Page 6 of The Soldier Next Door
He takes my hand off his arm and holds it for a second. The electricity that passes between us has me gasping, and my eyes flick to his. We stare at each other for a moment, our bodies calling to one another. I feel like I’m going to either melt or combust, the connection is so strong.
But the fantasy is cut short when he clears his throat and pats my hand, before gently letting it go.
“That’s really nice of you Susie. I appreciate it.”
I tilt my head to the side, puzzled. “No girlfriend or wife or anything?”
He shakes his head no, his expression shuttered.
“Nope, never been around someone long enough to get that serious,” he says with a wry smile.
I nod, understanding. “Interesting…”
“What’s interesting about it?” he asks, looking intently at me.
I shake my head. “Nothing, it’s just interesting that you don’t have someone steady. How old are you, may I ask?”
He grins.
“I’m too old for you.”
My cheeks blush because that’s the first verbal sign I’ve had that he’s thinking along the same lines at me.
“Come on, how old?” I wheedle with a coy smile.
He grins and finally states, “Thirty-five.”
“Thirty-five!” I say while pretending to wipe my forehead. “Whew! Well, I’m eighteen.”
“I told you I was too old,” Brady says, a bit grimly this time. “I’m almost double your age.”
I smile prettily.
“Almost, but not quite.”
He stares at me, taking in my flushed, curvy form, before shaking himself. Then he smiles easily. “What about you, Susie? Someone special in your life?”
I shake my head slowly, while putting on a pout.
“No. There are a few interested people but nothing serious.”
“Why not?” he asks lightly.
I look around, suddenly feeling like I’m under a microscope.
“I guess no one has ever caught my eye like that. I don’t know, I just never felt that special spark with someone, you know? And I want it to be special and not humdrum and boring.”
He laughs and shakes his head. Then, he looks at me sincerely.
“Oh, to be so young and full of hope.”
Cocking my head to the side, I pout, confused at his statement.
“Are you not full of hope? Do you not believe that there’s someone out there to give you that certain feeling that you just can’t explain? The proverbial butterflies in your stomach?”
He shakes his head, smirking. “Kid, after thirty-five years of life, you learn a few things that you don’t know at sixteen.”
Taken aback, I put more space between us, offended.
