Free Second Nature by Krista Ames Page B

love it.” After Dana had the nickel tour, they went to the kitchen. “The pictures you sent didn’t do your home justice.”
    “Thanks. It suits our needs and we like it a lot. A far cry from our college days, huh? Do you remember our first apartment?” Amy laughed.
    “How could I forget? Ugh, it was hardly big enough for the both of us at one time. But hey, the price was right!”
    “Are you hungry? We could have a small bite before we start primping for the party.”
    Dana’s eyes went wide, her stomach growling at the mere mention of food. “Oh, yes, please! I’m starved! Peanuts and tomato juice on the plane didn’t cut it. Hey, I thought Dave would be home?”
    Amy opened the refrigerator and pulled out cold meat, bread, and mayonnaise for sandwiches. “Actually, Dave is already at his friend’s house where the party will be. I dropped him off when I left to pick you up. You know how men are, last minute guy stuff. We’ll just meet him there. He’s almost as anxious to see you again as I was.”
    After a quick bite to eat, Dana dumped her purchases on the bed and got dressed for the party. While they dressed and primped, Dana was briefed on the important people who would be at this party, namely Dave’s captain, sergeants, and other guys he worked with. Their family wasn’t able to come into town until the day before the wedding.
    Once dressed, Amy rushed her out of the townhouse. Dana slid onto the passenger seat looking like a million bucks and ready for a good time. Amy’s dress was similar to Dana’s, only white with rhinestones covering the straps. She also wore teardrop earrings with a matching necklace, perfect attire for a bride-to-be.
    Dana was so excited and nervous, her palms were sweating and goose bumps spread over her arms. She loved a man in uniform. Who wouldn’t? It really had been a long time since she’d been with a man. She could hear her internal clock ticking, or was that her hormones kicking into overdrive at the mere thought of men? She just needed to keep thoughts of her past with Nick in shut-off mode.
    Amy parked in the driveway of a lovely Cape Cod cottage overlooking the bay.
    Wow! Dana smiled.
    The exterior of the cottage had rustic barn siding with a dark green door and shudders. The sidewalk was a wooden boardwalk, and a wrought iron bench sat in the flower garden situated in front of a large bay window. This cottage was one she wouldn’t mind living in.
    As if reading Dana’s thoughts, Amy smiled. “Wait until you see the inside. Ready?”
    Dana shook her head, nervous and laughing. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Chapter Two
    Nick stood on the balcony, facing the bay. He loved the view, which was the main reason he’d bought this place. He’d been moving around the last five years, and to finally call a place home created a sense of peace and belonging, even if he was alone.
    He had met his best buddy, Dave, two years ago when they were assigned to the same ship. He didn’t like Dave at first, because the guy couldn’t stop talking about a girl he had just met. Dave’s obsession over Amy had annoyed Nick as it made him think of the girl he’d left behind.
    She had been everything he always wanted in a girlfriend, beauty, personality—the whole package. It was true what they said about absence making the heart grow fonder. He fell for her hard, and not a day went by that he didn’t think about her, but she probably hated him, forgot all about him, and moved on with her life. He only wished he had been as successful at moving on with his own life.
    Nick got to know Dave pretty well since they worked together for nine months on a ship in the middle of the wide open ocean. Once their deployment ended, and they were landlocked in Seattle, Nick wanted to find the perfect house, to settle down and embark on a future.
    He was throwing an engagement party for Dave and his fiancé tonight. What are friends for, right? He was happy Dave had found his soul mate,