Page 8 of A Very Grumpy Green Beret

I stare at our joined hands, forcing myself to relax. I’m surprised Luca helped without asking a million questions. I’m surprised he helped at all. Most people wouldn’t have. At least not in the world I grew up in.

What is it about Luca that has me trusting him so easily? He makes me feel safe and cared for. Sure, he hasn’t given me a reason not to, but I was raised to never let my guard down and to treat everyone as an enemy. My parents taught me that everyone has an angle and wants something. But a few hours with Luca, and that conditioning had flown out the window.

How is he always right there when I need him? Is he my guardian angel? My knight in shining armor?

I should be terrified as I sit in his passenger seat, driving to God only knows where, but for the first time in my life, I’m not scared. Luca might be a near stranger, but he’s a good man.

I could fall in love with him so easily.

The thought hits me like a punch as we turn down a back road, bouncing over a pothole.

No. You can’t get attached. It’s not safe for him. Plus, if I have to pack up and leave in a hurry, it would only break my heart to leave Luca behind too.

Still, as Luca squeezes my hand and drives us away from town, all I can think is that it might be too late. I’m already falling for the giant grump, and I don’t know how to stop it.

Or if I really want to.

5

Luca

I’m on cloud nine.

Perry is in my home.

As I lead her inside and lock the door behind us, I’m suddenly glad I couldn’t sleep last night and spent it cleaning the place. No sign of my obsession with her—at least not out in the open. But if she goes into my office, I’m screwed. I’ll have to remember to lock the door.

“So, this is my place,” I tell her, reluctantly releasing her hand.

“It’s great.”

I look around, trying to see it through her eyes. I haven’t bothered with decorating, so the place is pretty sparse. I wanted Perry to pick out what she liked. I want her stamp on every square inch of our home.

“Thanks. I just moved in, so it’s not fully furnished yet.”

“Oh, when did you move here?” she asks.

About two days after you did.

“About a week and a half ago.”

“What brings you to Wolf Valley?”

You.

“I needed a change of scenery,” I lie.

“Where did you live before?”

“I was in the Army, so I kind of moved around a lot.”

“Really? That explains the build,” she says with a smile.

I look down at my body. “Oh, I’ve always been big. I guess it helped, though.”

“What was your job in the Army?”

“I was a Green Beret.”