Page 6 of A Veteran’s Second Chance

When we met, I was about to start training at Fort Bragg, so she doesn’t question the logic. Hope is a good few hours away from Fort Bragg, but Jake’s Retreat is making a name as an excellent facility to heal more than physical injuries.

“We’ll get started straight away with some light exercises.”

She continues to speak with clipped professionalism. If she feels anything at all about seeing me again, it’s hidden behind her cool exterior.

Then she’s opening the door and ushering me out of her treatment room. The time has passed too quickly, and I need to see her again.

“What time do you finish here?”

Savanna holds the door open with one hand, waiting for me to leave. “My last patient is at four.”

“Can I walk you home?”

She tilts her head and frowns at me. “I live in town. I drive home.”

Jake’s Retreat is halfway up the mountain and ten minutes out of Hope. “I’ll walk you to your car then. I heard there’s some trouble brewing on the mountain. Some people are being pressured to sell property, and a friend told me it’s been getting nasty.” I’m grateful I had the chance to catch up with Jace to get the intel.

Savanna shakes her head. “Logan, I’ve been looking after myself for over a decade. I don’t need anyone to walk me to my car.”

“Right.” I nod slowly.

She’s definitely not eighteen anymore. Savanna is a grown, independent woman who doesn’t need me. I’ve got a lot of work to do to change her mind.

5

SAVANNA

Islam the fridge door shut with my hip and plunk the milk carton on the counter. Some of it sloshes onto the counter, and Panda gives a distressed mewl.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Cassie is as indignant as Panda, although about something entirely different. “You can’t treat Logan Winslow.”

I transfer my cellphone from my ear to the bench and put it on speaker, which means I’m not quick enough to stop Panda from jumping on the counter and lapping at the milk.

“Hey, get down.” I pick up the fluff ball and place him on the ground, where he licks his lips and meows at me.

“It’s fine,” I lie. “It’s been eleven years. I’m over him.”

“I know you are, sweetheart, but he broke your fucking heart. That asshole does not deserve your hands on him. Oh fuck.” No one who heard my sister sing her sweet country songs would suspect she swears like a trooper. “You didn’t have to touch him, did you?”

My cheeks flush as I remember my hands on Logan’s warm skin, exploring the muscles in his shoulder and feeling them move under my fingers.

“I’m just doing my job. It’s fine.”

I pour the milk into my hot chocolate and give Panda a bit in his bowl. It’s not good for him to have too much milk, but today is a treat kind of day. Panda gets milk and I get a large slice of chocolate cake, which I grabbed from Sweet & Strong on my way home.

“You need to get out of there, Savanna. Come and join me for a few weeks. You must be due for some vacation, and I’ll pay for your ticket.”

The thought of getting on a plane and flying to see Cassie is tempting, but she forgets I live in the real world with a job and responsibilities. “I can’t just take leave like that. Joel needs me, the patients need me.”

Panda looks up from his bowl of milk as if to remind me about him. “And I can’t leave Panda.”

“He’s a fucking cat, Savanna. Someone can take care of him for a few weeks.”

“He’s not just a cat.” I crouch down to ruffle his fur, and Panda arches his back and purrs. “He’s my companion.”

Cassie snorts. “Only because you’re too scared to date a real person.”

“That’s not true.”