Free Soldier on Her Doorstep by Soraya Lane

laughing.
    â€œEnough, ladies, enough.” Lisa pulled herself away from the window and faced the room. “He’s just an old friend of William’s come to visit. The last thing he needs is us ogling him. Besides, you’re all married.”
    The women kept their eyes on the view.
    â€œI’ll get some more coffee,” she muttered.
    â€œAnd I’ll help,” snapped Anna.
    Her sister grabbed her elbow and marched her to the kitchen.
    She guessed that talking about the handsome man outside the window was non-negotiable.
    Lisa chanced a glance at her sister’s face.
    Definitely non-negotiable.
    But she didn’t have to tell them that he was living in the cabin.
    No way.
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    Lisa felt as if she’d been a very naughty girl. Hell, she was thirty years old, not thirteen, and yet somehow she was still cast as the little sister. Was that something she was stuck with for life?
    â€œStart talking,” Anna ordered.
    She straightened her shoulders, evaded her sister’s stare and filled the jug with water. “There’s nothing to tell. I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss.”
    â€œSuch a fuss!” Anna threw her hands in the air. “Lisa, you’ve been avoiding me for days, then I find out you’ve got a man here. Are you seeing him?”
    She glared. “Don’t you dare ask me that!” Lisa growled the words at her. How could Anna accuse her of seeing another man? Every beat of her heart reminded her she still loved William. She might be attracted to Alex, but she was not doing anything inappropriate.
    Anna just shrugged.
    Her mother walked in. “I’ve heard enough, girls.”
    They both kept their mouths shut. They knew better than to argue with her when she spoke in that tone of voice.
    â€œLet Lisa explain.”
    Huh. So she wasn’t exactly off the hook.
    Lisa pulled out a seat at the counter and sat down. Her neck was aching, shoulders tense, and she was exhausted. Like she’d run a marathon twice over. “His name is Alex. He served with William and he needed a place to stay.”
    â€œStay!” Her sister nearly exploded.
    A sharp look from their mother silenced her.
    â€œYes, stay,” Lisa repeated. “And don’t go jumping to any conclusions.”
    Anna kept her mouth shut for once.
    â€œIt’s nice he felt he could come here,” their mother remarked calmly.
    Lisa smiled at her mother. “He’s got some…well, some traumas to work through, and it just seemed like the right thing to do.”
    Anna still didn’t look impressed, but Lisa ignored her.
    â€œI see Lilly’s taken a shine to him?”
    Lisa’s face was hot and flushed. The last thing she wanted was for her mother to be hurt. Seeing her granddaughter laughing with a stranger, even if she wasn’t saying any actual words to him, was tough. She saw plenty of her grandmother, had done all her life, but she’d been closed off to everyone but Lisa herself up until now.
    Except for this stranger. Except for Alex.
    â€œCome on—let’s get the coffee out to everyone. They’re probably still drooling out the window,” Lisa said.
    â€œYou still should have told us.”
    They both turned to look at Anna.
    â€œI mean, how long have you even known this guy?”
    Lisa put a hand on her mother’s arm and gave her sister a narrow smile. “He’s not a psychopath, if that’s what you’re worried about.” She put on her bravest face. “And I wasn’t trying to hide him. I wouldn’t have had you here today if I was worried about you seeing him.”
    â€œWe might need iced drinks!” A shout from the living room made them all turn. “It’s getting hot in here!”
    Lisa prayed that Alex hadn’t taken off his shirt. Heavens, she’d have the girls here all evening if he had!
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    Lisa shut the door with a satisfied bang and