Page 39 of The Soldier's Homecoming

Penny looked over her shoulder at him, eyes twinkling his way. There was a softness there he hadn’t seen since the day of Gabby’s party.

“Me, too,” she replied.

And from the look on her face, the openness he saw there, he knew she meant it.

Daniel jumpedout of the driver’s side and moved quickly to open Penny’s door. If she was surprised, she didn’t show it, but she did manage to avoid taking his hand as she stepped out onto the sidewalk.

He watched as she tilted her head back to look at the front of the restaurant. It was an old building, rustic but pleasant, with a modest, solid timber door hiding stairs that led up to the restaurant. Wrought-iron placed over the windows was softened with pots of bright-colored flowers.

“Hasn’t changed a bit,” she said, sighing.

“That’s what I love about it,” he told her, locking the car and holding the heavy restaurant door open.

She paused before walking past him. “Have you been here lately?”

“You mean while you’ve been away?”

She nodded.

Hell, no. Never.

“I’d never come here without you, Penny. It’s always been our place.” Daniel couldn’t stop the huskiness in his tone. He’d never even considered coming here without her.

“I don’t even think I’ve been out for dinner since you left,” he told her, following her up the stairs. “To Mom’s place and through the drive-through with Gabby, but nowhere like this.”

The scent of Spanish food hit Daniel’s nostrils as they left the staircase behind and found themselves in the middle of the restaurant. Every table was full, the atmosphere happy and lively.

“It feels like so long.”

Daniel looked up at Penny’s words. It looked as if she had tears in her eyes, but he couldn’t be sure, didn’t want to ask her.

“It has been a long time, Pen. We left it way too long to come back here. To do a lot of things.”

Her eyes questioned him but she didn’t say anything. They’d been treading on eggshells since their argument the night before.

“Welcome!” A dark-haired waiter appeared with menus and pointed to the only empty table. A small candle blazed in the center, sending a flicker of light out across the tablecloth.

Daniel waited for Penny to be seated before sitting down himself. He smiled at her across the table and received a tight smile in return.

He knew he had to say something, do something, now before things became even more awkward and strained between them.

“Penny…”

“Daniel…”

They both laughed.

“You go,” she said, smile genuine now as it hit her eyes.

“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about last night.” He paused, ran a hand through his hair before leaning back in his chair. “I hate arguing and I’m so sorry if I upset you.”

She shook her head. Sadly.

“I’m sorry, too, Daniel. It’s just, well.” This time it was Penny who paused, who looked at her hands before raising her eyes to meet his. “I don’t want us to be like this, but I can’t help how I feel. I’m still so angry with you, but I do want to get past this.”

Hope flickered within him. He almost didn’t want to ask what she meant. Didn’t want her to elaborate.

But he didn’t want to be left hanging,hoping, either.

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