“Hazard of the job when you’re in the military.”
“Do you miss it?”
“Every damn day. I miss the brotherhood and the purpose it gave me. I miss the team environment. The military gave me a family when I had no one. But nothing lasts forever.”
“I disagree.”
He looked up. “Name one thing that can last forever.”
“Love.”
His hand paused, that single word kicking him in the gut.
She shook her head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
A faint click sounded, so quiet he almost didn’t hear it. What was that? The back door opening?
Clara heard it too, because she stopped and looked at the bedroom door.
He rose. “Does Scarlett usually enter the house from the back?”
“No. And she usually isn’t back until later.” Clara stood. “But I can—”
“No. Stay here. I’ll check.” Because who the fuck was entering her house through the back door?
Clara frowned but nodded.
He grabbed the wrench from his toolbox and quietly slipped out of the bedroom and into the hall. The faint sound of footsteps reached his ears—someone walking on kitchen tiles.
He stepped into the kitchen—only to stop at the sight of Clara’s roommate, wearing a black cap on her head. Her head was down, gaze on her phone as she typed something.
Then she looked up at him and gasped. “What the hell?”
He pushed the wrench into his back pocket. “What are you doing coming through the back door?”
“Excuse me? Ilivehere. I can come in through whichever door I want. What areyoudoing holding a wrench like a machete?”
Except, what she was doing wasn’t normal.
Before he could respond, footsteps sounded behind him. Then Clara’s soft voice. “Scarlett. It’s just you.”
“Your boyfriend seemed to be about to whack me with a wrench, Clara.”
She frowned and opened her mouth, but Holden got in first.
“You never answered my question,” he said quietly, not letting her off the hook so easily. “Why’d you come through the back door?”
“That’s none of your damn business.” Scarlett’s eyes flashed between them. “I’m going to my room.”
“Holden’s just fixing the floorboard,” Clara said quickly.
“It’s fixed,” Holden said, not taking his eyes off Scarlett. “Just needs sanding.”
“I’ll do that later,” Scarlett muttered, as she skirted around them.
Why the hell was this woman so rude?
The second she was gone, Clara’s nose wrinkled. “I’m sorry. She’s moody. But nice and quiet for my acupuncture clients.”
