Loved by a Soldier: A Military Romance Collection

by Alison Mello

  I look back at Rachel. No matter how much I want to spend the night with Reid, I need to borrow some of his selflessness. Rachel wants me to go to the bars with them. She wants her maid of honor by her side, and I will do my best not to blow this.

  “No, Reid. I’m fine. You’re not mad about cancelling?” I hear voices in the background, asking Reid who he’s talking to. I don’t recognize them and wonder who Reid is hanging out with. I never see him with anyone but Talen.

  “I’m talking to Poppy! Just give me a minute, Trent!” I’m jostled by the name he has shouted. “Sweetheart, I’m not—”

  “Trent Stull?” I whisper. Reid’s end of the phone is quiet for a moment before he confirms my suspicions. I look down at the ground, trying to calm my racing heart.

  Trent Stull was the “Gavin” of the class of 2010. Even though he was two years older than me, he still enjoyed picking on me.

  Since when were Reid and Trent buddies again? Have they been friends this whole time? An absurd amount of betrayal hits me and I pull the phone away from my ear, hanging up.

  I gaze at the phone, shaking my head. I’m overreacting…there is no betrayal…Reid can hang out with whomever he wants…

  No matter how much I try to convince myself, I can’t rid myself of the bitter sting in my heart. Reid is still friends with the man who made my freshman and sophomore year a living hell.

  ***

  I take a sip of my martini, sitting at the bar at the end of our group. Rachel is beside me, trying to keep conversation flowing. However, I can’t find myself intrigued with what they’re saying…something about a memory they have from school.

  I turn in my stool and look around the bar at all the people drinking and conversing with each other.

  There are many groups of young bachelors scoping out the area for a “lucky lady.” There is only one other group of girls in the bar, apart from our own. A few of the men’s eyes are glued to the other group, while the remainder are watching Rachel’s bridal party.

  I raise my eyebrow at a guy who meets my gaze and offers me a kissing face. In your dreams, I whisper in my head. I’d never be bold enough to say that aloud, no matter how many martinis I drink.

  I feel my phone buzz from my pocket and internally sigh. Reid has been calling and texting nonstop for the last hour. I pull the phone out to see the long line of texts, even a couple from Talen.

  Reid: Poppy, it’s not like that. Trent just called, said he needed some help with his car. I told him I’d try to fix it for him. He must have remembered that I was in auto class at school…

  Reid: Sweetheart, please answer your phone.

  Reid: Poppy, I am honestly beginning to worry. I promise, I haven’t spoken to the guy since high school.

  Reid: I don’t even understand why it’s a big deal! I should be able to hang out with whomever I please.

  I scoff at the last text. He’s absolutely right, but the stubborn girl within me wants to throttle him for saying that.

  Reid: Okay, I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. Just text Talen so I know you’re all right, if you’re refusing to speak to me.

  Talen: Hey, Poppy. Reid is freaking out over here. Text me to let me know you’re okay…

  I open a voicemail, trying to stifle my laughter at Talen in the background. Reid is repeating all he said in the text messages, while I hear Talen shout out in the back, “She’s only been AWOL for an hour, Reid! What’s going to happen when she reaches two hours? Are you going to send out the SWAT team?”

  I quickly text Talen, telling him I’m fine and sorry that he has to put up with Reid’s behavior. I begin to respond to Reid, but Rachel grabs my arm.

  “Poppy…” I look up from my phone to see the sheer horror in her face. “Give me your phone.” I do as she says, not understanding why. I watch as she begins to call Reid and I listen in on their conversation. “Get here now. Gavin—” I tense, ignoring the rest of her sentence. I spin in my chair to see Gavin sitting at a booth, about twenty feet from me.

  When our eyes meet, he offers me a toothy grin. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, urging the images to stay out of my head.

  I can practically feel his hands on my body, pinning me down on the bed as he presses against me. I can feel his sweat, his saliva as he kisses me. I can feel the fire licking at my body as I try to thrash against his hold.

  I am completely helpless. Then, there is the agonizing pain of the knife slicing through my thighs. The sounds of the buckle being undone, the zipper—

  “Poppy.” I flinch, opening my eyes to see Gavin standing before me, his head tilted to the side. His dark hair rests on his forehead, just above his obsidian eyes. He has a look of hunger in them, and it chills me to the bone.

  “Get away from her.” Rachel moves to stand between us, her hand coming back to grab my own as a sense of comfort…for her or me, I do not know.

  “I just want to talk. Honest.”

  “Not going to happen. Get back,” Rachel insists, pushing on him with her free hand. Gavin takes a step back, his eyes narrowing into slits.

  Suddenly, the door to the bar is thrown open. “Rachel, get away from him.” I hear Talen’s voice, but feel Reid’s embrace. I am lifted from the stool and before I know it, I’m out in the warm summer air. Reid walks a few steps before he opens the door to his truck and climbs in with me still in his arms.

  Once we’re seated in the passenger seat and the door is closed, Reid buries his face into my neck and lets out a muffled scream. I wince at the distraught sound he makes, causing Reid to hold me tighter.

  We sit for a few silent moments, listening to each other’s breathing. Reid is practically panting, his heartbeat racing within his chest.

  “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he whispers, pulling back so he can reach up and move my hair from my face. He tenderly cups my cheeks, looking at me with sorrowful eyes. “I was so close to beating him to a pulp. I had to get us out of there.”

  A part of me wishes Reid had given Gavin the beating he deserves, but I also don’t want Reid to do that for me. I don’t want any ounce of darkness to touch Reid’s soul. He’s far too pure and good for me.

  “There’s too much pain here, Poppy. Every time you wander the streets, you’re at risk of meeting a demon from our past. We need to move…far from here.” I look at Reid in confusion.

  What is he saying? He wants us to pack up and move? Our lives are here. Rachel, Talen, and my dad…I’ve grown up in this town my whole life. We can’t just move.

  “I promise you, Poppy Evans. When you agree to marry me, I am taking you away from here. We will never come back. I will protect you.”

  When I agree to marry him…

  If that doesn’t prove Reid is in this for the long haul, I don’t know what does. Reid loves me, as he has said. And he wishes to someday marry me. He wants all of this, solely because of who I am and his love for me. Our relationship has hardly begun. We haven’t even shared a first kiss, and Reid knows he wants to marry me.

  I feel, deep within me, the truth of his words. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Reid is going to be the man I marry, the father to our children.

  But the journey to reach that point from where we are seems nearly impossible to tread.

  It will mean burying my past and trusting Reid with all that I am. It will mean breaking down every brick of my wall, to let the real Poppy out.

  It will then entail sealing away the Poppy I am now, the one who is marred and troubled.

  And I don’t know if that is possible.

  Chapter 13

  Sun, Beaches and Kisses

  Reid

  June 17, 2016

  It’s finally time to call upon that rain check.

  I have been on edge since the incident with Gavin. Poppy was shaken up about it, as if transported back to a dark part of her past…I don’t blame her. He had the gall to go up and speak to her.

  I was so close to decking him in the jaw. I would have, if I hadn’t seen her. Po
ppy was practically shaking on her stool, a look of complete terror on her face. It shocked me to the core, woke me up and reminded me to focus on what was important…what is important. And that will always be Poppy.

  Gavin was lucky Poppy was there to divert me. However, having seen him for the first time, I couldn’t be more disgusted. The look in his eyes…his need for her…I will never forget his face. If I see him again, he better hope God can help me through the turmoil I will face.

  But nevertheless, I’m glad the week is up and I’m able to treat Poppy to the date I have planned. I have every intention of spoiling her, of ridding her thoughts of Gavin. Instead, I intend to fill her with thoughts of how adored she is.

  Since today is completely open, I decide to drive to her apartment to pick her up early. It will be a surprise for her, especially since she isn’t due up for another hour.

  I buzz for her room and wait a few moments before I do it a second time. “Hello?” I hear her sleepy voice over the speaker and smile. I should feel guilty for waking her up, but I’m too excited.

  “Hey, sweetheart, it’s me.” Poppy lets out an obvious sigh as she buzzes me up. I run up the two flights of stairs and open the door to her apartment. She stands by the door, dressed in blue penguin pajama pants and a red tank top that matches the scarves around the penguins’ necks. I bite my bottom lip at her slippers, which are shaped like the same animal.

  “Sweetheart, are penguins your favorite animal?” Looking back at Poppy’s face, she gives me a sneer. Her hair is all messed up from sleep, half of her face red from the warmth of the pillow.

  I will never get over how beautiful she is.

  “It’s nine in the morning, Reid.” I grin like an idiot. She thinks nine is early.

  I reach forward and ruffle the top of her head. “Go get changed, beautiful. I have a whole day planned for us. Wear a swimsuit under your outfit.” Poppy attempts to pull off a disgruntled look, but a smile slips through before she can turn to cover it.

  As she goes into her bedroom to change, I am greeted by Aragorn. I pet his head and walk into the kitchen, the large German shepherd following after me. He stands at my feet as I brew up a pot of coffee for the Sleeping Beauty. His tail wags when I pluck a banana from her fruit bowl and I begrudgingly give him half.

  Poppy walks back wearing white shorts and a baby blue off the shoulder, loose shirt that shows her bright pink swimsuit strap. I watch her walk into the kitchen, pinning her hair up into her miserable bun as she does so. I smirk when half of her hair falls out by the time she reaches me.

  I love her thick hair and the stubbornness of it. It always refuses to stay in the bun she tries to pin it in.

  “Ooh, coffee.” She pours us both to-go cups and adds a dash of sugar and splash of milk in hers. I prefer mine black, unless I’m having a latte.

  She sips her coffee. “I have to let Aragorn out first, before we go.” I nod my head and we head to the door. Poppy whistles, grabbing a ball on the way out, and her trusted pooch follows her command. Once outside, I watch as Poppy interacts with her dog, tossing the ball a few times before she steps back so the dog can do its business.

  “How well do you have him trained?” I ask. Poppy looks over her shoulder at me, her eyes holding a mischievous gleam in them.

  “Aragorn, press!” she commands.

  Suddenly, Aragorn turns on me, sprinting the few yards in between us with his teeth bared. He lets out two vicious barks, saliva dripping from his teeth. Then, Poppy whistles and the dog is by her side, looking up at her with yearning. Poppy pets Aragorn’s head lovingly.

  Just a moment ago, I gave that dog a banana…and with one word, he turned on me. It’s clear Poppy is his true owner…no amount of treats will win him over. Anyone other than Poppy is seen as a potential threat.

  “He may listen to my commands and attack you if I am threatened…but Aragorn will form a bond with you, Reid. He will protect you, as well.” Poppy is confident with Aragorn beside her. She doesn’t stutter and isn’t hesitant. Not that she needs to be with me around, or with Aragorn around, apparently.

  Once the dog is put back in the apartment, Poppy meets me in my truck, offering me a smile.

  I begin driving toward our destination, Twenty-One Pilots playing softly in the background. We are halfway there when Poppy slaps her hand on the dashboard and looks over at me with wide eyes. I immediately slam on the brakes, pulling us off the side of the road. “Poppy, what?” I look at her with concern, wondering if she’s in some sort of pain, or if she forgot some sort of appointment.

  “I forgot towels and s-sunscreen.” My eyebrows furrow at the alarm in her eyes. Towels and sunscreen? I let out a sigh and lean over the middle console, grabbing the back of her neck and resting our foreheads together. She nearly gave me a heart attack.

  “I packed them for us. Poppy, don’t worry about anything today. I have it covered. Every fine detail. I promise.” I place a kiss to her nose and lean back, shaking my head. “Towels and sunscreen…” I say, astounded.

  Poppy lets out a small giggle, placing a hand over her mouth as I drive onward. “I actually scared you…” She sounds surprised.

  “Everything about you scares me, Poppy Evans.” I smile wide, grabbing her small hand and kissing her fingers.

  I fear that my love for her is so intense that losing her will render me useless. I fear that I might act the wrong way and it will drive her away. I fear I do not know how to help her.

  After the two-hour drive to New Buffalo, Michigan, we are finally at the beach. I park the car after paying the ten-dollar fee. Poppy hops out, walking toward the bed of the truck, where I meet her. I open the door and reach in to grab a blanket, a cooler, an umbrella, and the bag full of towels and sunscreen. Poppy takes the bag and blanket from me and I shut the bed’s door.

  Tucking the umbrella under my arm and waiting for Poppy to do the same with the blanket, I grab her free hand and lead her toward the beach. The sand is warm under our feet. We’re lucky we are here at twelve. An hour later and it would be equivalent to walking on hot coals.

  Finding an open spot, Poppy opens the blanket and lays it delicately on the sand while I set up the umbrella, angling it to give us a portion of shade. I then peel off my shirt and shuck off my khaki shorts to reveal my dark blue board shorts. I bend down to dig through the bag to grab sunscreen. I begin applying it to my arms and chest, watching Poppy as she lifts her shirt off.

  Her stomach tightens with the movement and I notice how perfect her body is. All the years I’ve known her and I realize this is the first time we’ve ever gone swimming together. Poppy isn’t thin and skinny. She has meat and fat to her body that makes her desirable to the eye.

  At least to my eyes.

  Her pink bikini looks nice against her naturally tan skin; I know there is some Spanish in her heritage that gives her darker skin.

  I apply the sunscreen to every part of my body that I am able and offer Poppy the bottle. She slathers herself before she meets my eyes. “I’ll do your back if you do mine,” I suggest. Poppy bites her bottom lip and nods. She slowly turns, giving me the bottle to dollop a good amount of lotion on my hands. I softly rub the lotion onto her soft, warm skin. I run my hands up and down her back in circular motions, until it is fully rubbed in.

  Poppy then does the same to mine, hesitant at first, but once she starts, she becomes more confident with the task. When we are fully slathered, I grab Poppy’s hand and lead us to the lake. She tugs on my hand, halting my movements as she bends to retrieve a white, sheer wrap from her bag. She ties it around her waist, effectively covering her thighs.

  The water is cool, and I watch as goosebumps instantly make an appearance on Poppy’s stomach and arms. I smile, pulling her to my chest. I bend slightly, wrap my arms around her back, and lift her a few inches so I can walk her into the water. Her arms loop around my neck, clenching tightly as we wade in.

  “It’s cold!” she squeals as soon as it touches her stomach. I let
out a throaty chuckle, placing a kiss to her neck. “Reid! Wait a moment,” she pleads, wanting to get used to the water. Holding her tight, I release an arm to reach up and let her hair out of the messy bun. It cascades down around her shoulders and I bracelet the hair tie.

  Without any warning, I duck us into the water.

  Poppy flails in my arms and I instantly lift us out of the water, laughing at her sputtering. “Reid Holt!” She shakes her head. Strands of Poppy’s hair stick to her cheeks and I gently brush them away before setting her down on her own two feet. “You brute of a man…” she mumbles, a teasing smile on her lips.

  I shake my head and run a hand through my hair. Today is already perfect.

  ***

  I watch as Poppy sleeps peacefully under the beaming sun. We ate turkey sandwiches that I made, along with potato chips. She passed out a moment after with a full stomach. I then applied a second coat of sunscreen to her back, legs, and arms. I don’t want her to be fried tomorrow. As I rubbed the lotion onto her legs, I got a glimpse of her scars and the dark memories instantly swarmed my mind.

  Only a vile man can do that to her, such a sweet, gentle soul. Poppy has never done anything evil in her life. She is simply good.

  Pushing Gavin from my thoughts, I lie on my side and run my fingers gently down Poppy’s right arm. She squeezes her eyes tight and makes a pout with her lips before she opens her eyes. “Hi,” I whisper, smiling softly.

  “Hi,” she says, stretching the sleep out of her muscles.

  “It’s time for the second part of today, sweetheart.” I lean forward and kiss her cheek, softly coaxing her awake. She lets out a contented sigh.

  “One more minute, Reid. I am blissfully happy.” My heart swells at her confession. The only thing better than hearing those words, would be hearing “I love you.” I continue to run my fingers along her soft skin, tracing designs on her back. Poppy closes her eyes again.