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Forrest stared at his phone and had a bad premonition. This woman was going to be trouble.
A few hours later, he heard footfalls bounding up the steps to the front porch of the rooming house. Since he was currently the only occupant, he suspected that Angie was his visitor. He opened the door before she had a chance to knock and looked at her. The sight of her fresh beauty made something skitter under his skin. She looked so innocent, feminine and real.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she said with a broad smile in return. “Can I come in?”
“Sure,” he said and noticed she was carrying a bag from a local sub shop. “You didn’t need to bring food.”
“I told you I would. If you can drum up some coffee or water, we’re covered,” she said.
“Okay,” he said and led her inside the first-floor-level suite.
“This is nice,” she said, looking around as she followed him inside.
He filled a couple glasses of water in the small kitchen and returned to her. “It fits my needs at the moment.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Listen, I may not be the best source for your pen pal idea. I left several months ago and I don’t really know that many soldiers from around here.”
“Oh, you don’t have to help me with names. I can get those. No problem. What I want you to do is talk to the ROOTS group and tell them how good it felt to receive cards and letters of encouragement. Especially around the holidays.” She jiggled her bag. “Do you want to eat in the kitchen?”
“There isn’t much of one,” he said. “I usually eat in here,” he said, tilting his head toward the den area.
She gave a short chuckle. “You sound like me. Ever since I’ve been living alone, I eat my frozen meal in front of the TV. When I’m home, that is,” she added as she sank onto the sofa. “Most of the time, I’m on the go.”
“Why don’t you get a roommate?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I just haven’t gotten around to it,” she said. “Ever since I was thirteen, it was just my sister, brother and me. It feels strange now.”
He wondered what had happened to her parents, but didn’t want to pry. “I know what you’re saying. Since my brother and Antonia got together and he moved into the main house, it’s pretty quiet here.”
“Well, maybe I can break down and fix a meal and you can come over to my place for dinner sometime,” she said.
Even though Angie was cute as a button and clearly attracted to him, he didn’t want to give her false hope. Forrest cleared his throat. “So what kind of sandwiches do you have in that bag?” he asked, deliberately avoiding her suggestion.
“Oh,” she said. “I made a big guess that you’re not a vegetarian and got you an Italian hero.”
He laughed under his breath as he unwrapped the sandwich. “Good guess. Thanks.”
She opened her notebook. “Now, I’ve done some research on the pen pal programs, and I think this will be very empowering for our ROOTS kids. So much of the time, they don’t feel as if they have any control over their lives. Especially if they’re having problems at home or school. This is a small thing they can do, and it’s not a big commitment, but it has big impact on both the sender and the receiver. Don’t you agree?”
Forrest hadn’t really thought much about it, but he supposed it was true. Angie was so enthusiastic he felt like a heel at the thought of letting her down. “I guess so.”
“I knew you would think so. I also worked with a local program last year called Presents for Patriots. I’d like to see if there’s a way to expand the program this year,” she said.
“Whoa,” he said, lifting his hand and shaking his head. “I’m not the most jolly guy on the block these days. Maybe you’d better find someone who has more Christmas spirit.”
Angie gaped at him in disbelief. “But everyone loves Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
Forrest blinked. Was she serious? She looked so crestfallen it was as if he’d told her that Santa didn’t exist. He wondered if she was kidding, but quickly saw she wasn’t. The woman was obviously over the moon about Christmas. Forrest had the feeling that refusing her would feel the same as kicking a puppy.
Mentally swearing, he sighed. “Okay, okay. I’ll help.”
She leaped toward him and put her arms around him. “Oh, thank you. I knew you’d be perfect.”
Taken off guard by her impulsive embrace, Forrest tried not to notice how sweet her hair smelled within an inch of his nose and the way her breasts felt brushing against his chest. He glanced down at her pink lips and tried to remember the last time he’d kissed a woman.
At that forbidden thought, he quickly pulled back. “No one’s ever accused me of being perfect.”
Her gaze turned teasing. “Well, I can’t imagine why.”
That quick sexy glint in her eyes made him uneasy as hell. “Why don’t you tell me some more about the Patriots program,” he said, redirecting her attention, and hopefully his, too.
Angie gradually pulled back, but he would have to be a dead man not to notice the way her hand skimmed over his knee or the fact that she didn’t seem to mind sitting so close to him.
Forrest was torn. Was she so naive that she really didn’t know what she was asking for? Or was she trying to seduce him?
Chapter Two
After her visit with Forrest, Angie felt as if she could have flown home. Surely, she wouldn’t have needed her aging red Chevy pickup truck. Not after the way she’d teased a few grins from his serious mouth. She’d seen the way he’d stared at hers in curiosity. She just wished he’d given in to that emotion and kissed her.
She was in such a good mood when she pulled into the grocery store parking lot that she gave up a close space to another vehicle. She held the door for the elderly man behind her and returned his wink. As she wandered through the store, everything looked more vivid to her. The apples were redder, the grapes more purple. The oranges smelled delicious. Even the pork chops looked better than ever.
Angie picked up a few items and headed home. She couldn’t wait to see Forrest again. Although she didn’t enjoy housekeeping, she felt as if she needed to do something with her excess energy, so she ran the vacuum cleaner and cleaned the bathrooms. She was mopping the kitchen floor when a knock sounded at the side door.
Her brother, Austin, poked his head inside and his gaze fell to her mop. “What’s the occasion? Are you having a party?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “No. I was just in the mood to clean, so I thought I’d better go with it.”
“I’ll say,” he said, hitching his thumbs in his jean pockets. “From what I remember, the mood doesn’t strike you very often at all.”
Angie knew he was referring to how she’d often tried to get out of her chores during her teen years. “Oh, be quiet. I’ve been the main person to take care of cleaning since Haley left and you know it.”
“Yeah, I guess,” he relented. “What’s got you in such a good mood? Sugar high? Cupcakes from the bakery?”
“No, but I’ll have to say that Forrest is more delicious than a cupcake,” she said and shot him a devilish smile.
“Forrest?” he said. “Forrest who?”
“Forrest Traub. He’s an army veteran and he’s staying in Thunder Canyon while his leg heals. I met him yesterday and, Austin, he might be the one.”
“Whoa, whoa,” Austin said, lifting his hand as he gingerly stepped across the drying kitchen floor. “You just met him yesterday and you already think he’s the one? How can you know anything about him?”
“Look who’s talking. It didn’t take you long to fall for Rose.”
“That’s different. I’m older and more experienced,” he said.
“I’ve been waiting for this feeling since I was born. I’ve had a sideline seat with a great view when Haley found love and then when you did, too. I want to belong to someone, also. I just never found the right someone, and, Austin, I really think he could be the one.”
Austin touched her cheek. “Fairy girl,” he said, calling her by the nickname he and Haley had used every now and then. “Don’t rush into anything. You can’t learn everything you need to know about a man in two sessions.
“And what about him?” Austin asked. “Does he feel the same way?”
“Oh, he’s attracted to me,” she said, laughing.
“How do you know that? Did he make a move on you?”
Angie rolled her eyes. “Of course not. He’s not that kind. A woman just knows these things,” she said.
Austin looked at her as if he thought she didn’t have a clue. She had to bite her tongue to resist arguing with him further.
“I wouldn’t be a decent brother if I didn’t encourage you to take it slow. Even you have to admit that you’ve been known to lead with your heart instead of your head.”
She nodded. “You’ve done your duty,” she said. “Since you’re here, do you mind checking out the truck? It’s been making a funny noise lately.” She didn’t want any more of Austin’s brotherly advice. Especially if he was going to discourage her about Forrest.
A few days later, Forrest’s phone rang again, and this time he knew the caller’s identification. Although he’d avoided officially adding Angie to his caller list, he knew her number. “Forrest Traub,” he answered the phone.
“Angie Anderson,” she mocked him in a deep voice. The giggle that followed ruined her stern tone.
He couldn’t help grinning a little though he was glad she couldn’t see. “How are you?”
“Wonderful. And you?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t say wonderful, but not bad. What do you need?”
“Well, that’s a wide-open question,” she said in a husky voice that made his gut clench.
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant. I was hoping you and I could get together and talk some more about the projects we’re planning. We don’t have a lot of time before Christmas to get things going.”
“True,” he said. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well, I could bring over takeout tomorrow night,” she suggested.
Forrest had a hard time turning down a meal. Although he could easily join his brother and Antonia at the main house, he couldn’t help but feel he was intruding. “That would work. But this time, I pay.”
“It’s no big deal. Do you like Italian or Chinese?” she asked.
“Both when I don’t have to prepare it,” he said.
She chuckled. “Me, too. I’ll surprise you, then. Tomorrow night around six?”
“Okay. See you then,” he said and hung up the phone. Forrest couldn’t help wondering what he was getting into by sharing another meal with Angie. He second-guessed himself, wondering if he should have kept their meeting in a public place. That way, neither of them would be tempted to do something they shouldn’t. Not that he was all that tempted. Deep down, he knew that Angie was completely off-limits for him. She was a sweet, naive, young woman who had no clue just how dark his soul was. He had no intention of having her find out. In a strange way, he found her naivete precious, and he didn’t want to destroy it.
The next night, Forrest ran the vacuum and did a little extra cleaning. He told himself it wasn’t for Angie. It was because his suite needed it. Hell, it wasn’t like he was lighting candles for her.
That thought soothed him at the same time he wondered if he should have gotten a bottle of wine. He’d been very careful with alcohol since he’d come back to the States. There was a high correlation between PTSD and alcoholism and drug abuse, and he was determined not to become a statistic. So far, he’d drank a beer every now and then, but that was all.
Rubbing his jaw, he wondered why he felt so edgy. In the scheme of things, Angie was just a kid.
A knock sounded at the door, pulling him out of his reverie. He felt an involuntary kick of excitement and scowled at himself. If he was getting this worked up over Angie, maybe he just needed to get out more often.
He opened the door and she grinned at him. “Hi there,” she said holding a bag of what smelled like Chinese takeout in one hand and a tote full of papers in the other.
Forrest couldn’t resist stealing an extra moment to take in the sight of her. Her unbuttoned red peacoat suited her bright personality, and the gray and white scarf around her neck tempted his gaze to fall into the V-neck of her gray sweater that gave a glimpse of her creamy cleavage. His mind followed his gaze and he couldn’t help wondering …
Forrest jerked his gaze and thoughts away from Angie’s breasts and he reached for the Chinese food. “Come on in. Smells good. What did you get?”
“Egg rolls, fried rice, kung pao chicken, sweet and sour pork, stir-fry beef with vegetables and of course fortune cookies. Will any of that work for you?”
Forrest felt his stomach growl. “All of it,” he said. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
“Well, I’m glad I could help out with that,” she said and dumped her papers on the sofa and pulled off her coat. Feeling himself get distracted by her feminine shape again, Forrest deliberately headed for the kitchen. He began to pull out the boxes of food. “Whoa, this is enough for five soldiers,” he said.
“I figured you might enjoy the leftovers,” she said as she moved beside him. “I get the impression you don’t enjoy cooking all that much.”
“That’s true. My brother keeps inviting me up to the house to eat with him and Antonia, but I feel like a fifth wheel. They’re all goo-goo-eyed over each other, and with taking care of Clay’s son and her baby, they’ve got enough to do.”
“I don’t mind cooking,” she said. “But I don’t really like cooking for one, so I either eat out or end up eating a lot of frozen dinners on the couch.”
“It’s mostly frozen dinners for me, too, so this is a treat,” he said and put the boxes on a tray.
“Would you like some water?” she asked, pulling two glasses from the cabinet.
He nodded. “That works for me.”
She filled the glasses and smiled at him. “I guess we’re ready.”
Forrest carefully carried the tray into the den and put it on the sofa table. He tore open his chopsticks and gave her a set. “Dig in,” he said and started with the sweet and sour pork. “Good stuff,” he said, making a mental note to visit the restaurant again. After a moment, he noticed Angie was looking at him and not eating.
He paused. “Problem?”
She blinked. “Uh, no,” she said and tore the paper off her chopsticks. “I’m glad you like it.” She reached for the container of kung pao chicken and gingerly arranged the chopsticks between her fingers. Plunging the wooden instruments into the food, she finally pulled up a bite of chicken. Victory flashed across her features as she lifted the bite to her mouth. And dropped it.
Forrest couldn’t help chuckling. “I can get a fork for you,” he offered.
“No, no. I’ve always thought I should learn how to do this, but I never got around to it,” she said and tried to arrange her fingers around the chopsticks again.
Unable to resist helping her, Forrest set down his food and sticks. “Here,” he said, repositioning her fingers. “Try that.”
She successfully got a bite. “I did it,” she said with pleasure that made something inside him feel warm. It took her a long time to get even a few more bites.
“You’re doing good, but let me get you a fork. The food will be cold by the time you get to it.”
She gave a mock pout. “And I thought I was doing so well.”
“You were,” he said as he rose. “You just need to practice when you’re not hungry, so you can concentrate better.”
“When did you get so handy with those sticks?” she asked.
