A Soldier's Valentine

by Jenna Mindel

  “I didn’t get a good look at your place before I bought the building.” He looked around. “Your apartment is nicer than mine.”

  Her gaze narrowed as if trying to read between the lines of what he said.

  Great. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to kick you out. Just saying you made it nice.”

  “I’m the queen of thrift stores and yard sales.”

  She wasn’t afraid to use color. The walls were painted a sunny yellow and the tall windows had vibrant floral-patterned curtains instead of the plain wood blinds he used. Even the cupboards in her galley kitchen had been painted brick red.

  He spotted the glass heart he’d given her hanging in the window by yellow ribbon to secure it. “You hung it up.”

  She cocked her head to one side. “Did you think I’d smash it or something?”

  “I apologize for earlier. I just wanted to be clear.” He smiled then, hoping she understood.

  She shook her head without any sign of a grudge. “I see why you’re not a Valentine’s kind of guy.”

  He laughed at her comeback. “You have no idea.”

  It hit him then that he didn’t want to go to his parents’ party. He’d rather stay right here and curl up with Ginger on that plush couch against the far wall to watch a movie. His comment about tonight not being a date wasn’t really for her benefit but his own.

  A reminder that Ginger Carleton was off-limits. Or should be.

  “Ready?”

  “Almost.” She sat down and pulled on knee-high leather boots over a pair of fuzzy striped socks. Then she slipped into a down jacket, more fuzzy mittens and a scarf. Grabbing her purse, she looked up. “I’m ready.”

  He held the door open and followed down the stairs and outside. The snow fell harder now and the wind had kicked up, biting his nose with bitter cold.

  “Is your car good in the snow?” She eyed his Jeep Wrangler with doubt.

  “I have four-wheel drive, so yes. And the clearance is higher than your Beetle.”

  She nodded and climbed in, kicking snow from her feet before swinging them inside.

  He started the engine and brushed off the windows before slipping behind the wheel. Glancing at Ginger huddled in the seat next to him, looking cold, her couch beckoned even louder. “So, what’s going on in the morning? Church?”

  “What?” She had the look of sweet confusion, as if he’d interrupted a pleasant daydream. “Oh. I volunteer on the worship team at church, and tomorrow is my Sunday to sing. I have to get there early to practice.”

  He wasn’t the least bit surprised that Ginger was truly a woman of faith. Maybe having faith in common was what drew him. “Do you sing solo?”

  “No way!” Ginger chuckled. “I’m not that good, but I can carry a tune well enough I suppose, or they would have tossed me by now. There are a few of us who sing with a small band. Do you go to church?”

  “Yes.” He pulled out onto the road. “But I haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

  “Would you like to go with me? I mean, you know, check it out.” She looked surprised for inviting him.

  All things considered, he was, too. He couldn’t resist teasing her. “Are you asking me out?”

  She’s old enough.

  Her cheeks flushed. “Uh, no. You made that pretty clear.”

  Had he really hurt her feelings? If so, it was a small price to pay for keeping things safe between them. “I’m your landlord.”

  She gave him a cool stare. “Yeah, I know. Wait, don’t you go where your parents attend?”

  “I’m looking for something less traditional.” He’d gone only once since he came home, and the church he’d grown up attending didn’t fit anymore.

  She fumbled in her purse for a second or two. Then she whipped out a business card and placed it in his drink holder. “I go to Maple Springs Community Church and the service starts at nine. That’s the address and phone number. You can meet me there, since I’m going in early. It’s just a couple miles heading south, out of town.”

  He nodded. “You’re quite the promoter, aren’t you?”

  She shrugged but looked as if she braced for a slam.

  He hadn’t meant to sound so critical and was sorry for it. “I have a proposition for you.”

  She let loose a nervous-sounding giggle. “What’s that?”

  It might serve both their needs, for now. “You want to win that window contest, right?”

  She gave him a pointed look.

  He chuckled. “I don’t have time to do it, but I’ll give you free rein on both windows and pay for the materials if you’ll do one thing.”

  Now she looked nervous. “What’s that?”

  “Wait on my customers so I can blow glass.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “You get the prize no matter which window wins.” He had to concentrate on the road ahead of him, but he could feel her weighing the pros and cons as she considered his request. He clenched his jaw to keep from coaxing her to accept. If what Monica had said was true, she could probably use the money.

  “Okay, it’s a deal.” Ginger slipped off her mitten and held out her hand. “But we have to shake on it.”

  “What?”

  “Make it a true agreement between shop owners. Unless you’d rather put it in writing?”

  “We don’t need to go that far.” He grabbed her hand for a quick pump but didn’t let go right away. Her skin felt soft. And something about the way her slender hand fit within his own made him feel protective of her. “We good?”

  She pulled her hand away but wouldn’t look at him. “We’re good.”

  Hopefully, he’d get more work done. And with Miss Sunny-Smiles working his customers, hopefully he’d make more sales, too. Which meant hired help or an apprentice might not be far off. Down the road, he’d like to take over the whole building so he could accommodate bigger orders. That would mean even more help.

  He glanced at Ginger looking out her window. Snow fell fast, keeping his speed low. He’d give her plenty of notice to move her shop when the time came. Unless—would she consider working for him? She was great with his customers, but then she’d be even more off-limits.

  There might come a day when he wouldn’t renew her business part of the lease. But if he hired Ginger Carleton, he’d have to give up any notions of cuddling on her couch.

  Chapter Four

  “Ginger, what a nice surprise.” Helen Zelinsky’s smile grew wider. “And you came with Zach.”

  “His Jeep has better clearance than my car, and the snow’s really coming down out there.” Ginger handed over her snow-dampened coat as if proving her appearance with Zach was about the weather and convenience. Nothing more.

  She’d brushed off the snow as best she could on the front porch before coming inside. She’d helped Zach do the same and it had taken effort to keep her mitten-encased hands from lingering on his broad shoulders.

  What would Zach have done had she hugged him for his offer to pay for her window display? After their mutual and rather awkward agreement about not dating, it would have been a stitch to see the look on his face. Still, she had the better deal, as waiting on his customers in addition to hers would be a snap this time of year.

  “You know each other?” Zach gave his mom a kiss on the forehead. A soft show of respect.

  And Ginger’s heart twisted. In her family there was so little of that. They’d grown up learning to avoid conflict at all cost. As a result, respect and honesty were lost in an attempt to keep the peace. But there’d never been real peace at the Carletons’.

  “Ginger helps with the church blood drives every quarter. She makes sure the volunteers get fed lunch.”

  “You make them food?” He cocked one eyebrow.

  Ginger shook
her head. “No, no. I pick up and deliver is all.”

  “Don’t let her fool you. Each year, she organizes the downtown restaurants that donate, then picks up and delivers.”

  Ginger shrugged. “It’s good business recognition for the local eateries and keeps the volunteers happy to come back. Everyone wins.”

  “Uh-huh.” Zach had that scowl on his face again.

  Now what?

  “With this weather, I don’t expect a big turnout tonight.” Helen patted her son’s chest, but she spoke to Ginger. “And that’ll make Zach happy. You two go warm up by the fire. Dinner will be ready shortly.”

  Zach nodded but his face still looked grim.

  She leaned toward him. “Why so glum? Don’t you like parties?”

  “Not really.” He placed his hand against the middle of her back and steered her forward as more people came inside. His eyes softened into a look of tender concern. “You’re involved in everything, aren’t you?”

  That look floored her. Was he was worried about her? It felt nice. The warm pressure of his touch did, too. Maybe too nice. She turned, forcing his hand to drop away. “Not everything, but enough. So, a grand opening event is probably not on your to-do list.”

  “Uh, no.”

  She laughed. “I could organize it for you.”

  He gave her a mock look of horror. “I’m sure you could. You seem to have the whole town organized.”

  She laughed again. “Not quite, but I’m working on it.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted in that semismile of his. “Want something to drink?”

  “Sure.”

  “Hey, Ginger.” Zach’s sister Monica stood in front of them. “I didn’t get a chance to talk much this morning. So how’s business?”

  “Slow this time of year, you know, the usual.” Ginger noticed that Zach had paid particular attention to how she answered. She didn’t want her landlord worried about whether or not he’d get paid.

  “I’m setting up Zach’s website. Maybe we can chat about redoing your site, too, if you’re interested.”

  “Thanks, but I’ll stick with what I have for now.” Ginger knew the quality of Monica’s work. She maintained the chamber website. But Ginger couldn’t afford a new site.

  Not too many customers ordered from her online, besides. Those who did had first been in her store and signed up for her online newsletter. Tea and spices were sensory purchases. People liked to smell and taste before they bought. But with the contest win, with statewide exposure, all that could change.

  Monica gestured toward Zach. “I finally talked him into one.”

  “Keep it simple,” Zach grumbled.

  Monica rolled her eyes. “Welcome home, grumpy-bear.” Then she wiggled her eyebrows and whispered to Ginger, “Maybe you can soften him up.”

  Ginger felt her cheeks heat and glanced quickly at Zach.

  He had to have heard his sister’s comment and certainly looked like a bear roused from hibernation too soon. Needless to say, he wasn’t amused by his sister’s teasing. Or maybe the idea of her “softening him up.” “Come on, the kitchen is this way.”

  Monica gave them a wide grin and a finger-fluttering wave. “Toodles.”

  Maybe coming tonight wasn’t such a good idea. Both Monica and Helen believed she was Zach’s date; probably the rest of his family did, too. And she hadn’t even seen Annie yet. What if the person she came for stayed away because of the weather?

  It wasn’t far to the kitchen, but they ran into more family on the way, which meant more introductions.

  “This is Ginger Carleton. She runs the tea shop next to mine.” Zach nodded toward a blonder version of himself. “My brother Cam, and that’s Darren over there.”

  Ginger smiled. She’d met Darren before. “Hello.”

  “And my father, Andy Zelinsky.”

  “How are you, sir?” Ginger shook his father’s hand.

  “Good to see you again, Ginger. Glad you could make it.” He slapped Zach on the back and wandered away.

  After more meet and greets with cousins, aunts, uncles and family friends, they finally made it to the fridge. Zach filled her glass with iced tea and handed it over. “You know my parents pretty well.”

  Ginger shrugged. “Everyone knows your parents. They volunteer in town and then there’s the syrup.”

  “Ah, yes, the Zelinsky syrup.”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t like maple syrup.” He’d be worse than a bear if he didn’t.

  “I love it.”

  “But?” She sipped her iced tea and waited.

  “But nothing. Real maple syrup reminds me of home.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” she asked.

  He shrugged, but his eyes looked haunted.

  Ginger stared at the ice in her glass. Not a whole lot she could say to that quick kill of the conversation.

  More friends and relatives came into the kitchen, and they mauled Zach with praise and questions about his tours of duty. He answered with clipped sentences and brief descriptions. With a tight smile, Zach gripped a sturdy mug of coffee so hard, his knuckles had turned white.

  Puzzling. These people were his relatives, his friends, and yet Zach seemed uncomfortable around them. She knew bad things happened in war, but had something horrific happened to Zach? Was it something he could handle?

  Ginger’s gut tightened. Was it something she could handle? She already cared. Maybe too much. And that scared her, too.

  * * *

  “We won’t make it home tonight.” Zach peered out the dining room window at the blowing snow. The wind howled and whipped more snow from the rooftop in long whirling tails of white. He glanced at Ginger standing beside him, cradling a cup of hot tea. “You okay with that?”

  She looked outside and scrunched her nose. “Not much of a choice.”

  Being snowed in with Ginger had its advantages. Snuggling by the fire and maybe even roasting a few marshmallows came to mind, but not when most of his immediate family and a few cousins were stuck here, too. Didn’t matter. Getting too close to this perky redhead was a bad idea, plain and simple. “My mom is making up my old room for you and Annie and the baby.”

  “Where will you sleep?”

  “I claimed the couch.”

  “You okay with that?” Her eyes teased.

  “No choice.”

  She gave him a wry smile. “In this huge house?”

  He chuckled. “I’m not sleeping with my brothers.”

  Cam belched from the other room. And she laughed. “I see what you mean.”

  She didn’t, though. No one did, except for maybe his mom. He didn’t want to dream. And if he did, he’d be better off away from anyone who might hear. His mom had kept her promise and hadn’t said a word to his dad. Andy Zelinsky wouldn’t let something like that go if he knew, and Zach wasn’t in the mood to talk about it. Not yet. He’d talked enough with the counselor on base once he’d returned stateside, pink slip and all. It hadn’t done any good then, why would it now?

  “Ginger, I placed some pj’s, towels and a robe in your room.” His mom briefly rubbed his back. “And Zach, there are blankets and a pillow and your pj’s on the couch.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” He still had clothes here. And considering the added company staying over, no doubt his mom wanted him decent. She didn’t want him sleeping in his Skivvies.

  “Yes, thank you, Helen.” Ginger turned toward him after his mom left to check on the rest of the overnight guests. “Well, I guess I’ll turn in.”

  He slammed his hands in his pockets before he touched that bouncy ponytail of hers. “We can see about making it to church in the morning.”

  “I already texted the worship leader, so no worries.” She looked back up at him. “Good night.”r />
  “Good night.” He watched her walk away with the sway of that red tail swishing between her shoulders.

  She’d fit right in with his family. Of his six younger brothers and three sisters, only two were absent. His sister Cat and the youngest, Luke, who was away at college. The remaining siblings had kept Ginger busy, or maybe she’d been good at mingling. So much so, he’d barely spoken more than a few words to her throughout the evening.

  He’d been aware of her, though. All too aware.

  At dinner she had helped Annie and Matthew with the baby, holding that chunk of a kid so her friend could eat. After dessert, they’d stayed, hoping the weather might eventually clear, but it only grew worse. Ginger had played cribbage with his mom and two aunts. And then later still, she played pool in the basement with Cam and his sisters.

  He and Darren had taken on the winning team of Cam and their baby sister, Erin, while Monica and Ginger looked on. Ginger had even added cheers and jeers along with the rest of them. As if she belonged here. In many ways, she fit in better than he did.

  He entered the living room and threw another couple of logs on the fire.

  “Nice girl.” Cam sat in the recliner watching the local weather forecast on the eleven o’clock news. Blizzard warnings had been posted through the night until midmorning.

  “Yeah.” Zach changed into flannel pajama bottoms before slipping under a blanket he’d spread out on the couch. He adjusted the pillow, pulled the blanket over him and reached for a second cover.

  “Mom says your shops are connected.” Cam gave him a slanted grin.

  “By a glass slider.” At one time, it must have been one store.

  “That’s convenient.”

  “Yeah.” Most of his immediate family had stopped in to see his studio, but Cam hadn’t gotten around to it yet. “She’s great with customers.”

  “I’m sure she is.” Cam didn’t hide the amusement in his voice.

  “What’s your point?”

  “Point is that everyone loves your girlfriend.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.” Zach answered too sharp.

  “Right.” Cam got up and tossed him the remote. “Welcome home.”