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It was more than Mattie could believe. The most senior member of the other ranks in the British Army, the post had only been created in a few years before, and both previous appointment holders had been former WO1s, later commissioned as captains.
Kane would be the newest holder. And Mattie couldn’t think of a more deserving individual.
‘That’s...phenomenal,’ she managed, a wave of nostalgia walloping her suddenly.
What she wouldn’t have given to be able to tell her father that the kindness he’d shown Kane all those years ago hadn’t been wasted. He would have been so proud.
She was only sorry that it had taken her until now to know it.
* * *
Kane removed his headwear as he stepped through the doors to his battalion headquarters, as protocol dictated, and made his way up the long, winding stairs to his adjutant’s office to get an appointment with his CO.
No doubt relaying his decision to Percy Copperhead would give the guy the kick of the year, but Kane told himself he didn’t care. He’d spent too many weeks without Mattie, and he’d hated it.
Dedicating himself to his army career had been one thing fourteen years ago. But now, after those nights they’d spent together—and all those revelations—his career had lost some of its lustre. At least, when compared to what he had with her.
If he could have had both, it would have been perfect, but having to choose made it a no-brainer. He would have been to see his CO earlier, if the guy hadn’t sent him to run yet another needless training course, as if to take up as much of his downtime as possible.
The guy wasn’t to know that Kane had welcomed every moment of it. It had kept his mind busy whilst he’d tried to grapple with the gravity of giving up his entire career for the woman he loved—with the risk that she might not even want him.
But it didn’t matter, he had to try. He would never forgive himself if he didn’t.
Mattie had been right, back in that ruin the last night they’d been together. He had more prospects now than he’d had had as a kid. People head-hunting him. He would earn more money to provide for his family. He had something to offer her. Which was why it wasn’t the impossible decision he’d feared it would be, to walk away from it all for her.
The last thing he anticipated, when he reached the top of the staircase, was to see Mattie leaving Copperhead’s office, a grim expression on her face.
Everything fell away and in that split second there was no army, no building. Only her, and him. Something bubbled inside him at the mouth-watering sight of her walking down the corridor, every step a picture in elegance and barely restrained anger.
‘Mat... Major,’ he growled, changing his term of address at the last moment.
She stopped abruptly, her head snapping up to look at him, and Kane had to draw in a steadying breath, scarcely able to believe how much self-control it was taking him not to simply stride over and take her in his arms.
But there were too many people around and, as far as they were concerned, she was a major and he was a warrant officer.
‘Hello, ma’am, what brings you here?’
‘Mr Wheeler.’ She inclined her head politely, her eyes taking in everyone around them without appearing to be looking anywhere. ‘A little bit of final business on Operation Strikethrough.’
She was lying. He couldn’t read the look that danced over her lovely features, but he knew there was something going on.
‘Actually, it’s fortuitous that I’ve seen you. Do you have five minutes?’
Only he could know her well enough to hear the shake of anticipation in her voice. Was the same buzzing thrill zipping madly around her body at this very moment, the way it was his?
He’d really wanted to speak to Copperhead before he spoke to Mattie, but there was no way he could refuse her. No way he wanted to.
‘Certainly,’ he acquiesced. ‘Which way?’
‘This is your battalion HQ, Mr Wheeler, I wonder if you would lead the way.’
Wordlessly, he led her along the corridor to one of the quieter training rooms, set up a little like a classroom. He opened the door for her then followed her inside.
She moved around the other side of the desks and looked at him.
‘So what are you doing here, Matz?’ he asked quietly. ‘And don’t flannel me with final reports on Operation Strikethrough.’
‘I can’t tell you.’ There was the vaguest hint of anguish in her tone, making him believe her, before she turned the question back on him. ‘What are you doing here, Kane?’
