Page 17 of An Adventure For Aster

For some reason he wanted Raine to know some of it and he didn’t know why that was.

“I was home on leave,” he said. “I went to the grocery store and stopped an attempted abduction of a teenage girl. She got away, I got shot in the chest.”

He turned his head when he parked his truck in the parking lot of the pub. There were tears in her eyes and it was the last thing he wanted.

“That’s both heroic and horrible at the same time.”

“I want to say I did what anyone would do, but I know that isn’t the case,” he said. Which was why the girl’s father gave him two million dollars for saving his only daughter’s life.

He hadn’t wanted to take it, but he’d later found out it was the owners of the oil company his father worked for. Two million to them was like two hundred to him.

Just one more thing he had to get away from once his parents found out the money he was given.

They enjoyed it when he came home and did things, but living there, they weren’t leaving him alone.

Not his parents. Not people who recognized him either.

He didn’t want to be a hero or be labeled as one. He did what he thought was right and wanted to move on.

Doing what was right changed his life in so many ways. Some good, some bad. Some just different.

He needed the time to adapt to a lot.

Carrington’s father was grateful his daughter was saved and felt guilty that Aster’s military career was ruined.

They gave him enough to get a clean start. He didn’t want any of it, but they weren’t taking no for an answer.

He’d be crazy to not touch it when it was sitting in the bank in his name. They’d gotten his name and social security number and everything else they needed from his father.

“My brothers would have done that,” she said. “All my coworkers, their spouses would too. Not just those who served at one point or worked in law enforcement now, but all of them would do what was right. Just like you did. Talk about a true hero.”

“Which is why I left,” he said. “There was nothing there for me anymore. There never was. Just my sister. When Zane found out, he reached out and asked about my plans. Then offered me a dream job that I’d be crazy to turn down.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” she said. “Now you can start over and learn to live your life. Take some adventures.”

“I’ve lived,” he said, frowning. He wasn’t sure why she said that.

“You survived,” she said. “There’s a difference.”

6

MORE THAN ENOUGH WEALTH

Raine was trying to hold back the sympathy she was feeling when Aster told her what brought him to her area.

“I guess so,” he said. “I don’t see the difference though.”

“You survived the life you’ve been living. I’m going to go out on a limb and say more than just being in the service.”

He was quiet for a bit while they got inside the pub and were seated. “I’ve told you more than I normally tell anyone. I’m trying to process that. It’s more than you being easy to talk to.”

That made her smile. “Thank you,” she said. “I want to say it’s a gift and I’m not bragging.”

“I don’t know if you know how to brag,” he said, angling his head.

They placed their drink orders. She got a wine and him a beer, then looked over the menus that were placed down in front of them.

“If I have something to brag about, I will,” she said. “I don’t know if I have before. This is a small area. Did Ivy say anything about me or my family?”

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