Page 36 of Operation: Chosen

“Is something wrong with your meal?” His brows shot up.

“Nothing at all. I just find myself distracted.”

He slid his chair back. “I’m struggling with the same issue, and that’s a shame. Cooking was twice as hard as usual today.”

“Maybe we could get the distraction out of the way and then enjoy our supper?” She’d never been afraid to say what was on her mind, but being so open took more fortitude than usual.

Eric stood and held out his hand. She joined him, and his nose was just a few inches above hers. She could smell his aftershave lotion clinging to his skin. The laugh lines she’d fought the last ten years looked appealing on him. She wanted to kiss him and trace the ones next to his mouth with her thumbs.

He slid his right hand behind her neck and drew her forward. When his lips met hers, for a moment she couldn’t even remember her name. His kiss was like the rush of a roller coaster, and suddenly she was a kid again, wanting to ride over and over. All too quickly he ended it and leaned his forehead against hers. “I don’t think that’s going to help my distraction at all.”

* * *

With one kiss,the floodgate of memory opened wide. All the things Eric had been trying to forget came back in one powerful, clarifying instant. Good and bad. Ali was composed of both, but he’d loved every part of her. She was both the overachiever and the scared teen looking for a safe place to land.

He’d wanted to give her that place. He’d sensed without knowing the particulars that her home life wasn’t great. She’d never talked about it and had always hated going home in the evening. She’d stayed out as late as possible every night, holding on for seconds past when she should’ve been rushing in the door.

At first, he’d fooled himself into thinking she just wanted to spend those minutes with him. She had, but that wasn’t the root of what had been going on. She wouldn’t talk, and he’d never pushed. Caregiving was never a natural tendency for him, and she’d made it clear that the home part of her life was off-limits. Now she’d mentioned her uncle and how awful he’d been. If only he’d known that then. He might have tried harder to be the support she’d needed, even though that concept would’ve been very new to him.

For her, he’d have learned. But they had both been too young to ever think that far ahead.

They both settled in close to each other and ate, talking through the past even though they’d agreed not to look back. By stating that he didn’t hold it against her, it opened her up. And him, to be honest. He’d have to thank Dr. Willis next time he went into the clinic.

They finished, and Ali gathered the plates off the table and headed for his sink. He’d joked that it was about the size of a gallon of ice cream. Washing anything larger than an eight-ounce cup was a trial. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll manage,” he said.

She glanced over her shoulder and raised a brow. “And how are you going to do that without getting your cast wet? It’s like ten dishes. I can manage.” She rolled up her sleeves and went to work.

He sat on the sofa and let his head fall back against it. Today had been a test for him in more ways than just the dishes. Asking Terrell to take on so much when he wasn’t used to being asked to do any of it had been stressful on both of them. But, true to his promise, Terrell had come through in every way. He’d even learned how to muck out a stall or ten—and claimed he didn’t even mind it. If he’d been lying, Eric didn’t want to know.

Eric heard the dishes clinking together and then the sound of metal pans being washed. Ali would be done shortly, and then he wasn’t sure what to do. Kissing was supposed to come at the end of a date, but they’d never done anything according to order or a proper plan. But how did he finish the evening when the fireworks had come at the start?

He closed his eyes and dared to imagine what life would look like if she were here all the time, then shook the thought from his head. This should be a good day. He wasn’t going to ruin it with his own negative thinking. Ali was meant for the city, she’d said as much. She was a city girl through and through. She might be able to find work in Cheyenne, but even then she’d be an hour away. Cheyenne also wasn’t nearly as “city” as Ali was used to.

“What’s got you so pensive?” She lowered gently onto the sofa next to him.

“Things for future me to worry about. This-moment me is really glad you agreed to come over.” He tried to smile and get back enjoying his time with her. There might never be another like it.

“I’m glad I did too. I am sorry about your horse though. If I had only seen that bird a little quicker…”

He resisted touching her for mere seconds, then thought better of it and rested his hand on her leg. Her muscles tightened under his touch. “You did your best. I certainly couldn’t have been behind the wheel. Without you, I wouldn’t have known where to look for Skyfall. We don’t have much information, but it’s something.” And he tried not to think about how long the day had been without any word from the police or Dr. Willis.

“I should get back to my place and let you rest. Would it help if I went over to Junior’s and got Terrell?”

Eric didn’t want to bother the boy when he was probably comfortable at Juniors, plus Gabby loved to mother the boy. Eric could do everything he needed to with a little extra work. For some things, he would never ask for help. Getting dressed and using the bathroom with jeans had been a challenge, but he would overcome. He was too stubborn not to.

A text came through on his phone from Dr. Willis asking if he had survived.

He laughed as he quickly typed out that he might be sprouting a tail, but other than that he was fine. John sent a laughing emoji, then his phone went silent. “I think I’d be a very bad host if I didn’t walk you home. Especially with all the trouble we’ve been having lately. I know you can take care of yourself and you probably don’t need an injured cowboy traipsing after you, but would you allow me?”

She laughed as she stood. “I’d like that. But I didn’t see any trees between here and my place. I guess you’ll have to kiss me goodnight out in the open.” She headed for the door, unaware of what her words did to him.

His heart stuttered along, then raced like Secretariat. He hadn’t thought about women since she’d left. Finding a relationship was the last thing on a never-ending list of things to do, meaning it was never really there at all. What if he got the whole mess wrong again?

But what if he got it right?

He headed for the door and held it open for her. They both went out into the breezy night. The moon was full, and wispy clouds slid across the sky. He offered his good arm, and Ali took it. They walked side by side for a few feet, then she stopped and took a deep breath.

“Eric, tonight has been what I hoped for when I came to Wayside. All joking aside, thank you.”

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