CHAPTER SIX

Lucas’s pov 

I walked into my office in a rush, impatience thrumming through my veins. Jason better have a damn good reason for summoning me here on a weekend. 

"This better be important," I barked as I flung open the door with rather more force than necessary. "What couldn't possibly wait until Monday?"

Jason glanced up calmly from where he was shuffling through paperwork at his desk, utterly unfazed by my brusque entrance. "My apologies, Mr. Anderson , I didn't realize it was still the weekend for you."

I opened my mouth to fire off a scathing retort when his words properly registered. With a huff, I raked a hand through my hair and forced myself to take a steadying breath. Jason didn't deserve the brunt of my foul mood.

"You're right, you're right. I'm sorry," I said, the lingering high from my encounter with Claire slowly ebbing. "It's just been an...eventful morning. What's this all about?"

Jason regarded me with knowing eyes, one brow quirked. "I could ask you the same. You're not normally so ill-tempered on a weekend unless something major happened." A wry smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Did you get lucky with some floozy and now you're feeling guilty?"  

Blunt as always. I rolled my eyes but couldn't quite suppress my own grin as I settled into the chair across from him. "Believe it or not, it's quite the opposite of that. I, uh...ran into an old friend this morning. Someone I have very strong feelings for."

Jason's expression took on a slightly mocking edge. "The great Lucas Anderson has feelings? For a woman? Alert the presses."

"Oh, can it," I shot back with no real heat. "You know damn well I'm not the heartless playboy everyone makes me out to be."

"Could've fooled me with your endless parade of arm candy and one-night stands." Jason shrugged one shoulder unapologetically. "But hey, I'm happy to be proved wrong if this 'friend' of yours has you this riled up already."

A ghost of a smile played across my lips as unbidden thoughts of Claire crept back in - her warm, honeyed skin beneath my roving hands, the delicious little noises she made as we moved together, her face awash with pleasure as I brought her to the dizzying edge over and over...

"Believe me, this woman is worth getting 'riled up' over," I murmured, unable to keep the hint of reverence from my tone. "Just seeing her again after all this time, it was like..." I trailed off, grasping for the words. "Like the universe clicked back into place, you know? Like she's the missing piece I've been searching for without even realizing it."

Jason's brows climbed nearly to his hairline as he regarded me, stunned into rare silence. "Well, damn. She must be one hell of a special lady to have you waxing so poetic, Romeo."

"The most incredible woman I've ever met," I agreed fervently. A thought occurred to me and I narrowed my eyes at him. "Wait, you don't think setting up a romantic dinner would be too much too fast, do you? I want to sweep her off her feet properly this time."

"Are you kidding?" Jason let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. "If I were her, I'd be put off by anything less from an Anderson man. Go all out - candlelight, roses, the whole nine yards. Romance the hell out of her and she'll be melting into a puddle at your feet before the night is through."

Chuckling ruefully, I couldn't argue his logic. "Fair point. A dinner date it is, then."

I faltered suddenly, the earlier jumble of emotions crashing back in like a wave. Confusion and uncertainty warred with genuine hope and affection in my chest as I thought about Claire and her son. That little boy... God, he looked so much like me. What were the chances?

"There's something else too, Jace," I admitted, expelling a slow breath. "I met Claire's son this morning. Brian. And I can't shake this gut feeling that he might be...mine."

Jason's dark eyes widened comically. "No way. Are you serious? How old is the kid?"

"Five," I replied tightly, anxiety knotting my stomach. "Five years old, which matches up with when Claire and I were..." 

I trailed off again, shaking my head. Claire hadn't outright confirmed anything, evading my questions with a skill that both impressed and frustrated me. But those big brown eyes, that impish little grin - how could a child look so eerily like me without actually sharing my DNA?

Jason seemed to read the tumult raging within me plain as day on my face. Reaching over, he gripped my forearm firmly. "Hey, man. I'll get right on running a background check on this Claire chick, okay? Find out everything there is to know, dig up any past relationships or circumstances around when she had the kid. Whatever you need to put your mind at ease."

I searched his face woodenly for a long moment before blowing out a harsh breath. Jason knew me better than anyone. He was the closest thing I had to flesh and blood family in this world. If anyone could get to the bottom of this, it was him.

"Thanks, Jace. I'd really appreciate that." I squeezed his arm gratefully before allowing a faint smirk to quirk my lips. "So should I have legal start drafting up adoption papers just in case the little guy is mine?"

He snorted indelicately, swatting my chest in a friendly jab. "How about we make sure your 'friend' is down for committing herself before you go getting ahead of yourself, yeah? One thing at a time, Casanova."

The knot in my chest loosened somewhat at his easy teasing. Whatever this situation with Claire and Brian entailed, at least I wouldn't be facing it alone. I had Jason in my corner to help see me through.

With a silent nod, I settled in beside him and we turned our attention to the stack of files and reports awaiting us. After a few minutes of scanning figures and statistics in companionable quiet, I spoke up again.

"Better make sure to reserve us a private table at the best hotel in town for tonight too. I want to start our date off with the full royal treatment."

Jason's loud guffaw rang out, echoing through the office as he reached for the phone without a second thought. "Already three steps ahead of you, boss. Can't have Casanova dropping the ball on the most important night of his life so far."

I watched him affectionately as he started dialing, warmth blooming in my chest. Whatever the coming days had in store for me, at least I wouldn't be facing it alone. I had my best friend, my brother in all but blood, there to back me up and keep me grounded as I chased after the missing pieces of my life that were finally so close I could taste them.

With renewed determination, I attacked the spreadsheets and documents laid out before me with vigor. Time to get this busy work handled so I could focus all my efforts on the single most important mission of my life thus far - winning over Claire and claiming my family, once and for all.

By the time Jason and I wrapped up our work for the day, I was practically vibrating with anxious energy. After pouring over files and projections for hours, all I could think about was Claire and our impending dinner date.

Unable to resist, I pulled out my phone and thumbed out a quick text to her number.

"Hard at work but can't stop thinking about seeing you tonight. I'm counting down the minutes."  

I stared at the words for a long moment before hitting send decisively. Almost immediately, I felt a pang of doubt twist in my gut. Was that too forward? Too eager? The last thing I wanted was to come across as some lovesick sap and scare her off.

"Dude, relax." Jason's amused voice cut through my anxious musings. "You look like you're about to have an aneurysm over there."

I shot him a halfhearted glare, thumbing furiously at my phone screen as my message failed to show as 'read.' "She's not answering. What if she got cold feet about tonight?"

"Then she's an idiot, which we already knew," he deadpanned, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. "But somehow I doubt it. Any woman would be lucky to have your charming company for an evening, even if you are a gigantic cornball."

Shaking my head ruefully, I let out a long, slow breath in an attempt to steady my rioting nerves. "I think I'm more nervous about this date than any other I've ever been on, if you can believe it."

"Oh, I believe it," Jason assured me with a faint chuckle. "You've got it bad for this chick, Anderson . I haven't seen you worked up over a girl like this in...well, ever."  

"That's because Claire is different. Special," I said simply, tucking my phone away defeatedly. "She's not just another fling or pretty face. She's... God, I don't even know how to put it into words. But I'm sure as hell not messing this up like I did the first time."

"Lover boy." Jason rose fluidly from his chair, clapping me firmly on the shoulder. "No more sitting around moping, then. I made those dinner reservations at the Delmonte like you asked, a private table on the terrace with all the romantic trimmings. No more overthinking, just go get ready to sweep her off her feet for real this time."

I eyed him with a wry twist of my lips as I levered myself to standing as well. "You got a real sentimental streak, you know that Jace? You're starting to sound as lovestruck as I am."

"Yeah, yeah, don't get used to it," he shot back gruffly, though his eyes danced with mirth. "I'll be back to roasting you like a pig over the fire by morning, lover boy. Now get moving before you miss your window."

With a salute and a grin, I took my leave, practically floating on cloud nine as I headed for home and the promise of an evening spent basking in Claire's intoxicating presence. My stride was light, my heart thrumming with renewed vigor in my chest.

She would see tonight, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was all in. No more wasted opportunities, no more games or walls. Just me, laying it all on the line for her and for the little boy who could very well be the biggest prize of all.

After a brisk, almost giddy shower, I stood before my closet and let my hands roam over the racks of designer suits and tuxedos. Only the best would do for tonight. This was it - my moment to show Claire that I was a new man, mature and self-assured and ready to go all in. The stakes had never been higher, but neither had the prospective reward.

Finally, I settled on an impeccably tailored slate gray suit, the fabric soft as sin and the cut accentuating my lean build to perfection. A crisp white dress shirt, a paisley-printed tie in shades of silver and navy, and a pair of burnished leather oxfords completed the look. A single spritz of my signature cologne, a quick comb-through of my hair, and I was ready to go.

I took a deep, steadying breath as I caught my reflection in the mirror, giving myself one last critical once-over. Not too shabby, if I did say so myself. I hoped Claire appreciated the effort.

When I arrived at the hotel, the valet moved to open my door before I smoothly waved him off. I wanted no distractions, no extra hands coming between me and this moment. As I strode through the lobby and out onto the terrace, the low evening sun spilled buttery warmth across the floor.

And then I saw her. Claire, a vision in a fitted sundress the color of ripe raspberries, auburn hair falling in lush waves around her glowing face. She looked utterly ethereal and I momentarily forgot how to breathe.

When her eyes lighted on me, those kissable lips curved into a smile so radiant it made my knees go weak. She rose to greet me as I neared the table and suddenly I tasted the future, sweet and tantalizing, on the air between us.

No matter how my life had played out until now - the triumphs, the losses, the heartaches - it all paled in insignificance beside this one crystallized instant. This woman, standing before me in this perfect sliver of time and space, was my destiny. My heart and soul knew it beyond all rationality or reason.

Claire was home. She'd always been home.   

And tonight, I would walk through that door she'd cracked open for me and claim what was mine - or die trying. There would be no more holding back, no more fear or doubt. Only forward movement toward a future I could practically taste.

As I closed the distance between us, I couldn't stop the beaming smile from splitting my face.

"Claire," I breathed out reverently. "You look..." I trailed off, drinking in her radiance helplessly. "Wow. Just...wow."

She ducked her head a little in that demure way I recalled so vividly, but her smile only brightened further. "You don't clean up too bad yourself there, city boy," she teased lightly.

And just like that, the tension bled away, leaving only warmth and light and promise in its wake.

Here and now, in this perfect moment where everything narrowed down to just the two of us? Yeah, this was exactly where I was meant to be.