tonight.
“Boom?” He and Jared “Boom” Taylor were in the same SEAL class, going through the torture of training together. Sticking together, they’d somehow made it through when most of their class dropped out.
“Yeah, he’s staying home tonight too. Something about a list of shit to do before we leave again.”
He didn’t like the fact that the boys were going out without him or Boom; they were the ones that kept the younger men in line and out of jail. “What’s the name of the club?”
“Pulse. It’s off Mediterranean Avenue, just past the Japanese restaurant. You can’t miss the signs. Does that mean you’re coming then?”
“I might stop by.” He left it open, so if he didn’t feel like going no one would be watching out for him.
“See you there.” Excitement poured from Rebel’s voice.
“Maybe,” he reminded him before ending the call.
Just what I want to do, go out to a loud club. Don’t the boys believe in resting at all?
With a shower calling to him, he slid the phone into his pocket, grabbed his olive top load canvas duffel bag and headed upstairs. Shower, some sleep, and then hopefully he’d have an idea how to fix the tension between Gwen and him without getting to close to her.
G wen curled up on the king size bed. The tears had finally begun to subside when the shower kicked on in the hall bathroom. She had debated leaving. At this time of year, she could find a hotel without a problem, but something kept her there. Seeing Ace brought everything back with a vengeance. It broke her heart to hear the only man she ever loved stand there and criticize her choices.
It took a near fatal car accident to make her realize she couldn’t keep waiting for him. She had to move on with her life. She fell in love with Ace in high school and never got over it. Even the few short-term boyfriends she’d had since then could never compare to him.
She’d once believed they would spend their lives together, though she hadn’t been comfortable with the idea of being a military wife. That was where his ambition was, and she had accepted that. Then he just went off to boot camp and never looked back.
She didn’t understand how he could just leave her without explaining it to her. All she received was a Dear Jane letter. She had hoped to be able to talk some sense into him, to get him to see reason, but every letter she wrote went unanswered. Finally, she decided to wait until he came back, but each time he had a break in his training he made an excuse. By the time he finished his training and joined SEAL team two, she had moved to Tennessee and was busy with her own career. Too much time had passed for her to seek him out; there was no logic left, only pain.
Sliding her hand along the curve of her stomach, her thoughts turned to her unborn daughter, and she tried to convince herself everything had worked out fine. Maybe not the way she wanted them to, but that didn’t matter anymore. Now she had to focus on making a life for her and her daughter, and the first step was to find a new place to live.
T wo houses down, Gwen and her realtor stood outside a condo building. The building was two blocks from the beach and just down the road from Wynn’s. It was at the top end of her budget, but still within it if it didn’t need a lot of work.
“This condo has two bedrooms, two baths, and the open floor plan you asked for. It also has a den you could use as your office.” Trudy read off the house details while Gwen looked over the outside.
“What floor?”
“The eighth floor. There’s a large balcony with nice views, as well as a play set on the other side of the building for the children. There’s an indoor pool and fitness area, a large area on the first floor that can be used for birthday parties, events, pretty much anything a tenant needs. Shall we go inside?”
She nodded and followed her realtor to the door. The additional amenities the condo provided were appealing. So far,