Page 25 of A Veteran’s Second Chance

His palm cups my cheek. “I want to sleep next to you every night. My injury could end my career, and even if it doesn’t, I want a life with you.”

I stiffen at his words. It’s everything I wanted to hear for so many years, for him to realize his mistake and come crawling back. But the reality of his declaration is terrifying. If I give Logan my heart, it leaves me vulnerable, but part of me knows it’s already too late. I must be stupid, because my heart flutters, and I have to push down the hope and remember what he did.

But that was a long time ago, and I have to admit he was right. I would have given up my place at college and followed him to a military base. I would have waited for him to return from every mission and grown more anxious and bored, and I probably would have ended up resenting him for the dreams I gave up.

He was right to leave all those years ago, even if he did decide for me. And I forgive him. But this is all moving too fast.

“Do you mean that?”

He strokes my cheek. “Of course I do. I love you. And I want to be with you, if you’ll have me.”

My chest expands at his words. He loves me, but I’m not ready to say it back. I forgive him, but I’m not ready to make it easy for him.

“I’ll think about it.”

He chuckles. “At least you’re not kicking me out.”

I roll over and he snuggles against me, and as I drift off to sleep with his arms around me, there’s a smile on my face because Logan Winslow loves me.

15

LOGAN

It’s after six as I climb the steps to Savanna’s place. Tonight, instead of a bag of groceries, I hold a battered envelope, stained brown from the dust of the Afghanistan desert.

I reach the top of the steps and hesitate with my finger hovering over the doorbell. Once she knows what’s in this envelope, it could all be over. But if I’m to have a future with Savanna, she deserves to know everything. She says I’ve been making the choices for her, and withholding information is also a choice. She may kick me out, but I have to risk it.

I take a deep breath and ring the doorbell.

Savanna opens it with a smile on her face. She looks radiant, and I drink her in, wondering if it will be the last time she smiles at me as if I hung the moon.

I smile back, despite the anxiety gnawing at my gut. She opens the door wide, and I follow her into the house.

She turns as soon as the door closes and puts her hands around my neck.

“You want to skip dinner and go straight to bed?” One hand slides down my chest, and the soft touch of her fingertips has desire flaring inside of me.

I’d love nothing better than to take her to bed, but I came here to tell her the truth, and I’m not going to be a coward about it.

“We need to talk.”

Her expression changes in a heartbeat. She drops her hands to her sides and steps away.

“You’re leaving.” Her voice is flat and her expression blank, not even surprised.

“I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere. But I have to show you something.”

She folds her arms across her chest, and for the first time her gaze slides to the envelope in my hand.

“What’s that?”

“I wasn’t entirely honest with you.”

“Logan?” Her voice has an edge to it. “What do you mean?”

Her scrutiny is intense, and it’s hard to look her in the eye. I stride through the living room and stop at the kitchen table. She moves to the opposite side and glares at me, not letting me out of her line of sight.

“I knew you were working at Jake’s Retreat, and I asked to be transferred.”