Page 2 of A Soldier's Pledge
“I consider this a win. I still get to spend time with you.”
“I don’t have a lot of time. Buyers could show up any minute, and it’s not professional to be eating on the job.”
“Then I guess you’ll have to eat fast. Jenny said you’d have time.”
“Good thing I don’t employ Jenny to keep secrets.”
“She can’t resist my charm.”
Snorting, Anna shook her head. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s exactly why.”
“Hey, if you don’t want what I’ve brought…”
“What did you bring?” She couldn’t see the writing on the bag, but from his huge grin, she’d bet anything he’d gone to the best sandwich place in Willow Haven. If he had, he was right. She wouldn’t be able to resist.
“I stopped at Dixie’s. You know you can’t turn down one of her roast beef sandwiches.”
“That’s so not fair!” Her mouth watered just thinking about the thin-sliced rare roast beef, provolone, and fresh tomatoes from Dixie’s garden. All placed with extra care on top of two slices of the homemade sour dough bread she’d have made that morning. Dixie’s food was like a little slice of heaven.
“Why not? I promise I won’t tell the boss.” Anna laughed. She couldn’t help it. His eyes sparkled with mirth. Yup, he was trouble with a capital “T” and had been from the first moment she’d met him. He was the first man who had even gotten close to breaking down the brick wall she’d erected around her heart after Ryan was killed in action.
“Fine. But it has to be quick. There’s no way I’m going to be picnicking while potential buyers are walking through the house. I do have a reputation, you know.”
“Yes, ma’am, I’m very aware of your reputation,” he answered with a salute and a grin. “Where do you want to eat?”
“The kitchen table, I guess. Please try not to make a mess. I have everything staged already, and I want it to stay that way.”
He nodded, then flashed her a bright white smile and disappeared around the corner into the kitchen. The house was ready; she was ready—well except for the unplanned lunch break. A quick check of her watch told her she could probably eat at least half of the deliciousness waiting for her in the kitchen as long as she kept her hands off Ethan and focused on the sandwich. The open house was supposed to start at one, so they had fifteen minutes to eat before “show time.”
***
Ethan unpacked the food as he glanced around the kitchen. He tried to pick out what she’d added to help with the sale versus what was already there. He’d gotten good at finding her “special touches.” She had a knack for making every home look welcoming, which was probably why she was the most sought after realtor in Willow Haven.
He was glad he’d trusted his gut and brought lunch. He knew she wouldn’t have eaten. It was her standard argument—she was too busy. As a bonus, he’d be able to check things out without her getting suspicious. As he unpacked the bag, his mouth watered. Iced coffee for her and sweet tea for him, two roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, and brownies for dessert.
“Are you coming?” he yelled for her as he finished unwrapping the food. If she waited much longer, she’d say she didn’t have time and wouldn’t eat at all. Not that he’d mind eating the rest her meal. But it defeated the whole purpose. Since he had the day off, he’d gone for his usual ten-mile run on the beach before the summer crowds gathered for the day. He loved the peacefulness of a sunrise run, just him, pelicans diving for fish, sandpipers digging for food, and the gentle lap of the waves against the shoreline.
“Why are you yelling?”
He looked up to see her standing in the doorway watching him. How long had she been standing there? From the way the skin was wrinkled between her eyes, she’d been thinking hard about something. About him, if he was lucky, but he wasn’t counting on it. She was the most stubborn woman he’d ever met, and he’d met a few over the years.
“C’mon. Stop stalling.”
“I’m not. I was just admiring the view.”
He laughed and shook his head, and he pulled out a chair for her.
“Thank you, Ethan,” she said as she lifted half of the sandwich and sniffed. Her look of pure bliss almost made him jealous, almost. It still didn’t come close to the look on her face when she came apart in his arms. Just thinking about it made him squirm in his chair as the zipper of his jeans pushed against him. He could not get enough of her, and he doubted he ever would even if he spent every day with her.
They ate in silence. He was happy she hadn’t tossed his ass out and just kept the food. It had been debatable as to whether she’d let him stay, and he was glad she had. It hadn’t been easy to win her over. She was a hard nut to crack, and he’d done everything he could think of to try to get past the brick wall she’d built around her heart.
From the first time he’d seen her, Ethan knew he had to get to know her. At first, he was convinced it was lust, but it didn’t take long for him to realize how special she was. And even less time to fall head over heels. And even though she wouldn’t admit it, she felt the same way. He’d caught the look on her face when she didn’t think he was watching too many times. But damn the woman wouldn’t give an inch. So determined to not commit. Wasn’t it supposed to be the guy who was afraid of commitment? What she didn’t realize yet was that he was just as stubborn. When he decided on something nothing and no one would deter him, and he wanted her by his side for the rest of their lives.
They’d met while he was volunteering at the rehab clinic at the military hospital. After serving five years as a pilot in the Air Force, he couldn’t just walk away from his brothers and sisters and volunteered as much as his schedule would allow. But he’d needed to get out. Too many close calls and lost friends convinced him it was time to get out before he lost himself. There were things he’d seen he’d never be able to share with anyone, and they’d left permanent scars on his soul. He still suffered from the nightmares almost every night. The evenings he spent with Anna helped. He figured the happiness helped to override the memories on those nights.
The clinic was usually busy, and the afternoon he’d first met Anna was no exception. It was one of those moments that you know will always be as crystal clear as when they happened. It was corny, and he’d never admit it to Steele, his partner on the job and best friend, but it was like she’d been surrounded by light and sparkles. He tried to blame it on the sun shining through the glass doors as she wheeled her brother into the building. It didn’t take long for the bubble to pop when Tag mouthed off. He’d been a real son of a bitch then, but he hadn’t been out of the hospital for long and was still learning how to deal with the loss of his leg and arm.
Ethan had been about to go over and tell the guy to lay off. But before he could walk away from the Vet he’d been working with, Anna told Tag he needed to get over himself, and she’d had enough of his bullshit. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to stop the bitching coming out of Tag’s mouth. He had to choke back a laugh when she’d turned around and left him in the middle of the check-in area and told him he could figure out another way home because she was too busy for his crap. She’d known exactly how to handle her brother—no pity. It was the best, they called it tough love, but really it was just telling him like it is, giving him the love he needed without babying him. Adjusting to losing a limb let alone two was never easy, but pity parties only made it worse, and Anna seemed to know that.
