Page 31 of Condor’s Vow

Hattie looked up through her eyelashes, examining his expression and finding it slightly adorable that he was jealous of a shirt. “No, it’s Martin’s. I stole it.”

Clay shook his head and chuckled. “Callie did the same thing to mine.”

“I guess it’s a sister thing.”

“Yeah, maybe. Although I think Reid relegated it to the bottom drawer and gave her one of his to wear. He didn’t like the idea of anything except something of his gracing her body.”

“He sounds bossy.”

“He is, and he’s my best friend in the world. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for my sister, and that’s all I want for her and him.”

“You love them a lot.”

Clay nodded slowly. “I do. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”

“Me either, Clay.” Her hands held tight to his biceps, and she felt them flex as he moved to draw her to him.

Once she was there, she rested her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. His heart beat strong and sure beneath her ear. His scent, which she loved, surrounded her, and made this all seem less frightening.

“Call, your brothers, gorgeous. Tell them what happened and that you’re with me tonight and we’ll talk to them tomorrow.”

He pulled back and kissed her lips lightly before he let her go, but kept his fingers linked with hers when the doorbell rang.

“That’s the forensic team to see if we have any more evidence outside.”

“Clay!”

He turned, his fingers brushing her own. “Yeah, gorgeous?”

“You have a spare sweatshirt I can steal?”

His grin was sexy as hell as he replied. “Yeah, gorgeous, I do.”

Feeling lighter than she had earlier, Hattie picked up her phone and called her brothers.

This day had been strange, a mixture of extreme highs and some severe lows but it ended on a high when, after his team had left to process the evidence left by the killer, she had packed a bag for herself and one for Mr. Chester, and left for her first sleepover at Clay’s house.

Hattie bit her lip at the thought of what the rest of the night may bring.