Page 2 of Coming for His Second Chance
Now that he's closer, I can see his dark brown hair is just a bit longer than the military allows, which tells me, he's either no longer in, or he’s on leave. My eyes have to travel up to look into his deep green eyes, but then, he was always taller than me. The muscles and tattoos are new. This man is nothing like the nineteen-year-old Grayson I knew all those years ago.
"Right now, I'm heading in to have lunch with my dad." I nod towards the building. "But I'm in town for Dana's wedding."
If he's still in the area, he knows about Dana's wedding. The whole town is invited. Her parents are rich and sit on every board in the county, as they are huge in investing in the town and working with the military.
He nods, and his eyes rake over my body again from head to toe. I can feel his eyes on me, as if it was his hands on me, and I can’t stop the involuntary shiver.
"How's the boyfriend?" He asks.
"Long gone," I say.
I don't bother to add there have only been a few since him, but none have lasted, since I've been comparing them to him.
"Sorry to hear that," he says.
I smile this time. "No, you're not."
He smirks, and just like it did all those years ago, that sexy grin about does me in.
Grayson
How did she get even hotter? All those years ago, she was beautiful, but in an innocent girl next door kind of way. Now, she's still got the girl next door vibe, but more of an ‘I won't put up with your bullshit kind of way,’ and it's the sexiest thing I've ever seen.
In jeans and boots with a blue shirt and brown jacket, she does nothing to hide her gorgeous curves. I can't wait to run my hands through her wavy, blonde hair that flows over the chunky scarf she’s wearing.
Day one, and she's already calling me out on my crap apology. Damn right, I'm glad they aren't together. Not that it would have stopped me from trying to make her mine, anyway. It would have just been a roadblock. Boyfriend or not, I have two weeks, and I plan to give it my all.
She doesn't come home for holidays, and with a stepfamily like hers, I can't blame her. But I knew she was coming back intotown for Dana's wedding, and I was hoping to run into her. I also knew that she was having lunch with her dad at least once. Though, that's not the reason I've been having lunch here every day this week.
"You're right. I'm not sorry." I say to her. "You seeing anyone else?"
Let's just get this out of the way now, and make both our lives a little easier again, not that it will stop me.
"Nope. Are you?" She asks.
"Nope,” I echo. “Where are you staying?" I send up a silent prayer that it isn't with her dad and her horrible stepfamily. Since I found out about Linda's lies, I’ve avoided them, like the plague.
If she’s staying there, I’ll deal with it and suck it up to see her. There’s nothing that can keep me away this time. I won't live with the regret and what ifs of not taking my shot.
Those what ifs have been eating at me for seven years now, and it's time to silence them.
"I rented a cabin on the river."
Thank God.
She doesn't have to tell me that it's so she can have her own space, but I know that’s exactly why. If I had Linda and her stepmom as my family, I'd want my own place, too.
I let my eyes wander over her again. When I got home from that first deployment, and then found out she was in a relationship, I threw myself into my work. I took every deployment I could just to stay busy. If I was deployed, I couldn't cyber stalk her. Or worse, try to show up where she was just to run into her. Yeah, I considered that a few times, when I had leave.
Though, no matter how busy I was, she never left my mind for long. There was never anyone else long term. I tried dating to try and forget her, but I compared everyone to her, and that didn't seem fair to them. There have been a few hook-ups, but nothing that I can even remember, standing here in front of her now.
"Your dad said you're in Georgia now?" I ask.
We work at the same base. In fact, our buildings are next door to each other, so we see each other a few times a week. He's been my steady stream for my Kaitlyn fix.
Her dad is so proud of her, and the work she’s doing. To anyone who will listen, he’ll sing her praises. Of course, I’ll listen for as long as he’ll talk.
"Yeah, I work at Oakside Military Rehabilitation Home. I really love my job and working with the guys there," she says.
