Mind Play (Bennett Sisters Book 3) (37 page)

Jenny nodded and pulled her hand from Butch’s. I’ll get it at once.”

She walked out
,
leaving Butch and Claire alone.

****

Butch stepped up to Claire and pulled her into his arms. “I’m proud of you.”

Claire looked up into his steely blue eyes. “Why?”

“For not taking the easy way out and being honest with her.” Claire wouldn’t have had it any other way
,
and he knew it. It wasn’t in her character.
That was one of the things he liked about her. She wasn’t a coward and wasn’t afraid to stick up for what she believed in. She
’d
found a way to stay true to herself and get what she
needed at the same time.

“Anyone would have done it that way.”

“No
,
Claire, you’re wrong. Not just anyone, but the woman I love did.”

Butch’s gaze locked with Claire’s,
and
only love showed in her eyes. “You heard me right,
angel
. I love you.”

Butch pulled her in close and pressed a kiss to her lips. Butch ran his tongue across the seam of her lips wanting entry
. She opened her mouth on a gasp as he lifted her off her feet and sat her on her own desk. He stepped between her parted legs and pressed himself against her center needing to be closer to the woman he loved. Claire lifted her hands and wrapped them around his neck, entwining her fingers in his
silky brown
hair. Butch tilted his head
,
deepening the sensual kiss. All he wanted was to take her right her, right now. He wanted to make love to her. Butch rubbed
slow circles on her back
,
eliciting
Claire
to arch
into his chest. She locked her legs around him and pulled him closer into her embrace, m
aking what he had to do next almost impossible.

He broke the kiss but kept her wrapped in his arms and said her name on a breath. “Claire, we have to stop.”

Claire hesitated, looked into his eyes
,
and smiled. “I thought that was
supposed to
be my line.”

Butch grinned. Damn
,
she was beautiful. “We still have a lot of stuff to do before your guests arrive, but make no mistake
, when your party is over, I plan to keep you in bed for a long time making love to you.”

He leaned down
,
kissed her neck
,
and whispered
,
“I love you.”

He stepped out of her embrace and held out his hand helping her down from the desk.

She hop
p
ed down. “I love you too.” Claire patted him on the ass and walked out of the room.

That little sneak, she’d
definitely
keep him on his toes. Butch followed Claire out of the room and back to the foyer. She’d grabbed her keys, like he was just going to let her leave by herself. There wasn’t a chance in hell.

“Where the hell do you think you
’
r
e
going?”

Claire spun around. “To pick up my dress.”

Butch stomped over to her
.
“Not alone,
angel
. Let me grab my keys and I’ll take you.”

Jenny walked into the room with an armload of paperwork and stopped. “
Mr. Edwards, h
ere’s the
guest and employee
lists for tonight that you asked for.”

Jenny stretched her arms out
,
handing the paperwork over to Butch. Claire
slid up next
to him
,
stood on her tippy toes
,
and kissed him on the cheek. “I think you have more pressing things to do than drive me around. I’ll be careful.”

Thompson
patted him on the back as he walked by
.
“I’ve got this
,
buddy. I’ll take her
,
and we’ll come straight back.”

Butch looked down at the paperwork. He knew how important it was to start the background checks on everyone that was attending and the staff. He wanted Claire by his side, but under the circumstances
,
if she had to go, he’d feel better if
Thompson
went
with her.

“Straight there and
right
back, right
,
man?”

Thompson
lifted his fist to his chest
.
“You have my word.”

Butc
h nodded and straightened. He s
e
t the papers on the table and walked to Claire
,
pulling her in
to
his arms. He pressed his lips to hers, pulling her tight against his body. When he pulled back
,
he gazed down at her
.
“Angel, let
Thompson
take you.
It will make me feel better.”

Claire nodded and turned
,
walking through the door. She call
ed over her shoulder. “Thompson
,
you’re up for babysitting detail
. G
et
your ass
in gear.”

Thompson
turned to Butch and smiled. “I like this one.”

“Me too
,
” Butch whispered to no
one but himself.
He walked out the door
to
the porch and watched Claire’s Jag disappear
,
turning at the end of the drive.
I’ve got to get my head in the game.

****

It was sweet of Butch to try to protect her
. A
t times she could use the distraction.
She
hadn’t been
planning on Thompson
coming with her. She wasn’t even sure she liked the man sitting in her passenger seat, but she’d try to be nice since he was a friend of Butch’s. Claire glanced over at the man. He was tall like Butch with brown hair. He was good looking like most of Butch’s friends, but she hadn’t liked his
cockiness
to begin with. She returned her gaze on the road
.
Maybe his way of making sure no one g
ot
to
o
close
was just for show
. She raised one eyebrow and smiled. She’d figure him out without her abilities
,
and when she did, he was fair game just like her brother. He needed a woman of his own that could put him in his place. Too bad all of her sisters were married, but she’d come
up
with someone. She always completed whatever she set her mind to.

“Claire, what’s
your
grin about
?”
Thompson
turned in his seat. “What’s going through that pretty little head of yours?”

Claire turned on to Main
Street
and parked in front of the dress shop. She turned off the ignition, unhooked her seatbelt
,
and placed her hands in her lap. “Mr.
Thompson
, are you married?”

“You want me
.
I knew it.
”
Thompson
grinned with a twinkle in his eyes.

Claire rolled her eyes. “
No
t hardly
. A
re
you
in a relationship with anyone?”

“Nope
, W
hy
?
A
re you willing?”

“Not a chance
.
I love Butch
;
I was just curious.”

Thompson
pushed open his car door
.
“Curiosity killed the cat.”

Claire nodded and whispered, “Don’t I know it.”

Thompson
held the boutique door open for Claire.
The owner
walked over to them and smiled.
Claire
had been buying all of her dress
es
from this store since she started throwing fundraisers. They’d been extremely gracious in how they treated her and had even gone out of their way a time or two to
accommodate
last minute changes she’d requested. If everything in her life was as simple as it was to do business with this shop, she’d no doubt cruise through life without a problem in sight. Claire smiled back.

“Ah, Miss Bennett,
” the shop owner leaned into Claire, giving her air kisses on each cheek. “
your dress is in the back
. G
ive me a moment to get it for you.”

“Sure. We’ll be at the counter.”

Claire set her purse on the counter and pulled out her credit card. The shop owner returned with her dress and rang her up. “Have you set a date for the wedding, M
is
s Bennett? We have some lovely wedding dresses in the back
,
and if you
don’
t like those, we could have one specially made for you.”

Claire glanced at
Thompson
,
who grinned.
“Yes
,
when is the big date
?
I need to clear my schedule.”