Page 1 of No Love Lost

CHAPTER 1

Lose Your Head

Heath Wilcox stared out his condo window at the rain misting down and wondered what was wrong with him.

He’d established the business of his dreams. He loved helping start-up companies become successful. It was gratifying to use his expertise in the financial world to help others. The team he’d hired was smart, savvy, and fun. The job was interesting, and different every day. He owned this great condo overlooking Boston Harbor, and had enough money to meet his needs.

Yet all he wanted to do was run away from home.

Okay, that was dramatic, but it was essentially true. His buddy, Troy Phail, was bugging him to join him and several of their other military teammates in Vermont.

Phail, Vermont to be exact.

Troy wanted him to leave his condo, his view, his family, and come to a tiny town with a ridiculous name in Vermont. For Christmas, at the very least. Forever if Troy had his way.

Epic, Troy’s call sign from their military days, was stupid happy and in love. He figured the town’s magic might work on Heath, too.

Surprisingly, it had for two of their fellow teammates, Falcon and Oz. And while Arrow didn’t have the stupid-happy glow of the other three, the four of them were constantly playing up the town. And how much they needed him for their new venture. The venture they wouldn’t tell him anything about.

Which was exactly as annoying as it was effective.

Their other buddy, Scooby, was mostly incommunicado, but Heath did want to see his army friends. This time of year sucked without family around. Well, his parents were around but their idea of Christmas was a catered meal where no one talked about anything of substance, but appearances were maintained.

He’d never had much in common with his parents. They were all about money, making money, and shoving their privilege in the faces of anyone not so lucky.

Heath missed his grandparents desperately. They’d been his role models from an early age. Every part of Boston included memories of them. Over the years, they’d taken him on hundreds of walks around all the Boston neighborhoods. He loved visiting the pockets of the city where his favorite people had met and fallen in love. The fountain where Gramps had snuck his first kiss. Their favorite pizza joint. The harbor below him where Gramps had proposed.

Money had been tight for them in the beginning, and they’d spent most of their dates walking the city, meeting new people, and enjoying the sights. They’d dreamed big dreams. Many of them had come true.

They’d influenced every part of Heath. All the good parts, anyway. He’d bought this Seaport condo because that’s the view Grams had liked best. Every time he looked out, he thought of Gramps proposing right there.

Even after they’d had money to spare, they’d gone on their Boston dates. He’d joined them on many of them. Especially the Christmas ones where they’d taken him to see the lights and taste all the treats. He was lonely for them and their advice. He wanted to discuss his discontent, and have them help him figure out next steps. But he was alone.

Which made Christmas in a tiny town named Phail actually sound appealing. Or he was losing his mind.

The holidays were still a few weeks away and Heath didn’t have any plans at the moment. His parents hosted a few events but he wasn’t in the habit of attending many of those.

A few women had hinted they’d love to spend the holidays with him, especially if he wanted to whisk them away to some exotic locale.

The only women he seemed to encounter these days were interested in him for things other than who he was. His bank account and his family name didn’t define him, and he was tired of people assuming they did.

This time of year had him nostalgic for the type of family he’d never had. A fun and boisterous group who laughed and teased and bickered. A group who had your back but kept your ego in check at the same time.

He wanted a life filled with that. A woman who fit right into that picture.

A woman like Addy.

Except she hadn’t wanted him. She’d cut him out of her life after he’d joined the military. Never returned even a single one of his calls, texts, or emails.

He hated that his parents had turned out to be right about her. Not about her not being worthy. Addy had been amazing and brought out the best in Heath and everyone else she encountered. But they’d been right about her not being as invested in the relationship as he’d been.

Heath wished he could say that after a dozen years it didn’t bother him anymore, that he’d stopped wondering why. But it still nagged him in the middle of the night. Sure, they’d only been seventeen, but they’d been madly in love. Or he had. Apparently, the feeling hadn’t been mutual.

Once again, the itch to search her name online scratched at his brain. He’d looked years before, and had found nothing. He shut down the urge. She hadn’t wanted him. He hadn’t been enough. The last thing he needed to see was her smiling face with a Mrs. attached to the front of her name.

Her almost-black eyes and those gorgeous cheekbones showcased her Ojibwe heritage. The sparkle that he’d often been the only one allowed to see. She’d been quiet and reserved—a direct result of the tough life she’d survived. Beneath that reserve lay a beautiful soul full of love, strength, and creativity.

Heath blew out a breath and shoved his hands through his hair. He needed to push memories of Addy back into a box. He’d agonized enough over her through the years.

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