Page 16 of Forever My Soldier

She smiled. “Want to tell me what you’re doinginmy house?”

“You let me in.”

Jenna shot me a look. “You know that’s not what I mean.”

“I told you yesterday, princess, I’m going to fight for you. And that kind of requires me seeing you to do that.”

She tilted her head. “You were serious about that?”

I cocked a brow. “I’m nothing if not a man of my word.”

Jenna sighed, touching the side of hair. “Look, that’s really sweet and all, but my life is crazy right now. I’m always busy.”

“We’ll have to change that.”

“You know, you can’t just pencil being fought for in on my calendar.”

When I didn’t say anything back, she looked past me to the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I really should be going. I’m late as it is. I have a full day, first a visit with my mother who is expecting me and then a client meeting for work.”

I crossed my arms and leaned against her counter. “Your mom’s still ordering you around?”

That made her expression soften, almost like a balloon deflating. “Please, she hasn’t changed one bit,” she admitted.

“I thought age mellows people.”

“Not my mother. She’s never changing.”

“What kind of client meeting?”

“You know I’m a lawyer, right?”

I nodded. “I’d heard.”

“That kind of client meeting. The kind where I have to close the deal and sign the client. It’s important for the firm.”

“But it’s not for a while?” I wagered the meeting with her mother was where most of her time would be spent today, but bit my tongue.

She adjusted the strap on her purse. “Not until this afternoon. Why?”

“I think it’s the perfect time for a little fun, then. If you have nothing on your calendar, then you can, right?”

She smirked. “Wrong. I just told you I had to meet my mother.”

I shrugged, spinning my keys on my finger, hoping she’d give in. “Skip it.”

“What? No. What didn’t you understand about my mother needing to see me?” She shook her head and began walking to the door. “Come on, you’re going to make me even more late and give her a coronary.”

I followed her out and closed the door behind us when a loud gasp escaped Jenna that had me whipping my head around.

“No way!” She pointed at my motorcycle while holding a hand over her mouth with her other hand. “Deke.” The way she said my name sounded the way a kids does on Christmas morning opening their presents. She continued, “There’s no way!”

“You said that already,” I teased.

She looked to the side of her now where I was standing, staring at her and then back at the motorcycle. “Is this the fun you had in mind?”

I nodded. “Although, you’re a busy woman, so,” I said, letting my words fall off.

Jenna rested a hand on my arm, her hand squeezing my leather jacket. “I feel like I’ve gone through a time warp or something. I haven’t seen this since we were eighteen.”

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