Shooting For Love - A Standalone Novel (A Suspenseful Bad Boy Neighbor Romance Love Story) (Burbank Brothers, Book #2)

by Naomi Niles

  “You read my mind,” I smiled at him as I stroked my soft penguin and looked down at him.

  “It’s way too fun watching you discover the world. Wait until you have kids, Elsa. You’ll see what I see,” Aidan assured me as I frowned. I didn’t want to think about a life without him right now, and that was just too much to think about, but I allowed myself to think about the twins and imagined bringing them here to picture what he meant.

  We stopped for a quick sandwich before we were pulling into Colorado and finding Angela’s house on the edge of a cozy little town. While Melissa’s was peaceful and pleasant, this was smaller with a beautiful yard filled with flowers and trees and a lovely front porch. We parked, and Aidan took our bags from the trunk as I glanced sadly at my wilting flowers. “It was worth it to see the look on your face, Elsa.”

  We walked up the path to the door, and he rang the doorbell as I looked over the sunny yard. I knew that it would be getting dark soon, and I looked forward curiously as a pretty blonde opened the door. She looked at Aidan with a huge smile and then gave me a curious look, which was similar to Melissa’s reaction as I smiled. “I can’t believe that you’re here!” She pulled him into his arms and a part of me imagined them together as I watched quietly from the side. “I’m Angela Jones.” She offered me her hand, and I took it as I told her my name and she ushered us inside.

  There was a peace and comfort to this house, and I assumed that Angela hadn’t had kids since she seemed to live alone. Every room in the small cottage was a little paradise, and I imagined reading here or just looking into either yard since the back was prettier than the front. There was a deck with a modest cooker and chairs that overlooked flowers and a pretty pond, and I smiled as I told her how much I loved it.

  “It’s my little slice of Heaven,” Angela agreed as she stood beside me in a loose pink dress and bare feet. I didn’t know what I expected, but she was very content and easy going as she led us into the kitchen. She kept smiling at Aidan, and I could see that she loved him much like Melissa. Even though she seemed to live alone, I didn’t feel any threat. She had everything that she needed here and she was just interested in catching up with him.

  I wondered what it must have been like to see him broken and unhappy when she first met him. Had that been what made her fall in love with him? He was so outgoing here, and they laughed as he talked the way he had when I first met him. I sipped my wine from the pretty glass that she gave me and thought about how it wasn’t bubbly and sweet like the other drinks that I’d had but rather smooth and slightly sweet.

  She listened closely to him, and I could see what made her a good therapist even though she explained that she taught Sociology at Colorado State University which was a couple of towns away. She’d given up the other job a few years after she’d treated Aidan and I could see by the look that she shared with him that it had a lot to do with their loss. I merely nodded as I didn’t want to reveal that I knew about the baby and watched Aidan intently as he sipped a cold beer and asked her about teaching.

  Angela still loved helping people as she gushed about it and soon I found myself helping her prepare thick filets of salmon in the kitchen to grill outside. I had never eaten so much outside in my life. Aidan offered to cook, and I watched him hungrily as he started the fire in the coals and smiled in the sun. I knew that I was in trouble, and I noticed Angela smiling at me. “More wine?” I nodded and helped her inside with a fresh salad and more corn on the cob that she boiled in a pot of water with butter and milk. While her kitchen wasn’t big, I imagined it was more like one of the chef style ones that Melissa had mentioned with the fancy things inside, including a little island in the middle.

  She was very talkative, and we discussed the trip so far and what I’d seen. Angela laughed as I described our trip to the zoo and her head turned as she heard Aidan calling to us from the backyard. “He looks good, doesn’t he?” She asked as my heart dropped into my stomach and nodded. “That’s good to see.” She pulled a beautiful plate from the cupboard and carried it to him for the fish before she came in, and we plated the corn and brought it outside with the salad. Angela popped back in for some butter, salt and pepper before she sat across from us at the glass patio table. Aidan had already kissed me in the time that she was outside, and I was smiling. I was happy from the wine and just being with Aidan as I felt him rest his hand on my leg over the dress as we started to talk about Colorado.

  CHAPTER 28

  Aidan

  I could see that Elsa was getting tired after a few glasses of wine, and I stood as she explained that she was going to go to bed once we’d talked for a few hours. Angela graciously showed her to our room and got her settled before she came back outside with a sweater pulled over her broad shoulders and a jacket for me that I’d left on my bag. She suggested a fire, and I joined her by the fire pit in the lower half of the yard as we settled back with another beer. “She’s in love with you, Aidan.” Angela didn’t hold back as I stared at her over the flames. “What are your plans with Elsa?”

  “I am going back to Afghanistan, Ang. I don’t even know her that well, so why would you say that?” The look she gave me with her expressive blue eyes told me that she saw something else between us and I shook my head. “Look, Elsa is Amish.”

  “Really?” Angela asked, and I nodded.” How did that happen?

  “I was driving through her community and the car broke down. I ended up at her house and stayed there a few days until I could get it fixed up. It was different than anything I’d ever seen before; you know?” She nodded. “She was sweet and so naive in her ways, but I couldn’t help but to flirt with her.”

  “You always were a flirt even on your worst days,” Angela teased me gently as she smiled and I shrugged.

  “I loved the sound of her laugh. It gave me some hope after seeing so much wrong in my life. I was getting ready to leave, and she’d already told me about their tradition, rumspringa. It was when they got to leave their family and way of life for a time to see what they really wanted. She seemed too interested in seeing what else was out there, and she surprised me by telling me that she was leaving with me.” I remembered the expressions on her families face as I spoke and I shook my head. “She had parents and a brother, Ang. They couldn’t stop her, and they wouldn’t, but the way they looked at me killed me. I already knew from talking to her that this was what Elsa wanted, and I knew that she would be safe with me. I agreed and promised to take good care of her.” I looked into her face as she stared intently at me. “She’s like a kid sometimes. She sees the world in a way that I don’t think I ever have. Her first stop was to buy a pager…can you imagine? She didn’t even know modern technology. I got her a phone instead, and she’s learning it. Taking pictures, playing games and just loving it. She watched youtube shows on the ocean while we drove here. Elsa is like a sponge.” I looked at her to see that she wanted to say something.

  “Why are you going back? You could be with her since you’re clearly in love with her as well. What’s your reason, Aidan?” Angela shook her head as she ran a hand through her curls. “You’re an idiot, you know.” There was affection in her voice as she smiled at me and I looked silently at her. I wasn’t willing to tell her the truth, not even with our past. The truth was too final for either of us to deal with right now. “You can’t get enough of that life, can you?”

  “I suppose not. I’m used to it. This break is great, and I’m having a blast, but it’s time to go back to work soon.” I sounded very casual as I spoke on purpose so my voice wouldn’t shake. “How are you doing, Ang? I mean, how are you really doing?”

  “Well, I still think about the baby sometimes. I won’t lie. I just take it was what was meant to be, though who knows why? I dated some after that, a long while after that, but nothing stuck. Nothing seemed right, not even work.” She sipped her beer and shrugged. “I left the practice and went to school here to become a teacher, and here I am. I love my little house and my simple life,
though I might get a dog soon once I work out how many hours I am gone when I’m teaching.” She made it sound like a huge commitment, and I chuckled as I sipped from my bottle. “What?”

  “You’re telling me to stay here for Elsa and you’re hesitant about getting a dog?” I teased her as she smiled peacefully.

  “I am okay on my own, Aidan. At least right now. I always knew that you were the kind of man that enjoyed a woman in your life and now? I see it more than ever, more than when we were together. You’ve transitioned into something now, and you’re ready for love.” I shook my head as the last woman from my past flashed through my mind. “What is it?”

  “I’m already signed up to go back. I just wanted to show Elsa a good time and keep an eye on her. We both know that it’s an ugly world out there.” I shared a look with her. Not only had we suffered a heartbreaking loss, but she heard some terrible stories working as a therapist, examples of horrible examples of life. She kept it confidential, but I saw the pain in her eyes when she came home at night. I almost wasn’t surprised that she’d stepped back after we parted ways, even if it was amicable. “I couldn’t stand the idea of her enthusiasm getting stomped on when she saw it. I wanted her to see the good.” I knew that was why I didn’t tell her about my illness or impending death. I wanted everyone, particularly Elsa, to see me going off into the sunset to fight like the soldier that I used to be.

  It just seemed more honorable in my eyes.

  “Are you sure?” Her voice was gentle, and I nodded.

  “I had no plans on meeting anybody or even hooking up. I just wanted to make this trip and take the little time off that I had to recoup from this injury.” I had seen the way that Angela looked at my scars and her eyes looked me over again, under my jacket.

  “You’re okay, though?” She pressed me, and I nodded. “You can go back with that?”

  “Sure, of course. This is just scarring and a bit of discomfort.” I had been discreet about taking my pain pills and never complained about the pain that I suffered. Others had died, so I had nothing to say about it.

  “Mentally, are you sure? You seem so strong now and happy to me. You look like you’re enjoying life.” Her face showed her joy for me and I nodded.

  “I’m great, Ang. I am still alive and kicking, and I still have a lot to offer the Army.” I settled back and sipped my beer as the fire crackled. “Maybe after I’m out I’ll find a place like this and retire.”

  “It’s a good way,” Angela smiled as she curled her feet under her and shivered in the cooling air. “Want to go inside?”

  We cleaned up our bottles and tossed them into the recycle bin in the garage before she glanced at me. “Coffee?”

  I looked at the clock above the stove to see that it was approaching midnight, and I smiled. “Still a night owl?”

  “I create the best night.” She smiled as she started to brew a pot of coffee. She’d told us that she was writing on the side and that she’d published two fiction books over the last couple of years. I was proud of her.

  “I think I’ll head to bed. We might try to hit the road tomorrow morning unless you cook those crepes for us for breakfast,” I kidded her as I sent a wink her way. I was comfortable with Angela in a way that I hadn’t been with anyone else before meeting Elsa.

  “I’ll consider it for her sake,” Angela promised as I told her good night and went down the hall to where Elsa was sleeping. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and sat on the edge of the bed and stared at her as she rolled over slowly with a sigh and a smile on her face. Elsa looked happy, and I thought about the way that I’d brushed her off to Angela. I knew that she’d seen that, but she was too kind to give me too much of a hard time over it, knowing how stubborn that I could sometimes be.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw a text from Mitchell, another Army buddy. He was jumping on the bandwagon along with Dan since they were both going through the treatment and expecting good results. They gave me about a month before they’d get on me again and I could tell that my friends were getting angry at me this time. I didn’t have forever to put this off, and I sighed as I closed my eyes. My lie was wearing on me and stood and went to the window to stare out of the window before I noticed a French door that led to a small table and chairs outside. I unlocked it and sat outside in my jacket as I battled with myself and thought about what Angela had told me.

  I sat up for a while and decided I was too restless for sleep before I tiptoed back into the living room. I’d locked the door to keep Elsa safe and found the kitchen dark and the living room empty. I sat down and ran my hands through my hair as I reminded myself to get a haircut again and dropped back against the cushions. I wanted to be back there with Elsa so badly, but I knew what I was like when restless, and it was best for me to be out here where I wouldn’t inconvenience her. I only hoped that Angela was in her room and not out here to see me like this since she’d want to help.

  I didn’t want to subject her to this anymore. It wasn’t my place, and she was a good friend now, one that didn’t need to know everything as she once had.

  I needed to get through this alone.

  What I needed was Elsa.

  CHAPTER 29

  Elsa

  I woke up hours later alone and rolled over to see that the clock said that it was past two in the morning. A part of me ached with jealousy as I wondered where Aidan was but I pushed those thoughts aside and rose from the bed. I pulled on my dress after I changed out of my shorts and tank top that I’d bought to sleep in and pulled my dress back on.

  I saw the kitchen light on and wandered in to see Angela heating up a cup of coffee in the microwave. “Oh. I thought that you were Aidan.” I hated the disappointment in her voice but I was worried, and I ran a hand through her messy hair. “Do you know where he is?” A part of me worried that he’d left me here, and I bit my lip as Angela gave me a reassuring smile.

  “Oh, he’s okay. Aidan is on the couch in the living room. He does that when he’s restless,” Angela told me as she glanced at the coffee pot. “Would you like a cup?”

  “That would be great,” I told her as Angela pulled a large mug from the stained glass covered cub board and filled it up before she removed hers from the small over above the stove. She pushed a few buttons and pulled mine out a few seconds later if that. I had added generous amounts of cream and sugar before I looked at the stove. “What is that called?”

  “It’s a microwave. It’s for reheating food and drinks mostly, though some people use them almost entirely. They say that they’re not healthy, but I love the convenience of it.” Angela shrugged, and I noticed that she still had her dress on.

  “Have you gone to sleep yet?” I asked her as she giggled and shook her head. She was softer than Melissa, but I liked that about her. She seemed to know who she was, and I loved the feeling that her house had.

  “Nocturnal writer. I can do that when I’m not teaching, and I take full advantage of it.” Angela sat with me at the small area of her kitchen that offered two stools and a small eating area. “Did you like dinner?”

  “I loved it. I had never eaten that kind of food before,” I gushed even though I’d politely told her thank you earlier in the night. I sipped the coffee and smiled at the sweet taste. “This is different than I drank at the hotel.”

  “I like this creamer.” Angela pointed to the bottle, and I saw that it was called sweet cream and realized why it was overly sweet. “I’m sorry! Is it too much for you?”

  “No, it’s very good. I think I am getting addicted to coffee,” I admitted, and she laughed.

  “I have been for years.” Angela sipped her own coffee, and I looked into her soft face to see something pass through her blue eyes. “Have you discussed Aidan not returning to Afghanistan at all, Elsa?” She seemed hesitant to ask and even glanced towards the living room as she spoke.

  “No. I mean; I don’t think I have any place to. We haven’t known each other long.” Angela nodded.


  “He told me about your rumspringa. How are you enjoying it?” Angela seemed curious, and I smiled widely.

  “I love it. We bought a phone for me, and he took me to Gettysburg. I’ve lived so close to it for so long and never seen it before. It was so beautiful, Angela. We went to a fancy hotel for breakfast and had this fancy coffee and just walked around while he told me about the men that died there.” I looked at her. “He’s seen that himself, hasn’t he?”

  “Yes.” Angela kept her answer short, and I suspected that she would never reveal anything too deep about anybody that she loved. “The Army has been rough on him. He knows that I’m not a supporter of war and violence, but I’d never tell him what to do. It did break my heart a bit when he returned, though after we parted ways. I had hoped that he’d choose something else.” She shook her head and gave me an intent gaze. “I think that he would choose you over the Army, Elsa. If he didn’t, nothing would keep him here.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked her as she smiled and stared out of the window for a moment.

  “You’re so sweet, Elsa.” She said it with kindness and not maliciously, just like Melissa had. I squirmed a little bit because it reminded me how different I was than anyone else, which reminded me of the fact that Aidan could never consider me as a choice. “Aidan is in love with you. Don’t you see it?”

  “What?” My mouth dropped open, and I stared at her. “No, he’s not.”

  “He’s head over heels over you. I can see it in his eyes and his smile, Elsa. I was with him, and I’ve never seen him like this before.” Angela had smiled with a tinge of sadness before she gazed at me. “I tried to tell him the same thing, but he denied it as well.” She shook her head. “He’s a fool for returning there.”