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Chapter Seventeen

C laire woke up to the sun glaring through the bedroom blinds.

She stretched and stilled her body. She was physically healing—mentally, not so much.

Staying at Mark’s and surrounded by people who cared about her made her feel safe.

But in her heart, she knew Keith was scheming and waiting to destroy the tranquility she was hoping for.

She heard movement in the kitchen, smelled coffee . Time to get my lazy bones going. She got up and showered. Checked her meager wardrobe and put on her only clean pair of shorts and top. She made a note to wash her clothes later.

Claire walked into the kitchen. Froze.

Screamed.

The man dropped the container of milk he was holding and stared at her

Her heart was racing. Her body was weak as a kitten.

Mark raced in, a towel around his waist.

“Whaaat?”

Claire pointed at the man. She couldn’t get the words out.

“Shit, Hank. What are you doing here?” growled Mark .

Hank stood there with his mouth gaping open.

Mark went over to Claire, who was now crouching in a corner. “Claire. Honey. This big lug is Hank and works for Sam,” he said in a soothing voice.

“Oh, my God.” Claire could barely speak. How stupid she must look. “I’m so sorry. I saw a strange man, and I lost it.”

Hank rubbed his brow and looked between Claire and Mark with concerned blue eyes. “I’m so sorry that I scared you. Sam couldn’t make it this morning, and Joe is off until tonight. She asked me to come over and watch you while Mark went to work.”

The milk was puddling around the kitchen, and Hank asked Claire if it was okay for him to move.

“Of course. Again, I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little on edge,” she said, her face hot from embarrassment.

“No problem. I should have called Mark and let him know. My bad.” Hank turned to get paper towels to dry up the floor.

“Claire, why don’t you go in the living room, and I’ll bring you a cup of coffee,” said Mark.

Mark reached out his hand. Claire took it and pulled herself up.

She watched Hank clean up for a moment, then left and sat down in the living room.

She clasped a pillow to her chest, hoping to stop shaking.

This episode was humiliating. Would the fear ever go away?

She couldn’t go around screaming every time she saw a strange man.

Mark came in with a cup of coffee, handed it to her and sat on the opposite chair. “I’ll speak to Sam about letting me know if there are changes in security. I’m sorry that Hank scared you.”

“It’s okay. I feel so silly for screaming. I just wasn’t expecting anyone else to be here.” Claire bit her lip. She stopped twirling and picking at the fringe on the pillow. It was getting thinner and thinner .

Confession time. “Mark, I don’t have any money to pay for security, and this must be costing someone a lot.

I would offer to pay the money back, but I don’t know when I’ll have a job or even get paid enough to reimburse anyone.

” She took a deep breath, exhaled. “I think I should leave and go somewhere else where Keith can’t find me. ”

Mark’s brow furrowed. Anger crossed his eyes for a second and was gone. “Claire, you are my flesh and blood. I will always protect you. Plus, you’re part of Sam’s family now, and she takes protecting her family very seriously.”

He leaned over, took her hand and patted it. “You are not going anywhere. You are not to worry about money. I, we, want to keep you safe. Please, I’m begging you, don’t leave. Let Sam do her job.”

Claire wanted to cry. It had been a long time since she had anyone in her corner except for Sheri. She would stay, but she vowed to pay Sam back. Somehow.

Mark was still staring at her, waiting for an answer. She nodded.

“Knock, knock.” Claire glanced over at the muscular man standing in the kitchen doorway. “Is it safe to come in and talk with you?”

She gave Hank a small smile. He came in and sat in one of the chairs.

“Again, I apologize for scaring you. I should have given you and Mark some notice that I was going to be here. Forgive me?”

She nodded.

“On a positive note, Sam gave me a little update on Keith. She said he’s back in New York City, so he won’t be bothering you for a while.”

A sigh of relief escaped from Claire’s lips. It was a respite for now. The next time she saw Sam, she was going to ask about a divorce lawyer. The easy part would be that she wanted nothing from Keith. The hard part was getting Keith to give her up.

Sam came over in the afternoon and found Claire and Hank playing cards.

Good. Claire needed the break. She heard about the morning fiasco and mentally slapped herself for not telling Claire or Mark that Hank would be there.

Claire said she was fine, but Sam knew from experience that it took a while for an abused woman to feel safe or trust anyone.

Claire had a positive attitude, but the years she spent with Keith had to have worn her down.

Always wondering, did I do this wrong? Did I do that wrong?

“Hey,” Sam said. “I hate to break up this little party.” She looked at Claire. “I was wondering if you would like to go shopping?”

Claire’s eyes widened, lit up with excitement. “Oh, that would be fun.”

Then her eyes dimmed, and she sighed. “Although I better pass. I’m a little short on funds right now.”

“Hon, I know. However, KnightGuard Security has a contingency fund to help anyone we’re guarding, whether it’s clothes, food or money for rent.” It was a little lie. Sam made a mental note to start one when she got back to the office.

“I don’t know.” Claire bit her lip. “I’m sure there is someone else needing it more than I do.”

Sam shrugged. “Maybe. But you’re our client right now, and I hope you’ll let the company buy a few new outfits for you. Or whatever else you need.”

Hank gathered the cards and slid them into the case. “Well, if you girls are going shopping, that’s my cue to leave.” He stood, smiled at Claire. “Have fun. I’m sure I’ll see you again. ”

Claire got up from her chair, placed her hand on Hank’s forearm. “I’m sorry I scared you this morning. Thank you so much for staying here with me.”

“My pleasure, Claire.”

“Okay then, let’s get going. I know I’m ready to shop,” said Sam.

The afternoon passed by quickly. Claire couldn’t remember when she had so much fun. The only awkward part was the first time Sam insisted on paying for some tops she had chosen. Sam claimed she bought some too, so it was no big deal.

Claire never figured Sam as a shopper. They went into so many cute shops where Sam was called out by name and bought too many outfits to count.

“Sam, I swear, I’m worn out. If I didn’t know better, I would think you’re a closet shopper.”

Sam laughed. “Yup. Now you know my secret.” She placed her finger on her lips. “Don’t tell the guys. I want them to think I eat nails for breakfast and wear a hair shirt under my clothes.”

Claire started giggling, then laughing so hard she had to sit down. The two of them were holding their stomachs laughing. Claire hadn’t felt so free in a long time. When they finally got control of themselves and were reduced to just giggles, Claire asked if she could treat Sam to a coffee.

The food court had a coffee bar; they ordered and got seats.

“Sam, it’s a bit unusual for a woman to run a security company. How did you get in the business?”

“Hmmm.” Sam sipped her coffee and put the cup down.

“I guess I’ve always been a little aggressive.

” She snorted. “All right, a lot. After my parents died, I had to step up to the plate. While Danny’s older, he’s more of a pacifist. He would make jokes or walk away from trouble.

At least, until someone threatened us or really pissed him off.

” She smiled and shook her head. “Walking away is not in my vocabulary.”

“I can tell.”

“Anyhow, after college, I found out my best friend from high school was killed graduation night. It took me a while, but I investigated and found out that her ex-boyfriend murdered her. He had been abusive towards her, and she never told me.” Sam sighed.

“I wish she had. I would have helped with her problem. It took a while, but I managed to get the boyfriend put in jail, where he stayed until he died in there about a year ago.”

Claire leaned back in the chair. This small woman impressed the heck out of her. Claire wished she could be so brave.

“So KnightGuard Security was started because of your friend.”

“Partly.”

Hmmm. Another time she would ask what the other part was, but it was enough for now. “And you help the shelters for abused women for the same reason?”

Sam nodded again. “It’s the least I can do. I felt powerless to help my friend then, but I have the ability, talent, and manpower to help others now.”

Claire took Sam’s hands in hers. “If I haven’t thanked you before, please accept my gratitude now. I don’t feel like such a charity case anymore.”

“You’ve never been a charity case, Claire. You’re family. This is what families do, and I have a feeling you’ll be passing it forward.”

“You’re right.”

“Okay, then. I don’t know about you, but I’m done.” She picked up their paper cups and napkins and tossed them in the trash. “Mark’s home now. How about we pick up some Chinese food and go home. Sound good to you?”

“You bet.”

Sam and Claire arrived at Mark’s house just as thunder was roaring in the distance, and the air smelled like rain. The occasional bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. Claire noticed Joe’s truck parked in the driveway, and she was anxious to see him. They scurried to the door.

Joe opened the door for them, and Claire found herself staring into worried blue eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Claire asked, her heart already thumping. Something wasn’t right.

“Come in, and I’ll tell you,” said Joe. He helped Claire with her bags and guided her to a chair.

Sam brought the food to the kitchen and walked back in, holding a card. “The news doesn’t have anything to do with the white tulips and card in the kitchen, does it?”

OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod. Keith. Bile slithered up her gut. This nightmare was the reality of her life. Keith was never going to let her go. No matter where she went, like a bad case of food poisoning, he would show up and ruin her life. She collapsed into a chair.

“Yep. They were on the front step when I arrived. I didn’t open the card.”

Sam came over to Claire, squatted down. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath. We’ll figure it out.”

Claire took a deep breath. The shopping trip, the bonding with Sam, all pleasure gone. “I better open the card.” She reached over to take it from Sam, hands trembling.

“I can open it if you want,” said Sam .

“No. This is my problem.” Claire couldn’t imagine a more pathetic scene than the four of them sitting there staring at an envelope.

Summoning up courage she didn’t feel, she ripped the envelope open.

A picture fell out to the floor. She glanced down and saw it was their wedding picture.

For a moment, she remembered how excited and in love with Keith she had been at the time.

“Do you want to read it out loud or to yourself?” asked Joe.

Claire shrugged her shoulders. “Doesn’t matter. It’s all bull anyhow.”

She opened the floral card.

“Dearest Claire, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about our disagreement.” Claire snorted. Riiight. If that was a disagreement, what was an argument?

“I love you so much. Look how happy we were at our wedding. We can be that happy again if you come home to me. I’ll do anything you want. Please. Love, Keith.”

Claire dropped the card on the floor and leaned back into the chair. Closed her eyes. Keith could wait until hell froze over. She was never going back to him.