“So how long do you think I’ll need to stay here?”
Her question bugged him, but he didn’t want to push her away. He knew staying at someone else’s place could be weird. He stayed with his buddies from time to time, but they were good friends, and it was different when you were with friends. He was a total stranger to her.
“I don’t know. We should talk to the detective on the case and figure out what’s going on with Robert.”
She nodded. “Yeah. I just don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
“Trust me, you won’t. I want you to be safe.”
She met his gaze and shook her head. “Why are you being so nice?”
He shrugged, hoping he could keep the desire he felt for her hidden long enough to answer her question. “Sometimes things align, and you find people you’re supposed to help. It’s one of those things. Helping people is one of the best things you can do in life. I know it doesn’t happen all the time, but life is better when we help each other.”
She dipped her chin, and her eyes widened. “No one thinks that way.”
“I think that way.”
“Well, I can tell you that you’re the odd man out. Most people don’t think like that.”
“No, they don’t. And it’s sad that we’re so against helping others. I get why people are jaded, but we have to push past the anger and hurt.”
“Do you really think that’s possible?”
He shrugged as he turned to the freezer to grab something to heat. He had some enchiladas that would heat up easily.
He pulled the container out and held it up. “How about enchiladas?”
Her laughter made his balls tighten. He longed to hear that sound again.
“Sure. Why not. I like enchiladas, and having them for breakfast would be good.”
“Awesome. I have enough for both of us.”
“Cool.”
He popped the container into the microwave on half power to start the thaw. “Sorry, I don’t have eggs and stuff, but I never know how long I’ll be gone, so I gave the food to a friend who was staying in town.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s an issue. So you don’t know how long you’ll be gone?”
He pulled out a couple of plates and forks. “I do sometimes. If I’m on an official deployment, I do. Right now, we go where the problems are. It’s just easier right now for the military to send us out where we’re needed.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Yeah. It means we have a lot of vacation.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I need to take a few weeks soon. Then I have a month off next September.”
“That’s good.”
“It is. I mean, in no way is military life easy. It’s hard, and it’s not for everyone. But it’s good for me.”
“I never even considered it growing up.“
He nodded, thinking about his past. “I don’t think there was another option available for me.”
“Really, why?”
