Chapter 2
The leather seat creaks beneath me as I shift across from my brother, Jeremiah. His office at Ghost Security is sleek and modern, nothing like grease-streaked Rebel Autos where I work. My brother looks polished in his designer suit, but it can’t hide his muscles or the tattoos on his chest from his time in the Army.
He and the other guys of Ghost Security provide a mix of services, from computer and site security to bodyguards. Jeremiah co-founded the company with one of the guys he served with, and then they brought in several other men. Now, they handle security throughout the Heartland region and up and down the West Coast—or anywhere if the client foots the bill.
“So let me get this straight,” Jeremiah says, steepling his fingers and leaning back in his leather office chair. “You want me to help Claire”s grandmother? Claire, as in your ex, Claire?”
I brace myself for the inevitable teasing. We may not be kids anymore, but he’s still my big brother and knows my soft spots. “Yeah. I want to make sure everything”s secure at her place. A security system, maybe new locks. It sounds like she could use a fence, too, but I know that’s not what you do.”
Jeremiah raises an eyebrow. “You sure about this?”
“Yeah, I am,” I say, feeling defensive. “We ran into each other at the hardware store.” I give a casual shrug. I know I’m not fooling him, but maybe I’m trying to convince myself that seeing her wasn’t as meaningful as it was. Seeing her made me remember what we had and how I’ve never found a shadow of that with anyone else.
“Uh-huh.” Jeremiah leans back in his chair and regards me with a smirk. “And how is Miss One Who Got Away these days?”
“I don”t know,” I reply, avoiding his gaze. “I only saw her for a few minutes. You can’t catch up on years that quickly.”
The truth is, I can”t stop thinking about the way her face lit up when she saw me, then how that look was overshadowed by distrust. It wasn’t surprising, but I thought maybe all the years would have dulled those memories for her.
Seeing her made me realize what’s missing in my life, but I”m not about to admit that to my brother. He’d tell me I’m too caught up in the past.
“You got plans to date her again?” Jeremiah asks, leaning forward and staring at me intently.
“What? No.” My denial comes out too fast and too defensive.
Jeremiah laughs and raises an eyebrow. “I think you’re lying to yourself, bro.”
I scowl at his teasing. I”ve spent years trying to get over her and convince myself our breakup was for the best. But it only took one look into those bright blue eyes and the sight of her lush body to knowI was still absolutely crazy about her.
If I told Jeremiah any of that, he’d never let me live it down. If Claire leaves town again, I don’t want my brother reminding me about it and building on the pain I’d already be enduring.
“It was random running into her after all this time,” I say casually. “I don”t think she”d want to rekindle anything. Not after the way I ended things.”
Jeremiah gives me a knowing look. “Still beating yourself up about that, huh?”
I rake a hand through my hair and look around my brother’s office. “Why wouldn’t I be? I was a fucking fool. I didn”t appreciate what I had back then. I was young and stupid and full of ego.”
“That you were,” Jeremiah agrees. “But people change, little brother. If you still care about her, maybe it”s time to swallow that foolish pride of yours and tell her.”
I shift uneasily in my seat. The idea of being emotionally vulnerable, especially to Claire after all I”ve put her through, makes me uneasy. But Jeremiah”s right—if I don”t take the risk, I might lose my chance at real happiness.
What if it’s too late? The not knowing is terrifying. But so is the thought of living with regret, of never trying to right my biggest wrong.
I clear my throat and change the subject. “Anyway, about helping her grandmother out...”
Jeremiah sighs and shakes his head, seeing straight through me. But he doesn’t push me further or say anything about me steering the conversation to safer ground.
“Have Claire call me, and we”ll set up a time for me to swing by and check things out. I’ll make time for this,” Jeremiah says, subtly reminding me how busy he and the rest of the guys at Ghost Security are.
I nod, trying not to betray my nerves at the thought of talking to Claire again. “Yeah, I”ll let her know.”
“So, you coming out to the Roadhouse tonight?” Jeremiah asks as I stand and pull my coat on. “I heard Jenny”s back in town, and she’ll undoubtedly have a bunch of her friends with her. You know they’re always up for a good time. It’d get your mind off Claire.”
He winks, but I shake my head. He’s not wrong about Jenny and her friends being party girls, but a night of no-strings sex doesn’t sound appealing. I don’t want to forget about Claire. “I”ll pass.”
Jeremiah stares at me incredulously. “Did I hear you right? You”re turning down a night out chasing guaranteed tail?”
“What? I can”t want a quiet night at home?” I ask evasively.
“Quiet night, my ass. Who are you, and what”ve you done with my brother?” Jeremiah laughs.
I force a smile, trying to play it cool. Jeremiah”s right—this isn”t like me at all. Since Claire left, I”ve filled the hole in my heart with empty flings and one-night stands. Now that I”ve seen her again, all that seems hollow. The only woman I want is Claire.
* * *
As I drive home,memories from high school fill my mind. Claire and I cramming for exams together, her head on my shoulder. Slow dancing at prom, our bodies pressed close. The first time I said, “I love you.” I whispered it nervously in the moonlit bed of my pickup truck, cuddled under an old wool blanket as we stared up at the stars and the Milky Way.
I was so sure she was the one. Then I got scared and threw it all away.
After I got kicked out of basic training, I came home ready to crawl across town on my hands and knees to apologize to Claire and make things right.
But Claire was gone.
I”ve dated plenty of women since, but I”ve never let myself get attached. The truth is, I got scared to open myself up to that kind of hurt again. I’ve broken a lot of hearts because I never returned the affection offered to me. Charming women into my bed for a one-night stand was easier than risking real intimacy.
I want to be a better man. Yet there’s never been a woman other than Claire who’s made me want to be that man. If Claire is staying in town and will have me, I’ll do everything I can to win her over again.
Before I can overthink it, I grab my phone and dial her number. My heart pounds as it rings.
“Hello?” Her familiar soft voice fills me with longing. I want to hear her voice soft in my ear as I hold her. I want to be the one who holds her every night, stroking her back as I listen to her recount her day.
“Hey, it”s me,” I say, my stomach in more knots than it ever was in high school. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.” Claire inhales, and I sense she’s trying to decide whether to talk to me. “Grandma and I just had dinner. We’re going to watch one of her DVDs. What’s up with you?”
“Not much,” I say, suddenly scared to talk to her. What if she says no? I’m not sure I could handle her rejection. “I talked to my brother, and he’ll put in a security system and camera for your grandmother. He said to call him, and he’ll schedule a time to come out.”
“Thank you so much, Quincy. I appreciate this. You know how much Grandma means to me. I want her to be safe.”
I smile as I listen to Claire. Her voice radiates happiness, and even though she can’t see it, I puff out my chest with pride that I’ve done something—anything—to make her happy again.
“I’ll come out with Jeremiah and look at the fence and the house. I’ve also talked to my buddy Greg, and he’ll help however is needed.”
Claire’s voice catches in the way it always did when she was trying not to cry. “This means the world to me, Quincy. Thank you.”
This time, I vow not to let her slip away. I”ll do whatever it takes to regain her trust and her heart.
Being a better man starts today.