If you've liked the story so far, then you'll LOVE this chapter!
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"That's what I want to be." Maisie stated as she gazed at all the planes lined up. "A pilot."
"You're gonna need 20/20 eyesight and a steel stomach." Owen told her, his own gaze on the short terminal that led out of the airport. Really, it was an airstrip with only three hangers. Owen didn't know why being here made him so nervous- considering he had been on an island that had blown up! Claire had called and said she was coming home early last night. After the shock of that had worn off, Owen's brain had been flipping between the anticipation of seeing her... and the fear that at any minute, she'd call back to say that she was staying.
Boy, you got it bad, Grady. Owen breathed out, leaning on the hood of the car. (It was one of the few stances that didn't cause pain in his side.) He tilted his head up to the sun, squinted into it. He'd thought the opposite last time he and Claire had been apart; that they'd calm down and make up a few days after she had insulted his van. Those few days had turned into a few years.
"You're a better man then you think you are."
That was what she'd said at the bar. He had to wonder at that if he let Claire Dearing slip away a third time. Was that why he'd spent ten minutes finding the right shirt to wear?
"I'm going to visit every country in the world." Maisie came back from the fence and hung on the rearview mirror. "Keep a journal of each one and what I did there."
Owen had to grin at her newfound energy. He didn't know how she had any, after the slow work they'd put into the cabin over the last 24 hours. He'd foregone any stitches after the compie ambush, wrestling with restricted movement and pain every time he decided to turn something other then his neck. Even so, Owen had felt that working on the cabin would be a good way to cement to Maisie that he wasn't mad at her. Owen looked over, catching the enthusiasm in the girl's eyes. "Which country would you visit first?"
Maisie's face went thoughtful, nose twitching with the process. But her eyes shifted beyond Owen and she grinned. "Claire!"
Owen turned as Maisie ran to where Claire was coming up on the car… toting a duffel bag on one shoulder and a backpack on the other.
"You stop by your apartment?" Owen guessed, joining them with his limp. Claire gave him a look, dropping the duffel on the pavement. "What happened to you? And yeah, I got a few essentials."
Owen could only imagine. "Only two bags, huh? Pretty good restraint on your part-"
He was cut off by Claire's lips meeting his. Owen's body jolted with the touch and it was over too quickly for him to return her lean. He stared as Claire pulled back, smiling. "I missed you."
Owen felt the need to look around and check for any hidden cameras. He studied Claire instead. Hair down, makeup perfect, and that familiar vanilla scent she was obsessed with. Same upscale clothes and shoes as always. But she seemed… lighter, more relaxed. "What happened?"
"Plenty." Claire answered, her arm coming around Maisie's shoulders. "Zia and Franklin were there. Your name was pretty popular."
"And you missed me?" Owen peaked an eyebrow suggestively, getting a giggle from Maisie. Claire's vulnerability switched off then and she shoved the duffel at him. "I needed to be sure that Maisie was getting fed."
Owen groaned at the sudden weight on his injured side. Claire's smile faded. "What's wrong?"
Owen straightened himself, shooting a look at Maisie. "Tell ya later."
"I convinced him to try the asparagus." Maisie giggled more as they started for the car. "But more importantly, we finished a whole side of the cabin! It's the north side, where the wind comes in. So, if there's any rain, it won't damage the floorboards-"
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Claire didn't know how she had gotten to where the ramblings of a ten-year-old and Owen's snarky commentary were what she needed to brighten her day. Other then the initial panic of hearing about Owen's injuries, their car ride was lighthearted and cozy. Things were a complete 180 from when she had left. Claire held onto this warm, contented feeling, which grew when they reached the cabin and trailer. She let Maisie fly out, but held Owen back. Claire undid her belt and leaned over the counsel, prepping him for the sequel to the peck from the airport. Only to be shocked when Owen stopped her. "Could we… maybe save that for later?"
Claire couldn't believe her ears. She had redone her hair four times to get it the most appealing way possible. "You wanna save this for later?"
His face wrestled with the answer. "Yyy, no; YES!"
Claire waited. Owen fidgeted under her gaze. "Yes. It'll... totally be worth it."
"So much conviction." Claire rewound her advance, a little disappointed- but also intrigued. However, it managed to slip her mind sometime during dinner and the dishes. As predicted, Owen threw the business card away the minute she showed it to him. They shared a look that said there would plenty to talk about. Later. Owen passed Claire another plate as Maisie excused herself to go read a book.
"She's read them all twice." Claire sighed, stacking their plates above the sink.
"She's smart." Owen agreed.
"We need to look into her grade level." Claire continued to think aloud, wiping her hands dry. She saw Owen headed for the door, then turn back and grab her hand; an indication to follow him. "So… I guess these towels are just going to fold themselves."
"You need to ease off the HGTV persona." Owen shook his head, leading her into the evening. She went along, hand in hand, out to the cabin. She had pictured maybe a stroll on the lake. Claire climbed up on the platform after Owen, eyeing the waters peacefully stretched out before them. She pressed a hand on the completed wall that Maisie was so proud of. "You're back to building the cabin."
Owen leaned on it, equally proud. "Told you I'm finishing it. And… I promised Maisie."
Claire had to smile. "She wouldn't have stayed mad. She's really attached to you."
"To both of us." Owen clarified, his eyes on her. "Maisie couldn't wait to impress you with all the work she did."
Claire absorbed that fact, letting a bashful smile escape. Owen mirrored it. "Guess somewhere in it all, we make a good team."
She inched forward and rested her head on his chest. There was a kiss on her forehead and they stayed that way. This was what she admired about him. For all his jokes and crass talk, he was a gentleman- emphasis on the gentle.
"It's later." Owen's hand was on her shoulder now, playing with her hair. Claire tilted her head up and kissed his chin. He caught on and they kissed; a lot longer and deeper then at the airport. His scent, his touch… it was enough to make Claire go blind! They paused for a breath, Owen back to playing with her hair. "I wasn't sure you'd come back."
Claire went from surprised, to hurt, to remorseful. "Well… I never gave you reason to think otherwise."
He cocked his head in agreement, chuckling at her expression. "I pictured us reading this point… differently."
"What point?"
"A whole conversation without raising our voices."
Claire laughed. "I… admire such restraint on your part."
"Restraint nothing." Owen pressed on the small of her back and they were kissing again. Claire ran her hands over his shoulders, mindful of his side. They were both injured, both recovering, and her hair had depleted from its perfect formation... so why was this so perfect? Until the sudden braying of the sinoceratops springing from somewhere in the night. Their kiss turned into a fit of laughing, Owen shaking his head. "I'm almost used to that by now."
Claire sighed at the insanity of even hearing a dinosaur from her backyard. It faltered as she focused on Owen's impossibly handsome face. "I… didn't mean what I said; about you 'ignoring' this."
Owen cradled her around the waist, getting serious. "You really think I'd walk away from this?"
"No." Claire told him. "But… I'd like to think that you trust me with whatever's bothering you. Isn't that where we've screwed up before?"
Owen considered that, walking her to the edge of the platform. They sat where they could watch the twilight take new meaning over the lake, the trees a black ridge around it. One that hid dinosaurs along with deer.
"I shouldn't have put my return to the island on you." Owen finally said. Claire eyed him with her peripheral. "Owen, you went to save Blue."
He squeezed her hand, looked at her intently. " I went to make sure nothing happened to you. Pretty good foresight on my part."
Claire rolled her eyes.
"And that was... going to be it. I thought, 'Hey maybe this' our second chance.'" Owen shrugged. "We're both to proud to just make up on our own. A little fireside flirting, defy death once or twice, and we find we can start over."
Claire looked around, like she might be missing something. "What'd you call this?... Owen?"
He was back to eyeing the lake, but fiddling with something in his hands. She couldn't see it in the dark, but he seemed to be thinking- She jumped when he let out one of his sharp whistles. "Wha-"
The timber frame was suddenly glowing with strands of lights woven through the rafters and down the corner posts. Claire blinked, getting her eyes to adjust.
"Claire Dearing." Owen held his hand out. "Do you want this?"
Between his fingers shone a silver band, studded with five little diamonds. Claire blinked again to make sure of what she was seeing. "Wait, how-"
"Maisie's been on standby at the generator." Owen pointed over his shoulder, then at the ring. "And, pawn shop in town."
A pawn shop... was it even real? Real or not, the ring hadn't moved, enticing Claire to take it. Did she want it? For the rest of her life? Why was that daunting? Claire looked up at Owen to get away from her thoughts. Before they ruined the moment and made her say something stupid. His earnest face, reassuring and convicted as always, was all she needed to see.
"Yes." Claire nodded, eyes locked on Owen's. "Yes, I want that. But only if it means I'm marrying you."
Owen gave her a Cmon look as he took her hand and slipped the ring on. Claire giggled; she couldn't help it. She worked her finger to get a feel for the ring. And leaned in to kiss Owen again. This time as her finance.
