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The buzzing of Melissa’s alarm clock woke her out of a restless sleep the next morning, and she fumbled with it, trying to turn off the blaring sound. Smacking it again and accidentally knocking the entire clock to the floor, she finally climbed out of bed and retrieved it, setting it back on the nightstand.
She stretched in her satin chemise, the lace bodice tugging across her full breasts.
It was a pity Michael never got to see all the sexy new lingerie she’d gotten at her bridal shower—the shower held before he’d called off their wedding. Not that she’d want him to see her in it now, she thought, running her hands over the smooth material.
His loss.
It was a pity her ex had turned out to be a complete and utter asshole. A coward. Maybe he fought bravely for his country and all that, but a lifelong commitment to the woman he supposedly loved?
A marriage and life together?
Apparently, that was out of the question.
Literally the only thing worse would have been if he’d actually left her at the altar. Been too cowardly to let her know ahead of the big day.
But this?
Equally aggravating in her mind. She’d wasted three years with him—dealt with his deployments, the uncertainty of when he’d be back, of if he was safe.
And now? She slept in her sexy little negligees every night. Her best friends had insisted she keep all of the shower gifts, and it would be a crime to let them linger in the bottom of her lingerie drawer. She felt sexy and fierce in it, even if it was for her eyes only.
For the moment.
Briefly she imagined what a man like Tyler would think of it, and just as quickly, she brushed that thought aside.
The lace bodice wrapped around her full breasts, leaving nothing to the imagination, and the chemise was so short it barely covered her bottom. Although it would’ve been exciting to wear it in Bora Bora and see the hungry look in her ex’s eyes, she’d settle for feeling like a vixen in it for now.
Someday Tyler’s hands would drag all over that silky material, running his rough hands over her curves. Sliding it further up her legs, revealing her further to him.
Well not Tyler.
But another man. One who wasn’t obnoxious about discussing the women he slept with and didn’t flirt relentlessly with her, constantly dropping hints and sexual innuendo. She could handle him, certainly.
It didn’t mean a man like him would end up any more committed than her ex.
Flipping her long red hair over her shoulder, she padded across the plush carpet of her bedroom, grabbing her phone from the charger. There were three texts from Becky, and she quickly swiped the screen, her eyes running over the messages.
No updates on Brody.
His commander is hoping they’re hunkered down somewhere.
I’m going to bed. Talk to you tomorrow. xx
Melissa blew out a sigh of relief. Hunkered down? That had to be a good thing. They were just hiding from the enemy. Biding their time. Maybe they were injured or trapped and couldn’t immediately get back to base.
But he’d be okay.
The commander wouldn’t have given Becky false hope, would he?
There was a missed call from the real estate photographer that she was meeting at eleven this morning. She dialed into her voicemail, listening to the message. God, he was kind of annoying to work with. Sometimes it seemed like he called just to hear himself speak.
And she had work to do.
Her phone rang a moment later, and one of her best friend’s names, Beth, flashed across the screen. “Amy just told me about your sister,” she said as soon as Melissa answered. “Is everything okay? Are there any updates?”
Melissa sank back down onto her bed, staring at her hot pink toenail polish. “I don’t know. We’re just waiting to hear any news at this point. It sounds like the commander is hopeful they’re just hunkered down somewhere, hiding, not actually missing.”
“Wow, I’m sorry. But that sounds like it might be good news.”
“Yeah, I hope so,” Melissa said, flouncing back down on her pillows. She blew out a sigh. It had been months since she’d had a man in her bed—and she missed that. She was angry as hell at her ex, but she missed the feel of a man’s arms around her. Of the weight of him atop her.
It was lonely as hell sleeping alone every night.
“Are you coming with us to brunch later?” Beth repeated, drawing her back to the present.
“I can’t today, hun. I’m meeting with the photographer at eleven for my newest listing and then showing some houses this afternoon.”
“Bummer. We’re meeting Amy and Jason at ten.”
“Yeah, I wish I could come. Brunch sounds infinitely preferable to my day.”
“Bad clients?”
Melissa laughed. “Believe it or not, the photographer is more annoying than today’s client. And that’s saying a lot. I’m helping Jason’s friend Tyler find a house.”
“Another Marine?” Beth asked doubtfully.
Melissa laughed. “Don’t worry, I told him all about my asshole of an ex.”
“While you were showing him houses?” Beth asked in disbelief.
“No, over drinks last night,” she said, her gaze falling on the boxes stacked in the corner of her bedroom. Michael had left a few of his things here, and he’d never gotten them back. They were collecting dust in the corner now, and she was ready to haul them to the curb.
To be done with him and his things forever.
“Wait, you had drinks? Like a date?”
“No, not a date,” Melissa said, rolling her eyes. “I met Amy and Jason last night, and he happened to show up. Which reminds me....” She launched into the story of running into Michael in the parking lot.
“Only you,” Beth said with a laugh. “Who else has a hot man come to their rescue when their ex is around? I swear that type of thing never happened to me.”
“You have a fiancé!” Melissa said.
“Now,” Beth corrected. “I mean in the past. If I run into an ex, I’m sweaty and gross from the gym or something.”
“Well, I’d been upset about my sister,” Melissa huffed. “I was leaving because I’d just gotten off the phone with her.”
“Sorry, hun. Are you flying out to California to wait with her?”
“She didn’t want me to,” Melissa said. “I guess we’re just hoping for the best at this point. It’s too early on the west coast for me to call her right now.”
“Listen, I need to get going if I’m going to make it to brunch in time.”
“Me, too. I set my alarm—on a SUNDAY for God’s sake—because I have so much work to do. Search the latest listings, meet the photographer, upload the photos, do a couple of showings this afternoon. My day is killer.”
“Well, you usually get to sleep in Monday mornings when the rest of the working world is heading out the door.”
“Touché. Oddly enough, most people prefer home showings on weekends, not first thing on Monday morning. Gotta give the people what they want.”
Beth laughed. “How good of you to make that sacrifice. Let me know if you hear anything about Becky, all right? And good luck with the showings today. We’ll miss you at brunch.”
“And I’ll miss that Bloody Mary. Thanks, sweetie. I’ll talk to you later.”
Melissa set her phone on the nightstand after ending the call, reluctantly getting out of bed for the second time that morning. A long, hot shower was in order, followed by some super strong coffee.
