Claimed by a Grumpy Green Beret

Chapter 1

Luca

I lean back in my office chair, staring at my computer monitors. On one monitor, I’m working on a case for a local private investigator, but I’ve barely glanced at that monitor in the last hour. My gaze has been completely focused on the tiny flicking dot on my other screen.

Peregrine DiSilva—Perry for short. She’s been my obsession for the last seven months.

I was home on leave and went into town with some of my military buddies.

We wound up at a bar, which is when I spotted her pale blonde hair through the crowd.

Her haunted, light blue eyes locked onto mine for a moment, but it was enough.

Something fundamental clicked into place inside me with that one look. I was hooked. I left the bar that night with a plan to rearrange my entire life for a girl I never said one word to.

I knew I’d found my future wife, but she left before I could get through the crowd to her.

So I did what I do best.

It took me two months to find my girl online and learn the basics about her. I’ve been keeping tabs on her ever since, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough, so after my last enlistment term was up, I planned to get out of the military.

Unfortunately for me, life had other plans.

I was shot twice on my last deployment when a mission went sideways. I wound up in the hospital and was subsequently discharged on medical grounds.

It didn’t happen the way I expected it to, but the outcome was the same because I’m now out of the military and living close to my Perry.

I picked out a place in Los Angeles that was close to Perry’s apartment and was all set to move in. My plan was to run into her, ask her out, and convince her to marry me. But my plan went to shit when she started acting strangely.

She packed up her place and left town, driving all the way up the coast until she got to Wolf Valley, Oregon.

It seems to be where she’s decided to put down roots, and I had to scramble to find a new place here in town.

Not that I mind. I would follow my girl anywhere.

Plus, I’d rather live in this small town than deal with all the people and traffic in Los Angeles.

My little cabin on the edge of town is cozy enough. A little fancy for my taste, but I bought it with Perry in mind. I hope she likes it.

First, I need to meet her, speak to her, and convince her to give me a shot. Then I can work on getting her to move in with me.

I lean forward, watching the tracker on Perry’s car as she drives down one of the nearby back roads.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve been able to get close enough to put a tracker on Perry’s car, phone, and shoes.

That last one was difficult and not exactly within the law since I broke into her shitty motel room to place the tracker in her shoes.

That seems less drastic than the other option of kidnapping Perry and bringing her back to my cabin like an obsessive caveman.

I don’t know when I became a stalker, only that Perry brings it out in me. I have this compulsion to know that she’s safe and happy, that she has what she needs.

I watch unblinkingly as the dot takes the turn on the screen, heading away from my cabin.

“Where is she going?” I mumble to myself.

I frown when I see the dot stop, leaning forward on my desk as I wait for it to move again.

Except it doesn’t.

The dot blinks at me, remaining frozen in place.

Worry gnaws at me. What could have happened? Why stop in the middle of nowhere? There are no lights or stop signs on that road,

I give it another minute, but when she still hasn’t moved, I push to my feet. I need to get out there. I need to make sure she’s all right.

I grab my keys and phone, pulling up the app that allows me to track her, and head out to my Jeep. Climbing behind the wheel, I take off down the dirt back roads until I spot Perry’s little red Toyota up ahead. I slow, trying to see if I can spot her or what the issue is.

That’s when I notice the flat tire.

I relax, knowing that she’s okay, just stranded. Slowing, I come to a stop behind her car.

My heart races at the thought of talking to her for the first time. Maybe this is the opening I’ve been waiting for.

I climb out of my Jeep and clear my throat as I approach her slowly so I don’t scare her with my size. I’m at least a foot taller than her and twice as wide.

“Hey, do you need a hand?” I ask, my voice rusty from lack of use.

Perry lifts her head from the trunk and spins around to face me. “Shit!”

I thought she heard me approach, but I guess not.

Seeing her this close is like a shot of adrenaline to my system. My whole body comes alive at her proximity.

“Sorry,” I apologize. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, it’s okay,” she says, her voice soft and delicate as she points to the spare tire. “I was distracted trying to lift this dang thing.”

“Mind if I grab it for you?”

“I—No, that would be great. Thanks.”

I move past my girl to grab the spare tire and carry it over to the flat. Kneeling in the dirt, I use the tire iron she’s dropped next to the flat to loosen the bolts. I make quick work of changing the tire, then realize I should’ve taken my time so I could spend more time with her.

“I’m Luca, by the way,” I introduce myself.

“Perry,” she says after a beat.

I try to think of something else to say, but come up blank.

How do people make small talk? Why is this so hard?

I know why. I’m used to being alone or only dealing with other surly green berets whose vocabulary consists of grunts and swear words. I don’t know how to handle scared women who are clearly running from something, but I’ll learn for Perry. I’ll do anything for her.

Anything but let her go.