Page 117 of Happily Never After

“I’ll keep you on speed dial,” Claire said with a smile that she didn’t feel.

“Love you. Text me.”

Claire nodded and disconnected. She leaned back on the couch and pressed her palms over her eyes. The smell of pan-seared salmon wafted in from the kitchen, and her stomach growled.

Luke had assumed the responsibility of cooking while Claire handled Brad’s case. He was surprisingly competent in the kitchen, but then he seemed to excel at everything he did. It was incredibly annoying. Her fingers tensed. His absence was like a bruise.

How could he have done this? Sure, she had “disobeyed” him. But he wasn’t her boss. They weren’t married. He couldn’t just tell her she wasn’t allowed to leave the house alone. It wasn’t the 1850s. She didn’t need a chaperone.

Her heart beat uncomfortably fast. In spite of his douchebaggery, she missed him. The scrape of his calloused hands over her body as he tended to her near-constant stream of various wounds. That stupid scar on his neck from pulling Olivia out of a burning car. His rarely flashed thousand-watt smile. The grumpy, protective superiority. He was flawed, but he was hers. Or at least he had been before she got herself abducted. Again.

“Appetizer?”

Claire shrieked and opened her eyes. Brianna stood in front of her with an apron, offering a cheese plate.

“Sorry. Cheese?”

Claire took a slice of gouda to calm her nerves. “How do you walk so silently? Did you go to charm school?”

Brianna grimaced. “Force of habit. My mom always told me I would ‘startle the fairies’ if I stomped around.”

Claire nodded. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” She stood and stretched. If she didn’t put the thoughts of Luke behind her now, she would spiral even more. “So after dinner, I might need your help with something.”

“Anything.” Bri’s green eyes sparkled with interest. “What is it?”

“I’ve decided I’m going to infiltrate the men’s rights convention.”

Brianna shook her head. “Luke’s not going to like that.”

“Well, he’s not here to stop me, is he?” Claire smiled grimly.

“Good point.”

“I really think Professor Taylor is going to be there. If he is, I can follow him, find out where he’s staying, and tell Jack.”

“He’s also not going to like this.” Her half sister popped a piece of cheese in her mouth.

“We’re not going to tell him.”

Brianna nodded but frowned. “Screw it. Filming’s going to wrap right before this. Let’s get these idiots.”

Claire sat back. She had anticipated a lot more protesting and convincing. Nicole and Mindy almost never agreed to go along with a first draft of a plan. “Thank you,” she said after a pause.

Bri reached over and grabbed Claire’s hand. “We’re going to catch the bastard who did this to you.” Her thumb brushed over the raw flesh where the zip tie had bound Claire’s hands.

She winced. “Thanks, Bri. We can’t keep waiting for Jack. I’m tired of being a sitting duck, of waiting for a phone call saying they’ve taken my mom or you or Charlie. All of this bullshit is going to end. I’m going to that convention, and I’m going to rip ESA down brick by brick.”

She jumped up from the couch even though the event in question wasn’t for another week.

“Now, I’ve already pulled up the blueprints for the hotel. There’s a service entrance I can use to?—”

“Hold on.” Brianna stood and picked up the cheese plate. “Dinner first, then plotting.”

“But the blueprints?—”

“They’ll still be there when you’ve had some actual nutrients. Now scoot.” Bri gestured down the hallway, a dare in her eye.

Claire grumbled, but for once she listened to her sister. She all but inhaled her (admittedly delicious) dinner and returned to the living room. She plugged her computer into a projector Luke had installed.

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