The Wish

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

“If you want to cozy up with a book and be swept into a love story, this is the series for you!”

Claire Williams co-owns a successful event management company with her sister. With many high-profile guests coming to their next event, she works alongside Jason Smith from Fletcher Security to make sure every aspect of the event is secure. 

Jason is a former Detroit Police Detective. After surviving the worst five years of his life, he’s determined to make a better life for himself and his two children. When he meets Claire, the wall he built around his broken heart starts to crumble. She lights up his world and makes him want to believe in happy endings.

When someone from his past arrives in Montana, he does everything he can to keep Claire safe. But this time, coming face to face with his enemy could cost him more than his soul. He could lose everyone he loves.

Jason had learned the hard way not to worry about things that didn’t go to plan. Take this morning for instance. He’d tripped over a shoe that Curly, his seventy-pound Golden Retriever, had left on his floor, smacked his head against the top of his dresser, and given himself an almighty headache.

By the time he’d made it downstairs, Sasha, his eight-year-old daughter, was using a knife to pop her toast out of the toaster, and Franky, his eleven-year-old son, sat on the floor, sharing his bowl of Cheerios with their dog. 

He’d quickly grabbed the knife out of Sasha’s hand, tipped Franky’s Cheerios down the sink, and poured more cereal into a clean bowl.

“Oh, Dad,” Franky moaned. “Curly was enjoying himself.”

“Curly doesn’t need to eat human food.”

“We were bonding.”

Franky was a bright kid, but even bright kids could read too many animal psychology books. “You can bond over dog kibble. What time do you need to be at school for your field trip?”

“Eight-fifteen. Mrs. Barton will meet us beside the bus stop.”

“Have you got everything you need?”

Franky nodded. “I think so. Remember not to pick us up after school. Sasha’s coming with me to Bella’s house.”

Bella was the same age as Franky and the daughter of his boss, John Fletcher. They’d been inseparable for more than two years, preferring each other’s company over anyone else.

Sasha licked raspberry jam off the end of a knife. 

Jason sighed. He didn’t know what was going on with his daughter and knives, but she had a serious fascination with them. He pulled out a kitchen stool and sent her one of his no-nonsense stares. “You’ll cut your tongue. Sit here.”

Curly scrambled off the floor. His long tail swept the last of the Cheerios across the kitchen. With an excited bark, he waited for Sasha to take pity on him.

Sasha giggled. “Curly thinks he’s getting more jam.”

Jason set his daughter’s toast in front of her and peered at the half-full jam jar. Hopefully, their dog’s tongue hadn’t been anywhere near it. 

He patted Curly’s head and filled his bowl with kibble. “I’m going to Great Falls today. If you need me, call my cell phone.”

Franky poured milk over his cereal. “We won’t need you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because you always say that and we never have.”

“Today might be different,” he mumbled. It had been five years since he’d left the Detroit Police Department and he still couldn’t let go of the fear that followed him everywhere.

“I’ll always need you, Daddy,” Sasha said from her lofty position on the kitchen stool.

“Thanks, pumpkin.” He took a deep breath and reminded himself that his family was safe. He didn’t need to keep looking over his shoulder, protecting everyone from the monster he’d put behind bars. 

With trembling hands, he checked Franky and Sasha’s school lunches and added a piece of fruit to each bag.     

After demolishing a bowl of granola, he was ready for stage two of their morning routine. “Everyone brush your teeth. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

Sasha jumped off the kitchen stool. Standing on tippy-toes, she grabbed her plate and loaded it into the dishwasher. 

Franky followed more slowly. “Are you okay, Dad?”

He wrapped his arm around his son’s thin shoulders and kissed the top of his head. “I’m all right. Thanks for asking.” His kids had been through almost as much as he had. Only in their case, he was the one who’d changed their lives. “Are you ready to find some dinosaur bones?”

The serious expression on Franky’s face softened. “We’re going to Hyalite Canyon. There aren’t dinosaur bones there.”

“You think there aren’t any. Maybe they’re waiting for you to discover them. Imagine the stories they could tell about the history of Montana.”

Franky slid his bowl into the dishwasher. “Bones can’t talk, Dad.”

Jason wished he could tell him he was right. But he couldn’t. Bones could talk, and sometimes, their message was too sad to forget.

* * *

Claire took her satchel from the back of her truck and straightened her jacket. In ten minutes she was meeting Gloria Roberts, personal assistant to the chief executive of Fletcher Security. 

It had been two-and-a-half years since she’d started an event staging company with her sister. In the last six months, they’d begun managing entire events. It had created a bigger workload, but she loved the challenge and couldn’t think of anything she’d sooner be doing.

This year, Fletcher Security was sponsoring a charity concert and a high-profile gala. The money raised would upgrade the drug rehabilitation unit at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Even if one family benefited from the programs the hospital ran, the time it took to organize the events would be worth it.

She opened the heavy glass doors leading into the lobby. After she’d introduced herself to the receptionist, she waited in a leather chair. A few years ago, John Fletcher, the owner of Fletcher Security, had moved his business to Bozeman. The renovation of the old flour mill into a state-of-the-art security facility had created lots of media interest.

The community had been fascinated, but unsure about exactly what was happening behind the tightly guarded gates. There was talk about joint CIA and FBI operations, clandestine meetings between high-ranking government officials, and the one that always made her laugh—the monitoring of extraterrestrial activity. As far as she was aware, ET’s call home had never been intercepted by a security company in Montana.

“Claire? It’s great to see you again.” Gloria stepped off the central staircase. Her black skirt and cream, pin-striped blouse suited the understated elegance of the building.

“Hi, Gloria. It’s good to see you, too. I’ve been looking forward to showing you our preliminary plans.”

“I can’t wait to see them. Let’s go to my office. How’s your sister’s wedding coming along?”

In three weeks, Claire’s sister was marrying Brett Forster in a small ceremony on the Double Circle Ranch. “We’re putting the finishing touches on everything. Hannah has the final fitting for her dress tonight.”

“That sounds exciting. I remember finding the perfect dress for my wedding. It doesn’t seem that long ago.” Gloria placed her thumb on a scanner, unlocking the doors to the executive wing. “John’s away at the moment, so we’ve got the whole area to ourselves. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

“That would be great, thanks.” While Claire was waiting for Gloria, she took her laptop out of its case and placed two folders on the desk. She’d worked hard to put together a proposal the board of directors couldn’t say no to. 

When Gloria returned, she wasn’t alone. Jason Smith, the man who confused her on so many levels, walked into the room. As usual, his face was a polite mask, hiding whatever was going through his head. She’d met him a couple of months ago when he’d helped her sister’s fiancé. He’d been professional, friendly, and as distant as the moon.

Gloria smiled. “I believe you already know each other?”

Claire nodded. “Hi, Jason.” 

He held out his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

She ignored the rush of heat to her cheeks, the way her hand disappeared into his. For one brief moment, she imagined what it would be like to get to know this man. But then she thought about the fundraiser and the massive amount of work she needed to do. Spending time with anyone would be impossible.

Gloria sat at her desk. “Please, have a seat. I invited Jason to our meeting because he’s one of the best security specialists we have.”

Claire frowned. “Are you worried about security at the events?”

“Security’s always at the front of our minds, especially with the guest list John has in mind.” Gloria leaned forward. “I want your proposal to have the best chance of being approved. For that reason, I’ve asked Jason to review your plans and make recommendations on how the events can be made more secure.”

Claire didn’t know whether to be grateful or concerned. “That’s a very generous offer. But do you have the time to help me, Jason?”

His gaze settled on her face. “I’ll make the time.”

It wasn’t the most enthusiastic response she’d ever heard, but she’d take it. “In that case, it looks as though we’re working together.”

And for the first time since she’d met him, he looked genuinely worried.