Lauren is lying to me. I hate that she’s not telling me the truth about what she’s thinking. For a horrible moment, I worry she’s regretting what happened between us. But this was the best moment of my life and nothing will ever change that.
Still with her stomach growling, I don’t push her on it. Instead, I help her get dressed, taking advantage of the opportunity to run my hands all over her curvy body. Judging by the heated looks she’s giving me, we’re definitely going to do this again. Food first, though.
Then I carry her into the kitchen. She protests but she doesn’t try to squirm out of my arms. There’s something so right about holding her like this when she’s warm and sated and wearing my flannel.
“What do you want to eat?” I ask as I set her on the kitchen island. She could request any meal, and I’d figure out how to make it. That’s how gone I am for this curvy woman who makes my heart beat fast with just a look.
She eyes me, her gaze traveling from my bare chest to the bulge between my legs. She licks her lips, and I groan, “We’re not doing that not until you’ve eaten something.”
She sighs dramatically. “A sandwich will be fine.”
I make her a sandwich and pass it to her. I notice her gaze on my foot, the one I’ve had multiple surgeries on. It was a long time ago.
“Does it still hurt?” She blushes. “It’s just that sometimes I see you limping, and I think it must still hurt. Then I worry about you and about how you’re always taking care of everyone, and who’s taking care of you?”
Emotion clogs my throat. I don’t deserve this woman.
“It’s fine.” I tell her and focus on eating my sandwich.
“Farm accident?”
“No.”
The silence stretches between us, and I can almost hear her trying to decide what it was. I don’t want to tell her this. I never have before.
“A mission?” she asks.
“Not exactly.”
She narrows her gaze. “There’s something you’re not telling me. What is it?”
“When I learned Vale was missing, I got some of the guys from the farm together. We went after him.”
“Are you saying you went into an active combat zone? How did you even manage to get inside?” She gasps like this is the craziest part of the story. If only she knew what really happened that day.
I give her a look. At the same time, we repeat Vale’s words, “Obstacles are for civilians.”
It’s what he always used to say. He was so proud of being a United States Marine. He lived that pride every single day.
“That’s how you injured your foot?” She guesses.
I shrug. “I would have given my life to have brought him back to you.”
“But you went through all of those surgeries, and you were alone.” She swallows hard.
I can’t complain about this to her. It’s not right, not when she lost her brother. After all, Vale was alone and by himself. Even now, I can’t bring myself to question what his final minutes must have been like. Was he frightened? Was he thinking of his sister and aunt? Did he remember me?
“You should have told me. I would have been there for you,” Lauren insists.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I wish you would have said something. You’re always the one who’s there for me. I can call you with anything and—” She stops. The look on her face just about guts me, but she shakes her head and finishes the last bite of her sandwich. “Thanks for lunch.”
I frown, not understanding her abrupt mood change. “What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t even know you went after Vale.”
“Because there was nothing to tell you. There was only disappointment and heartbreak at the end of that journey. I didn’t want you to carry that.”
