So you’ll forgive me if I choose to keep my heart locked up and locked down. Especially around here.
I love to help military families with grief counseling. But the guys around here? Military men everywhere you look. And I don’t want anything to do with that way of life anymore. I lost too much already.
“Alright, guys. I think that’s our time for tonight. I hope that you’re able to come back again. Have a great night! And if you ever need to talk to me alone, y’all have my phone number. Feel free to call to talk anytime you need to.”
Low mumblings of good-bye and have a good night are called to me as I meet them at the door and they get hats and coats to head out into the cold night.
I set aside one of the rooms in my little house for my counseling practice. It’s my own labor of love. I don’t actually need to ever work again. Both Mike and Jared left me very comfortable. If I live frugally, I don’t need to work. But it would drive me nuts.
But there is something that I need to do and that’s help other people like me.
“Thank you for coming. I really appreciate you guys.” I follow them outside and wave good-bye.
Which is where I see him. My gut clenches as the guy I’ve been thinking about since I saw him a few nights ago at The Rusty Spur pops into view, waving hello to one of the women that’s in my group.
She smiles and stops to talk to him and he gives her a hug, lingering just a little too long for my liking.
I turn away, clenching my fists. “It’s none of your business. She’s an adult.”
But Serena is still pretty fragile since her husband was killed overseas in a roadside bombing last year. She’s definitely not ready to deal with the charming man that tried to hit on me at the bar the other night.
When I turn back around, his golden-brown gaze is locked in on me. His full lips open in a cocky smirk as he waves at me.
Gasping, I frown at him. Doesn’t faze him in the least.
He nods at Serena and jogs over to me, all sizzling energy and sexy masculinity.
I don’t need that.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him, sharp and brittle.
“I was just passing by and saw Serena and stopped to say hi. Just good luck that I saw you too.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
He grins. “You’re a bit prickly, aren’t you?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I shiver. I didn’t put my coat on and I’m regretting it now.
He notices and shrugs out of his bomber jacket. “Here. You’re going to freeze out here. Where’s your coat?”
Trying to shrug out of his jacket, I twist left and right as he holds it on me. “I’m fine. I don’t need your coat.”
“You are a stubborn woman, Red. Don’t bite your nose off to spite your face.”
“Ugh. Fine.” His jacket settles around me and the scent that lingers in it has my head spinning. Spice and heat. Vanilla. Something dark and dangerous.
Damn, it smells good. I suck in another breath, trying to hide the subtle sniff but the cocky bastard sees and grins.
“You didn’t tell me what you’re doing over here. There’s nothing on this side of town.”
“I was at a friend’s house and I happened to see Serena. Told you that.”
“How do you know her?” Curiosity hits me and I can’t stop myself from asking.
“She’s the wife of one of my buddies.”
“Oh.” Nodding, I pat his arm and his head dips to watch my hand on the fabric of his sleeve. He’s wearing a flannel shirt inblue and green and when I look up into his eyes, there’s a flash of green in their honey depths reflecting from the fabric.
