She winced. “No?”
“Don’t sound so certain. No, Honey Dalton. I am not in a relationship, serious or casual, with anyone. Male or female. I am fully, one hundred percent, completely and entirely single and without offspring.” His tone rode the line between joking and serious.
“Sorry if I offended you. A girl can’t be too careful. I had a friend at college who ended up dating an instructor. A married instructor. She had no idea. He certainly never mentioned having a wife.”
“No offense taken. And what about you? Are you in a relationship?” The words were soft and unoffensive.
She didn’t hesitate to answer the question. Might as well start their relationship with truth. “No. I haven’t dated since my ex, over a year ago, and it only lasted a couple months. Does this mean we’re good?”
“All good.”
Relief rushed over her. He was single. She was single. They were on a date. Everything was fine. “What brings you to Coyote Creek?”
Ira flushed and looked away. He swallowed hard and looked back at her, not quite meeting her eyes. “A change of pace I guess.”
She sensed the evasion in his words was related to his relationship with Robert. “Well, this place is a big change from the army, that’s for certain. Why did you leave the military? You’re still young.”
“I would have been content to be a career soldier, maybe morphing into an instructor as I got older. I was discharged.”
“Honorably?” She winced as the near accusation came out.
“Yes. Honorably. A medical discharge.” His tone was dry, but he didn’t seem offended.
“Can I ask why a medical discharge?”
“I was injured in the line of duty.”
She almost heard the door slam shut on their conversation. He did not want to have this conversation. She tabled the discussion for later. He had a right to his privacy and if he had planned on a long military career, an abrupt discharge might be a sensitive subject.
“Tell me about your family,” she offered instead.
“I’m an only child. I never knew my father and my mother passed away about a year ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Why? It’s not your fault.”
This was rapidly becoming the most awkward first date conversation she ever had. “Not my fault, that’s true. Which doesn’t mean I can’t empathize. It would be awful to lose your military brothers and your entire family. The losses must have left a big hole in your life.”
“It did. Thanks for the sympathy. Tell me about your family,” Ira said.
“Nothing to tell. My parents died in an accident when I was in university. No siblings, just a few good friends who are like sisters to me. Recently, I lost a dear friend. Tilly Everett. She was an elderly lady, kind of a shut in. We used to visit every week. She was my surrogate grandmother.”
“That’s a shame. Sorry for your loss.”
“I’ll miss her, but I’m hoping her granddaughter will decide to stay in town and take her place. Before she fell ill, Tilly ran a private hotel. Kind of hotel meets B&B. When her granddaughter arrives, I’ll be here to welcome her to town and share stories.”
“Very generous of you.”
“It’s what friends do. I’ve lost an old friend, but I’m hoping to make a new one. You can never have too many friends.”
“I guess.”
“You disagree?”
“I was a loner in high school and joined the army the day I turned eighteen.”
“Wow, that’s so young.”
