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“What was that for?” He’s looking into my eyes the way I love.
“I don’t know. You just seem different tonight.” I feel closer to him after our days and nights here, like we’ve moved to a different place.
I’ll find out whatever that means when we get back.
Reaching up, he holds my chin with two fingers. “What’s that look?”
“What do you mean?” I tilt my head and smile.
“You’re so smart. What are you thinking when you look at me that way?”
“You’re so smart,” I tease, repeating his question. “What are you thinking when you look at me that way.”
“I asked first.”
Pressing my lips together, I think about something that’s been on my mind since he said it. “What you said about your father… You are a leader. You were there every time Marley needed you. It’s not fair to you to say you failed. At some point men have to stand on their own.”
He sits back, sliding his hands to my thighs. “He was… injured. Damaged on my watch. It broke him.”
I’m a little afraid to ask, but I can tell this is so important. “Can you tell me what happened?”
A quiet moment passes. I’m afraid he’ll say no, but he doesn’t. “We were in Mexico on a peacekeeping mission headed to Venezuela, and he was kidnapped fueling one of the trucks. It took us two weeks to find him, and when we did…” He stops and I see him wince. “He’s never been able to get over it.”
His eyes don’t meet mine, but he doesn’t have to say what he’s thinking. “You think it’s your fault he was broken.” It’s not a question.
“We were all given medals and after that, we all wanted out. We joined the military because we wanted to do good. We wanted to be a part of the solution. After that, well… we were all pretty changed by it.”
I slide my hand down his arm until our fingers lace together. “I wish there was a way to show you it’s not your fault.”
“You’d be doing something hours of therapy weren’t able to accomplish.” His grin returns, but it’s a bit darker, a little more cynical. “What I can do is give them a comfortable life, good jobs, opportunities.”
“And when that’s not enough?”
“I don’t know.” Our eyes meet and he shrugs. “It’s all I’ve got.”
“I think you’ve got so much more.”
22
Patton
Tomorrow, we drive back to Nashville. Taron texted me they’re letting Marley out tomorrow morning, and he wants to meet with me, discuss our next steps. I couldn’t agree more.
Rocky emerges from the bathroom wearing one of my tees. Her sexy legs are on full display, and I lie back drinking in the view of her climbing onto the bed, the back of her pink lace panties peeking out.
I’ve always been a black or red lace kind of guy, but Rocky in her pink and white lace, changed my mind. Rocky… I love calling her that. It’s so unexpected and so perfect.
“We never got to use that tub.” She flops in the bed beside me.
“I prefer waterfalls.” I reach for her waist, pulling her across my lap in a straddle.
“It was beautiful.” Her voice is as dreamy as her smile.
Her hands rest on my shoulders, and her words about Marley, my feelings, are in my mind. She was so sad when I told her my truth—that I’ll never stop blaming myself for his condition—like it was her problem as well. Why would she think that?
She’s doing something to me. From the way she looks at me, to the way she believes in me. I don’t know why or how, but the block of ice in my chest that’s been passing for a heart for years is starting to thaw.
Leaning forward, I kiss her neck. “I think I’ll start calling you Rocky.”
