Page 53 of Evidence of Deceit

The conversation veered into her work at the gallery and her art. Both comfortable subjects. It felt good sharing her work with friends.

“Ben tells me that Joe was guarding you for a while. Is that true?” asked Grace.

“Joe? Our Joe,” squealed Marlee. She looked at Claire and squinted her eyes. “Tell me more. Is he still the iceman? He’s a hunk, but don’t tell Ben I said that.” She put her fingers to her lips and zipped. Then she grinned. “Have you been to the Batcave?”

Claire was not going there. She looked around at the other women. Did they want gossip on Joe? Tough. He was not going to be fodder for a group of women.

“Marlee, you’re scaring her,” said Grace. She patted Claire’s hand and glared at Marlee. “We don’t want to know any personal business, do we, Marlee?”

Marlee stopped gaping and looked mortified. “Oh my, I’m so sorry. I never know when to stop. It’s just that Joe and Ben were guarding me when I had that killer after me. I really like Joe, but I could never get him to tell me anything.”

Joe? Killer? What the heck was going on?

“Can you tell me about it?” Claire asked.

Marlee went on to tell her about witnessing her CEO murder her boss, meeting Ben when she ran away, and the problems she had.

“Oh my God, that’s horrible.”

“Yes, it was. But KnightGuard Security came through for me.” She looked around the table. “Similar things happened to Grace, Hailey, and Julie.”

“KnightGuard Security helped you all?”

The women nodded and took turns telling Claire what had happened to them and how Luke, Danny, and Pete helped them.

Claire sat back and just stared at this remarkable group of women. Women who appeared normal but had horrific experiences, empowered themselves and met the men of their dreams. Strong and heroic women. She hadn’t been strong or heroic, just stupid. But that was in the past. The women made her wonder if she had a chance to be happy.

Chapter Thirty

The pounding rain finally abated as Joe pulled up to Claire’s garage. He got out of his truck, picked up the mixed bouquet of flowers he bought, and stared at her new home. It wasn’t huge. It was a two-story combination of brick, cement block, with a wrought-iron balcony, but the big glass windows in front look made it look larger. It fit Claire—modern with a touch of traditional thrown in. He could hear the roar of the ocean. The salt air cleared his head. Lights shining from the front windows welcomed him, and he could see Claire moving around inside.

They had met several times since she had been over to his house for dinner. He tried to keep it light, but his desire for her was getting stronger and stronger. Claire let it be known that she was interested and definitely wanted more. Wanted him. He wasn’t ready, was he? Yes, he was. He wanted to make sweet love to her. He wanted to take her on the kitchen table, pound into her as she screamed his name. He wanted lots of things. He wanted Claire most of all, any way she would have him. Always had.

But she needed to find herself first, get comfortable in hernew life. Perhaps she would find a man who fit into her world better than he. He rubbed his brow. Shit, what was he thinking? He would move heaven and earth to fit into her world. And beat the shit out of any man who pursued Claire.

Showtime. He walked up to the front door and rang the bell. It echoed through the hall, and he heard Claire’s footsteps getting closer. The door opened, and she was bathed in light, looking like an angel. She was barefoot, her toes painted a pretty pink. Her hair was in a messy bun. She wore a gauzy pair of pants that accentuated her long legs. The turquoise off-the-shoulder top complemented her whiskey-brown eyes. She gave him a big smile, reached out and pulled him into the house.

“Welcome. Come in.” Claire looked relaxed and happy.

He kissed her on the cheek and handed her the colorful bouquet. Her eyes lit up. “Oh, they’re beautiful. I have just the vase for them. Come on.” Joe followed her into a spacious kitchen—lots of granite and upgrades. Various rooster pictures hung on the wall. He had forgotten she loved roosters.

“Wow.”

She smiled. “I know.” She glanced around. “Sam’s friend inherited this and didn’t need it, so he sold it to me for a fair price. Still, I probably paid more than I should have, but I fell in love with the location and light.”

“I bet it’s beautiful in the daylight. Show me around.”

She took his hand. Warmth, home. Damn, he had it bad. After pointing out the patio that faced the ocean, she led him up the staircase. There was a guest bedroom and a study that she had turned into a studio that had another deck that opened to the ocean. Canvases were in various states of being finished. Big, beautiful, bold canvases. Sunrises over the ocean, people on the beach, waves, and palm trees—all in her unique style.

“Wow again.”

“I’ve been inspired. Do you like them? It’s so different from what I painted when I was younger.” She bit her lip. “I feel free.”

“Your paintings reflect that.”

“Come, I’ll show you the master.”

Joe followed her to the other side of the house. She opened the door. He stepped into paradise. White shiplap walls, turquoise accents on a king-size bed, French doors that opened to another patio. He could hear the ocean waves crashing in the background. It was warm and inviting. He wanted to take her right here, right now. No. He was not a horndog. Yes. He was. He wanted to strip her right here. Watch her nipples pucker with the cold. He wanted to suck each little painted toe, then work his way up her body. Kissing and sucking. He wanted her to scream his name as he entered her. He wanted to … Damn, he needed to stop thinking like this. Nothing was happening tonight. Joe grappled with his feelings as he watched Claire happily show him around.

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