Page 451 of Hell Hath No Fury
“What? Like that Burt Reynolds guy?” I chuckled.
“How would I know what Burt Reynolds’s chest looks like?” she asked innocently.
“Don’t play the good girl with me,” I replied. “We both know you’ve seen plenty of that guy. He takes his shirt off every chance he gets, and he showed a hell of a lot more in that magazine a few months back.”
“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know, I know. You’re as wholesome as they come. Well, I’m not sure you’re missing out on much.”
“What, Burt Reynolds isn’t your type?” Pearl teased.
“When I got back from Vietnam, everyone was talking about his latest movie. You know, the one where him and his buddies get roughed up by a bunch of hillbillies.”
Pearl shrugged.
“Anyway. I went to go see this movie because it was about guys in the wilderness, but I ended up walking out.”
“The movie wasn’t any good huh?”
“I dunno. I’m sure it was fine. I’m not really a film critic,” I replied.
“Then why’d you leave the theater?”
I rolled over to face her. The soft light from the lamp on the dresser created a halo effect around her blonde hair and I couldn’t stop myself from running my fingers through it. “I can’t tell if you’re really as innocent as you let on, or if this is all some sort of put on.”
“What?” Pearl asked, with what sounded like a tinge of hurt in her voice.
“You asked about my leg earlier, and about coming home,” I said.
“Yes?”
“Well, I’d like to talk to you about…well, about everything really. But I’m not sure you really want my dirty boots tracking mud and blood all throughout your sparkling clean house.”
“I told you my father is in law enforcement, didn’t I?” Pearl said sternly.
“A detail I’m trying to block out,” I replied.
“I’ve seen and heard some pretty awful things, Duke. You’re safe to share whatever you’d like with me.”
At that moment I could see that Pearl was both sweet and innocent, but tough as she needed to be. With every passing moment of discovery, I was falling deeper and deeper in love with this woman. She should have been barely more than a stranger and yet I felt as if I’d known her all my life.
“I left the movie early because at one point in the film, one of Burt’s buddies is tied up and some good ol’ boys have their way with him. They’re fixin’ to do the same with all of them, but guns are drawn, and… you can imagine the rest.”
“Sounds charming,” Pearl said. “But I’m surprised that type of movie would bother you so much. I’m sure you’ve seen much worse during war.” Pearl’s hand shot to her mouth. “I’m sorry, that sounded horrible. What you must have gone through while in the Army is none of my bus—”
I stopped her from apologizing further. “No, you’re right. Dead right, as a matter-of-fact. The reason I walked out is because I’d seen much worse during the war, I didn’t want to be reminded of it.”
“I’m sorry,” Pearl said softly.
“Don’t you ever apologize for something that someone else did. You hear me?” I leaned in and covered her mouth with mine, wrapping my arm around her and rolling her back onto my chest before continuing, “That movie brought back my most painful memories of Vietnam, and more importantly, reminded me why I’m back home when so many of my buddies are still there.”
“I heard you were wounded and awarded the Purple Heart.”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Your family is kind of a big deal in Georgia. Just because I’m not in Savannah, doesn’t mean I don’t get my fair share of local news, especially when it comes to war heroes.”
“I’m not a hero,” I said gruffly and felt Pearl’s body stiffen. “I’m sorry, I just don’t like it when people call me that is all.”
