Page 36 of Just a Plot Twist (Tate Brothers #7)

Benson

I was such a sucker before meeting Claire. And even after meeting her, I had my head in the sand and thought I’d never find someone again.

I was wrong.

Two weeks ago in the lake, with her legs around my waist and her lips on mine, something deep inside of me that I believed was permanently closed began to open. It looks and feels a lot like hope.

And now, the sight of her, beautiful in the mid-summer sun as she’s in front of me on an e-bike, resurfaces that hope all over again.

Alec asked if I wanted to try out the e-bikes before he rents them to guests of the resort, and I said yes. Claire insisted her ankle was ready, so she’s testing them with me .

Alec built some bike trails near the resort so people won’t use the e-bikes out on the main road. One of the bike trails abuts city-owned land where an old hiking trail sits.

Claire’s long, light brown hair flies up and whips around her helmet in a dance. She looks over her shoulder at me and laughs.

She has the best laugh, like birdsong.

And the best hair, the color of warm honey. The texture of cornsilk.

And the best come-back lines.

And the best legs.

And the best sense of excitement about things in her life—things that a lot of people don’t even notice.

Like easements on hiking trails. And Longdale-branded odds and ends. And Cinnamon’s wrinkly face.

If I continue thinking about her various “best” parts, I’ll be so distracted that I’ll probably crash this bike.

“We’re almost there,” Claire shouts back to me, so I slow my speed.

Sure enough, the trailhead is just around the next bend, and it’s marked by a small wooden sign.

“It’s so overgrown!” Claire laments. She dismounts the bike and removes a booklet from her bag.

She points to the area with the edge of a sheaf of papers she printed from the city database.

“This one, the Beacon Trail, connects with a bigger network higher up the mountain.” She frowns as she studies the papers.

“But this says parts of the trail were damaged by fire several years ago and the city never made the repairs.” She tsks and surveys the land.

“Should we head up aways to find where it drops off? ”

She’s been working overtime on the trailways initiative, but she still hasn’t heard if she’s got the job yet.

She thinks the interview went well, but she’s convinced they’re going to go with Rich.

I keep saying they’d be crazy not to choose her, but I admire her dedication despite the unknowns.

This project means more to her than padding her resume.

She removes her helmet, hangs it on the handlebars and runs her hands through her shiny, wavy hair. I’ve decided it’s the color of nutmeg and manuka honey. Her cheeks flush a delicate pink.

The way she’s standing there, her arms raised, her fingers sliding through her hair, has me transfixed on the spot. She turns and meets my gaze, those brilliant green eyes shining in the sun and gleaming like precious stones, and one thing is for sure: I was wrong about Claire Lawson.

She’s not too young or inexperienced.

She’s not too stubborn.

I’m not sure I ever even believed any of those things, actually. It was always more about me, anyway. Was I ready to dive into something with her? Were the kids ready? Could I take the risk?

And the answer had been a firm “no.”

Until, like the dog being unceremoniously dropped off at my door without warning, I’ve been forced to confront a few unwanted truths knocking at my door. That doing life with Claire would be a whole lot more full and rich than going at it alone.

Period.

She quirks a smile and steps to me. I remove my helmet and tug her close, relishing in the warmth of her.

“Pre-hike kiss?” Her brows are raised, her smile wanton .

I answer her by pressing my lips to hers, flooded with excitement and a touch of nerves still because how is this my life? How is this incredible woman with me?

“Question,” I muse when we pull apart, my lips finding her forehead. “How does what we have compare with what you had with Chad and Tad?”

Her bottom lip drops open and she scoffs. “I can’t believe you asked that. I told you things with them were less than ideal.”

I wait, my lips curving in a little smile. I shouldn’t tease her about it, but I’m upset that Chad and Tad treated her poorly. She deserved better.

She answers with another kiss, and another, and then pulls herself away, biting her bottom lip. Her eyes take me in. “You’ve completely changed my mind on all things kissing and dating. I’ve never been so…happy before.”

“Me neither. These few weeks with you have been…powerful for me.”

It hasn’t been that long since we kissed in the lake, the wildness of the dark and the chill of the water making up our minds for us. And I’ve spent every moment I can with her since then. Still, it’s not enough. I always crave more.

“How’s your ankle going to handle this?” I ask once we pull apart.

She shrugs. “It’s almost completely healed. Besides, I know a guy. And I’m pretty sure he can help me if I can’t make it down.”

My smile is lazy across my lips. “Oh really? You expect this guy to save you whenever you need it huh?”

“Think of it as…” She pauses. “Giving him an opportunity to serve someone in need.”

“So, more than anything, it’s a service for this random guy. ”

“Exactly,” she teases. She steps in front of me, pulls her phone from her pocket, and speaks notes into the voice memo app on the condition of the trail and recommended next steps.

And I only follow, enjoying the slower pace, talking with her about everything and nothing at the same time. For better or worse, I’m completely into her and everything that she is.

“Thomas, we’re not talking about this right now,” Celine chides as she reaches for the saltshaker.

Celine and Thomas are at either end of the table and all their kids and their spouses are here, plus Sophie and Oliver’s baby, Elizabeth, and Henry and Quinn’s four-year-old, Navie.

Milo, Rose, and their son, Callum, are even here from North Carolina, since Rose is on a two-week break from her nursing program.

And, most importantly in my book, Claire, Dax, and Indie are seated near me. Sebastian had to have his staff push together three long tables for us all to fit. It’s chaos in the restaurant.

And I’ve never felt like I’ve actually been a part of something so messy and perfect before.

I do now. This is my messy and perfect deal, too.

The Tates don’t do things halfway, and this family dinner at the Summit restaurant at the resort is no exception. Sebastian had his chef Daria prepare T-bone steaks, salmon, Brazilian cheese buns, and a salad using local greens and a fresh raspberry vinaigrette .

“I’m just asking the boys about the business. I’m interested.” Thomas shakes his head and presses his linen napkin to his lips. He still gets a little snappish at times, but his recovery time has gotten a lot faster.

“But you’re right.” His voice gently drops, and he meets her gaze from across the table. “I’m sorry, Princess,” he says and I can tell he means it. “How about the kids tell us what they’ve been up to this summer so far?”

“That’s a great idea,” Celine says. She places a hand over her heart. “Oh, it feels like Christmas to have us all together.”

“Dax, as the oldest, why don’t you start us off? Tell us about your summer.” There’s a twinkle in Thomas’s eyes, and he leans forward to take up his glass, his gaze on my son, his grandson.

Dax glances at me, and maybe he’s unsure because he’s suddenly got an audience, or maybe it’s because he’s still not completely comfortable with everyone yet, but I give him an encouraging nod.

Dax copies his grandfather. He takes a sip of water before he starts. “Nothing much, except for swim…and piano.”

They can probably sense his lack of excitement about piano by the way he’s saying it.

“Which do you like more?” Celine asks, her eyes as bright as Thomas’s. “I mean, I think I know...”

“He pouts the whole time he practices piano, so what do you think?” Indie says, and everyone laughs—except Dax.

“The question is, do you pout when you swim, too?” Alec asks with a smile.

“Alec pouts at a lot of things, so no judgment there,” Oakley adds. The others at the table laugh. Alec raises one brow, but he drops his gaze and smiles, like he likes being teased by his wife .

“Nobody can pout like Sebastian, though!” Elianna says, to which the other sisters-in-law raise their glasses.

“Hear, hear!” Sophie says with a giggle. Even Celine joins in on the toast, but none of the guys do.

“I like the show of solidarity from the men!” I add.

“It’s not solidarity, it’s self-preservation!” Henry says. “If I start bagging on Sebastian and Alec, what will the rest of you do when Quinn teases me?”

There’s another roar of laughter, and as soon as everyone calms down, Rose pipes up while she feeds Callum a bite of mashed potato in his highchair. “So, let’s get back to Dax.” She gives him an encouraging nod.

“There are things I hate more than piano,” Dax insists with a smile. “Like my hernia surgery when I was eight. And tomatoes. I’d rather practice piano than eat a tomato.”

“Just out of curiosity, what about your back-to-school shots?” Claire asks him. “Where do those rank on this list?” He needs to get some before he starts school again in a couple of months.

Dax lifts a shoulder. “They’re more enjoyable than the piano.” Everyone laughs. “I don’t throw a fit over shots like Indie does.”

“Hey!” Indie’s face grows red. She’s been pushed too far. I bristle. Maybe Dax shouldn’t mention Indie’s dislike of needles in front of everyone. But to be fair, she probably shouldn’t have talked about his pouting at the piano.

Indie stands from the table, pushing her chair back hard, and throwing her napkin on her half-eaten plate of food. “At least I don’t cry when I get a sunburn!” Her eyes narrow at Dax and she turns on her heel, stomping out of the room .