They were gone for two weeks. Two LONG fucking weeks. During those fourteen days, five hours, and three minutes, I'd had another two visits from my least favorite policemen, a face to face with Alex's twin Matthew, and I could have sworn that I heard my father's voice when I was in my office.

Matthew Xavier, an identical copy of his brother, had given me the same cryptic warning to call him first if my memory suddenly popped into clearer details. The glove he wore was white, and I had to keep my mouth quiet about the one gloved fashion statement, since technically I did know who torched the Xavier brothers' building. He turned down a sample of our coffee and almost sniffed indignantly at the offer of a fresh pastry. Which made it very fucking hard to NOT flip him the bird as he left.

Keli had no such qualms, raising both hands with both middle fingers proudly raised, she came close to growling. I wanted to ask if she was up to date on her shots, but figured fuck it, he deserved rabies.

The visits with our town's version of Barney Fife doubled went much the same as the prior conversations. And again, I had trouble keeping my fucking eyes locked in the front and center position. Why, I wondered, why the fuck did I have to deal with this shit? Clay, the tiny voice whispered in my head, reminding me that Clay was the reason I had to deal with it. And I still wasn't completely sure that was his fucking real name.

I wasn't doing the order when he returned. When they returned, I mean. I was actually leaning against the counter, talking with Keli during a slow time between morning rush and afternoon caffeine refill when I heard the bell dingle on the door announcing a customer.

"He's back," she whispered, eyes twinkling. I shook my head and grinned at her.

"Char," that fucking voice, I swear to God. I turned and let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding the entire time he was gone. "A moment?" He tilted his head in the direction of my office. I tried not to sprint to my office, but hearing a chuckle from Keli had me doubting I was successful. I'd barely crossed the threshold when Clay's body was pressed against mine and the door clicked shut behind him.

I turned and before I could say a word his mouth was on mine and I felt all the tension of him being gone leave me. He pulled away, looked over my shoulder at my desk, nodding to himself when it met his expectations, he lifted me onto the surface. I raised a questioning eyebrow and he smiled as he dipped his head back down.

"Wanted to make sure you didn't get an ass crack full of scone this time," and then his mouth met mine again and all talking stopped.

Forgetting that we were in my office during business hours and that the office door wasn't locked, I started pulling off his jacket as his fingers found the hem of my shirt. We maneuvered so we didn't tangle arms, and his jacket met the floor followed by my shirt. My fingers worked fast, unbuttoning his button down, while his fingers were unclasping my bra. Our pants went next, then underwear and as he finally slid inside of me, forcing our lips to part again so we could both moan quietly at the feeling, he told me how much he fucking missed me. With words and with actions.

We were both shaking by the time we finished. And the reality of where we were, and what we'd just done hit me like a fucking brick. Clay was so fucking potent that I swear to fuck I forgot everything when he was near me. What my responsibilities were, where I was stripping him, and any and all worries or questions I had about him all fluttered away.

"Did you just- Did we just-" I was still trying to catch my breath, we were still locked together, clutching at one another like we'd disappear if we didn't.

His low laugh coursed through me and I felt another surge of want for him. "Yes, Char, we did." His lips were on my shoulder, and he wasn't nearly as breathless as I was. "I fucking couldn't wait. I needed you so bad."

Once our clothes were back on, we tried a normal conversation. He asked me what he'd missed while he was gone. He listened to me as I told him about the Xavier twins, more visits from the detectives, and my suspicion that my father had come back. I asked him if he was successful while he was away, but the pinched look on his face told me all I needed to know.

"The Xaviers?" I nodded. "What do they look like?"