AFTER SEVERAL HOURS and several slices of apple crumb pie à la mode, Aiden and his full stomach leaned back in the chair. He listened while Hazel and Ray Calhoun excitedly described how the senior center had contacted a new TV makeover show to try to put a better face on their small town and increase the tourism. Aiden couldn’t imagine why Hollywood would ever come this far south. It only mattered that the folks in this town and other small towns across America cared enough to try to make things better. These hard-working, generous-hearted people were the reason he, Billy, and Bobby had enlisted.
A dainty hand with clean, short nails settled over his shoulder. He looked up into the blue eyes he’d dreamed of on many a lonely night. A sudden jolt struck him in the center of his chest. Paige had always had a way of doing that to him. Even now when he knew the heart had been ripped out of him and he had nothing left to give.
“If y’all are done monopolizing the lieutenant’s time, I’d like to borrow him for a bit,” Paige said in a teasing drawl. “But only if that’s all right.”
“Oh pooh.” Gertie West wrinkled up her nose. “We were just getting to the good stuff.”
Aiden glanced out the front window where the sun hung low in the sky. As much as he’d like to, he couldn’t put off the conversation he and Paige needed to have any longer. It would be unfair to her and selfish of him.
He stood and pushed the chair back. “I really do need to get going.”
“You come back tomorrow, young man,” Ray Calhoun said. “We want to hear all about your adventures.”
Adventures.
Not exactly what he’d call them.
Wasn’t likely he’d discuss them either.
He gave the afternoon diners at the table a nod and turned toward Paige.
“Come with me.” She smiled wide enough to flash those pretty white teeth. “I have something I want to show you.”
“Your car or mine?”
She slipped her hand into his and tugged him toward the door. “How about for old time’s sake we take your truck?”
A sensual flood of memories he thought he’d buried long ago popped up fresh like a spring daisy. “Sun’s still shining.” He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. “I think the population of Sweet might take offense to you whipping off that T-shirt.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” She grinned. “Now come on. We’re wasting daylight.”
As she tugged him through the gravel parking lot, he watched the way her hips swayed. Nothing outrageously obvious. Just a smooth motion that belied the passion lit deep in her core. He’d almost forgotten all the little idiosyncrasies she possessed. Like the way she lifted her arms toward the moon when she was on top of him, giving him the best sex of his life. Or the way she’d snuggle right against his side and drape her smooth leg over his hips. Or even the way she’d reach for him in her sleep, then sigh when she found him.
He’d carried those memories with him through boot camp. Through extensive Ranger training. Through numerous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Then one day everything around him exploded. After that, he hadn’t allowed himself to think of the things that had made him happy. He didn’t deserve to be happy. Not when those closest to him—those he was supposed to protect—were no longer able to have happy thoughts.
Without hesitation, Paige climbed up into his truck and slid right to the middle where she’d always sat. When he moved onto the seat beside her, she grinned like someone had just handed her a present. His hand paused on the key in the ignition.
How the hell could he even consider breaking her heart?
He didn’t want to.
But it had to be done.