Page 84 of Evidence of Deceit

“No reason.” Now his hands were sweating, and he pulled them back from Claire. He cleared his throat. “Claire, I am deeply and unequivocally in love with you. Have been all my life. I would consider it a great honor if you would come back to Florida, live with me in my house. Or I’ll find a place in New York. I’ll do whatever I have to, to make sure you have everything the way you want it.”

She came over and snuggled into his chest. “Oh Joe, I was planning on being back next week. I have a couple of things to finish up, and then I was coming home. To you.”

“Oh.” Well, didn’t he feel silly.

“How long can you stay?”

Forever, Claire. Forever. “I have a job the day after tomorrow, so I can stay the night. Will your parents have a problem with that?”

She pulled back from him. “Oh goodness, no. They love you.”

Mrs. Stewart knocked lightly on the door. “Joe, I hope you’re staying overnight. We’re having roasted chicken for dinner. It’ll be ready in an hour.” She turned and left.

Claire grinned. “Well, that solves that problem. Where’s your bag?”

“I left it in the car. I’ll be right back.” Joe walked out to get his bag. After walking back to the house, he had one thing to do before he went upstairs.

Chapter Forty-Eight

“Istill don’t understand what you see in me.”

Joe and Claire were sitting in the living room of his house. It was an overcast day, and they were just hanging around. Claire had been back for two weeks, and they were still dancing around their relationship.

Claire scrunched her face. She did not want to have this discussion with him. Why couldn’t Joe see that he was everything to her? He was still hung up on feeling unlovable, and she was going to make it her life’s mission to erase those feelings.

“I can’t offer you much. I’ll never be a millionaire. I have just what you see here.” He widened his arms.

“Hmmm.” She licked her lips. Joe’s eyes followed her tongue as it traveled around her mouth.

“You make me laugh.”

Joe cocked an eyebrow and started to open his mouth to say something.

Claire put up a finger, then giggled. “Seriously. You make me feel safe. You make me feel that there isn’t anything I can’t accomplish. You make me feel loved and cherished.”

He leaned over, pulled her close to him, held her head in his hands, bit her lip gently and soothed it with his tongue. Then he whispered in her ear, “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

She pulled back. “Whaaat?”

“Why did the chicken cross the road?”

“I don’t know.” Whoa, this was a new side of Joe. He never told jokes. His eyes were twinkling, and Claire loved seeing him like this. She snorted. “Because he wanted to get to the other side?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “No, silly, because he wanted to get the hell out of Kentucky.”

It took her a moment to get the joke. Then she burst into laughter.

Joe’s eyes crinkled, and he grinned. “There. I can never say I don’t make you laugh.”

He pulled her in for a deep kiss. When he was finished caressing her mouth with his tongue, she sat back.

“And you’re a good kisser,” said Claire.

“Just good?” Joe furrowed his brows and put on a sad face.

“Fantastic, fabulous, incredible, amaz—” She never got to finish.

He dived back in and wasn’t gentle this time. He took over her mouth and tongue, demanding that she give him what he wanted. And she did.

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