Heavy Artillery Husband by Debra Webb Page B

ocean-view course in Norfolk, Virginia.”
    Frank returned to his study of the area outside the hotel. Watching for Halloran’s spies was far easier than watching her for signs that she might want to renew their relationship. She probably didn’t want to waste any more romantic energy on him after what he’d put her through.
    At least he’d booked a room with two beds tonight. No need for a debate as to who would sleep where this time around.
    * * *
    â€œI T ’ S A STARTING POINT ,” Sophia said quietly, not wanting to interfere with the quiet Frank seemed to need.
    At the table, she toed off her shoes and drew up her legs, sitting cross-legged on the chair, the skirt of her dress pulled over her knees. She was suddenly cold and weary from one adrenaline rush after another for the better part of the past twenty-four hours. It didn’t help that sleep had been sketchy at best last night.
    It was difficult to focus on her search for Kelly Halloran when she kept staring at her husband as if she were sixteen again and hopelessly daydreaming about the hunky quarterback of the high school football team. She closed her laptop and picked up her phone, finishing that text she’d started for Aidan. Odds were low Hellfire specifically was on the radar in Europe even though drug trafficking and money laundering were global problems.
    Restless, she checked her email, finally pinpointing the real trouble when her stomach rumbled. “We need to eat.” She trusted Frank’s instincts about lying low tonight. “Why don’t I order room service?”
    â€œGo ahead.” He walked away from the window and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I’m not hungry.”
    She’d heard that before and learned the hard way. Frank would forget about food while his mind worked on a problem; then he’d be famished at the first whiff of a savory scent. Regardless of his appetite, he needed to fuel up. She ordered with great care, being sure to bring in enough food and avoiding anything reminiscent of their stay here nearly thirty years ago. That had been champagne and a decadent snack after a fun night of holiday schmoozing with friends. It felt as though all those years flashed by in a blink. One minute they’d exchanged vows as newlyweds and the next they were moving their only child out of college.
    She’d realized months ago that part of her would always love Frank. No matter how their marriage had ended, the lies before and after, it was clear her heart had never stopped loving him. While it would be nice to revisit the good times with her best friend, she kept her thoughts to herself. She wouldn’t risk the heartache for either of them by cruising down memory lane only to wind up at the abrupt, unexpected ending when he faked his death.
    Room service knocked on the door just as she started to ask Frank where he’d spent those first nights out of prison. With Torres, probably. What about after that? She wanted to know if he’d been grieving the loss as much as she and Frankie had.
    She yanked her thoughts away from that crumbling edge of insanity. It wasn’t her business. It didn’t even matter. He was alive and they would all deal with the effects of that in good time. Frankie should know her dad was alive and well, but Sophia couldn’t begin to explain it all by text. As confident as she was about their daughter’s reaction to the news, she had to respect Frank’s reluctance.
    Truly, they both had too much to deal with already.
    When Frank was out of sight, she opened the door. After the food was set up and the waiter gone, Frank emerged and they sat down to thick, hot roast beef and turkey sandwiches, a bowl of mixed salad greens and crispy homemade potato chips served with a tangy barbecue sauce for dipping.
    He devoured the food as if he hadn’t eaten in a week. Sophia managed to hide her smile behind her sandwich. Watching him