Page 40 of Dreaming About Forever

She’d probably known before he told her. His prior job experience was front and center on his resume with “honorably discharged” right beside it.

What a fun way to say “Sorry, you’re not good enough anymore.”

Caroline turned around, keeping one arm wrapped around Jordan’s shoulders. “Oh, yeah. Following in Paw Paw Ken’s footsteps.” She laughed. “It was all Jordan ever talked about growing up.”

A flash of heat raced up his chest and neck. Talking about losing his career was almost as bad as talking about losing his leg and his friend.

Grief had many forms, and they all liked to torment him.

“Why aren’t you still a Marine?” Alicia asked.

Caroline held up a finger. “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

At least his sister had been paying attention. But the problem was that he wasn’t a Marine anymore. Marines were a rare breed. They didn’t quit, and lots of them set out for a lifetime sentence. Only, retiring from the Marine Corps was an honor, not a punishment.

“Oh,” Alicia said, tilting her head to the side. “What happened?”

“I think that’s enough talk about me,” Jordan said as he unwrapped Caroline’s arm from his neck. “Let me walk you out.”

“I remember the way to my car. It’s parked three feet from the front porch,” Caroline said.

Jordan nudged her with his shoulder and whispered, “Humor me.”

Realizing that he wanted to talk to her, his sister pasted on a smile and waved to their mom and Alicia. “Tell Dad I said good night.”

Once they were outside, Caroline rounded on him. “You haven’t told her, have you?”

“It’s none of her business. My job is to protect her, and she’ll think I can’t do that if you go into detail about my bloody dismemberment.”

Caroline winced. “It wasn’t like that, Jordan.”

The back of his neck tingled with heat, despite the cold winter air. “Itwaslike that, and I’d love not to relive it.”

Caroline threw herself against him, plastering her face to his chest. “I’m so sorry. I hate that it happened. I hate that you lost your friend. I hate that you lost your job.”

Jordan rested his hands on her back. He hadn’t lost those things. They weren't missing. His friend was dead, and the Marine Corps were right where they’d always been. He just wasn’t one of them anymore.

“I’m sure her manager knows about it, but if Alicia doesn’t know, I’d rather not bring it up.”

Caroline raised her head and wiped her cheeks. “I think she likes you,” she whispered.

A piercing ache hit him in the chest. “She doesn’t, and please don’t meddle.”

“Come on, Jor–”

“Please. We’re completely different. She’s in a different city every day, and I have a job that basically does the same to me. Plus, there’s a strict policy about relationships between agents and clients at Field. Just mentioning something like that could cost me my job.”

Caroline’s shoulders sank. “I want you to find someone and be happy.”

“Sorry, but I don’t think a woman can fix me.”

Caroline’s hand rested on his arm. “You don’t need fixing, but you need someone who can convince you that you’re still lovable. You’re one of the best guys I know, with or without two full legs. I mean, you’re better than lots of guys with two legs and a trust fund. I just want you to wake up and realize that.”

Every other word hit too close to home, but Caroline would let her crazy matchmaking idea run wild if he let her have an inch in this fight. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Get in the car. It’s freezing out here.”

“I think you like her too,” Caroline whispered.

Jordan cleared his throat. “Please, get in the car.”

---