Free War Wounded (The War Trilogy #2.5) by Andria Large

turn to Duke as I stop next to my car. “So, that was definitely the best only-friends-non-date I’ve ever had.” I smirk.
    Duke throws his head back and laughs. “Yeah, I’d have to agree with you. Should we do it again?”
    I search his eyes for a second. Should we do it again? Do I really want to date someone else so soon after calling off my wedding?
    “I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
    He nods in understanding. “Yeah. I don’t know either,” he says quietly.
    I can see that he’s warring with himself. I know he doesn’t want to get close to another woman. Even though he said that he would do a long-term relationship, I think he’s still wary about getting involved at all. He’s been hurt badly and doesn’t want to put himself in the position of it happening again.
    “How about we just say maybe and sleep on it?” I suggest.
    He takes a deep breath and nods again. “Okay.”
    I step into him and tilt my head back so I can look up at him. He’s much taller than I am. Duke leans down and places a tender kiss on my lips.
    “Be careful driving,” he whispers against my lips.
    “You, too,” I whisper back.
    One more lingering kiss before we go our separate ways. It’s too late to talk to Jade by the time I get home; she's already sleeping, so I climb into bed, foregoing a shower because I want Duke’s scent on my skin just a little longer, and go to sleep. I’ll talk to Jade in the morning to tell her all about my non-date with Duke Tavish.
     
     
     

 
    ~ Chapter Seven ~
     
    ~ Duke ~
     
    I take a long swig of my beer and stare blankly at the TV screen in front of me. I’m not really watching the hockey game that’s on. Tucker is with me at the bar across from my place. It’s a few days before Christmas and I’m having a bit of a pity-party. I haven’t seen or talked to Arianna in about three days, but she’s all I can think about. What's happening to me? I've never been so hung up on a chick before.
    “So what’s crawled up your ass and died?” Tucker asks.
    After another pull from my beer bottle, I set it on the bar top and sigh. “I slept with Arianna.”
    Tucker's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "When did that happen?"
    "A few days ago," I answer.
    “Okay? Why do you make it sound like a bad thing? She’s single, you’re single,” Tucker says in confusion. Tucker found out about Arianna's cheating ex from her brother Keith, who was furious when he found out.
    “We danced in the fucking snow!” I exclaim as if that explains everything.
    Tucker frowns, his gaze turning concerned. “Are you okay? Feeling alright there, buddy?”
    “I ate chocolate icing off her nipples, for shit’s sake!”
    Tucker’s blue eyes widen slightly. “Dude, keep your voice down, we’re in public,” he hisses.
    I groan and drop my forehead to the bar top.
    “I don’t understand the problem here, Duke. It sounds like you had a really nice time with her,” Tucker says.
    My head shoots up and I glare at him. “That IS the problem! I like her! Way more than I should! I can’t stop thinking about her!” I cry in annoyance.
    I can see that Tucker is fighting not to smile. Dick.
    “It’s okay to like someone, you know,” he says and pats me on the shoulder.
    “No, it’s not. Because you know what I see happening with her?” I ask him.
    He rolls his lips in and shakes his head. “No, what?”
    “L.O.V.E.,” I tell him in an exaggerated whisper.
    Tucker can’t fight it anymore, he bursts out laughing.
    “It’s not funny!” I hiss, giving his shoulder a shove. “I can’t do it again, man. I just can’t,” I murmur dejectedly.
    Tucker’s laughter fades and a sympathetic look replaces the humor.
    “You know, the harder you fight it, the faster you’re going to fall,” Tucker says softly.
    I drop my face into my hands and make a pained noise. “She’s like the perfect woman. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
    “Maybe you’ve finally found the right one then,” Tucker