Page 5 of Embattled Ever After

He’d always wanted kids, but that had been before he’d gone to war and seen so many young men being killed over there. When Melanie had shown up at Walter Reed after he’d been injured and he realized she was pregnant, for just the tiniest fraction of a second he had felt pure joy. Then he’d realized there had been no earthly way he could have put her in that condition and the disappointment had gutted him. Melanie had cheated on him with another man, but he felt strangely detached about the cheating itself. By that time he’d seen and learned a lot about being in a relationship while in the military.

Anyway, that had been many years ago. He was older and wiser now, and he wouldn’t be letting himself fall for a woman practically young enough to be his daughter and who wanted kids. God. He’d be an idiot to get involved with her. Melanie had taught him well to guard his heart.

He told himself that many, many times throughout the night, but he still found himself intrigued by Alex. She’d lived the life of a military brat, thanks to her father’s military career; like Duncan, he was a Marine. Duncan actually remembered the man and knew he had a spotless record.

But her father was not that much older than Duncan was himself.

Tipping up the beer bottle, he drained it, then set it aside. Another one plonked down in front of him almost immediately as Zeke walked by. Alex laughed at the startled expression on his face.

“I didn’t realize he was behind me,” Duncan groused.

This needed to be his last beer. He couldn’t afford to be impaired with her sitting across from him.

“I’m kind of surprised you didn’t have plans for Christmas,” he said carefully.

She shrugged and looked out over the group. “Well, you know how it is with the military. Dad’s in Afghanistan right now. He won’t be back for months. I sent him my Christmas package already. And I don’t have any other close family.”

Duncan frowned. “None?”

“Well, he had the unfortunate luck to marry a woman that only tolerates me and steps that don’t even remember my name. I try to see them as little as possible. I have aunts on my mother’s side, but we don’t see each other often. We’re kind of scattered to the four corners of the country. How about you?”

“I have family here in Denver, actually. I see my parents every few days. I have a couple of brothers as well.”

She nodded, flicking at the beer label. “I always wanted family, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen the way I wanted it to. As soon as Dad brought Lillian in, I knew we weren’t going to get along. I didn’t know it but Dad had dated her for years, just didn’t tell me or bring her into our home until I was at college. Lillian harbored a lot of resentment for that, I guess.”

Duncan shook his head. “Some people just don’t see what’s in front of them.”

Alex grinned and quirked her brow. “So, do you see what’s in front of you?”

“I do,” Duncan told her firmly. “I appreciate you coming out here like this. I enjoyed meeting you in Kansas City.”

She blinked. “I came out here because I would like to get to know you better.”

Duncan wasn’t surprised often, but he was then. And flattered. And confused. “I don’t think I’m the guy for you, Alex.”

There were endless books explaining the personal dynamics between men and women and he wished he had read one or six in his lifetime. Alex smiled broadly, her eyes shining, and turned back to watch the group. What the hell did that smile mean?

When Shannon came over to give him a hug, he held a hand out to Alex. “Shannon, this is Dr. Alex Hartfield.”

She grinned at him as if he were an idiot. “I know. We’ve met.”

Leaning back against the seat he looked at the two women and realized they’d already cooked up some plan. How long had Shannon been communicating with her?

Shannon rested a hand on his shoulder. “I told Chad about her and he called to invite her out.”

Oh.

Duncan tried not to be aggravated, but it was hard. Yes, Alex was a beautiful woman, but nothing could come of them being together. Shannon should know that.

But he also realized that Shannon was working through a haze of her own rosy tinted feelings. She had his best interests at heart.

Knowing that, he eased back in the seat and shook his head at her. “Remind me not to let you answer any more phones.”

Shannon scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

With a final smile at the two of them, she walked back to John, who immediately drew her down onto his lap and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Duncan looked away, his normally steady emotions in a whirl. There was no doubt that he was a little envious of what John and Shannon, Zeke and Ember and all the other guys had. And there was that tiny feeling of being left out, left behind.

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