Chapt 38

CLAIRE

I couldn't get over the love that Nic had put into the day. He'd taken me all around Ireland, introducing me to all of the places that my favorite movie had been filmed. He started the day in the very spot where Holly had met Jerry and we went to where they'd shared their first kiss and then onto the absolute most beautiful cottage where the girls had stayed on their holiday. He even took me out on a small boat in the same water they had gone out in, where William had saved them. He had planned us a picnic lunch that we shared out on the boat before heading back to land and onto Jerry's parent's house and farm. I got to go to the fort and see all of the most beautiful sights. It was honestly the most perfect, kind, well thought out day that I could remember.

We ended our night at the pub where Holly had found Jerry year's before and then William on their holiday. It was a perfect ending and I was honestly sorry that the day was over. The thought that Nic had put into the day was amazing. No one had ever done something so special for me before. I was pretty certain that no one ever would again. My heart was so full that I feared it would burst. Then, there was the knowing that somewhere between the colorful landscapes and quaint cottages, I saw Nic as a man who loved me, a man who cared for me. I saw him for all he could be, not just the friend who I had come to love the last few years.

We'd held hands and walked close, talking quietly so that only we could hear the words. He'd stolen kisses from my forehead or nose, my cheeks, and sometimes even my lips, and I had let him. At times I had even returned them. It somehow had all felt so natural. He felt natural.

Twelve hours after we had left my room, we returned to it. He slipped my key in the door, letting me walk in first. I watched as he came in and began putting his bag in order, zipping it up.

"What are you doing?"

"Claire, you're exhausted. I was just going to get things ready and head back to my room so that you could sleep."

I walked over to him, slowly, and wrapped my arms around his waist. "You stayed last night and then today you gave me a day I never could have dreamed of. Why would you think that I would want you to go tonight?"

He stood, arms at his sides, staring down at me with a thousand and one unasked questions burning his eyes. Those eyes searched my face for all of those answers and I didn't know if he found what he sought or not. Slowly, he nodded, but still he didn't move as he spoke. "Okay, but only if you are positive Claire."

"I'd be insulted if you walked out of that door Nic."

He smiled and nodded, sitting his bag back down and taking out his pajama pants. He walked wordlessly to the bathroom to change while I changed into a tank top and shorts in the room. I climbed into the bed, tired, but I refused to close my eyes until he was snuggled beside me. It wasn't long before he climbed into the oversized bed next to me, wearing just the plaid Cleveland Browns pajama pants I had gotten him for Christmas this past year. He pulled the covers up over us and reached his arm out for me. I settled back against his chest as he rubbed my arm with his fingertips.

"Thank you for today Nicky," I murmured, pressing my lips to his palm before I fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.

He wasn't in the bed when I woke up the next morning. I briefly wondered had I dreamed it all. Then I heard the door close and footsteps. I sat up and he came back into the room carrying a tray of food, complete with coffee and two champagne glasses filled with delicious looking mimosas. There was a beautiful, clear vase holding a single red rose, in the corner of the tray.

I moved to get up and he motioned for me to sit. "No ma'am, breakfast in bed this morning beautiful."

I grinned at this romantic side to him. "Well, thank you. It's beautifully done sir, however, this isn't Hollywood." I laughed and scooted off of the bed. "I'll come back for breakfast in bed, but I have to pee first."

He burst out laughing. "Noted. I'll wait for you."

Five minutes later, my face washed, hair pulled up a bit neater, and my bladder empty, I walked back to the bed and carefully climbed back up, slipping my legs under the cover. I noticed that he wore nothing but his grey washed jeans, riding low on his hips, exposing his "V" lines. "Is that how you answered the door?"

"Mhmm, it is."

Whoa, what the hell was this feeling creeping in right now? Jealousy? Over Nic? No way. "Well, I certainly hope that it was a man who brought the tray." Yep, that damn green eyed monster was here. What the hell was my issue?

He chuckled and patted the bed next to him, for me to sit closer to him. "It was indeed a man, Claire. Now eat."

I sat so that our arms were touching slightly as we ate. There was a comfortable silence around us. When we finished, I moved the tray to the side and laid my head over onto his shoulder. His arm went around me without thought it seemed and I let my head fall to his chest as he leaned back against the pillow. "Thank you again for yesterday. I will never forget it, even if I lice to a hundred."

He brushed a stray curl from my face, then ran his thumb softly over my cheek. "It was no big deal, really. I just, I thought you'd love it, so I had to do it."

"No, you didn't, but still you did. I appreciate it."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it darling."

Our voices were barely whispers and yet every word was clear. I wanted so badly to kiss him, so I raised up onto my knees and leaned toward him. I let my lips lightly graze his. He was still, but he exhaled sharply. I let my lips press more firmly to his, wrapping my hands around his neck but I could tell that he was hesitant so I pulled back.

"Have I read this all wrong? Do you not want this? Not want to kiss me?"

"No, no you read it perfectly. There's nothing that I want more than to kiss you."

"Then what is it?"

His voice came out low and raspy when he spoke. "Nothing's wrong, I just had given up all hope that you ever would want me to be kissing you."

I smiled and realized that in that moment, right then, that I did indeed want him kissing me. "Kiss me Nicky," and he did.

A WEEK LATER- USA- FLORIDA

We were home and I'd started my new position at the performance center. I'd also started the search for an apartment in the Orlando area. I had it all narrowed down to three. Nic had agreed to go with me to check them out when he got home from the road the next day. I was looking forward to it, mainly because it meant time with him.

Since our day out and about in Ireland, we had spent more and more time together. In that time, our hands stayed linked and there were kisses in abundance. We'd gone to the movies once, and to dinner or lunch every day that he was in town. We'd not spoken about the change in our relationship or tried to put labels on it, but we both knew that things had changed. We also knew that neither of us were opposed to that change.

I'd been talking to Sadie more and more too. She never missed a chance to toss the smug I told you so if the conversation turned to Nic. If I didn't love her so much, then I might have minded. She had mentioned looking to move back to Florida soon and my heart soared at the thought. It would be so good to have her close to me again. She had even mentioned that she wanted to look in and around Orlando for a place. I knew that Jon played a big part in it, but I was okay with that too. Anything that would have her back close by.

I knew she was concerned about finding a job, so I had offered to keep an eye out for jobs that might be good for her. I had never imagined that a job would literally fall right into my inbox that day at work. As I climbed into my jeep and headed for the interstate, I called her.

"Hi Claire! How are you?"

"I am fantastic and I have amazing news for you."

"Okay, I'll bite, what's up?"

"Well, know how I said that I would keep an eye out for a job? Well today one came straight to me, and it is beyond perfect for you. The PC is launching a new café and coffee bar. Only thing is they need a manager for it. Someone with experience in that type of environment, someone who knows how to do the ordering, hiring, scheduling, and how to make it a success. Do you know anyone by chance?"

I heard her excited squeal on the other end of the line. "Oh my God Claire, that is perfect! How would I apply? When would they need me to start?"

I laughed then. "I figured you'd say that so I've already sent you a link to apply to your email. They want to have it opened by December, middle of the month at the latest. You'd start within two weeks of being hired on so you'd have time to order, hire staff, all of that stuff."

"That would be soon then. I don't know," she said and I could hear the excitement fade from her voice.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I could never find a place and move in that time frame."

"Then you stay with me until you find a place Sadie. We can store your things at my house in Tampa, so no worries. We could make it work."

"Well… I just don't want to be a bother." The excitement was back in her voice.

"Sadie, you could never be a bother. Get that damn application filled out and handed in. We can plan then. I'm going tomorrow to check out my final three apartment options and make my decision. It's all going to work out just fine."

"Okay then," she said. I heard that squeal of excitement again and it made my heart smile. My best friend was coming home.

NIC

My first time coming home from the road since life as I knew it had changed I expected to get off the plane, grab my luggage, get an Uber, then call Claire from the car. What I hadn't expected was to see her standing there, my bags beside her, and a smile on her face. Expected or not, I'd take this over an Uber call any day of the week.

She didn't run to me, no big scene or anything that you would see on a Hollywood screen. She stood there, still and smiling, she let me come to her. Her hands in her back pockets and a shyness behind the smile. She had never been so damn beautiful.

"What are you doing here kiddo?"

"Maybe I figured you'd need a ride? Or, maybe it's more simple than that. Maybe I just missed you."

So soft were the words, but they found their place in my heart as I wrapped her in my arms, kissing her. Nothing had ever tasted sweeter than her lips, of that simple fact I was sure. To know she'd missed me was more than I had hoped for in this life of mine. How I finally got her attention I didn't really know, but I was beyond thankful for it.

"Well, I'm home now, so you can stop missing me beautiful." I took her hand in mine and took my luggage from her, leading her to the door and out into the sunshine. We walked to the pick-up parking lot and I saw her jeep sitting there. It still blew me away that she had come to meet me. I would have to get used to her wanting my time as much as I wanted hers. "So, ready to go apartment shopping?"

She looked at me with a childish excitement and nodded. "I am, yes."

I watched her climb into the driver's seat and climbed in beside her. "How about we go get lunch and then we can head to the first apartment?" I took her hand in mine as we pulled out of the airport parking lot and smiled. I finally felt like my life was falling into place.