Shaking her head, she looked across the studio to find Claire wiping her face and nodding. “I just want to make you proud, to show you that your money is being well spent.”
Reese was surprised that she heard Claire. She whispered the words, and the words were laced with her tears. When she looked up, Phillip’s eyes were glued to Claire and Reese could see every bit of his heart. He loved this girl so much, and Reese wanted nothing more than for their issues to be solved. It would make them both so much happier. “I’m already proud of you Claire and as long as this makes you happy then I’ll spend as much money as you want. You know that. Don’t be scared. Don’t be nervous. Just do you.”
She took in a deep breath and looked over at Reese, then she asked, “Can I have a minute?”
Reese nodded. “Of course.”
Claire fell into the middle splits and when Reese looked over, Phillip was leaning against the mirrors watching her. Despite his assurance to Claire, she could tell he was just as nervous as she was. It surprised her how much she had learned to read him. Usually she didn’t care about a man and his feelings, but she cared about how Phillip was feeling. He kept running his hands through his hair, moving his hands down his pants, and couldn’t stay still for nothing. She wanted to go over and wrap him up in her arms. She wanted to reassure him that Claire wanted him there, that she was excited for him to be there, and that ultimately, this was going to help them. Claire had worked so hard on this dance. It was beautiful, and Reese knew that it was going to blow Phillip away. Hell, it blew her away.
When Claire turned with her back towards them, Reese reached out and took his hand in hers. She squeezed it tightly before removing it and smiling up at him. “I’m glad you’re here. For Claire, I mean.”
“Me too,” he said, his eyes a stormy blue as they held her. “Thanks for this.”
She was breathless. All she could do was nod as she said, “Anytime.”
Fuck, something shifted in her chest as he smiled and she knew that was bad. Very, very, very, fucking bad.
Damn it.
PHILLIP WANTED to give Claire all his attention but it was hard when Reese was looking at him like that. The night before had been one thing:
Scorching
Every single breath, every touch, every thought, kiss, everything. It was all so mind altering. It was mainly her—she destroyed him. Their chemistry was earth shattering. The way they moved together, the way they fit, was just perfect. He had never been with someone that did that to him. That made him breathless and crave everything about them, but Reese was that. At first? he was scared of his feelings but, looking at her, getting lost in her beautiful brown eyes, he knew he was in every shape and form falling for this woman. He also knew she was falling for him. He could feel it. He could see it and when she asked about Alana, he knew right then that she cared about him.
She was just hard headed and didn’t want to tell him. She couldn’t mask it though. He could read her like the best play in the NHL, and he knew how to break that play up and make it his own. He was ready but before he pounced, he had to show her that it was safe to fall for him. That he would be there to comfort her, catch her, and love her forever. She was his real, forever kind of love.