Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 21092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Stop,” he commands.
My eyes jerk to his in alarm. “Stop what?”
He reaches for me again, wrapping his hands around both of mine. “Whatever you’re thinking, just stop. I can see the sadness on your face, and it’s killing me, Jane. Instead of thinking about whatever you’re thinking about, imagine this. A big white house with a white picket fence. A house that needs to be turned into a home. I have a little Honda Accord, it’s a little older but runs perfectly, so you can drive it. You can go to school if that’s what you want to do. Or you can just focus on you. Whatever you want to do.” He pauses for a minute and then lowers his voice. “And if you’re worried about what I want in return, don’t be. All I want is for you to help me with the house. It will be one less thing for me to worry about while I’m gone.”
“And…”
I let my voice trail off because I’m not sure if I should ask or not.
He squeezes my hand. “And what? Go ahead. If we’re going to do this, you need to know that you can ask me anything.”
I bite on to my lower lip and stare at him. He’s been upfront about everything, and I know I just need to say it. “And if we get married, what about me and you… what will you expect from me… as your wife?”
His face hardens, and then it’s as if I can see him forcing himself to relax. “I will expect you to take care of the house and yourself. That’s it.”
“But…” I start but don’t finish. I should just leave well enough alone, but I’m the type of person that needs everything spelled out. “But we’ll be married. You won’t expect…”
I can feel the heat crawl up my face in embarrassment, but I don’t look away from him. I know this conversation is important, and we need to have it.
He lays my hands on the table between us and covers them with his. The weight of them feels good, but I try not to think about it. When he starts to talk, his voice is husky. “I won’t lie to you, Jane. I’m attracted to you, but I won’t act on it. You’re eighteen and way too young for me. I’m doing this because I want to—I need to—know you’re okay. The house and you are the only two things you need to worry about.”
I try not to show my disappointment. It’s crazy; we just met, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that a part of me was secretly hoping for more. At least he admitted that he’s attracted to me. At least I wasn’t imagining that.
“For how long?” I ask him.
His forehead creases in confusion. “How long for what?”
I pull my hands out from under his and rest them on my lap under the table. This discussion is real and intense, but the sounds of the diner with the clinking of glasses and silverware hitting plates that are playing in the background are keeping me grounded. “How long will we be married?”
He blows out a breath and with a look of distaste says, “Until it’s not mutually beneficial anymore. You can divorce me any time you want to. I’m not holding you captive. You can do what you want, Jane.”
The man sitting across from me might as well be a stranger. I don’t know anything about him outside of what my brother has told me. I do know he saved my brother one time in their career, and it’s obvious Grant is a good man. I think about my choices, and the decision should be easy. I can stay here and have nothing or I can go with Grant where at least I’ll have a roof over my head, and I’ll have options. I know what I have to do. I just hope I don’t come to regret it. “Okay, I’ll marry you.”
CHAPTER 3
GRANT
SEVEN YEARS LATER
It’s time.
Hell, it’s past time.
I’ve put it off for too long, and I have to do something about it. I could go on another mission and be gone for months on end. The SEAL team would be happy if I did, and there’s a big part of me that hates leaving my brothers in arms. I’ve struggled with this, but once I finally made the decision, I was at peace with it. I went through all the proper channels. I talked to my superiors. I filled out the paperwork, I completed the separation counseling and have been cleared to leave with the suggestion I continue therapy for the nightmares that I’ve been having.
I know that since I’ve only been enlisted for twenty years, I’ll be leaving with only 50 percent of my salary. I know if I just put in another ten years, I’ll get the full 100 percent and more. But it’s not worth it to me.