Free Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Love (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Saints Protection & Investigations Book 7) by Maryann Jordan

hers, searching for any reaction, finding none…other than caution. Sucking in a deep breath, he said, “My sister and her fiancé live in Virginia. So do my parents…when they aren’t vacationing in Florida.” He hesitated, seeing his explanation slowly dawn on her before he continued. “I…I’ve decided to move back to Virginia. I’m not certain what I’ll be doing there, but I want to be closer to family. My sister’s getting married and I want to be around her.”
    Nodding in a way that seemed more expected than real, she silently glanced over his shoulder at the framed family photograph on her wall. Her dad, in his military uniform, with his arm proudly around her mom’s shoulders, Evie and her sister standing in front of them. Her dad’s other hand rested on her, pulling her gently back into his strength. The family was smiling…a real smile from something amusing and not fake from a photographer’s insistence. He wants to be closer to his family.
    “Evie?” he whispered.
    Her eyes jerked back to his, nodding this time with more emotion. “Thank you…for um…well, thank you for being honest with me.”
    “You’re upset?”
    She watched the myriad of expressions cross his face. Concern. Guilt. Hope. Reaching out, she moved to cup his face before her fingers halted. “I have no right to be upset,” she said. “I…well, thank you.” Slipping away from him, she stood and moved to the kitchen. “Do you want another beer while we finish planning?”
    Patrick dropped his chin to his chest, his heart heavy. He knew she was smart. No sense in trying to build something that’ll just end in a couple of months anyway. Heaving another huge sigh, he stood following her. “Sure, that’d be great.”
    *     *     *
    Lying in bed that night, Evie relived the evening’s ending.
    Separating from the sofa, they danced around each other, pretending the kiss of all kisses had not happened. They continued to discuss the problem and decided to talk with the truck driver that weekend. Patrick had shown concern about her going but she had been insistent. “I’ll make him feel less threatened,” she had claimed and in the end, Patrick agreed.
    They also talked about the people she came in contact with on a daily basis at GMS, but it seemed that her range of contacts was minimal. “I’ll keep my ears and eyes open,” she promised and as he walked to the door, they stood awkwardly saying goodbye.
    Finally, he nodded sadly as she stepped back and closed the door.
    Now, hours later, she still could not sleep. Rolling over, she punched her pillow, huffing in frustration. Knowing sleep was not coming, she climbed out of bed, padding into the kitchen to make a cup of herbal tea. Once it steeped, she moved to the garden doors, stepping out onto her small deck overlooking the park near the back of the property.
    Settling in one of the lounge chairs, she pulled her robe tighter around her, blocking out the spring coolness, and sipped her tea.
    What’s really bothering me? The fact that I was falling for him, and now he’s beyond my reach? At least he was honest, telling me the truth before we went too far. Her mind wrestled with the swirl of emotions, all vying for attention.
    Patrick leaving in a couple of months to the other side of the country. Norman and Gary dismissing the possible theft, not wanting negative publicity. Saul, saying they were friends but seeming to want more. The new engineering job that would be hers in a couple of weeks.
    Leaning back, she lifted her eyes toward the stars, feeling alone. Bone-wearyingly alone. Her mind drifted back the picture of her family and a small smile escaped amidst the turmoil. I’m sorry dad. I never meant to imply that your Army career was bad…or not enough. I just hated moving, that’s all. It wasn’t easy for me to make friends. Sighing deeply as she sipped the last of her tea, she felt her father’s presence as though his arms wrapped around her. I