tight fists. "Did you seriously just say that?"
"Uhh…" Owen looked around quickly, praying the floor would open up and swallow him whole. "No." He threw her his best, most innocent smile. He caught her scowl soften for a moment, but she recoiled quickly.
"I'm going home." She stated and moved to step around him.
"I'm an asshole." Owen said, his hand flying out to catch her before she walked by.
"You're just figuring that out?" She snapped, refusing to turn to look at him.
"I'm sorry. It sounded funny in my head." He admitted, finally relaxing when he saw her shoulders relax.
Claire stood silently for a moment and sighed deeply, shaking her head. "It's fine, but I am going home."
"I'll probably be here for a while longer and then check on Barry. Guy has to be exhausted." Owen explained. "He worked last night and then most of the day today."
Claire nodded. "Coparenting sounds like it really sucks." Claire chuckled, receiving a laugh from Owen. "Will I see you in the morning?" She immediately saw the struggle in his eyes.
He wanted to say yes, but he also wanted to find some time to get some sleep. "I'll text you later tonight and let you know."
Smiling her approval, she reached for the door and opened it, stepping out into the hall, eyes searching. She let out the breath she was holding when the hall was empty. "Say goodnight to Delta for me." She instructed and waved as she walked away.