Page 4 of Home Team Advantage
“You aren’t the only one who hides who he truly is beneath a carefully crafted exterior, you know. You must keep that in mind, especially when you get home.”
He blinked. Had he just entered the twilight zone? “Excuse me?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Appearances are often deceiving, is all I’m saying. But then you’re already quite familiar with that, aren’t you?”
Before he could respond, she turned and beckoned him forth. “I have the perfect place for you to relax and unwind. I call it the library.”
He followed in her wake. Blessing led him past the rooms with families and kids to a much quieter area that had only two people.
“This is Oliver and Kate. I know you’ll be comfortable here. Kate, Oliver, this is Matt O’Connell.”
He hadn’t told Blessing his name. She must have read his scratch on the sign-in.
Matt offered the two occupants a smile and a nod as Blessing took her leave. Assessing them was as natural and effortless as breathing.
Oliver stood up and offered his hand. He was slightly shorter than Matt with dark brown hair and gray-green eyes with a glint that suggested he was the adventurous sort. His grip was firm and confident, though he seemed tense, as if he was uncomfortable or in pain.
Kate was an attractive brunette. Her long hair was pulled up into a ponytail, giving her a wholesome, girl-next-door look, but he could sense an inner strength in her as well. Her pretty eyes widened slightly as she tried to reconcile his appearance with his presence in the USO. To her credit, she schooled her reaction well and offered him a piece of candy. Sour gummies, by the looks of it.
He waved them off. “I’m good, thanks.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” Kate said, and for a moment, he wondered if she was talking about more than the candy.
Then, her face puckered as she popped one into her mouth. The look was so comical that he laughed and felt a sense of relief. No woman intent on flirting would deliberately make that face.
“Looks like I made the right decision.”
Oliver laughed. “Funny, that’s what I thought too.”
Kate shrugged, but her eyes twinkled. “More sour goodness for me. Are you heading home, Matt, or changing bases?”
There was no reason not to answer truthfully. “Home, to Pine Ridge, Pennsylvania. You?”
“Home also. Hollister, South Dakota.” Kate pointed at Oliver. “Also home. On the way to California.”
Matt looked back toward the front of the USO before he asked, “Has anyone else noticed that Blessing …”
“Is awesome in the most amazing way?” Kate finished, jumping to Blessing’s immediate defense.
And there was the warrior beneath the apple-pie exterior. “Calm down. I didn’t mean anything by it. She reminds me of my aunt.”
Kate visibly relaxed. “Well, whatever she told you, take it to heart. This isn’t my first time through this place, and she’s always right. Don’t fight it. Just take the advice and run with it.”
“How did you know she gave me advice?”
Kate smiled. “Well, she did, didn’t she?” She turned to Oliver. “You too.”
Oliver nodded. “Yeah, something like that.”
Kate nodded triumphantly. “That’s what I thought.”
Before any of them could comment further, the woman in question returned with another man. He walked stiffly, as if each step was an effort.
“Well, Corey, this is the best place for you to rest a bit,” Blessing said cheerfully. “This is Kate, Oliver, and Matt. They’re all heading home, but they’re getting out of the military.”
Not exactly true, Matt thought. Unless Blessing and her woo-woo knew something he didn’t.
Corey was tall and muscular, his expression pained. Injury could do that to a guy. Especially if it was the career-ending sort.
