Page 36 of Condor’s Vow

“I love you, too.”

Hattie felt Clay sag and realized he’d been worried too. “Thank fuck.”

His lips touched hers, and she clung to him, pouring every ounce of feeling into it. He started backing her toward the stairs, and she broke away.

“I need to shower and change before we meet your sister.”

“Best we shower together and save time because if you think for one second I’m not fucking you after you just told me you love me, then you’re way wrong.”

Hattie knew she should protest, but she didn’t because she wanted that too, so she kissed him back, turned and dashed up the stairs undressing as she went, leaving her clothes on the steps.

Two hours later, they were walking into McGinty’s Bar hand in hand, and she could not get the smile off her face. Clay waved to someone as they entered, and she looked over. Calista Lundholm was drinking a beer while sitting next to a gorgeous looking man covered in tattoos much the way Lyric was. Hattie could feel the nerves kick up as Clay got them a drink, and he squeezed her hand and lowered his head.

“Stop worrying. They’ll love you as much as I do.”

Just like that, she relaxed. He loved her, and that meant more than anything. Yes, she wanted these people to like her, but ultimately, all she could do was be herself and what would be, would be.

As they got to the table, Reid and Callie stood. Callie was wearing jeans and a floaty top in jade green with a high neck and black heels. Reid stepped back and let Callie hug her brother, and she could see the genuine love between brother and sister. Reid paused but when Clay leaned in to hug him too, the man grinned a devastating smile that showed exactly how he’d hooked the stunning model and slapped Clay on the back.

“Callie, Reid, this is Hattie, my girlfriend. Hattie, Callie and Reid.”

Hattie was ready to put her hand out but found herself pulled into Callie’s arms. She was a lot taller than Hattie, but she had higher heels on evening them up.

“I’ve been dying to meet the woman who has my brother so head over heels.”

“Wow. Thank you and believe me, I’ve been excited to meet you.”

Callie pulled back and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”

“That his sister was an international supermodel? No, not at first.”

“Don’t sweat it, Hattie. He didn’t tell me either, and I’ve been his best friend since middle school.”

They sat down as laughter broke the tension. It was interesting watching the way Reid pulled Callie into the shelter of his arm, as if he couldn’t get her close enough. Clay did it with her, and she loved it, it made her feel protected and cherished.

“So how did you guys meet? I want all the details.”

Callie was grinning as she sipped her white wine.

“Give them a second to catch their breath, sunshine,” Reid said, softening his words with a kiss dropped on Callie’s naked shoulder.

The love between the two was evident for anyone to see and if she didn’t have it herself, it would have made her melancholy at this time of year, but as she glanced at Clay and found him watching her, she blushed at the love she saw in his eyes. “It’s fine.”

Hattie proceeded to tell them the story of how she and Clay met, and listened intently to how the other couple had met.

“Wow, so you had no clue when you dropped everything to rush to London and protect your friend’s sister that she was Calista Lundholm, the model?”

Reid took a sip of his pint and placed it back on the table. “None at all.”

“Reid really fought his attraction for me, but I won him over.”

“I think I won you over, sunshine. You’re the prize, not me.”

Callie rolled her eyes, and Hattie laughed loving how much fun she was having and totally forgetting who the woman across from her was. “Oh please, look in the mirror, Reid. I’ve been glaring daggers to at least five women who were undressing you with their eyes.”

“Nope, stop talking.” Clay held his hands over his ears. “If you talk sex, I’ll have to stab myself in the ears.”

Hattie held her hands over his and leaned into him. “Poor baby.”