Home Field

by Laurie Winter

  “I hate to break it to you, but you’re my go-to gal. I knew I could count on you to take good care of me. And here I am, sitting in your kitchen eating this delicious breakfast.” He took another large bite. Cleaning off his plate, he leaned back with a satisfied groan. “Now, I have a question for you.” He pointed at Julie. “How did I get undressed last night?”

  Her cheeks warmed under the heat of his gaze. So, he was going…there. “Don’t you remember?”

  “Well.” He cleared his throat. “I remember getting to your house and walking up the stairs, but that’s all. The next thing I know I’m waking up in a strange bed in nothing but my skivvies.”

  A devilish smile played on his lips and mischievous humor lit his eyes.

  Mary laughed and set another three strips of bacon on his plate.

  “Ummm.” Julie stammered. “You were being absolutely no help last night. And I didn’t want you to sleep in your clothes. I was only helping make you comfortable.”

  Reagan’s lips twitched with a smile, and he bent over to whisper. “Did you take advantage of me?”

  Mary, standing over by the sink, chuckled.

  Julie put her head in her hands, attempting not to laugh. Finally, she glanced over. “You’re incorrigible! I’m not that kind of girl.” Her voice dripped with fake offense. Although last night, the thought of taking advantage of him had crossed her mind.

  “Well, that’s too bad.” He popped a piece of bacon in his grinning mouth.

  Julie’s face burned with a deep blush. “I see you managed to get yourself dressed this morning.” She pressed her lips together to suppress more laughter. “And you have your sense of humor back. You’ll be good as new in no time.”

  “I hope so. As much as I enjoy this pampering, I want to get back to playing football ASAP.”

  She stood and shuffled to the coffee maker for a refill. “I heard the Warriors won by three points yesterday. The game and your injury were all the other parents at school were talking about. I couldn’t take two steps without someone asking me how you are.”

  Mary washed and dried the last of the dishes. “My shift starts soon.” She grabbed her coat. “You two have a good day.”

  “Bye, thanks for breakfast,” they both said in unison.

  Once Mary left, they sat in silence, drinking their coffee.

  Julie’s mind drifted to her son, and how Reagan’s unexplained absence had confused Aiden. Ever since Reagan came into their lives, she feared seeing more hurt in her son’s eyes. When John left to go on deployment, one of the worst parts was explaining to Aiden why his dad was no longer with them.

  Finally, she steeled her nerves and asked the question that had weighed on her for the last two weeks. “I haven’t seen you since Aiden’s party, and I got the feeling you’ve been avoiding me. Aiden’s been asking about you, and I, uh…did I do something wrong?”

  His brows rose over wide, blue eyes. “Absolutely not. Please don’t think that. I’m sorry if I haven’t been a good friend lately. I’ve been dealing with a few issues that have kept me elsewhere.”

  She could see the conflict in his eyes and wondered how much of the truth he was hiding. For the past two weeks, she’d lived with the same insecurity as she’d experienced when John had left her to go to war. With both John and Reagan, she’d watched a man she cared for walk away, not knowing if he’d ever return. “I hope it’s not serious.”

  “Nothing a little deer hunting couldn’t handle.” He leaned his body toward her.

  “Good. I’m glad we’re still okay.” She stood and grabbed their empty plates and coffee mugs, and then she rinsed them off. Mundane work to keep her from going over and curling up in his lap. “Aiden really missed you. I hated to see him upset. I’m worried you might hurt him.”

  Reagan followed, carrying the syrup bottle to return to the fridge. “I’m sorry, Julie. I acted like a self-centered jerk. The last thing I’d ever what to do is hurt Aiden. You’ve been kind enough to let me be a part of your life. I don’t want to do anything to screw that up.”

  She wanted to believe him, without reservation. He did seem sincere. “I could’ve tried harder to get a hold of you, and I didn’t. It’s not all your fault.”

  Reagan closed the refrigerator door. “Yes, it is totally my fault. You have every right to be upset, so thanks for giving me another chance.” He glanced over at a stack of mail that was tied together with a yellow ribbon then picked up the stone bird sitting on top. “Where did you get this?” He balanced the bird on his large palm.

  As she tried to answer, her voice caught in her throat. She pushed down the sorrow that threatened to rise. “John gave me the bird as a gift when he returned for the first time from Afghanistan. He was good at developing relationships with many of the locals, and they loved to trade with him. This little gem he got for a can of soda.”

  “It’s beautiful.” He placed the stone back on the pile of letters. “I forget you’d rather not talk about certain things with me.”

  “I find it hard to talk about a lot of things, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to share them with you. I’m glad I can.” She went to stand next to him, and her heart melted at his concern. With most people, she kept her personal grief private. Reagan was one of the few she could talk to freely about John. He truly listened, and that was a rare thing.

  He faced away, gazing out the window. “Will it ever get better?”

  Julie wiped a tear from her eye. “Every day, the sun shines a bit brighter, music sounds more joyful, and happiness begins to overpower sadness. I hope at some point, I’ll be free to fully experience life again. That I’ll live entirely in the light.” They were standing so close together, and her gaze drifted to his mouth. Something awoken inside—burning desire pulsed through her veins. She forced herself to look into his eyes.

  “I promise to be here for you, whenever you need me.” Reagan held her gaze. Reaching out, he brushed a loose strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear. The action caused him to lose his balance.

  Julie grasped his arm to steady him. “Let’s get you to the sofa. You look ready to pass out.” Step by cautious step, she led him into the family room. “Come on, lie down, and I’ll get you a blanket.” When she returned downstairs, she found him with his eyes closed and breathing deeply. She gently covered him and whispered, “Rest awhile, my guardian dragon.”

  He stirred in his sleep and grabbed her hand that held the blanket. His soft kiss brushed the top of her hand. A moment later, he drifted off again.

  Julie spent the hours he slept going through paperwork and paying bills. Even after a year and a half, the Army still sent her forms regarding her survivor benefits. A lawyer had helped her during the initial process after John’s death, but now she was navigating the web of bureaucracy by herself. Money was always tight, just like when John had been alive. Some days, she struggled to make all those loose ends meet.

  While sitting at the table, she grew tired, so she went to curl up in John’s recliner. She threw a blanket over herself and watched Reagan as he slept. He’d come to her when he needed help, and the thought soothed her insecurity. She watched him, lying on her sofa, and her body warmed with the connection they shared.

  His injury had revealed how much she cared. And at the moment, she couldn’t imagine her life without him. Her mind drifted until her eyes became languid with fatigue, finally she lulled into a peaceful sleep. She’d been dreaming of Reagan when his stirring roused her from sleep. Opening her eyes, she saw him sitting on the sofa. “Hey, feeling any better?” she asked with a yawn.

  “Yeah. You look like you were just as tired as me. Do you mind if I go take a shower?”

  “I put out a fresh towel and washcloth in the bathroom. Let me know if you need anything else.”

  Listening with care as he made his way upstairs, Julie followed the sounds of Reagan’s footsteps and the creaking of floor boards. Soon, the sound of running water drifted downstairs, along with a stream of curse
words. Julie grimaced. His shoulder must still be very painful.

  A short time later, Reagan came into the room wearing a clean shirt, jeans, and damp hair.

  The man was more attractive than anyone had a right to be.

  Standing uncomfortably on the other side of the family room, Julie was unsure of how to voice all the emotions stirring just under the surface. She took a step forward, but then hesitated. Her heart pounded so hard she was afraid it would burst.

  She had to release the pressure off her chest. “Reagan, you already know this past year has been very difficult, that I’ve had a hard time moving on. I’ve shut myself off to almost everyone, until I met you.” She pushed out the words, the release causing courage to seep in and fill the cracks of her former insecurity.

  He remained as still as a mountain. Not even a muscle in his face so much as twitched, to give her an indication of what he was feeling.

  Julie took another step in his direction, not caring anymore if she sounded silly. “You’ve been the breath of fresh air I’ve needed to move me out of the past. Missing you these past two weeks has made me realize how much I need you.” She missed their long talks over dinner. How he would call her after a hard practice, and they’d be on the phone well into the night. And she missed the times when she couldn’t find the right words, but he just seemed to understand. “You’re a good friend, but I want more.”

  “Oh, Julie.” He reached her in three long strides. “Do you know how hard being around you was when all I’ve wanted is to hold you?” He cradled her face in his large, rough hands. “And kiss you until we both go crazy.”

  Looking into his eyes, she wanted him with every fiber of her being.

  When his lips touched hers, she opened like a flower to the warmth of the sun. His kiss was a tender expression of the pent-up passions that were finally being allowed their freedom. Julie raised her hand and placed it around his neck. Her other hand lay on his chest, feeling muscle ripple under his shirt. His lips moved on hers in an unhurried, rhythmic pattern and a strong arm wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly.

  When their lips parted, he continued to hold her close, the palm of his hand resting on her lower back. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first night I met you at the country club. You make it really hard on a man to keep his self-control,” he whispered in her ear. “But, I figured you couldn’t resist my charm forever.”

  She laid her head on his chest, careful to avoid his injured shoulder, and heard the steady beat of his heart. “We’ll need to take this slow, for both our sakes.”

  “I want to date you, Julie Ellis.” He ran kisses along the bare skin of her shoulder. “I want the world to know you’re my girlfriend.”

  She sighed with contentment. “I don’t want the world’s attention. Only yours.”

  The warmth of his breath glided over her skin, from her earlobe to the base of her neck. Her body shivered at the sensation. “We have a couple hours before I need to get Aiden from school.” She stepped back and tipped her chin to look at him. “What would you like to do?”

  He answered the question with a roguish smile before descending on her mouth.

  She retreated again, in order to catch her breath. Placing her hand on his chest, she felt the rapid beat of his heart. “Slow…remember? How about a movie? I have a wide selection of chick flicks.”

  Reagan sighed. “I’ve successfully avoided chick flicks, up until now, but looks like that streak is coming to an end.”

  ****

  They lay wrapped around each other on the sofa, watching Pride and Prejudice, which Reagan learned was Julie’s favorite movie. Being here felt so right, having Julie close beside him, like everything in the world was as it should be. He’d gotten too comfortable, while trying to make sense of Mr. Darcy’s snobbery and Elizabeth Bennet’s obvious detest of the man, and fell asleep about halfway through the movie. He awoke to see Elizabeth and Darcy were now married, both looking happily in love. The credits rolled across the screen.

  Julie quietly eased herself off the sofa. “You missed a great movie. Lizzy got her Mr. Darcy.” She sighed. “I need to get Aiden from school. Will you be okay if I leave you alone for half an hour?”

  “Sure, I’ll be fine. My head’s finally stopped pounding. I think your kiss was magic, better than any medicine.”

  “Happy to be of service.” She leaned down to softly kiss his grinning lips. “Do you need me to get you anything before I leave?”

  “Nope, I’m good.” He started to stand and became lightheaded. The room spun like a carousel around him. Swaying, he reached out to Julie for support.

  “Whoa there.” She put an arm around his waist and helped him onto the sofa. “Just stay put until I get home. Doctor’s orders.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He loved when she got bossy. He hadn’t meant to be untruthful, but he had no intention of lying around on the sofa while Julie was gone. Reagan only had thirty minutes to complete his mission. Slowly and carefully, he stood and made his way to the staircase. As he entered her bedroom, he noticed personal, feminine touches, along with the sensual smell of roses. The walls were painted a pale, pink. On her dresser, fresh flowers sat in a vase next to a row of glass perfume bottles.

  He walked over to her nightstand, picked up the book she’d been reading, and grinned. The cover showed a muscular man embracing a woman. Both appeared to have lost half their clothing. He remembered finding books similar to this around his house growing up, belonging to his mom and sisters. Looked like his innocent Julie enjoyed reading steamy romance.

  Inside her closet, he found the information he’d come for. After jotting down a few notes, he went downstairs to wait for Julie and Aiden to get home.

  As he walked to the sofa, Reagan noticed several photo albums sitting on a white bookcase. Picking one, he paged through the record of Julie’s life—high school friends, a formal-looking Julie and John dressed for prom, pictures of college fun. He paged ahead and saw several wedding pictures. Julie looked beautiful in a simple white dress, wearing a carefree smile. John stood straight and tall next to her in his Army dress uniform. They looked young, happy, and in love. A few pages later, he saw photos of a glowing pregnant Julie. In the next picture, she was holding a small bundle wrapped in a blue blanket. Aiden’s first few years were documented with care, Julie probably not wanting her absent husband to miss any of his important milestones.

  In these pictures, she had a sparkle in her eye, and her smile was cheerful and untroubled. The woman Reagan met had lost some of that light and love of life. He was struck by the stark contrast in Julie, from before John’s death to now. Rebuilding her spirit became his responsibility. He wanted to provide her with new memories.

  He returned the albums to the shelf just as Julie and Aiden pulled into the driveway. By the time they came inside, Reagan had settled back on the sofa.

  Aiden threw his backpack on the floor and came darting straight over to the sofa. “Mom said you’re staying with us because you’re hurt.” Aiden’s eyes grew wide. His gaze scanned over Reagan’s body. “Why are you wearing that thing on your arm?”

  “This is a sling, and it helps keep my arm still. I also hurt my head, but I’m okay, so don’t worry.”

  Aiden reached over and rubbed his small hand through Reagan’s hair until he found the bump on the left side of his head. “That feels weird.”

  “You’re telling me, kid.” Reagan winced at the starburst of pain that radiated inside his skull. “How was school?”

  “Mrs. Viste made me sit on the bench at recess. I didn’t have my math sheet done.” Aiden’s shoulders slumped.

  Poor kid. Reagan remembered losing many grade school recesses to incomplete homework. “That’s no fun. Recess is the best.”

  Aiden ran to his backpack and returned holding a colorful sheet of paper. “I have an adding one for today. Will you help me?” He pleaded with big, brown puppy-dog eyes.

  “You bet.” Reagan stood slowly. “Let’s
go work on your sheet at the kitchen table.”

  Julie stood in the doorway to the kitchen, smiling. “Can you handle second grade homework?”

  “I’ll holler if we need help, but I’m pretty sure I got this.”

  After they got situated, he talked Aiden through the worksheet while Julie was nearby, making dinner. Sitting in the kitchen, Reagan recognized the larger meaning of these simple actions, like a small pebble hitting the water, sending out rippling waves through the still surface. He was now part of their family, and he’d go to the ends of the earth to protect them. His feelings for Julie made him stronger, not weaker, as he once feared.

  Over the years, he’d tried hard to avoid this very thing. But with the right person, he may be able to have it all—a successful career and love. Could happiness really be this easy?

  After supper, the two adults washed the dishes while Aiden raced upstairs to get a book. Reagan leaned over to kiss Julie, who had her hands elbow deep in the sudsy sink. Aiden, who’d reappeared and now stood by the kitchen table, peered at them with narrowed eyes. Reagan could almost see the gears turning in his head.

  “Is my mom your girlfriend?” Aiden asked Reagan. “Because you only kiss someone who’s your girlfriend.”

  Reagan put his arm around Julie’s waist. “Yes, she is, kid. Is that okay?”

  Aiden’s pressed-together lips turned up in a huge grin. “Yeah, it’s okay. Just don’t kiss all the time ʼcause that’s gross.” With that, he spun on his heel and went to sit on the sofa and read.

  Reagan stepped behind Julie and swept aside her ponytail, giving her a kiss on the nape of the neck. She smelled so good. He trailed his finger behind the kiss, and he whispered, “Kissing you would never be gross.”

  She noticeably shivered at his light touch.

  Later that night, Aiden pulled Reagan upstairs to read him bedtime stories. The kid giggled as Reagan’s deep voice made silly noises to go along with the story.