Joel stands up and puts his arms around her. “Claire! I was so worried about you.”

  “I’m fine,” she tells him. Then she turns back to me. “So you’ve loved me for the past seven years but you only tell me now?”

  I shrug. “I spent a good portion of those years trying to convince myself not to, I think.”

  “Because you didn’t want to lose your best friend?” Claire asks.

  I nod.

  “See,” she tells Joel. “He loves me. And still he tried to give me up for you. For seven years. Don’t you think he’s suffered enough?”

  Joel doesn’t answer.

  “And what about me? Don’t you think I deserve to be happy just like you?” Claire asks him.

  He holds her hand. “You know, when I heard of the accident and I was thinking of you, I realized all I want is for you to be alive and happy. So if Ryker makes you happy, I won’t stand in your way.”

  Claire’s face lights up. I feel a huge weight disappear from my chest as well.

  “Thank you!” Claire hugs him. “I knew you’d understand.”

  Joel pulls away and touches her cheek. “When have I ever been able to refuse you?”

  She smiles. “You raised me well, you know. You raised me to be strong and independent and to fight for what I believe. That’s why I knew you’d understand.”

  Joel kisses the top of her head. Then he looks at me.

  “Promise you’ll take good care of my little sister?”

  “I promise,” I tell him.

  He lets Claire go. She runs to me and I throw my arms around her.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whisper in her ear.

  “I’m glad everything’s okay,” she replies.

  “Ryker?” Joel calls my attention.

  I lift my head.

  “Here. Catch.”

  He takes something out of his pocket and tosses it at me. I catch it with one hand. I open my hand and realize it’s the watch he gave me.

  “Don’t lose it,” he reminds me.

  I put it on. “I won’t.”

  Not the watch. Not Claire. I swear I’ll treasure them both.

  Just then, Natalie comes back, a cup of coffee in her hand. I guess she did go to the vending machine.

  “Claire.” She gives her a hug. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ve never felt better,” she replies.

  Natalie’s eyebrows furrow as she looks at Claire, then me, then Joel.

  “What did I miss?”

  “Just everything falling into place,” Claire answers.

  She touches Claire’s arm and smiles. “I’m so happy for you.”

  She gives me the same smile.

  “And you.”

  “Thank you,” I say.

  She places her hand on Joel’s cheek.

  “And I’m so proud of you.”

  He blushes as he nods.

  “And you know what?” Natalie asks. “Now I’m sure that our wedding will be the best ever.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Claire

  It is the best wedding I’ve ever been to.

  The ceremony was held just a few feet from the shore against a sky painted golden by the perfect sunset. Nat looked like a princess in her gown. Joel looked handsome, though not as handsome as his best man. Of course, I looked gorgeous in my yellow dress, too. It was a short and simple ceremony, but Joel and Nat’s vows made me cry. I’ll never forget them.

  Now, the party is in full swing. There’s no program. Just eating and drinking and dancing barefoot in a large tent on the beach. Ryker and I have already danced a few times, so I’m just catching my breath while he gets us a fresh round of drinks.

  “Here you go.” He hands me a margarita.

  “Thanks,” I tell him before taking a sip. “Is this a great party or what?”

  “It’s a great party,” Ryker says before drinking his beer. “Even greater because we were invited to it.”

  I nod. “Yeah. I can’t believe we almost missed this.”

  Ryker looks at me. “I thought I was the only one uninvited.”

  “But I wouldn’t have showed up here without my date,” I say. “I might have attended the ceremony maybe, but not this party.”

  “Then I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad we’re both here.”

  “So glad,” I second before letting my glass clink with his bottle.

  In fact, I’ve never been happier in all my life. I’m in Jamaica, where the weather is now perfect and the food is packed with flavor and the music is amazing. My brother is happily married to the best woman I know. And I have a boyfriend who’s been in love with me for the past seven years. And we’re traveling soon. How awesome is that?

  I’m about to take another sip of my margarita but the music stops. The clanging of cymbals rings through the air.

  “Can I have your attention everyone?” Joel stands on the stage where the band is.

  I give Ryker a puzzled look. “What is he doing?”

  “Giving a speech, I think.”

  Really? I thought my brother hated giving speeches. We had to force him to say a few words at the wedding shower, and even then I was worried he’d throw up in the middle of his speech. Then again, the atmosphere right now is less formal, plus he seems to have already had a few drinks. He should be fine.

  This should be fun.

  “On behalf of my beautiful wife, Natalie Parker…” Joel gestures toward her as he starts and she makes a curtsy. “I want to thank you all for coming to our wedding here in Jamaica. It has just been a blast with all of you.”

  I couldn’t agree more.

  “And I just want to take this opportunity to thank my best man, Ryker Hawthorne.”

  I clap my hands.

  Ryker sighs. “Here we go.”

  “He has always been there for me even though I haven’t always been there for him.”

  Ryker leans towards me and whispers, “He’s going to make me cry.”

  “Shh.” I hold a finger to my lips.

  “I know he has two perfect brothers…” Joel continues.

  Ryker snorts.

  “But he’ll always be my brother. Thanks, bro.”

  Joel gives Ryker a salute. Ryker salutes back.

  “Oh, and by the way, ladies, I know you all think my best man is the best looking man here next to me,” Joel adds. “But he’s not available.”

  “Yup,” Ryker mutters. “Here we go again.”

  “Because he’s in a relationship with my beautiful sister, Claire.”

  Cheers and sighs erupt across the room. I smile and try not to blush too much.

  “I wish you two the very best,” Joel says. “Because you two deserve it.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper and mouth the words.

  Joel raises his glass. “To love.”

  I raise mine. Ryker lifts his bottle.

  “To love,” we both say at the same time.

  We drink, then kiss. Then I put my glass down.

  “Do you want to go for one more dance, best man?” I ask Ryker.

  He grins. “Actually, I have a better idea.”

  ~

  Ryker leads me outside the tent and we walk down the moonlit beach hand in hand. Once we’re far enough away that we can only hear the music faintly, he stops.

  “So what are we doing?” I ask him curiously.

  We’re not going to have sex out here, are we? As much as I don’t mind outdoor sex and I love the beach, I’m not too comfortable about the idea of doing it on the sand.

  “Close your eyes,” Ryker tells me.

  “Okay.”

  I close my eyes and imagine what might be in store. Did he get me a present? Is it the keys to our own private plane? Wait. Planes don’t have keys, do they?

  “Now, open them,” he says.

  I do. As soon as I see him down on one knee on the sand, I gasp. I see the diamond ring inside the satin box in his hand and I can’t breathe.

  No way.

  “Claire Parker,” Ryker says as he looks up at me, his eyes filled with more love than there are drops of water in the ocean, “I’ve known you for most of my life. I’ve loved you for the past seven years. I know I wasted so much time, but I also know that from now on, I want to spend every moment with you.”

  I clasp my hand over my mouth as the words overwhelm me. Tears of joy prick my eyes.

  “Claire Parker, will you give me the honor of spending a lifetime with you?”

  I don’t stop to think.

  “I do,” I answer as I drop to my knees on the sand beside him.

  I throw my arms around him as a tear escapes from my eye.

  “I would love to be your wife, Ryker Hawthorne.”

  He pulls away and slips the ring on my finger. Then he grasps my chin and plants his lips tenderly on top of mine. My heart soars.

  Truly, I’ve never been happier.

  Epilogue

  Ryker

  Five months later…

  “Okay,” I tell Ethan over the phone. “Say hello to Stella for me and give little Erin a kiss from me. Take care.”

  I hang up and go downstairs to the kitchen. Claire is standing over the stove, preparing dinner—tarkari or Nepali chicken curry from the smell of it, which she has perfected since we moved here to Pokhara. A floral apron hangs from her neck and ties around her waist.

  I smile. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of watching her cook.

  I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her from behind. I plant a kiss on her neck. She turns her head to give me a smile before pressing her lips against mine.

  “What did Ethan say?” she asks.

  “That he likes everything we’ve been doing with the Foundation,” I answer.

  “Of course he does,” Claire says. “We’ve only just started and the world is already talking about us. More importantly, we’ve already helped so many people.”

  True. The Hawthorne Foundation is doing even better than I thought it would.

  “Also, he said Erin is growing bigger and prettier every day.”

  “She does look adorable in her pictures,” Claire agrees. “I’m sorry you’re not there to pamper her with kisses.”

  “Ethan pampers her with enough kisses,” I say. “Besides, I have someone else I can pamper with kisses right here.”

  I plant a kiss on the nape of her neck then on each of her shoulders as I run my hands along her sides.

  Claire glances over her shoulder. “I’m cooking, you know.”

  “I know. When has that ever stopped you?”

  “Never.”

  She lowers the flame on the stove and puts the lid on the pot. Then she turns around. She glances at the clock on the wall as she takes off her apron.

  “You have ten minutes.”

  She hangs her apron on the peg.

  I grin. “Plenty of time.”

  I lift Claire off her feet. She giggles.

  I carry her to the couch. Then I sit down, keeping her on my lap but letting her face forward so her back is against my chest and her legs are straddling mine.

  She turns her head. I grasp her chin and capture her lips. She parts them and my tongue enters her mouth.

  As our tongues mingle, I slip my hands beneath her shirt to touch her breasts. As usual, she’s not wearing a bra. She never does at home. My fingers find her nipples and rub them. She moans. My cock throbs at the sound.

  I dip one of my hands between her legs. I caress her through the layers of fabric before I let my hand crawl beneath them. My fingers brush against her nub and she shudders.

  Claire pulls her mouth away from mine to let out a gasp as I stroke her. Her head falls against my shoulder.

  I suck her neck as I tease her nub. Then I slide my fingers lower, slipping two inside her. Claire’s fingers dig into my thighs. I move my fingers and her hips move as well. My cock strains against its cotton prison, turning it into a tent.

  Claire must feel it against her back, because she grabs my wrist. She pushes my hand away. Then she turns to face me. She kneels on the floor between my legs. She takes my cock out and licks the tip.

  I hiss. For a few moments, I simply lie back and try to enjoy her skillful tongue on my cock while I stroke her hair. She sucks and I draw a sharp breath. Then I push her off. I pull her to her feet and take off her shorts and panties.

  If we had more time, I’d eat her up. But we don’t. I’ll save that for later, after dinner. Right now, I pull her back on my lap and capture her mouth. I swallow her moans as I grip her hips and lower her body down on my cock. Her scorching, silky skin clings to me inch by inch.

  One of the things I like about her taking pills even though I wouldn’t mind it if she got pregnant? The fact that nothing has to come between our bodies, which definitely results in amazing friction, friction that sucks the air from my lungs.

  Once I’m completely inside her, I break the kiss and take a moment to catch my breath. Then I start to move my hips. Claire moves hers as well. Skin slaps against skin. My grunts mingle with her moans.

  I lift her shirt and take one of her breasts inside my mouth. I keep it there as I go on with my thrusts.

  Claire’s moans grow louder. Her hips move faster. Her body starts to tremble.

  “Ryker!”

  I release her breast as she cries out my name just before her nails dig into my shoulders. Her back arches and her head falls back.

  I’ll never tire of seeing this sight either.

  I pause just for a moment to relish it. Then I start to move my hips faster. Claire wraps her arms around me and strokes my hair. I clutch her ass.

  “Coming!”

  I shoot my load deep inside her as I grunt. Every muscle in my body grows rigid.

  Gradually, each one relaxes as the pleasure fades. I drop my arms to my sides.

  Claire gets off me and sits beside me. She pulls her shirt down and takes a few seconds to rest. Then she puts her panties and shorts back on and leaves the couch to go back to the stove.

  “Did we finish in time?” I ask her.

  “Just about,” she answers as she puts her apron back on.

  I follow her to the stove and wrap my arms around her once more. She stirs the mixture inside the pot. The aroma of spices drifts up to my nostrils.

  “Mmm. That smells good.”

  Claire turns her head to give me a puzzled look. “When have I ever made anything that doesn’t smell good?”

  “Never.”

  Every dish she makes is sublime.

  She gives me a smile before turning her attention back to the pot.

  “So, did Ethan say anything else?” she asks.

  I pause to recall our most recent conversation. “No.”

  “What about their wedding? Aren’t he and Stella getting married soon?”

  “I think he wants to wait until Erin is a little bigger.”

  Claire nods. “Okay.”

  “What about Asher? When are he and Violet getting married?”

  “I don’t know,” I answer. “How about you? When do you want to get married?”

  “Hmm.” She touches her chin. “Maybe we should all just get married at the same time.”

  My eyebrows arch. “What?”

  Claire looks at me. “Why? Don’t you want to get married with your brothers?”

  I pause to think about it. It’s weird, but I can’t say it’s a bad idea.

  “You know what?” I tell her. “I don’t care about the wedding as long as I get you as my bride.”

  Claire chuckles. “Of course you will, silly.”

  I wrap my arms tightly around her.

  “I love you,” I whisper in her ear.

  I’ll never tire of saying it.

  “I love you,” she answers.

  I smile. I don’t care what the future has in store. I’m not afraid. As long as I have her, every moment, every experience will be an adventure.

  ~The End~

  Keep reading for the conclusion of The Hawthorne Brothers with an exclusive never-before-published extended epilogue!

  EXCLUSIVE: Hawthorne Brothers Extended Epilogue

  Ethan

  “Hi there, little princess.” Stella waves at the screen of her phone. “It’s Mommy. Do you miss Mommy? Because Mommy sure misses you.”

  My lips curve into a smile as I listen to my fiancée speak in her singsong voice, which seems to have become her default language since Erin was born. I’m not as much a fan of the tone as my daughter is, but her expression while doing it? Priceless.

  “Oh, by the way, Jess, don’t forget.” Stella puts her serious mom face on. “Don’t put her to bed with a bottle. Just rock her until she’s almost asleep and then put her down before she falls asleep, not after. And if she wakes up in the middle of the night, give her a bottle but take it out before she falls back asleep. And don’t forget to put her breathing monitor on and turn it on. I just changed the batteries.”

  My smile vanishes as I let out a sigh. I’m proud that Stella knows everything about babies now, and I admire her determination to be a good mother, which she already is. I just wish she didn’t act like Erin’s executive assistant.

  I know Erin has needs, but so does Stella. I know she can’t help but want to do everything right, can’t help but worry that she isn’t doing enough, but I wish she would breathe every now and then. I know that sometimes she feels like she’s doing all this alone because she’s the one who gave birth, but she’s not alone. I’m here, thinking about her, worrying about her, loving her—all the things she’s forgotten to do since Erin arrived—which is why I proposed the idea of this evening alone, just for the two of us.

  A lovely idea. If only I can get her off the phone.

  I step forward, hoping my presence will be enough to accomplish that. It used to be enough. It used to be that if she was on the phone and she saw me, she’d stop talking instantly and stare at me with her mouth hanging open. If she didn’t end the call in the next heartbeat, I pushed my tongue right into it as I tossed her phone aside.

  Used to be. But then so many things have changed in the past year.

  It takes a few moments for Stella to notice me, and when she does, she shows me her phone. I catch a glimpse of Erin on the screen.

  “Do you want to say ‘hi’ to her?” Stella asks.