“Good,” Luke said, still grinning, finally heading toward the buffet line to fetch some lunch.
Everyone grew quiet as they continued to eat, and Neil was thinking how content he was right at that moment, being here amongst friends who’d dealt with many of the same issues he had.
When Luke returned with his food, he continued the conversation much like he had in the old days, but with a lot less sarcasm. Neil had never seen him this easygoing and relaxed. Luke was definitely a happy man, looking forward to the future.
Luke moved over and took a seat next to Neil. “Another old friend of yours is working here at the wounded warrior home. Zach Logan?”
“Zach? Really? I haven’t heard anything about him since I stopped in at the hospital in Germany to check on you two, when I was on leave a few weeks after everyone was airlifted out.”
“Well, he got married to a woman here in Crystal Rock and they had a private ceremony. Beth, the woman he married, has an autistic son, and he’s been sticking close to the family ever since they met. But he left town for nearly a month to take a few courses required for his job here, and now he’s going to be sitting in with group counseling and helping family members deal with their adjustment issues. Zach and I each had a tough time with that, I tell you.” Luke paused to scoop some food into his mouth. “But Zach is going to continue to take more classes at our local junior college. He needs to have certain credentials and certification to become an administrator here. Colonel Matthews travels a lot, so Josh will be stepping in when he’s not around.”
“I’ve talked to Jason Matthews quite a bit. In fact, I called him after you sent me all that information,” Neil admitted.
Before Luke could respond, Josh answered, “Yep, he mentioned that. Luke told me you were interested in working here for a while, and Jason was the one who suggested we set up some kind of rotation and use different instructors.”
“That was a good idea. Requirements are continuously changing with each branch of the military. They’re finding more and more ways to accommodate those of us with prosthetics—provided we can pass the same tests as everyone else, that is.”
The remainder of the afternoon went by quickly after they finished with lunch. One of the three conference rooms near the entrance of the wounded warrior home would serve as a joint office until the new facility was built on the donated property only ten miles away. They would all travel to the suggested location the following day and discuss which of the required training centers should be constructed first.
Neil heard Josh mention to Anna that the property wouldn’t be a good place for a shooting range since the dog training shelter was located nearby. But they were talking to the new owner of the golf course north of town, seeing if he had any interest in expanding his plans to include a year-round sports facility since he would be certain to get a tax break.
“Maybe a climbing gym could be included too?” Neil asked.
Josh nodded his agreement. “Even a workout place open to the public during limited hours would help us out quite a bit if the program grows. I’ve got passes for the guest gym through the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, because I’m guessing all of you want to keep in shape while you’re here. In fact, stop by my office before you leave today and I’ll give them to you. We’ll talk about everything again tomorrow before we begin putting together assorted proposals. Sarah is the expert at procuring funds. I still don’t know how she finagled salaries for all four of you, and I asked her not to tell me.”
Sarah grinned.
Josh continued, “So you’ve all got your information, and your required paperwork is filled out. I’ll see everyone tomorrow at eight a.m. sharp.”
“Hey, Josh?” Neil asked, when he stood up from the table along with everyone else. “Where’s a good place to eat dinner?”
“There’s a list of places along with a map in your cabin, but you can’t go wrong with the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. Plus, it’s easy to find. They’ve got a café, you can eat in their bar, or you can eat at their more formal restaurant.”
“Great, sounds perfect. Anna and I will check out the gym while we’re there.”
Anna blinked. “We will? Does that mean you’re asking me out to eat?”
Neil rolled his eyes, reaching for Anna’s hand and dragging her toward the doorway leading into the breezeway, where the administration offices were located. “Come on. Let’s go get those passes from Josh’s office.”
“Our first date. How romantic,” she said, sounding dramatic as she pounded her fist against her heart.
Neil gave Anna a side glance and grinned. While everyone laughed, she was looking back at the others in the room with a silly smile on her face.
Chapter Six
Anna and Neil decided to meet in a few hours, and as Neil pulled into the driveway belonging to the cabin where he’d be staying along with Phil and Nate, Anna drove further down the road, parking her jeep near her cabin and gathering her purse and overnight bag first.
After emptying the jeep of luggage, Anna took the time to unpack her clothes and made a list of groceries she would need for the upcoming week, before showering and getting ready for dinner with Neil.
Wearing jeans and suede boots an hour later, she stood looking at herself in the mirror. Although she could have requested a more high-tech prosthetic for everyday use, she’d chosen a simpler device, which could be switched out with a specialty prosthetic, enabling her more freedom of movement when she exercised and taught classes. She was nearly as good as before, when it came to hitting her mark; both at the range and in the field during tactical practice.
Despite the promotion she’d received since losing her arm, returning to active duty in the high security office position she’d been offered during the last few years hadn’t been at all rewarding. So when the opportunity had come along for teaching this class? She’d jumped at the offer, because now Anna would hopefully be doing something meaningful and rewarding.
She’d had to pass a series of rigorous tests in order to teach this course. Nothing was really impossible if you wanted it bad enough, and Anna had definitely been in a rut.
Tugging on the harness for her prosthetic arm, she reached for one of the decorative long-sleeved t-shirts she was fond of wearing since it covered it up. She applied a little bit of makeup, finishing with some color to her cheeks and lips.
Her hair was probably her best feature. Thick and silky, it was sable brown, and tonight she was wearing it down instead of pulling it back into her usual convenient ponytail.
Just then, Anna heard a knock at the door, and grinning at her reflection in the mirror, she grabbed the jean jacket she’d left laying on the bed.
Walking from the bedroom into the kitchen, she answered the back door.
Anna blinked. Neil looked really hot in his tight jeans and clinging v neck t-shirt. He‘d tamed back his wavy hair, and had obviously shaved.
Plus he smelled really great, she thought, lifting her nose into the air and sniffing exaggeratedly.
Neil began laughing. “Alright, already. I don’t think I used that much aftershave. Did I?”
Anna grinned. “You smell good.”
Walking up to her, he sniffed at her hair. “You do too.”
When he came a little closer, she stepped back smoothly and grinned. They were moving awfully fast, and she wasn’t really sure how comfortable she was about it.
Despite the desperate urge she was feeling right now, to climb all over him and steer him into the bedroom.
Oh, geez—stop it Anna.
She cleared her throat and spoke. “That’s just my soap.”
But he was looking at her strangely. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you out of your uniform.”
Anna burst out laughing, because of the way it had burst out from his mouth.
And then he grimaced. “Did I really just say that? I haven’t been on a date in years. You’re going to have to help me here.”
“Don’t look at me,” Anna answ
ered. “I haven’t been out with a man for a long time either.”
“Okay, well, how about I just rephrase what I said before?” He waggled his brows, looking her over from head to toe. “You look great in jeans.”
“Thank you,” Anna answered. “So do you.” And when she realized her eyes were lingering on his butt as he turned toward the door, obviously intending to hold it open, she raised them quickly to his face.
And he was smiling from ear to ear. “I think we’d better get out of here—quick.”
Anna grinned. “I think you’re right.”
When she grabbed her jean jacket, Neil took it from her hand and helped her into it. Reaching for her purse and walking outside behind Neil, she locked the cabin door behind her.
Neil held open the passenger door of his truck and Anna stepped inside.
When Neil was sitting behind the wheel, he revved up the engine and spoke. “I thought we might stop at the grocery store after we’re finished eating.”
“That’d be great,” Anna answered. “I was actually going to ask if you minded dropping me off for a few minutes.”
“I was planning on stocking up on a few things myself. The cafeteria food was great but I’m sure I’ll get tired of it if I eat there every day.”
Anna nodded her agreement. “I’m a pretty good cook. I can make extra if you’d like?”
He gave her a side glance and grinned. “Or you could have me over for dinner?”
She smiled, glancing at the scenery through the window. The sun was beginning to set as Neil drove over the bridge that led through town. “I guess I could do that.”
“Gee, you sound enthusiastic.”
When she looked at him, he winked.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Anna asked, continuing to smile.
“Yep. I got directions, but I set the GPS just for the heck of it. Actually, I entered directions for the top five places recommended around town. I used the list that was provided inside the cabin. I think I’m going to buy a local map so we can drive around the area and explore.” Neil looked at her quickly. “That is if you want to? There’s supposed to be some great hiking trails and a couple of beautiful waterfalls in the area and further north.”
“I’d love to,” she answered.
At that moment, Neil was turning into a wide parking lot after driving down a long shady picturesque road. “Oh, wow. Look at this place. It appears fairly large from the other side of the lake, but it’s actually huge. And beautiful too.”
“It sure is,” Neil answered, parking his truck. “Tell you what—want to go take a look around before we eat? I called about reservations, but they said they were booked until after eight, unless we wanted to eat in the bar.”
“Either way, the bar is fine with me,” Anna said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of tired from the drive.”
Neil stepped out from the truck and made his way around to the passenger door, opening it for Anna.
Neil asked suddenly, “Where have you been living Anna?”
“Virginia.”
Neil paused as they made their way along the sidewalk leading toward the inn. “Wait a minute. Don’t tell me you’ve been working at Quantico, and I didn’t even know it?”
She grinned. “Okay. I won’t tell you.”
Neil slapped himself in the forehead as they resumed their walk. “How come I’ve never seen you there? I guess I’m in and out, but I’m in the office at least a week or two every month.”
“I’m surprised I didn’t run into you either, but I was in and out of the building during some pretty strange hours, working for Colonel Keaton. Cloak and dagger stuff.”
“Keaton? Geez Anna. I can’t get over that. I’ve reported to his office a bunch of times, but I’ve never seen you there.”
“That makes sense. He probably kept us apart intentionally since we know each other, and I was working more like a personal assistant. What he’d do is conduct his meetings first, and then call me in later to follow through with instructions for contacts. Or information gathering for some high security missions. I was pretty good at that, since I’d traveled to every country he ran operations for.”
“Did you like working for him?”
Anna grimaced. “It was…interesting.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure if I liked the guy either.”
They laughed.
“He could be pretty rude. Some of the things he would call me in for…let’s just say they were not of necessity. I wouldn’t have cared if it wasn’t like three or four a.m. when he did it.”
As they walked beside the inn and headed toward the lakefront, Neil motioned with his hand, saying suddenly, “Wow. Look.”
“What a beautiful view.” And that was an understatement, Anna thought, studying the sparkling shades of amber and lilac radiating like prisms of light from the slowly descending sun.
Anna looked around the grounds as they approached a bridge leading to a huge wooden gazebo built atop the lake. Whimsical landscaping was everywhere; lights and planters and even windchimes detailed with dragonflies. Similar items were most likely available in the gift shop Anna had noticed near the parking lot on the opposite side of the inn.
Neil was looking at her strangely as they walked across the bridge.
“What?” she asked. “You have the weirdest look on your face.”
“I’ve never seen you smile this much before.”
“The same could be said about you,” she said dryly. “You were always so quiet too, particularly on that last mission when we were together before disaster struck.”
“You know, I never told this to anyone before,” Neil said, as they reached the railing built along the edge of the deck. Leaning against it, he stared across the lake. “But I was having this really bad feeling for hours before those insurgents attacked us after Kobani. The same thing happened right before I ran into those land mines with my unit. If I hadn’t ordered everyone to stop before the first one exploded, at least a few more men would’ve been killed, including myself.”
“Sometimes it happens like that.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s instinct—like me being able to strike so well against a moving target.”
Neil nodded his agreement, looking thoughtful. “Ready to eat?”
“Yes, I am,” she answered with a smile.
Neil reached for her hand, and grinned as she stood staring at their clasped hands strangely.
He bumped her sideways as they walked toward the inn after crossing back over the bridge. “Wake up.”
“All of a sudden, I feel exhausted. It must be all this fresh air. Plus I had like a five hour drive this morning. I booked reservations in Janesville, but I ran into a lot of construction on my way here.”
“Me too. I was only a few hours away though, in Chippewa Falls.”
Neil held open the door for Anna, and they walked into a breezeway through some automatic doors that led into a huge open hallway.
Walking by a café first, which overlooked the lakefront, and then by a restaurant next, which was much more private, they made their way through the clearly marked entrance into the bar.
“Isn’t this place great?” Anna asked, checking out the décor. “It’s light and bright and airy.”
With a few patrons sitting in what looked to be comfortable leather stools, the huge wooden bar had a cherrywood patina, and there were dragonflies etched into the design along the side.
“Yeah, it is,” Neil answered. “Not a typical bar, that’s for sure. Where would you like to sit?”
“How about over there by the piano?”
Windows lined the entire wall above the bar, where hummingbird feeders of all shapes and sizes hung outside them, and Neil and Anna walked toward the booth that had a window overlooking the nature trail surrounding the inn.
As soon as they were seated, a waitress approached with a smile on her face. “Hi. What can I get you two tonight?”
Neil looked at Anna. “I think I’m g
oing to have whatever’s on draft. How about you?”
“That’ll work,” Anna answered, smiling at Neil and then at the waitress. “How about your food? What do you recommend?”
“Truthfully?” she answered. “Everything we serve is great. I would say to go with whatever you like, but tonight we have broiled garlic shrimp and scallops on special, and it’s one of my favorites.”
Anna raised a brow, looking at Neil. “Garlic?”
He grinned, obviously thinking what she was. “I’m game if you are.”
Anna laughed, glancing at the waitress. “Okay, make that two.”
When Neil and Anna handed over their menus, Neil motioned at the stage nearby where some instruments were set up. “Is the piano off limits?”
The waitress answered, “Not at all. Although we try to discourage the kids that come in here with their parents to keep their hands off.”
“You play the piano?” Anna asked as the waitress walked off with their order.
“Sure. How about you?” And then he grimaced. “Oops, sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Oh, that’s okay,” she answered, grinning. “That actually happens a lot. I like it when people forget that I lost my arm. I used to play the piano. But my mom passed away when I was only thirteen, and music kind of went on pause for me after that.”
Just then, the waitress returned with their drafts, laying the mugs on the table. “Would you two like anything else?”
“Thank you. I think we’re good,” Anna answered and smiled, looking at Neil as he sipped his beer.
“I’ll check back later to see if you guys need a refill. I’m Joanie, by the way.”
“Thanks, Joanie,” Neil said.
Neil stared at his beer after Joanie left the table. “I lost both of my parents in a car crash, right after I turned eighteen.”
“Oh, Neil. That’s awful,” Anna said, reaching out and covering his hand with hers.
“Dad wasn’t used to driving on the ice. He’d just accepted a promotion and he and Mom decided to make a week of it, when they flew to Virginia and rented a car so Dad could attend his orientation meetings,” he answered grimly. “He could handle any kind of vessel on the water. It was so unexpected.”
Two Hearts In Accord (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Book 7) Page 5
