I step back. “I’m pretty sure everyone in my family knows. If he didn’t, don’t you think he’d question why I need to live somewhere rent-free?”
He continues to stare at me. The longer it goes on, the angrier I get.
“You know, I lived thirteen years without you just fine,” I snap. “I’ve been through this before, with Vince and Joseph. I can take care of myself.”
His gaze drops to the ground. “I know you can. But you don’t have to.” He glances back up and the light catches his scar.
I want to know how he got it. Fighting back the emotions I’m feeling, I take a deep breath. I want him and I’m so angry with him at the same time.
“Good luck in Afghanistan,” I retort before I go back into my apartment and close and lock the door behind me.
I set the box down in the living room. Connie is sitting on the couch Vince provided me.
The man insisted on renting me a partially furnished apartment. I was surprised when Vince called to let me know two men would move some of my things into storage. Well, his storage. I was too tired to argue, and now I’m glad I didn’t. Vince’s furniture is a lot nicer than mine.
“Your uncle has nice taste. I love this couch,” she says, holding out a glass of wine for me.
“He does.” I take the drink from her and have a sip while I look around. The décor is nice.
“Are you going to leave your couch and coffee table in storage?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah, for now.”
We sit in silence for a moment. But then Connie scoots to the edge of the couch.
“Who were you talking to outside?”
I take another sip of wine. “Cody.”
“He’s here?” She stands and goes to the door.
“No, he was. He was waiting for his friend Thunder.”
“Who’s Thunder?”
“Apparently, my babysitter.”
Connie cocks a brow. “Is he single?”
That earns a laugh from me. “I have no idea.”
“Hmm. Well, I looked up where Cody works, Reed Hawthorne Security—”
“Why would you do that?”
She sets her wine down. “Because I’m your best friend and I wanted to check up on why your ex was here.”
“And what did you find?”
“About Cody and why he’s here? Nothing. But I learned that anyone working for RHS, as they call it, is former military, specifically former Navy SEALS. Which means Thunder is probably built like Cody.”
“I didn’t know you were looking for a guy like that. If I had, I’d have made sure you met Rover.”
“Wait, who?”
I fill her in on Cody’s sort of partner and give in to her request for a very detailed description.
Connie pours herself another glass of wine, then turns to me. “What I want to know is why in the hell you didn’t call me the moment you met him. You know I’m single. And he rides a motorcycle? Dammit Lucy.”
