Page 31 of Trust

He knew there was something to his brother’s skewed advice but didn’t think he could put together a time machine fast enough to take advantage of it. “Speaking of nuclear warheads, what are you going to do about the one that imploded your career?”

“I’m gonna wrangle with the powers that be and remind them that I won’t hesitate to reveal where the proverbial dead bodies are buried if I’m not honorably discharged.”

“Which answers my question about the veracity of your conviction and the hill you planted your flag on.”

“I’m not a pawn that can be used for the Navy’s dirty work. The charges against the SEAL were total bullshit and politically motivated. I wanted no part of the cake eater’s need to cover their asses. Eventually, I’ll retire with full honors, start my own firm, and make more bank than I know what to do with.”

Walking around the car, he slapped him on the shoulder. “Proud of you, man.”

Pushing his sunglasses up, Asher let out a snort. “It’s not like I had a choice.”

“Doesn’t mean it was easy.”

“Hawker men don’t do easy.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” he said quietly.

“Have you considered that it’s time to do the hard thing and give in to what your heart wants? Fuck your walls, brother; they’re not doing you any good. Jump. Because there’s no better place for bravery than in love and war. And since you already proved yourself a hundred times on the battlefield, it might be time to have a go at the other.”

“Just like that?” he asked, knowing the answer.

“Yeah, man. Just like that.” Asher gave him a brief hug and then climbed into his car. “Rejection lasts a minute, but regret lasts a lifetime.”

Unable to deny the truth or the emotion clogging his throat, he stepped back and gave him a tip of his chin. “Till next time.”

“It will be sooner than you think.”

“Hope so.” He watched his brother drive away from the house and knew hermit life no longer held the same appeal.

A slice of sun slid through the thick foliage, and he took a step, placing himself in the center of it. The warmth hit his shoulders, and he quietly admitted that he was terrified.

Of letting her go.

And letting her in.

Of the day, she’d finally open her eyes and see who he was.

Was there an ounce of bravery left in his worn-out soul to see if happiness was still possible?

A brisk breeze skittered across the ground, lifting leaves, and he knew that finding out may not be a choice anymore.

There was no doubt about it; Olivia resembled a deflated balloon. Her spark had sputtered, her light had dimmed, and eating more Cheetos wouldn’t change a thing. Pushing the half-empty bag to the back of her pantry, she closed the door firmly and decided that getting out of the house was necessary.

A nice hike around the lake would put her to rights. And no doubt, allow her mind to clear long enough so obliterating the short entanglement with Zane became possible.

Bella bounded into the kitchen, skidded to a stop, and gave her enough of a doggy grin to make some of the battered feelings in her chest slide away. “Let’s go feed those awful rosemary crackers to the fish.”

Bella tilted her head. “I know we didn’t care for them, but the fish might.” She straightened the orange ribbon on her dog’s neck, squashed an unbidden picture of Zane’s face that tried to float across her mind, and grabbed the bag off the counter. “Fresh air is what we need.”

Pushing the screen door open with more force than was necessary, she skipped down the steps with Bella on her heel and heard the rumble of a truck engine. “Please, don’t let it be, Zane.”

Not that she couldn’t handle seeing her neighbor because she most certainly could. It’s just that she’d prefer not to since he’d made it more than clear that anything beyond the occasional distant wave wouldn’t be welcome.

A red truck trundled in her direction, and she smiled when she saw her best friend’s face. “Just the visit we need.”

Bea pulled in and slung her door open. “I felt your sadness all the way in town and knew I had to come.”

“I’m so glad it’s you,” she exclaimed as she hugged her friend. “I thought another woman was about to deliver a cake or casserole to the Hawker men. There’s been a fairly steady parade of them since Monday.”

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