Holiday Defenders: Mission: Christmas Rescue Special Ops Christmas Homefront Holiday Hero by Debby Giusti & Susan Sleeman & Jodie Bailey

Author:Debby Giusti & Susan Sleeman & Jodie Bailey
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Love Inspired Suspense
Published: 2014-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

Mike and his friends Hank and Nick had been too busy focusing on one-upping each other to give Travis time alone with Mike. Three hours of bowling and Travis had learned nothing other than Mike was highly competitive and a sore loser.

Travis didn’t care. He poured his frustration into the bowling ball and hurled it down the lane. The pins exploded, the loud whack fighting with “Jingle Bell Rock” blaring from speakers.

Cautioning himself not to gloat over the win and alienate Mike, Travis turned back to the group.

Hank looked at Travis, a snide grin on his chubby face. “So glad you came along so Mike didn’t skunk all of us.” He slid his ball into a neon-orange tote bag. “I’m out of here. Catch you guys tomorrow.”

“Hold up, I’ll walk out with you.” Nick shrugged into a lightweight jacket, his slight frame the opposite of Hank’s, a man who could easily fill in for Santa Claus without any padding.

“Fine, run home to your wives,” Mike said tauntingly.

Hank picked up his bag and scowled. “You’re just jealous there isn’t a little woman waiting at home for you.”

Mike fired a testy look at his buddy. “I’ll be married soon enough.”

“Don’t you actually need a girlfriend for that to happen?”

“I’ve got a girlfriend,” Mike ground out between clenched teeth.

“Oh, right.” Hank raised his eyes in disbelief. “Claire. The woman we’ve never even seen.”

They know about Claire? the question shot through Travis’s brain.

Mike crossed his arms, his jaw rigid. “That doesn’t mean she doesn’t exist.”

“Oh, we think she exists,” Nick said casting a knowing look at Hank. “We just don’t believe she’s your girlfriend.”

Mike spun on Nick. The anger in Mike’s eyes said he was fully capable of hurting someone—maybe even Claire, the woman he claimed to love.

“You’ll see,” Mike said. “She’s not only my girlfriend, but she’ll be my fiancée before the week is out.”

“Whatever.” Nick rolled his eyes and clapped a hand on Hank’s shoulder. “Ready, man?”

Hank nodded and they strode away.

“Sorry about that,” Mike quickly fired off an apology to Travis, but kept his flaming angry gaze on his friends.

Travis slipped out of his bowling shoes. “I have to admit it was uncomfortable.”

“They just don’t get it. But they will. Everyone will.” Mike packed up his equipment. “Once I make Claire mine. For life.”

You won’t get close enough to make her yours for even a minute.

Mike leaned closer and Travis had to fist his hands not to deck the guy. “But see, what they don’t know is I’ve got this big thing in the works that’s gonna insure Claire will marry me.”

The soda Travis drank earlier churned in his stomach, but he forced an even keel to his voice. “Big thing? Like what?”

“I don’t want to talk about the details. You know, in case I jinx it.” Mike winked. “But trust me. It’s gonna happen soon. Real soon.”

Travis tried to gain additional details as they returned the rental shoes, but Mike clammed up. Travis even tried to set another meet with Mike, but he gave a vague response and hopped in his car.

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