Page 54 of Operation: Chosen

“I don’t know what to say. There are so many facets to my reasons for wanting to stay away from my job. Many that I don’t want to talk about, especially with you. I don’t need it rubbed in my face that life would’ve been better with you. I get it. I’m versed.” She sighed.

“Hey…” He slowly angled the truck off the road and parked at the end of the Wayside driveway. “I’m not going to come back at you and say, ‘I told you so.’ That’s just not helpful and it’s not who I am.Youcame back. That was all you, not me. I can’t claim anything in this situation. You’ve done all the work. I just don’t want you to lose your job thinking that I’ll disappear or change the moment you drive away. I won’t. I’ll still be here.”

Eric might not like it, but he would be there. He also wouldn’t admit to Connor that Connor was right. Eric had needed a second chance with Ali as much as any of the other guys. Eric had been certain he didn’t.

“I’ll think about it, but I make no promise that I’ll go. Facing what’s waiting for me would be scarier than facing you like you were on my first day here, like, times ten and for many days straight.”

Hearing worry from the strongest woman he’d ever met made him have to fight back an angry response. How dare anyone go after her? “I wish I could offer to go with you, but I don’t think that would help you or me.”

He couldn’t even picture what kind of house she must live in or what the inside looked like. He suspected that the moment she opened her car door in her own garage, then went into her own spacious home, she wouldn’t think twice about the aging cowboy from Wyoming.

“The fact that you even considered going is a testament to what kind of guy you are.” She furrowed her brow. “You know… I wonder if there isn’t something I can do. Even out here.”

He waited, wondering what Ali could possibly be thinking.

“I had to keep up with all of my health and fitness training, even as a JAG. I’ve always wanted to help people who were like me, people who needed help but had no one to turn to. Maybe I could become a private investigator and help people like you do. I was pretty good tonight.”

He had to hand it to her—she was. Even when he’d been momentarily distracted by her familiar body draped over his own, she’d only allowed the distraction for a moment before she went right back to work. If she hadn’t, they’d still be in that ditch enjoying kisses much longer than they should.

“I think you’d be good at it, but being a PI is a lot different from being a JAG. Are you sure that’s what you really want?” Eric asked.

Ali grinned, and she looked almost like the woman he’d loved so long ago. “It isn’t all I want. But it sure is a start and I’m pretty good at setting goal and then crushing them.”

He pulled the truck back onto the driveway and headed for the gate as the first rays of sunlight came over the horizon. “It’s going to be a long day.”

“It is, but now I think I know what I’m going to do with it.”

ChapterTwenty-One

After spending an entire evening and night in Ali’s company, Eric didn’t know how to leave her off at her front door. A kiss was welcome, but frankly strange after all their conversation. She felt closer to him than that.

While she hadn’t told him everything, she’d shared more than he’d thought he’d get from the woman who never looked back at her past. As she trudged alongside him toward the cabins, he wasn’t sure how to deal with that. Her thoughts were important, and he wanted her to know that.

“Thanks for coming with me,” he said.

Ali gave a rapid exhale that was too delicate to be a snort. “I didn’t give you much choice.”

“No, but I appreciate it. You were able to get close enough to get pictures that I couldn’t have.” He lifted his bum arm. “At least not without making a lot of noise.”

“They didn’t do any good anyway.” She sighed and glared at her cabin.

She really hated staying there, and he’d given her a hard time about it from the moment she’d arrived. “Something besides the size bothers you about the cabin, doesn’t it?” He tipped his forehead toward the little string of tidy homes.

She crossed her arms and slowed her steps, hedging and protecting. How could a lawyer be this easy to read? Unless she being real with him, not like a lawyer, comfortable, like a friend…

“It’s okay to talk about it. I’ve got no one to tell,” Eric said. And he wouldn’t anyway. Guys just didn’t share secrets and emotional things. At least, not very often.

“Remember the lake cabin?” Ali’s voice was so quiet he could hardly hear her.

“Vaguely. You went out there with your aunt and uncle during the summers, and it was too far for me to bike that first summer when you were fifteen.”

“Because you weren’t old enough to drive. I was so thankful you got your license and I didn’t have to be at that cabin all the time after that first year.”

His shoulders tensed, sending pain shooting down his arm, but he didn’t care. “I would’ve thought a lake cabin would be a nice getaway.”

“I wanted to get away.” Now her voice was little more than a whisper.

Eric waited, silent. It seemed like the right thing to do, and he had to listen to his spirit because his brain was no help at all in this situation.

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