Chapter 4:

Claire's stomach was in knots as she kept glancing at the rose gold watch round her wrist checking the time, every thirty seconds, waiting for the phone to ring or for the door to swing open and Jessica and Owen walking in, trying to get ready for her friendship with Jessica to be ruined forever. They had agreed to tell Jessica the next day, as Owen insisted they have to get this over with and that the longer they wait, the harder it will get, and the harder she will take it. Then depending on how Jessica takes the news, they could think about talking to Madison about it.

Owen had made a very impressive impression on their daughter, learning later that he had taken her to the park with Jessica and then taken her to the swings, and after learning how much she loved Beauty and the Beast, he had taken her to the Disney store to buy her something related. Madison had actually slept with the plush toy of Belle and Claire couldn't help but feel her heart swell in her chest as she watched her daughter, hugging that soft toy. It has always been her white bunny who slept with her every single night since she was born, but now, Belle had slipped in under the sheets as well. She had a little bit of her mummy and a little bit of her daddy with her. Seeing how well she has taken Owen in, encouraged Claire and gave her hope that all will be okay and that she won't take it hard and struggle with accepting him as her father, but at the same time, the news still scared the shit out of her. They had eventually exchanged numbers, just in case she needed anything or something comes up, on Owen's insistence.

Sipping up her coffee, Claire hoped it would give her some much needed energy, to face what was soon coming. She didn't really sleep at all last night. All she could think about was Owen…about that night, about how good he smelled, how incredibly handsome and muscular he looked, about that moment when she turned around and came face to face with him, that moment in the office where they almost kissed hadn't it been for the phone ringing.

It was still ringing…Bloody phone, then Claire realized, her phone was really ringing. It was Zara and her heart almost stopped.

'Someone is here to see you' Zara told her as Claire picked up.

'Send them in' Claire told her as she stood up from her chair and took a deep long breath as the door started opening.

oooOOOooo

It was still so hard to comprehend everything that had happened in the last 24 hours and yet at the same time it seemed so easy to love someone you never met before and want to give her the whole world, because that is how Owen felt when he thought of his daughter. A smile crept easily on his face as his eyes settled on the photo on his mobile home screen. She was just the prettiest girl ever blonde curly hair, green eyes and sprinkles of freckles on her face just like her beautiful mamma.

Claire.

It was still so unbelievable that he had finally seen her again, only to find out that she was Jessica's best friend. She was so near and yet so far away. He had dreamed about her so many many times. He had longed for her in his sleep and during the day, he had longed to see her, to lay eyes on her again, to take in her gorgeous body so silky and creamy and smooth. He could still feel it in his fingertips the way it felt to touch her, to be so close to her, to make love to her again. Owen sighed heavily running a hand through his hair and drag it down his face. Ever since he saw her yesterday morning, he couldn't seem to stop seeing her face, her bright green eyes, her red defining hair that made her so unique, them in bed- together -naked…their lips locked together…

Owen wanted to scream against the world for being so unfair to him. He felt awful right now and having all these thought about Claire, made him feel like he was almost cheating on Jessica in a way and she didn't deserve this. She was a beautiful intelligent woman, and it wasn't her fault that he had met Claire before her. It was bad enough that sometimes he felt like maybe he was settling, because truth be told, he had kissed her that night to try and shake away the images of Claire he was having. He was half drunk in a bar and this stunning woman with long black hair – the total opposite of Claire's hair – sat down next to him, and what was a man supposed to do? How could he ignore such a stunning woman, he was human afterall and he had desires and needs, and not just that she was funny and bright. The thing was that he had imagined Claire all the way while making love to her, and thinking about it now, made him feel disgusted with himself. She had pointed out the following morning, because unlike Claire, she had stayed, that it had been one hell of a beautiful ride. He had smiled and asked her out properly then, and since then he never looked back or regretted dating her, if he did, he wouldn't have asked her to marry him. He was trying to move on from the stranger that had filled his bed, mind, body and soul like no other woman ever has, and he doubted if anyone ever will because even though Jessica was good in bed and he loved her, somewhere in his heart, there seemed to be a special place reserved for Claire…and only her. The woman who he had only found out her name yesterday after five long years. Such a beautiful name – it suits her. And then there was her hair. So bright and red…well more orange really, he never understood why people used the term red for orange hair – and short. Damn she looked so fuckin' sexy and all Owen wanted to do was pull her into her, slam his lips hard against hers and slide his fingers in that silky hair of hers'.

'Owen' he heard Jessica's voice coming from somewhere far away until he felt her hand slide in his which made him turn her way and push his thoughts somewhere far away 'Are you alright?' she asked him.

'Sure Jess' he replied and Jessica nodded not quite sure he was but didn't say anything.

The elevator dinged and the doors open to the floor filled with large white tiles, white walls with gorgeous large frames hanging on them with various house designs or features from various houses that the designers in this company had accomplished. They looked gorgeous and Owen was only now noticing them, too distracted the first time he was here. A thought crossed his mind then…Claire must be quite stable financially, probably more than he was, and that thought comforted him in one way but disturbed him in another. It comforted him in knowing that Madison was well taken care of but at the same time he felt like he had nothing to give them, and a man wanted to provide for his family because that is what they are now. A family.

'Hi, we are here for Ms Claire Dearing please' Jessica told the lady behind the desk, who picked up the phone immediately and then told them go ahead.

They stopped outside the wooden door and Owen's eyes caught sight of Claire's name on the _ attached to the door:

Ms Claire Dearing

Head of Design

It somehow made Owen proud of her…proud of a woman who other than the way her body felt under his touch, or the way her face flushed in the throws of passion or the way she whimpered at his touch, didn't know. This was all so powerful and confusing at the same time.

'Claire' he heard Jessica say as she darted to pull her best friend in for a hug who was already walking from behind the desk to greet them. Claire's eyes met his as she hugged her, clearly full of concern and worry, sure that she thought that their friendship was probably ruined as soon as she gets the news. He took her in, his eyes scanning her, taking in the white office dress she was wearing and the navy blue blazer, closed with a belt round her waist, with matching blue shoes.

'Owen' Claire said acknowledging him with a smile but keeping her distance.

'Hi Claire' Owen replied and Claire could see a twinkle in his eyes. If she didn't know better, she would have thought he had been thinking about her. His fingers ached to touch her, even if just as simple as a hand shake or placed on her hip while kissing her cheek…anything. Anything as long as there was some form of contact.

'So…what's up?' Jessica asked. Claire had texted her the previous day and asked her if they could meet up as she had something she really needed to tell her, and to ask Owen to come as well. Jessica had only an hour to spare, between work and running errands related to the wedding not to mention how curious she was about what Claire's news.

Claire took a deep long breath and glanced at Owen who nodded silently, encouraging her to go on and tell her. She took Jessica's hands and in hers and guided her towards the couch, Owen following behind, taking a seat next to Jessica. Claire could feel herself shaking on the inside suddenly finding it very hard to open her mouth and speak. She had played it all in her head over and over ahead, the many ways this could go and yet now that she was standing face to face with the person who knows her deepest darkest secrets, she couldn't seem to tell her what she needed to tell her.

'Come on Claire, what is it?' Jessica asked her anxiously.

'I…I met Madison's father yesterday' she started telling her and Jessica gasped out loud excitedly.

'Oh my God really? You must be elated' Jessica told her and Claire couldn't help but glance at Owen who was observing her every reaction.

'Yes…I am…happy I saw him again' Claire told her.

'Oh come on Claire. You must be super excited. So come on girl, details, details' she told her completely forgetting that they were not alone.

'Jess' Claire told her feeling slightly embarrassed.

'I can still remember you telling me how good he is in bed' Jessica started telling her and Claire's eyes locked with Owen's feeling the heat rising, her cheeks getting flushed 'And how you wished you could have stayed the following morning, and how you still dream about him…' and Claire just had to get her to shut up somehow. She was exposing all of her secrets to Owen without knowing, and the way he was looking at her made her think he wanted to cross the distance between the two of them, Jessica be damned, and kiss her like he has never kissed her before.

Owen on the other hand could feel his heart pounding hard in his chest as the words out of his fiancée's mouth kept rolling out letting him know what Claire really thinks about him, how she feels about him and from the way she was looking at him, he knew all of it was true. He could see her blushing, her lips become slightly swollen and her breath coming out in pants.

'Jess it's Owen' Claire blurted out all of a sudden, startling both Jessica and Owen.

'Owen?' Jessica asked 'What Owen?' she asked and Claire swallowed hard, feeling her body trembling which didn't go by unnoticed by Owen.

'Owen' Claire repeated and he wasn't sure if she was just repeating his name or silently asking him to help her out.

'I am Madison's father' Owen finally said and Jessica practically jumped on the spot to look at him. Claire watched him taking her hand in his as she covered her mouth not entirely sure what she was feeling. There were so many emotions running through her at once, it was hard to define every one of them.

'You…are Madison's father?' Jessica asked looking directly at him, and Owen nodded. Claire was trying her best to compose herself to what was coming next. The magnitude of this situation was beyond each and every one of them. And then…'Oh my God…This is great news' they heard Jessica say and Claire's mouth fell open as she looked at Owen and then at Jessica again.

'Wha…what?' Claire asked shocked.

'This is great news. We can raise Madison together' Jessica told them and Claire thought she was going to have a heart attack at that statement. Owen looked just as confused. If they were expecting any reaction this certainly wasn't one of them.

'Jess?' Owen asked 'Did you understand what I just told you?' Owen asked her again to clarify that she understood exactly what he told her.

'Yes. You are Madison's father. This is great news. I don't see why you both look so worried. We can raise Madison together' she repeated as if she just forgot everything that she had been saying Claire felt about the father of her daughter just few minutes ago. Did she really expect them to raise Madison together? Suddenly Claire's head was spinning. She was beginning to feel things she really didn't want to feel. That was her family not Jessica's. Owen was Madison's father…Madison as in her daughter. Just as Claire was lost in thought, Jessica's phone started ringing and then she was hugging her and kissing Owen and leaving the office closing the door behind her while both Owen and Claire just sat there staring at each other.

'What just happened?' Claire asked finally looking at Owen.

'I have no idea' he replied still stunned by her reaction.

'Is she serious right now?' Claire asked him getting up from the couch. She needed to pace around. She needed to think. This was not the reaction she was expecting. She was anticipating screaming, crying, pulling hair, even hitting…but not this. Definitely not this.

'Claire' Owen said and Claire turned around to look at him when something was pressing against her lips. She stood still…frozen, her mind trying to figure out what was happening, when the tip of his tongue stroked her upper lip and his fingers slid in her hair cupping her head, his other hand on the small of her back pulling her in. She moaned against his mouth and Owen slid his tongue inside and kissed her passionately, his tongue battling her tongue hungrily. Her hands moved up his arms around his neck pulling him down on her, letting herself fall into his embrace, into his kiss for a brief moment of weakness, until her mind started working and Claire was pulling away from him, practically pushing herself off him, gasping out loud before covering her mouth.

'Wha…what the hell do you think you're doing?' she asked him green eyes wide in shock.

'Look I'm sorry okay. I know this is not appropriate, but I wanted to do that for the last five years and when I so you yesterday, it was all I could think about…well, until I found out about Madison that is' he told her.

Claire was about to protest at his actions, but he just told her that all he wanted to do for the last five years was kiss her, so she decided to give him a pass.

'Look…forget it' she said rubbing her forehead with the tips of her fingers 'What are we going to do about Jessica?' she asked him.

'Well…there isn't much we can do right now. She just went to work Claire. I say…we just wait and see how things develop' Owen replied.

'Aren't you worried at all about her?' she asked sounding a little bit pissed off.

'Of course I am Claire, but there isn't anything we can do at the moment' Owen replied 'What we can do though…is tell Madison' Owen suggested, arching an eyebrow hoping she would agree.

She seemed to relax at that and even smiled vaguely as she crossed her arms in front of her 'You really want to tell her, don't you?' she asked him.

'I do' he replied with a nod, a smile suddenly plastered on his face 'I just want her to know so many I can start being a father to my daughter' Owen told her and Claire's face lit up a little brighter at that until his face fell slightly and Claire frowned in question 'What if she has a bad reaction? What if she starts blaming me for not being there for you two or she doesn't want me to be her daddy?' Owen asked as he started walking around the office now. He stopped then running his hands through his hair down to his face and rested against her desk as if it was the most natural thing to do.

'She won't Owen…relax. She likes you. It is very obvious' Claire assured him as she rubbed his bicep, trying to comfort him and assure him at the same time.

'If you say so. You know her better than anyone I guess' Owen replied 'So…shall we do it after work, because now I guess she is at school'.

'She is. After work would be fine' she told him 'I'll send you a location as soon I get home okay?' she asked and Owen nodded in agreement. Glancing at the watch, she realized that she had a meeting starting in ten minutes. She apologised for practically kicking him out which Owen dismissed with a wave of his hand, and went out on his way, but not before lingering slightly at the door, taking one last look at her, making sure to memorize her and then he was gone.