“Yeah, it’s the first year we’re doing it,” I say. “Seems to be a hit so far.”
Thomas leads our table in saying grace, then we all dig in. Of course, my eyes roam the room for Bennett. I don’t see him.
A tall, big guy walks up to our table. “I’m looking for an Avery Malone,” he says.
“Who’s asking?” Thomas asks with an authoritative tone.
“Is she here?” the man asks, ignoring Thomas.
“I’m Avery. Can I help you?” I ask.
“I need you to come with me. My name is Quinn,” he says.
“She isn’t going anywhere with you.” Thomas stands from the table, no doubt sensing something is off.
The men look at each other like they are in the middle of a pissing contest. “Do I know you?” Thomas suddenly asks, furrowing his brows.
Halo looks at me and shrugs, like she has no clue what is going on with her husband.
“No,” Quinn snaps but then it’s like he gives Thomas another look and his gaze softens. “Wells? Is that you?” he asks.
“Holy shit. It’s been years,” Thomas says, and shakes the man’s hand.
“How have you been?” Quinn asks. I suddenly realize why he looks so familiar. I remember seeing him in Bennett’s room. They’re friends.
“Good, man, raising a family. Working as an EMT,” Thomas says. He was put on a medical discharge years ago.
“That’s great,” Quinn says, but then his gaze drops to me.
I stand and turn to my guests. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Sorry about my . . .” Thomas begins to apologize.
“That’s okay. I’m just going to check on someone,” I say. “Continue to eat. I’ll be back soon,” I say as I walk away from the table.
“Sorry about that, Avery,” Quinn says, as we head toward the cafeteria exit. “I’m Bennett’s friend. He, uh, wanted to see you,” he says. “I’m supposed to bring you to him.”
I follow Quinn to the elevator and up to the second floor, past a corridor and into a sheet closet. I cock a brow and say, “Seriously?”
“He’s waiting for you inside. It was the best location I could scout. Least amount of foot traffic this way. Lesser chance of getting caught.” He winks and opens the door. “See ya,” he says and walks away. SEALs—they really are a breed of their own.
My breath catches like it’s been sucked from my lungs. Bennett stands there dressed in a sweater that hugs his wide shoulders and shows off his strong arms. His jeans aren’t loose, but they aren’t fitted either. They showcase strong thighs and long legs. It’s a body I came to know well through therapy, but it’s different when a patient is in a hospital gown. Now . . . this . . . he . . . .his face is shaved; his hair is cut.
“Say something,” he says, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly.
I take a step into the very large closet that has shelves on each of the walls with folded sheets. Bennett steps around me to close the door then turns back to me. “I always wondered what you looked like under that wild beard and hair,” I say pensively.
He laughs. “Do you like what you see?” he asks, his throat bobbing.
I take a few steps to close the space between us. My palm reaches out to touch his face. “You’re so handsome,” I say. His cheekbones are more visible and pronounced. I touch his smooth skin. He has a cleft on his chin that adds to his ruggedly handsome look. His brown eyes look more of light chocolate mocha as he takes me in. My other palm touches his cheek and my heart picks up pace, beating at a prestissimo pace.
“You look so beautiful,” he says. I tuck a piece of my long blonde brushed out hair behind my ear and twirl. My printed chiffon dress sways above my knees while my cheeks flush with warmth. I knew I’d be seeing him tonight and I wanted to look good for him.
“I thought I would be seeing you from across the room,” I say, swallowing the excess of saliva building up in my mouth.
“I needed to see you closer. To touch you,” he says, rubbing my cheek with the back of his hand. His skin feels rough, like he’s worked with his hands. My body feels alert and alive. My gaze falls to his lips. Without the beard, I see how perfect and full they are. I’ve had such naughty thoughts in bed at night, wondering what those full lips could do. What his mouth could do to me.
He places his palm on my chest and looks into my eyes. “Breathe, Avery.”
“My heart is beating so fast,” I admit with a nervous laugh.
He places my palm on his chest, and I feel the strength of his heart as it beats ferociously against my hand. We look into each other’s eyes and Bennett dips his head slowly, moving closer to me. My lips ache for his touch and when he presses his warm lips against mine it feels so right. Electricity courses throughout my body, waking up every sense inside me that has lain dormant for more than a decade, or maybe even a lifetime, because nothing has ever felt like this.
My hands come up and my fingers move through his short hair. He deepens the kiss, our tongues moving in sync as wanton heat travels to my core. I moan into his mouth, feeling like my skin is burning, like an inferno is about to explode inside me and I have no control.
“Bennett,” I mutter his name as if it’s a question, a prayer, and my breathe all at once.
“I know,” he groans as he moves his body flush with mine. “I feel your hardened nipples against me. You are making me crazy. I want you so bad,” he says.
I slow the kiss, my entire body throbbing with need. “I haven’t . . . I mean . . . I . . . there’s been no one since my husband.”
His molten eyes round. “That’s fourteen years,” he says, sounding shocked.
“I know,” I say, feeling self-conscious. “There hasn’t been anyone I was interested in. I had been a stupid teenager and I was bent on not repeating my bad choices.” I pull my gaze away from him and look at the floor.
He takes my chin with his pointer and thumb and tilts my head back to him. “I’m not judging you. I’m crazy about you. I don’t want to be a bad choice,” he says, his cheeks flushing. Without the beard, I read the emotions on his face so easily.
“You could never be a bad choice,” I assure him. He’s been sweet, supportive and understanding. I bite my lip.
He exhales and it looks like he is deep in thought. “Thank you,” he presses a soft quick kiss on my lips.
I smile bashfully.
“I don’t want to get you fired,” he says, brushing his thumb against my cheek. “I just wanted to touch you and be close to you.”
“This was nice. Thank you,” I say.
We kiss briefly again, and sparks between us erupt consuming me.
“I better get you back downstairs,” he says breaking the kiss. “I could kiss you all night but. . .”
“You’re right. I don’t want trouble,” I say. “Shoot.” I touch my lips and I know they are swollen. I can only imagine how my face looks. “I’ll stop by the ladies’ room before heading back to the lunchroom.”
“I’ll head up to my room. I’ll pick up my phone, then I’ll head into the lunchroom. Quinn is having dinner probably all on his lonesome,” he says.
“He actually knows my friend Thomas somehow,” I say.
“Really? I guess that makes sense. You mentioned he was a SEAL, and we’re close in age,” he says.
“Yeah,” I say.
We kiss again, stand, and face each other. “I better get back. I’ve been an awful host. Thanks for doing this Bennett,” I say, running my hands over my dress to smoothen it out.
“Yes.” He smiles. “Talk soon, sweetheart,” he says, winks and slips out the door.
My heart flutters but I wait a couple moments to give him a head start. I head to the ladies’ room down the hall to freshen up, and then I head back down to the lunchroom.
“Um . . . hey there,” Halo says.
“Where have you been?” Jessy asks with an accusatory motherly tone.
“Is everything okay, Avery?” Jenny asks.
&nbs
p; Oh, dear. This is embarrassing.
“Everything is fine,” I say, taking my seat next to Jessy. I load up my plate with turkey and begin to stuff my face, figuring if I’m eating, no one can ask me any further questions.
Halo raises and lowers her brows as she gives Thomas a look. He stares back at her with a deer-in-the-headlights, frantic expression, like he doesn’t want to know.
As I’m stuffing my face, I look up and Jenny winks. I look off to the entrance of the lunchroom to see Bennett walking in, perfectly handsome and stealth. My heart skips a beat.
“Is that him, Mom?” Jessy asks.
I nod. Halo and Jenny catch on.
“Nice,” Jenny says.
“Guys, please. I’m at work,” I whisper.
Halo bursts into laughter.
“Looks like that secret is out,” I say jokingly but, I feel the burn in my cheeks.
Bennett takes a seat by his friend and his friend claps him on the back. It seems like all our close friends know what we were up to. I hope that no hospital employees have taken notice.
“Why don’t you and Jessy come back to Jenny’s aunt’s house for dessert?” Halo suggests.
“Yes, come. We can hang and talk,” Jenny insists.
I look at Jess, and she shrugs. “Sure. I’m good with that.”
“Okay, yeah, sure. I just need to see if the volunteers need any help before we take off,” I say.
I stand and walk over to the kitchen. The volunteers say they have everything under control. When I leave the kitchen, I see Thomas over at Bennett’s table, speaking with Quinn and Sutton. I don’t walk over even though I really want to. Thomas is smiling wide and nodding his head. Bennett is smiling too. Then Thomas shakes Sutton’s hand.
When Thomas walks back to the table, he just winks at me. I blush. What on earth did Bennett say about me? Or about us?
Chapter Twenty
Bennett
“How did it go?” Quinn asks. Sutton is sitting across from me, and I know he heard too.
“Perfectly,” I say.
“Glad to see things working out. She’s such a good person and hard worker; she deserves more than the life she has,” he says.
“I know. I want to give her that,” I say quietly. “I want to give her everything, but we can’t talk here.”
“I know.” Sutton nods and takes a mouthful of stuffing.
“When are you out of here?” Quinn asks.
“Probably by next week,” I say.
“That’s awesome,” Quinn says.
“I’m out of here tomorrow. It’s scary—not going to lie. I’m heading into a life I’m not used to, having to navigate a territory I don’t know,” Sutton says.
“It’s tough,” Quinn says. “Look, I know I wasn’t injured, but I did leave the navy. I’ve been working for Cole Security. It’s all ex-SEALs so it still feels like the navy. We take a lot of contracts the navy can’t dip their hands in. I thought it would suck but I love it.”
“It’s in Virginia Beach,” I remind him.
“Headquarters are in Virginia Beach, but I just had a contract here in Jersey. But yeah, I hear what you’re saying. If things work out between Ashton and I, I’m hoping she may be up for a move,” he says.
“I need to stay in Jersey. And let me remind you that I’m injured. I walk with a freaking cane. What would they want with me?” I ask, and then I feel like an insensitive prick. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” I say to Sutton, feeling like hitting myself in the head.
“It’s fine. I’m going to have to get used to it . . . I was thinking about going back to school and getting a degree, but your job with Cole sounds badass,” Sutton says.
“We need a lot of work done behind the scenes. We’re connected to satellites. We need to gather intelligence—the list goes on,” Quinn says.
“That’s what I was training for—before my accident,” Sutton says glancing at his inert legs. “Do you think they may want a guy in a wheelchair?” I can’t believe he’s considering this. He’s told me all about his plans for when he leaves.
“Seriously?” I ask him, cocking a brow.
“Yeah, I mean, it would be cool. I would do badass things . . . I’m kind of starting to freak out about leaving. It was easy to make all kinds of plans in this place. We’re separated from the rest of society here. We’re all veterans suffering from one thing or another. Heading out there is scary,” he says.
“Yeah, I mean I have some money saved up, but I don’t have a plan. How am I supposed to make a woman fall in love with me when I have nothing to offer?” I ask my two friends.
“She isn’t like that,” Sutton says quietly.
“I know that, but I need to know I can support a wife, a family. No way will I depend on anyone,” I say.
“To answer your question, yes, we would hire a guy in a wheelchair,” Quinn says pointedly, looking at Sutton. He turns his attention on me. “You know Cole is the right place for you too.”
“Maybe.” I shrug. It would be nice to do something important and get paid well.
“You could fly back here to visit or make arrangements,” Quinn adds. But the thought of leaving Avery sickens me. “Look, Jackson is out in California. His main office is in Virginia Beach. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. He’s busy with his family now because of the holiday, but I want to ask him to come out here and interview you. Talk to him; he’s a pretty fucking cool guy. You too, Sutton. Maybe you can come back in and meet with him. See what he can offer you.”
“That would be great,” Sutton says.
His anxiety about leaving rubs off on me. “Jackson isn’t going to come here to interview a bunch of wounded vets.”
“He scheduled to come out here early tomorrow morning. There’s a situation that has to be taken care of,” Quinn says.
“I was an asshole to him last time he was in town,” I remind him.
“You were a mess after getting hurt in an IED. You know he isn’t going to hold it against you,” he says. He’s right. From what I know about Jackson and the times we’ve met, he’s been a stand-up guy.
“Okay. Let’s do this,” I say to Quinn.
Sutton chimes in with a, “Yeah, let’s do this.”
“Good. I’ll set things up and let you know.” Quinn nods, taking a mouth full of turkey. “This stuff isn’t half bad,” he says. “That meatball sandwich was killer though, right?” he asks, looking to me and speaking with his mouthful.
“Yeah, man, that sandwich was the bomb,” I say, polishing off my own plate. My life might be in limbo but today I am grateful for what I have—a special woman and good friends who have my back. Hopefully, I don’t do anything to mess it up.
Chapter Twenty-One
Avery
The next day I come into work even though I’m not on the schedule because of the holiday weekend. Sutton is leaving and I have to say goodbye.
His sister is out in the hall, waiting while we talk. “I’m going to miss you,” I tell him.
“Me too. I was a mess when I first got here, and you showed me how to take care of myself. How to have a life while being in this chair,” he says and his lip quivers.
“Oh, Sutton,” I say.
“It’s going to be hard out there,” he says, taking a long breath.
“Yeah, it’s going to be hard, but you’re so strong and so exceptional. I don’t think there’s anything you can’t do,” I tell him.
“Thanks. I’m going to need all the confidence I can muster,” he says on a shaky breath.
“Don’t pay attention to the jerks. Just be you,” I say.
He laughs. “I had everything planned out when I was in here but now all my plans seem jumbled up in my mind.”
“It’s scary. There’s no point sugarcoating it. You’re also one of the strongest men I know. You’ve accomplished so much in so little time. Just take things one day at a time. It’s the best you can do,” I say.
“Thanks, Avery. For everything. I’m also
really glad that you and the SEAL seem to be getting along well,” he says.
“We shouldn’t talk about that here,” I whisper even though my heart kicks up a beat at the mention of Bennett.
“Relax there are no cameras in these rooms,” he says. “I’m happy for the two of you. It’s nice that you can lean on each other.”
“Things are still so undefined between us.”
“Yeah, but he’ll be out of here next week,” he reminds me.
“And he doesn’t have a plan. I know how scary it can be. Don’t forget, I’ve been working here for seven years. I’ve seen my share of wounded vets.”
“It’s really hard to get back out there. I mean, it’s hard when your body is in one piece but with an injury it’s even harder,” he says. “I don’t need to tell you that your patience will be required because you get this life.”
“I do but I’ve never really dealt with a wounded soldier on a personal level. My husband had been deployed once before his second deployment and he came back to us in a pretty good headspace. Well, actually, no, that’s not true. Liam was always in a kind of a bad headspace because of the way he grew up. He was closed up and didn’t show much affection. Then he died,” I say, a familiar numbness overtaking my body and soul. “I haven’t dealt with a wounded soldier. My good friend went through a very rough time with her husband and his PTSD.”
“I hear that. I mean, the good part about being in here is that we’ve had time with therapists and stuff. We’ve been able to talk and figure out the stuff in our head. Problem is, some stuff you can’t unsee or undo,” he says.
“I know, and that makes me so nervous. Everything has been relatively easy with Bennett I don’t know what road we face ahead,” I say.
“Whatever it is, I think you two have something worth fighting for,” Sutton says, and his words speak to my heart.
“We do,” I say. I give his hand a squeeze. “I’m going to miss you, my friend.”
“Me too, Avery. We’ll be in touch. I don’t want to leave my sister waiting too long,” he says.
Irresistible: A Salvation Society Novel Page 11
