Page 25 of Bachelor Remedy

“My job in the Army was to follow orders. I was there to learn as much about modern emergency techniques as I could. The military is not exactly a flexible, open-to-change type of organization. Not when it comes to my cause, anyway.”

He grinned. “But a small hospital in Rankins, Alaska, is?”

“It’s a place to start.” She shrugged, not willing to talk about her plans or her grandfather’s. She just needed a little time to prove herself.

“A revolutionary.” He winked. “What do your parents think of your accomplishments and ambition?”

“Parent. One. My grandfather. And he is extremely proud. I am everything he hoped for. At least, that’s what he tells me. So far, anyway.” She couldn’t help but smile when she thought of him.

“How…did your parents die?”

“No. My mom dropped me off with her parents when I was only a few weeks old. My grandmother died when I was three. It’s been my grandpa and me ever since.”

“Where is she now, your mom? And what about your dad?”

Ally fidgeted with her silverware. “Last we heard, which was a few years ago, she was alive. She was—is—totally messed up. Ran away when she was fifteen, had me at sixteen. I’ve never met my father.” She grimaced. “I don’t even like calling them my mom and dad because my grandfather is both of those things to me.”

“Wow. I don’t know what to say… I can’t imagine what that would be like. I’ve been inundated with family my entire life. They kind of, uh, consume me. I’m so sorry.”

Ally forced a smile. She was used to this reaction, and while she appreciated it, she didn’t need it. She was fine. Mostly fine. Sure, a female opinion would have been, would be, helpful now and then. But her grandfather was more than a lot of children had in two parents and she was incredibly grateful for that.

“It’s fine. Families come in all shapes and sizes, right? So many kids out there have it way, way worse than me. Honestly, I’m very lucky.”

Tag nodded, and the way his eyes were searching hers made her feel…she wasn’t even sure beyond the fact that her skin was hot and her throat felt tight. The pity in his gaze was gone, replaced with what looked like admiration, maybe? She found herself hoping it was that.

CHAPTER SIX

“HOW LONG IS Iris staying?” Bering handed one end of a banner to Tag and backed away, unrolling it as he went.

“Not sure yet.” Tag fingered the thick textured paper that said Welcome Home & Congratulations, Iris! He climbed the stepladder next to the gazebo in Bering’s yard, pausing at the top while Bering scaled the ladder on the opposite side. He then tacked his end to the beam. “She’s job hunting right now. Why does this paper feel weird?”

“It’s some sort of super-biodegradable paper that Reagan made for a science project. The paint, too. He’s going to put the whole works in Emily’s compost pile after the party and then chart how long it takes to degrade and how it affects the surrounding…molecules or plant life or whatever. I don’t know. Emily and Aidan are helping him.”

Tag let out a chuckle. “Of course they are.” Aidan was Janie’s husband and Gareth and Reagan’s stepdad. He was also a scientist as well as Emily’s brother.

“What kind of job is Iris looking for?”

Ally had asked Iris the same question the day before. Those two had hit it off like long-lost pals. Tag and Ally had walked back to the airfield after the game where they’d talked for hours before Iris arrived. She’d taken one look at them and asked if Ally was his girlfriend, which prompted them to share the story about Rita and their pretend marriage. Thinking about yesterday’s trip filled him with a disconcerting mix of exhilaration and anxiety, much the way he felt when he piloted a new aircraft for the first time.

He’d nearly jumped out of the booth when Ally reached across the table and took his hand. The feel of her skin on his had been intense, the force of his attraction catching him off guard. It had also kept him up way too late the night before, leaving him a little irritable today. Eventually, he’d worked his brain around to accepting that it was perfectly normal to be attracted to a smart, funny, beautiful woman. Even one who was too young for him. He just needed to admire her and appreciate her from afar like one would a movie star or a model in a magazine.

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