Loved by a Soldier: A Military Romance Collection

by Alison Mello

  She can’t help but smile. She leans forward and reaches for his hand. “Thank you, that means a lot. I think there’s a reason for everything.”

  “I agree.”

  They sit at the table and she starts to think about making a real breakfast when she gets another shock from him.

  “How would you feel about meeting a friend of mine?”

  “You have friends around here?”

  He laughs and asks, “Why? Does that surprise you?”

  “I’m sorry that didn’t sound right. I only meant that you haven’t mentioned anyone other than when you told me you have some secret friends, but you weren’t telling me anything about them.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I do have one friend who lives in Lynchburg. It’s about an hour’s drive, but I haven’t seen her in a while and I think you would like her. I know she would love you.”

  “Okay, then. I would love to meet her.”

  Nodding with a grin he says, “I’ll call her in a while then, once we get a few things done. We should workout and eat before we do anything else.”

  “I was thinking about making a real breakfast, but let’s get the workout out of the way, shower, then I’ll cook us something.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it.”

  They change into something more fitting to break a sweat in and proceed to the basement. It doesn’t take long before they both have sweat streaming down their backs and are breathing hard. They manage to complete a decent amount of time on the machines and even work in a small Tai Chi routine. They are tired by the time they go back upstairs, except for Sheeba. She wants to play.

  ***

  Derrick

  On the highway, Derrick curses the drivers around him, calling them all sorts of names. He can’t figure out why so many people are given the privilege of drivers’ licenses. He is doing his best to not let them affect his main goal—to get to Virginia in a timely manner, unscathed and without getting pulled over. The last thing he wants or needs is to get in trouble for having a firearm in his possession. He doesn’t have a permit for a concealed weapon, so being questioned about it by a cop will not be a good idea.

  It’s starting to get dark and he still has a way to go before he arrives at the Virginia state line. All he can think about is finding Trinity. Even though he’s angry for her running away from him, he still misses everything about her. He knows he has an anger problem and when he sees her, he’ll promise to get help. He knows a man shouldn’t hit a woman, but with the life he grew up with, watching his father beat his mother and getting abused himself most of his life, it sort of made him who he is.

  Still, it’s no excuse and he knows that. He is angry at himself for how bad things got. He wants her back. No…he needs her back. He needs to make things right again, if she will let him. If not, he will make her see it his way. Even though he is willing to get help he will still make sure she sees things his way. That’s what his father always told him—that the woman has her place in a relationship and it is behind her man. For some reason he can’t make her see that. She will either be with him or she won’t be with anyone…ever.

  He thinks about her eyes and how they sparkle when she smiles. Oh, and her smile, how beautiful it is. He misses seeing her when she’s happy and laughing. She’s definitely a rose that stands out in the middle of everyone else. He’s miserable without her. He is willing to go to prison over her if it comes down to it.

  ***

  Gates

  “I talked to my friend while you were in the shower, and she said she would love to meet you,” Gates tells Trinity when she walks into the kitchen that evening. The day flew by and they have enjoyed it the best that they can. After they had their workout, took showers, and had breakfast they read from the Bible. He had plenty of questions for her to answer.

  “Fantastic! When will we be going?”

  “She offered to cook dinner for us tomorrow night. She said to be there around seven.”

  “Sounds good to me, and what’s her name? You forgot to mention that.”

  “Oh, sorry, her name’s Katherine.”

  “Care to tell me a little about her?” she asks, sitting cross-legged in the chair opposite him.

  He leans on his forearms and tries not to focus on how incredibly gorgeous she is, fresh out of the shower. She’s wearing her pajamas and has her hair wrapped in a towel. She’d think she isn’t anywhere close to being beautiful, but to him she always is. He composes himself as best he can and begins to tell her about Katherine.

  “Do you remember me telling you about helping another woman a couple of years ago?” “So that’s her?”

  “Yeah, that’s her and we still talk once in a while. Not a lot, but she likes to keep me up to date on how she’s doing. Thankfully, her life is much better than it used to be. She’s very smart and a compassionate person. It was a real mess what she had to go through. A lot like what happened to you, only she’s marked for life.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The guy she had to get away from was sick in the head. He held her down one night when he was drunk and held a burning stick from the fireplace to her face, injuring her badly. Even with surgery it didn’t completely remove her scars, and she lost the sight in her left eye because of it.”

  Trinity gapes in horror at what Katherine went through, and holds her hand over her mouth. “Where is he? I hope he’s in prison for what he did to her.”

  “He spent some time in jail for it, but basically all he got was a slap on the wrist. By the time I met her she was more than just afraid for her life. Anyhow, not too long after she came to me, his threat to her ended when he ran his mouth to the wrong people at a bar one night and someone shot him. He died on the way to the hospital.”

  She doesn’t know what to say. She shakes her head at the horror she can so easily and unfortunately relate to.

  “By the grace of God it didn’t go that far with me. I truly have compassion for the poor woman.”

  “Like I said, you’ll like her and I have no doubt she will like you, too.”

  “I look forward to meeting her, and I bet we will have a lot to talk about. But right now, I think it’s your turn to fix dinner.” She claps her hands and rubs them together. “So, what’s on the menu?”

  They laugh and he shrugs, having no clue since he hasn’t thought about it. Looking through the cabinets he feigns confusion. She gives him a hard time by jabbing him in his side and points out the pasta and sauce in the cabinets and the ingredients for a salad in the refrigerator, but he uses the idea of Chinese take-out.

  “You are so lucky right now,” she says with a touch of sarcasm and crosses her arms, trying to look mad but failing miserably.

  Grinning from ear to ear, he asks, “Why am I so lucky?”

  “Three reasons. One, I love Chinese food. Two, I happen to be falling for you. And three, because I don’t want to hear you whining.”

  He laughs loudly and grabs her, pulling her against him. “You’re falling for me, huh?” Her heart beats furiously in her chest. Her eyes meet his and her voice becomes a whisper. “Oh, yes…without a doubt.”

  “That’s a good thing,” he replies and tightens his hold as he lowers his mouth to hers. “Because I’m falling hard for you, too.”

  Their lips touch and the room spins around them as they get lost in each other’s embrace. Once again they find themselves wanting and needing the other more than air, but it comes to an end when Sheeba pushes her way between them, barking loudly, interrupting the moment.

  “I’ll take that as a sign,” Trinity says as she leans against the counter to catch her breath.

  “Yeah, probably a good thing. Go ahead and get dressed and get your jacket, and I’ll feed her. Then we’ll go.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

  “Come on, girl,” he says to the dog. “I know you love her more than me, but I’m feeding you tonight.”

  He watches the dog look down the hall after Trinity
; he can hear her laughing as she goes.

  Chapter 12

  Trinity

  Katherine is waiting for them when they arrive, and opens the door before they have a chance to knock. She’s thrilled to see them and wraps her slender arms around them in excitement.

  “Oh, it’s so good to see you! I’ve missed you!” she exclaims as she squeezes Gates.

  “It’s great to see you, too. This is Trinity.” He introduces them and steps to the side.

  “Well, hey there, it’s great to meet you,” Katherine says.

  “Thank you, its great meeting you as well.” She sees what Gates mentioned to her even though she tries not to stare. The scar isn’t hideous, but it’s definitely noticeable.

  “Y’all come inside and let me get you something to drink. Would you like me to make some coffee?”

  “Sure, that would be nice. Do you want any help?” Trinity offers.

  “You are my guest, so you two just have a seat. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

  They follow Katherine and sit at the kitchen table. Trinity observes the small area and loves how it is decorated. She has a small apartment, but comfortable. She notices the religious magnets on the refrigerator and a plaque hanging on the wall that reads As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Smiling, she knows she likes Katherine already.

  “So tell me Trinity, if you don’t mind, are you from this area? Or have you recently had to come here from somewhere else to get away?”

  Trinity looks at Gates and he shrugs, so she figures she may as well be open, at least about some of it since Katherine has been through so much herself.

  “I, umm, well I guess you could say I had to come here from Connecticut to get away from someone.”

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I sort of figured it was something along those lines since you are with Gates. I didn’t know where from, though. He only told me he was bringing a friend with him he thought I would like to meet.”

  “He surprised me with the idea too, but to be able to meet someone else he has helped means a lot.”

  Katherine sits with them. “Did he tell you anything about me?”

  Trinity takes a nervous breath and answers. “He did. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Gates looks back and forth between the two ladies as they talk as if he isn’t there. Katherine looks at him and reaches for his hand.

  “Gates was a Godsend for me. I’m glad he told you and I’m glad you both are here. It hasn’t been easy to get through what happened, but since…it has gotten somewhat easier. I truly believe Gates is an angel, but he always finds that funny when I say it.”

  He laughs lightly at Katherine’s comment. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m an angel on any level. I will say, though, that I believe we were put in each other’s lives at the right time for a reason. The same goes for Trinity.”

  The atmosphere is grounded with deep discussion about what happened to them as both Katherine and Trinity get to know one another. Gates sits patiently and listens, allowing them to have their girl talk—no judgements, only total honesty and relating.

  “I met Gates a day after I ran away from my abusive boyfriend. He brought me down here from Connecticut and I’ve been here a little over a month now. Things have been a huge adjustment as far as the exercise routines, not being able to work, and not being able to touch my money in the bank, but I’m safe and things have improved on certain levels.”

  ***

  Katherine

  Katherine sees Trinity look at Gates when she speaks of him. She catches the sparkle in her eyes, and from his smile she knows there’s something special taking place between the two of them. She doesn’t say anything about it, but lets Trinity do the talking.

  “My boyfriend, or I should say my ex-boyfriend, was very controlling and seemed to enjoy hitting me. It got so bad I was afraid for my life. The night I finally had the courage to run I will never be able to forget. We had gone to a bar and I really didn’t want to be there. When he went to the backroom to do some type of business, I knew it was my only chance. The weather was horrible—it was pouring rain, but I didn’t care. I only had a few minutes and I made the best of it. I found an unlocked car and hid in it. Thankfully there wasn’t a lot of lighting around. I was taking a huge chance hiding in a stranger’s car. I will forever believe that God made sure I would be safe because it turned out to be a pastor’s wife’s car. She had seen me get in and heard him walking around yelling for me. When she got in the car she didn’t say anything until we drove away, then took me to her house. They gave me a safe place to sleep that night and called Gates to help me. I will be eternally grateful for them.”

  Katherine nods and replies, “It seems we have a lot in common. Can I assume that the pastor’s wife is Mattie and the pastor is Howard?”

  “Yeah,” Trinity answers with a grin. “Another pair of angels that obviously God sent to help us both. Unfortunately, in some ways we do have a lot in common. Depending on how we look at it though, it all turned out to be good.”

  “It’s been a blessing in certain ways as well for me,” Katherine tells them. “With all of the horrible things that happened, with all of the pain and misery I lived through, I have to say the best thing that came out of it was that I found God. Today, I am happier than I’ve ever been. I truly feel blessed, and I love Howard and Mattie. I miss them.”

  Gates looks at Katherine and smiles as Trinity comments. “I know what you mean. I’ve always believed in God. I used to go to church, but Derrick didn’t like it and would get upset about me going so I stopped. Now, though, I am going again and found a church I like. I have rededicated myself to Jesus. I’m trying hard to have faith that this will all get better somehow. I don’t know how, but I’m trying to believe.”

  Katherine looks at Gates suddenly and asks, “Are you going to just sit there and let us do all the talking?”

  He laughs. “I’m letting the two of you get acquainted, and I’m still not completely sure about the whole God thing yet. I did go to church with her last time, though.”

  “Oh, really? Well that’s a shocker.”

  “I’m surprised too, to be honest,” he tells her.

  She places their cups on the table and grins. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with being attracted to her, would it?”

  He blushes; they see his face turning red and giggle. Trinity places her hand on his arm as he answers.

  “Ummm, yeah I have to admit that’s part of it, but not totally. I’m curious, I’ll say that much. Honestly, when I went I found it very humbling and educational. I mean, in a way it was confusing, but I want to go again. I feel there’s a purpose for me and part of it could be going to church. I don’t know yet though.”

  “I would rather you be going out of curiosity than not at all. I will not pressure you about any of it. This is something between you and God. Only you can live for Him if and when you want to and are ready,” Trinity tells him as she looks him square in the eyes.

  “Thank you, I appreciate that.”

  ***

  Gates

  The conversation drifts toward what happened last Sunday and the feeling he has about being on camera. “I believe the man she ran from is searching for her, and I fear someone Trinity knows, if not Derrick himself, saw the news that day.”

  “What will you do if he shows up?” Katherine asks.

  “Whatever I have to do to protect her, but hopefully it won’t come down to that.” He looks at Trinity and holds her hand. Nothing more is said about it.

  The conversation turns to what Katherine has been doing lately and she tells them about her job, her newest hobby, and a secret she has been holding onto for a couple of weeks. She tells them about a guy she met at church who asked her out for dinner. She is actually thinking about going.

  “I’ll have to get back to you on that,” she jokes.

  Their evening visiting with one another passes too fast as they enjoy the conversation and the d
inner Katherine prepares. Before they know it, it’s time for Trinity and Gates to get back to the cabin. Hugging before they leave, they promise to make plans in the near future for some fun.

  ***

  When they get home that evening, Trinity says she is going to take a bubble bath. Gates rests on the couch in the living room with Sheeba and watches television. He feels good about how the evening went with Katherine. The girls became instant friends and he’s happy about how easily the two of them connected. He knows them both well enough to know they need each other in their lives.

  He runs his fingers through Sheeba’s thickening fur as she lies next to him, a rare occurrence. Once Trinity comes in the room, Sheeba will be with her and he will no longer exist. It’s nice having her next to him, even if only for a few minutes. As he scratches her neck, he thinks about Trinity’s boyfriend and what it might be like to face him. She has described him, and by what she says Gates thinks he is most likely a big, cowardly bully. Gates handled a lot tougher and stronger men while he was in the service. He isn’t very concerned about Derrick’s physical strength, but he does worry about Derrick’s intelligence. How ruthless will he be to get her back? That’s what worries him. Will Derrick be able to sneak up and get a hold of Trinity before I can protect her? No; he can’t allow that to happen. Even if he wasn’t falling in love with her, his priority is her safety. He has to keep her safe. He doesn’t know why exactly, but he has an extremely strong feeling in his gut that something will happen soon. He learned years ago to trust that feeling. It is almost never wrong.

  Suddenly, Sheeba jumps off the sofa, breaking his train of thought. He watches her pace to the bathroom door as it opens, and the woman he has sworn to protect steps out in her robe. He can’t help staring at her. Trinity’s skin still glistens from her bath and she looks like a goddess, the most incredibly beautiful woman he has ever seen. Gates knows now that he’s madly in love with her. He isn’t falling anymore. He has fallen, and fallen hard.