He stomped into her closet. Everything was perfectly lined up by season and color. Nothing was missing that he could tell. He had bought all her designer clothes and knew each piece. He went into her bathroom. The scent of the French perfume he bought her permeated the air. He checked her toiletries—nope, nothing there out of place.
Where the hell was she?
Should he check the safe? Nah, he was the only one with the code.
Goddamn bitch. He went into his office, pulled up her account. There was only one charge for the ingredient she claimed she needed.
Her phone! He pulled up the phone records. They showed she’d only called him. He found the “find my phone” app. Hopefully, it would pinpoint her position. It pinged. Damn. Her phone was in the apartment.
He shook his head. Fury built a fire in his gut. This wasn’t a mistake on her part. The damn woman had run away again. She left him. Deserted him. Her transgression was going to make him look like a fool. People would be laughing.
Not on your life, Claire. Not on your life.
Chapter Two
“Bloody hell.” Joe Harkin removed his headset and turned off the video game. The war game was too much like the real thing and thankfully had no real-life blood or casualties.
“Hey, we weren’t done yet. We hadn’t wiped out that other team,” groused Mark Stone, his best friend since basic training and SEAL buddy.
“Tough. You can tell it to Sam. I’m starving, and she’s bringing in food right now.”
“Tell me what?” asked Samantha “Sam” Knight, as she stepped into the room carrying a tray filled with sandwiches and beer.
Joe glanced over at Mark, who had that shit-eating grin on his face whenever Sam was around.
“I love you and want you to have my baby,” said Mark.
“Bite me.”
“I would if you come over here,” he said, lightly tapping her rear.
She growled at him, and Mark laughed.
“Man, you like to live dangerously.” Joe laughed.
“Oh, please, she’s a pussycat.”
“Humph, a pussycat with big teeth,” said Joe.
“Guys.” She huffed. “I’m right here, and I’m going to take the sandwiches back to the kitchen if you don’t behave.” Sam gave them a look that would have scared most people.
Mark grunted and patted the sofa. Sam rolled her eyes.
“Here you go,” said Sam as she set down the tray. She gave Mark a big smooch and settled next to him on the sofa. “Did your team win?”
“We would have if Mark here weren’t such a wuss,” Joe groused.
Mark punched Joe’s shoulder. “You, my son, are a poor sport who needs more downtime. And practice. Lots of practice.”
They ate in comfortable silence. Looking at the cozy couple across from him, Joe felt a pang of jealousy. Sam was one kickass woman who owned KnightGuard Security, a security and protection company in Black Pointe, Florida. The company Joe worked for.
Mark vowed to leave guns and violence behind when he left the teams and had made a name for himself in the construction business. A business he loved. Both he and Sam were high-energy, intense people who found time to be with each other. Show each other a softer side. Although he wasn’t sure Sam showed her softer side much.
Joe wanted that. He wanted to find a warm, soft woman to come home to—make love to. One who would accept him for who he was. But with his history, he knew no one would want him.
He had been alone too long now. He grew up with nobody caring about him except for Mr. and Mrs. Grissom, the couple in his last foster home, who showed him what a normal family was like. And Claire, his first and only love,who befriended him after he saved her from bullies who attacked her when she was a freshman.
Actually, they’d saved each other. Joe had been on his way to meet some older boys who wanted to rob a convenience store. He never made it. While Mr. and Mrs. G. provided him with security, Claire provided him with love. But he hurt her when he left for the Navy. He never explained to her that he had to make something of himself first, to make her proud of him. He let Claire think he’d run off like a scared rabbit. He couldn’t meet her to explain because he knew he would never have left her. He only hoped she’d forgiven him by now.