Page 27 of The Long Walk Back

‘One of your questions?’ she asked, brow raised. ‘Coming up to ten years. Ten years too long really. Neil and I were never exactly love’s young dream.’

‘Well, if he gives you or Jamie any grief, send him to me,’ he said, his voice low. Kate sensed the change in his voice and narrowed her eyes.

‘Why, do you think I need protecting?’ she challenged, licking a remnant of chocolate off her spoon.

Cooper cleared his throat before answering, and she couldn’t help but revel in how she affected him.

‘No, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t get the urge to look after you.’

Her eyes went wide at his words. Cooper even seem surprised at his own outburst momentarily, but his resolve hardened and he locked eyes with her once more. ‘I know we have our own stuff to deal with, but I’m pretty much done trying to stay mad at you, Kate.’

‘About time,’ she replied. ‘I don’t want to fight with you either.’

‘Oh, I like the fighting, Missy,’ he said, his lip curling up, flashing his pearly teeth. ‘I just want to explore the making up too. This place? There’s an event here for my unit, among others. Some charity thing I agreed to before… well they decided to dedicate an award to someone I knew. I want you to come with me, as my date.’ He hadn’t taken his eyes off her, and she sat, spoon in hand, mouth open in surprise.

‘I’m flattered,’ she said softly. She’d loved to see him with his men. Hightower had almost broken down the tent to get to him that day. They obviously loved and respected him. It would be good to see that. Good for him, too. Cooper pursed his lips, looking away, but she reached for his hand across the table. Taking his fingers in her own, she brought them to her lips, dropping a gentle kiss on his knuckles. Her cool breath made the hairs on his arm stand on end. ‘I would love to come with you.’

They smiled at each other then, and as she went to release his hand, he gripped it tightly. He motioned to the waiter with the other. He came over, casting a sly glance at his colleague as he sauntered across the room.

‘Just the bill please,’ Cooper commanded. ‘And another bottle to go.’

15

The centre was a ghost town when they arrived back home, bottle in hand. Kate could already feel the stress of the place settle again on her shoulders as she walked down the corridor towards her room. Cooper hadn’t said a word on the ride home, but he hadn’t let go of her hand until he had to. He had walked out of the cab himself into his chair, unsteady still on his prosthesis but he made the few steps unaided. She wanted to throw her arms around him to congratulate him, but she held herself back, sensing what a big step it was for him. He didn’t need to be mollycoddled, and she didn’t want to belittle him. She was fast realising what a strong man he was, inside and out. How gentle and loving he was beneath the muscled, coiled exterior of the hardened soldier he presented to the rest of the world. As they neared her room, Cooper’s chair giving the occasional squeak in the otherwise silent corridor, she could feel the nervousness between them return. Cooper had the bottle resting on his lap, and she wondered whether it was for someone, or just something to help him sleep.

‘This is me,’ she said when they reached her doorway. Cooper nodded, running his hand through his hair. ‘Will you?—’

She was just asking him what his plans for tomorrow were when she found herself yanked down till she was sat in his lap. He put his hand around her back to steady her and pulled her to him. Her legs dangled off one side, the wine stuffed down the seat edge. She gasped and turning to him, she could feel his breath on her cheek as he looked at her, their faces almost touching.

‘Forgive me if I don’t get up,’ he quipped. ‘I figured that you would have less chance to push me away when I did this.’ He closed the distance between them and touched his mouth to hers. His stubble tickled her face as his soft lips caressed hers, and she sighed into him. He used her open mouth as an invitation, flicking his tongue against hers before deepening the kiss. His hand pressed into her back, and Kate felt the heat through her dress. They kissed slowly, deeply. Kate reached her hands up to his face as she kissed him back. When she ran her fingers along his stubble, moving down to his neck, he let out a low rumble from the pit of his chest and his hand gripped her tighter. His other hand came around till he encircled her tight within them. He broke the kiss, breaking away just enough to look her in the eye.

She looked at him and smiled. ‘You are so beautiful,’ she breathed.

He kissed her again, laughing softly. ‘That should be my line,’ he replied, dropping little kisses along her jaw line. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensations, the feeling of his skin on hers. ‘You are stunning.’

She giggled nervously, unused to the attention. She stole a glance around them, relieved to see that there was no one around to witness them together. He sensed her unease, and pulled her further into his embrace.

‘Don’t worry, Missy, your virtue is intact. For tonight, anyway.’ He smiled ruefully, and she once again pulled his lips to hers. The kiss was tender this time, deep but light, full of meaning. It made her head spin.

‘We have to be careful,’ she agreed, pulling back reluctantly. ‘You are still my patient, and I need this job.’

‘I don’t know what’s going on with us, with anything, but I know now that this was always going to happen. I could feel it the first day we met.’ His facial expression changed like a kaleidoscope; from happy to pained.

‘I’m so sorry, being around me causes you pain, doesn’t it?’ She made to sit up, but his arm tightened around her body. He ran his index finger from the top of her hairline, down her cheek to her jaw, watching the skin he touched. Kate wondered whether he could see the line she felt. It was as though he was leaving an indelible mark on her.

‘It did, at first, but you know what they say,’ he grinned. ‘What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.’ She frowned at his bad joke, but he ran his fingers along her forehead. ‘I’m not going to lie and say I’m okay with being in this chair, but I’m here. No more frowning Kate, I meant what I said. You made me want to try. You actually make me get my arse out of bed on a morning, and that’s something I never thought would happen again.’

‘I—’

He shushed her. ‘No more talking about Iraq. Let’s just take this a day at a time. See what happens.’

‘I can do that,’ she told him.

‘Good,’ he winked. ‘That’s my girl.’

16

Kate pulled into the drive of their old home and pulled up the handbrake. It was another mild day, and the lawn looked good, considering the house had been abandoned by its owners. She suspected that Alf next door had something to do with that, and she made a mental note to take him a bottle of his favourite tipple as a thank you. After all, buyers wanted something nice to look at, not neglect and dead flowers. The ‘for sale’ sign stood proudly in the front garden. After ringing the agent this morning, she had been surprised to hear just how many people had been to view the house. The agent was confident an offer would soon come, and it had spurred Kate to take the full day off. Rip off the whole band aid. She was hoping that today would be the last day she would ever have to see this house, and she had come equipped. Getting out, she lugged the boxes and bags from the back seat up to the front door. Taking a deep breath, she put the key in the lock. Ghosts of the past, time to be exorcised.

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