Temporary Home (23 page)

“Catch you later, Marine,” she said, trailing a hand down his face before stepping free and walking out of the kitchen.

He didn’t move until he heard the door shut to the garage. He couldn’t, well aware that if he had, she’d be naked in bed. After a quick breakfast, he cleaned up and went to finish getting ready. Not much later, he was on his way to Second Chances, after a stopover at Laila’s to check on Dean.

Father O’Toole met him at the door when he arrived. “Good morning, son.”

“Morning, Father.” He removed his coat then hung it up, nodding at a few of the children running around. The day was frightfully frigid and a lot of the younger ones had to stay inside or limit their time out in the cold.

“A few of the Marines who will be delivering the toys for the party are here. They’ve come to help wrap items already here.”

Past Father O’Toole, he spied Brent standing, wearing civvies, talking to some of the children. His friend looked up and waved at him with a smile.

“I see them.”

“I’ll leave you to it, then. Oh, before I forget, Reba got some boots for you, so try them on and make sure they fit.”

“Yes, sir.”

Walking off, he headed towards Brent.

“Morning, Gunny,” the man said, smiling.

“Morning. I’ll help you wrap after I finish fixing one final sink.”

Ruffling the head of the child nearest him, Brent stood up tall. “I’ll see you kids later. Have to go to work.” He focused on him. “I can help out. I know a bit about plumbing.”

“Great, it’s one of the large sinks in the kitchen.”

“Let’s go.”

“You come alone?” Sam asked.

“No. The women came as well. Corporals Blake and Weems.”

Blake. He knew a Blake. Tracey Blake, but she’d been a sergeant, not a corporal. He nodded and led the way to the kitchen.

They worked in relative silence as they fixed the sink. He liked Brent, the man didn’t talk for no reason. A man who weighed his words and chose them carefully. A tingle went up his spine and he turned his head from where he was under the sink and looked past Brent’s legs where he stood holding up the sink, and would until they’d secured it to the wall. He saw a pair of black boots and pants. He knew that clothing.

Roxi.

“Hello, I’m looking for Sam. Have you seen him?”

He smiled at the sound of her voice.

“Under here,” Brent replied.

“Oh.” The boots moved closer and she crouched down by Brent’s legs so she could see his face. “Hey.”

“Roxi.”

“I can see you’re busy, let me just move the boxes in.”

“No. I’ll do it. Just give me five minutes to finish this up.” He searched her gaze and waited for confirmation. When she nodded and rose, he released a sigh of relief he’d been unaware of holding.

He worked fast as he listened to her and Brent introduce themselves. “Let it down,” he called out.

Brent did and they checked the stability before he tightened it further. Then he wriggled out of the back and got to his feet before cleaning up. Roxi waited with Brent and he took a deep breath when he approached.

“Sam,” Brent said. “You didn’t tell me you had met such a lovely woman.”

Roxi laughed and shook her head. “I’m Laila’s friend. That’s it.”

He growled low in his throat at her comment. It didn’t appear Brent believed that either, for he cast a few glances between them. Before he could reach her, she turned and walked away.

“This the one you were looking at rings for?” Brent whispered.

“Wasn’t looking at them.”

“Keep telling yourself that, man.”

“Come help me carry boxes of presents.”

Brent fell into step with a chuckle. Roxi was already out of sight by the time they reached the back door. They pushed through and he saw her at her vehicle, the back open and four boxes of presents in the interior. And a few bags.

They made quick work of carrying in the boxes, placing them all into the large room under the Christmas tree. Roxi stood talking with Father O’Toole when Sam noticed someone move up next to him. A floral, musky smell hit him. A familiar scent.

“Hello, Sam.”

He knew without even looking. But he still did. Turned his head and was met by a pair of baby blues. Shit. Tracey Blake stood there beside him.

Everything within him began closing up. “Tracey.”

“Long time.”

He nodded, not even speaking. Years. He kept his gaze across the way, on the woman who had this ability to make him feel invincible. Roxi laughed, her head tipping back, and he couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was. She had one hand on Father O’Toole’s arm and nodded at something else he said.

“Why so quiet, Sam? Nothing to say?”

“Like what? There’s nothing for us to say to one another.”

“Want to get together?”

“No.”

Her huff of indignation made him peek at her again. “Are you still upset by that? I thought you were cool about it.”

“Cool about it? I thought we were a couple. I come back to find you in bed, the bed
we
shared, with another man. You really thought I would be okay with that?”

“I figured you were doing the same thing.”

“How strange. I thought I was in a committed relationship.”

“We had fun, Sam. And can have fun again.”

“No.”

Roxi walked away and headed for the door. That spurred him into action and he went after her, leaving Tracey there without a word.

“Roxi?” he called.

She paused, turning to face him. The smile on her face was only there for show, it definitely didn’t reach her eyes.

“Thanks for helping me with the boxes.”

“You’re leaving?”

“You looked rather busy to me. Something you needed to say to me?”

Yes. A hell of a lot
. He took a step only to stop when a hand curled around his arm. Roxi’s face didn’t change but he could feel the chill coming from her.

“Sam, you coming to wrap presents?”

“In a minute.” He shook off her touch, disgusted by having it on him.

“And you are?” Tracey directed her question to Roxi.

“Roxi. You?”

“I’m Tracey. I see you know my Sam.”

One brow lifted. “
Your
Sam?”

“Yes. We used to be an item and now that we’ve found each other again…well, you know how it is when things are all kinds of hot and heavy.”

“Hot and heavy?” Roxi nodded and licked her lips. “Sounds lovely. If you’ll excuse me, I should go wrap some presents before I have to get back to work.”

“I’ll walk with you. How well do you know Sam?”

“Pretty well.”

“Where’d you meet him?” Tracey asked as the women walked off.

Rage built up within him and he wanted to scream and roar in anger. Brent draped an arm around his shoulders. “You and Tracey?”

“Ancient history.”

“Did anyone tell her that?”

He swallowed back his curse and shook his head. “Let’s go.”

They neared the presents and he grabbed one before sitting across from Roxi. Her gaze met his.

“Hello, Sam. Tracey here was just telling me how
well
the two of you knew one another.”

Her gaze was no longer bland and unemotional. A firestorm brewed in her eyes and he knew whatever information Tracey had imparted had pissed Roxi off. He refused to release her gaze.

“Did she also tell you it was over years ago?”

Roxi struggled to remain semi-calm and not rake her nails down that blonde’s face and play tic-tac-toe on it afterwards. It grated on every last nerve she’d had to listen to this Tracey chick talk about how awesome Sam was in bed. Okay, so she knew that as well, first-hand, but that didn’t mean she wanted to hear it from this one.

Sam held her gaze and she knew he knew she wasn’t the least bit happy. Was it the fact he’d had a relationship with someone prior to meeting her? No. That wasn’t it. Hell, she’d had ones as well. So that wasn’t the reason.

It was the smug bitch who took such pride in telling her all about Sam. And not just about them, how they’d been so close. How she knew so much about him and his childhood. It bothered her to no end, especially when this woman had been allowed into his past and he tried to keep her out. Well, not tried. He did keep her out.

With a sniff, she looked at the present before her and quickly wrapped it. Taking a deep breath, she focused on the next one. “No, she didn’t mention that.”

“Well, it was.” His decadent voice resonated through her.

“Oh.” Lifting her gaze, she found him waiting for her. His blue eyes did things to her insides that no others could. She ignored the fluttering in her belly and took another deep breath.

“We were really close,” Tracey added.

“How nice.”

“Weren’t you a sergeant when you knew Hoch?” Brent asked.

Tracey gazed at him. “Yes, what’s your point?”

“What’d you do to be dropped to corporal?”

Brent sent her a wink and Roxi hid her smile. She liked him. Interesting, though, if she wanted to think about it.

Sam shoved his chair back, scraping it along the floor. She jerked her attention to him and gulped at the intensity in his eyes.

“Roxi, a word.” He walked off and she knew he expected her to follow him.

Setting the toy down, she rose and walked around the long table, meandering after him. He opened a door that led to a small office and led the way in. She closed the door behind them and crossed her arms, waiting for him to say whatever it was he needed to get off his chest.

He spun and stared at her. Skimming his hand over his head, he sighed and crossed towards her. Her breath caught in her throat at the predatory way he sauntered.

“What was so important, Sam?”

“This…Tracey…we…”

“It’s none of my business, Sam.”

She could see he wanted to say something else. And she waited. But nothing came and her heart shattered.

“I get it. This woman is part of your past, I have a past. But don’t expect me to stand around while the two of you relive your past. I have to get to work. I’ll have your things in the guest room by the time you get home.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, she jerked open the door and walked off. “It was nice to meet all of you. I have to get back to work,” she said, passing the group wrapping presents.

Jacket in hand, she went to the back, ignoring him calling her name. She shook on her way, her emotions ran so hard and strong within her. She swung by the house and did as she’d said—moved his things to the guest room. Back at the bank, she sat in the parking lot trying to get herself back under control.

Tall, blonde, fit and gorgeous. A perfect fit for Sam’s darker colouring. And it rubbed her entirely the wrong way. Tracey Blake wasn’t a woman she would ever like, for she’d been able to have one thing she wasn’t allowed. Part of Sam he kept from her.

“Get it together, Roxi,” she muttered, shutting off the engine.

Locking down her emotions, she climbed out and shivered against the wind. With quick steps, she hastened into the heated building. She waved at Laila as she went by and headed to her office. Not too much later a knock came on the door and she called out for whomever it was to answer.

Laila.

“Hey,” she said, waving her in. “What’s up?”

“I’m on lunch. Got a few?”

“Of course, sit down.” She still had most of her time left since she didn’t stay and help wrap as she’d planned to do. But let’s face it, once she’d found out about Tracey she didn’t want to be anywhere around them.

“How was the delivery?”

“Good. Everything is there and a few Marines are assisting with the wrapping. Nice people.”

Laila narrowed her eyes. “Who is she?”

She blinked a few times. “Who is who?”

“Oh, please,” Laila scoffed. “Don’t play dense with me. Who’s the woman that looked at Sam and has you in a foul mood?”

“I’m not in a foul mood.” She denied it with a shake of her head.

Thunder boomed and Laila arched a brow as she ate a bite of her sandwich.

“Don’t say a word. Not a single word.”

The sparkle in Laila’s eyes told her all she needed to know. “Say what? I think God said it for me.” She waved a hand. “I’ve known you long enough and you’re damn near in a snit.”

Roxi chewed on her lower lip and debated. She hated going behind his back and asking, but damn it all, she wanted to know. So she took the plunge.

“Tell me about Tracey.”

A handful of different responses had been expected. She didn’t expect the reaction she received. Laila, who didn’t get mad all that often, put her unfinished Rueben on marbled rye down on the desk and demanded in a voice that was almost unrecognisable, it was so gravelly, “Why the fuck would you mention her?”

“I met her today.”

“That bitch is here? With Sam?”

“Laila, calm down. Tell me about her.”

A derisive snort. “What’s to tell. He was going to marry her and came home early to propose only to find her in bed with another man.”

Anger filled her. That woman could have very well been Mrs Sam Hoch. But instead she’d done something which kept Sam locked away from emotions. Swallowing, she leant back in her chair. “So…Sam let this woman in.”

Laila seemed to have forgotten she was there and after a rap on the desk, she shook herself as if breaking free from the hold memories had on her. “What?”

“Sam and this woman. Come on, Laila.”

“I told you, Roxi. He loved her, wanted to marry her, and she betrayed him. I don’t think he’ll ever ask another woman.” Laila shook her head. “I can’t believe that bitch has resurfaced.”

Her friend continued to ramble on, but Roxi couldn’t focus on anything other than what Laila had said about him never asking another woman. So there was no future for the two of them. It wasn’t fair. She’d gone and fallen in love with this man.

Perhaps it was best to begin to pull back from any deeper entanglements with him.
Yeah, good luck. He’s already part of us,
her heart reminded her.

She would ignore it. She had to. There was no other way for her to get over him.

“He seemed a bit surprised to see her.”

“I bet he did.”

A sip of water did little to dislodge the dryness which had cropped up in her throat. Laila wasn’t paying her any attention, she was muttering to herself as she picked apart her sandwich.