Claim - Volume 2: Claim Series, #2

By Ashley Suzanne

After a frightening, nearly unsuccessful bout of online dating, Loren Tena finally found the guy she'd been searching for. Nolan was the epitome of her idea of perfection. Loren's used to waiting for the other shoe to drop, and in this case, it came knocking on her door.
Face to face with her past, Loren has to decide which path to take: The one she'd already been down and failed or the new, exciting one leading her into the arms of her perfect cowboy.
Claim Volume Two should be read following Volume One.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ashley Suzanne
• Release date: Feb 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386558194

Ashley Suzanne

Ashley Suzanne has been writing as long as she can remember. As a youngster, she was always creating stories and talking to her imaginary friends. Thankfully, her parents also carried this love of fiction, and helped her grow into the writer she is today. Ashley is a bestselling author and spends equal amounts of time writing and reading. Being the true book whore she is, Ashley would rather dive into a good book before going out of her house. Giving up her career in Real Estate, Ashley has officially moved to hermit status. When Ashley isn't coming up with her next story, you'll most likely find her on the couch with a kindle in her hand (probably watching some crappy reality show while , annoying her husband by telling him all about her new book boyfriend or spending quality time with her two gremlins ... Sorry, I mean adorable children. You can find Ashley on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or her blog.

Book preview

Dedication

For Lacy Daniel ...

Because without the help and support of this wonderful woman, my books might not ever make it from my head to your ereader.  Next time you read one of my books, I’m able to keep a release date or you find out about a new release, just remember to thank Lacy.  It’s only because of her that any of this happens.

Thank you bean.  I love you more than words.  More than cupcakes.  More than Grumpy Cat.  More than Norman Reedus.  More than my kindle.

You’re the perfect other half of my heart.  You’re not just an assistant.  You’re one of the best friends I’ll ever have in this life.  And for YOU, I’m grateful.

Merry Christmas Bean.

Chapter One

Jordan

Once upon a time, my mother was a lousy kind of mom.  After divorcing my dad when I was only six she bounced from man to man until she finally landed a billionaire who was on the brink of death.  Mom stayed married to Richard until he passed away and she lost her sanity.  Not because the love of her life died, more so due to the fact that his billions he had carefully earned over the years didn’t go to her in his will, but to his children and grandchildren—not a penny to her.

Somewhere between all the husbands she had over the years until Richard, she found a great man, one that treated me like his own child.  Patrick Fletcher was the best kind of stepdad; always there, never gave my mom grief over having a child, and never made me feel like I was a ‘step’ anything.  Leave it to my mother to divorce him for someone richer.  It was the way she worked.

The best thing about Patrick is even after the mess that was the end of their relationship, it never affected me.  Every Saturday in the summer, Patrick still picked me up to take me to a baseball game.  Sundays in the fall were similar, but it was football games.  If I had a school play or musical, he was there in the front row.  When I became a teenager and needed a job, he put me to work after school in the mailroom of his company.  Patrick paid for my college and gave me my first real job after I graduated.  I never received preferential treatment, but I always knew I had a home with him and his company.

Even when I screw up.  I guess that’s what dads are supposed to do.

A year ago, I screwed up and married my girlfriend Loren on a whim.  Stupid drunken mistake.  She deserved more and after watching my mother fail marriage after marriage, I wasn’t sure that I was the man to give it to her. 

Until I left. 

I spent nearly a year bouncing around place to place, trying to live down the regret of walking out of her life.  I can’t pinpoint exactly when I knew I wouldn’t make a good husband, but I can tell you the exact moment, down to the second, when I figured out I made the biggest mistake of my life letting her go.

It was the second that I went to her house—our home—to let her know I was back and if she’d have me, give me a chance to right the wrong I made a year ago.  Only, she wasn’t alone.  When his hands clutched onto her body that I knew so well and when she became pliable in his arms like she had done so many times with me, it hit me.  She’d moved on.

Loren deserved so much more than I could ever give her.  For Christ’s sake, I’m a child of a woman who couldn’t hold onto a good marriage if her life depended on it.  Not to mention if I didn’t have Patrick to save my ass from falling flat on my face, I’d have nobody.  Loren was different.  Better.  How could I ever be what she wanted let alone needed?

But, I would be.  Dammit, I’d make her see that even though I fucked up the last year of her life, probably caused her more pain that she should ever feel, I was the man for her.  I am that man.

I’m her man.

Jordan, I want a divorce.  I’ve moved on.  I’m happy.  Please just let me be happy, she told me, but I’d heard it before.  Soon after I left, she called me and told me the exact same thing, but I ignored her, much like I’m going to do tonight. 

I’m not going down without a fight, Loren.  I’ll leave tonight, but I’ll be back tomorrow and we’re going to talk about all of this.  We’ll figure it out.  Trust me.  When a man knows what he wants, he can’t be afraid to go after it.  She might think she’s moved on, but I have one thing going for me that the giant cowboy doesn’t.  She’s my wife. 

Goodnight, Jordan.  I move my foot from in front of the door, allowing her to close it.  I don’t want to leave, but there’s not much else for me to do right now.  I really need to be sizing up the competition.  What makes him so damn perfect?  She didn’t know I was here and she didn’t let him inside.  They must have just started seeing each other.  Even better for me.  I don’t have baggage to work through.

Tomorrow’s a new day.  The perfect day to get my wife back and reclaim her