by Aliyah Burke
That was a new one for me.
By his truck, he leaned against the hood and linked his fingers. “I’m not giving you up without a fight, Ariel Greene. I will find you.”
And he had plans to keep her in his life this time. As Drake had said, it was time for him to be a man and go after the final thing to make his life complete.
Ariel Greene.
And he knew it wouldn’t be easy. He would have to compromise with her but to have her, beside him…forever? He was ready to walk through hell if that’s what she required of him.
Tuck got in his truck and started the engine to go to the apartment. As he stopped at an intersection and waited for the red to change, he felt a seed of hope begin to grow within him. It finally switched to green and he accelerated. Bright lights had him narrowing his eyes against the glare as they approached him.
Crunch!
Chapter Fifteen
Ariel stepped from the shower and paused at the sight of her second lieutenant standing there. Despite only wearing a towel, she straightened to attention. They’d just got back from patrol and she’d been filthy. Not to mention looking forward to—and desperately needing—the final shower she’d have before landing stateside.
“Ma’am?”
“The colonel wants to see you.”
“I’ll report as soon as I dress.”
“See that you do.” She turned and walked to the door. “Great job, today, Sergeant.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant.”
She was left alone. Ariel wiped a hand over the fogged mirror and stared at her reflection. She’d been activated to take the place of this unit’s person who’d been KIA. Today, she’d been on point for the patrol.
I hated this damn country when I was here before. My opinion on it hasn’t changed.
She donned her clothing and laced up her boots before fixing the fall of her pants. Once her wet hair had been drawn back into a tight bun, she left the shower and headed to her commanding officer’s tent.
“Sergeant Greene reporting as ordered,” she said once she’d stepped inside.
Colonel Leaf waved her forward while he spoke to his aide. She stood at attention, waiting.
“At ease, Sergeant. I’ll be right with you.”
Smoothly, she readjusted to parade rest. People had begun to pack up the colonel’s items. They were rotating out tomorrow—she’d only been here for eight weeks. Again, not that she minded. At least she got to go home when they did instead of having to stay.
“Have a seat, Sergeant.”
She did and stared at Colonel Leaf. He was a proud man—he dyed his hair black as he desperately tried to hide the grey. His current dye job wasn’t the best for she could see some places he’d missed. They’d had a rocky start but she believed they’d come to an understanding of sorts.
“A message for you. I thought best you read it after the patrol.” He slid a folded sheet to her.
Uncertain, she took it, sat back and read.
Please advise Sgt Ariel Greene that Tuck Carter has been severely injured in a car accident. Prognosis uncertain. Slater
Her stomach revolted and it was only with great control that she avoided puking her guts out. She trembled as the words tumbled around in her head. The need to be at Tuck’s side slammed her with incredible force. Shit. Ariel folded the sheet again and crushed it in her palm.
Colonel Leaf studied her before resting folded hands on the desk. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well. You are dismissed.”
Ariel was in a bit of a daze as she walked back through the camp to find and utilise her rack. Tuck. Sitting on the narrow bed, she dropped her head in her hands. She missed him and wanted to see him for herself. Prognosis uncertain. Those weren’t good words. What had happened? So many questions were there and she had no way of getting answers now. She was leaving tomorrow and would be home shortly after that.
Home? More like another place to lay her head. All of her things were in storage. She made a mental note to call Connie or Slater to find out what hospital Tuck was being held at. Flopping back, she closed her eyes and called up a mental recollection of the man she’d desired since the first time she met him.
Big. Muscular. Still, so gentle with her. Sometimes. He wasn’t gentle in the museum when he took you so many times, her subconscious reminded her. It was true but she’d taken what he’d given her with pleasure. Much pleasure.
It was hard to imagine her big, strong man in a hospital bed.
Yours? Her brain chimed in. He’s not yours any longer. You broke up with him.
True. She had. Doesn’t mean I don’t still care.
And she did care. Breaking it off hadn’t been an easy decision for her to come to, especially not given the depth of her emotions towards him. However, respect was necessary and his neglecting to mention that whore to her had been bad enough. Didn’t help that she’d seen Daisy using his truck. Hell, he’d said to her he didn’t like anyone driving his vehicle, and this woman had—it appeared—carte blanche to do just that. Ariel had seen her on more than a few occasions behind the wheel.
That alone would have been difficult enough but she’d dealt with it—the uncertainty, insecurity and all the other negative feelings that came with it—all the while waiting for him to tell her he’d gone and hired the woman to his company. He never had. It was disappointing that he wouldn’t let her know. More than that, however, it hurt. Why didn’t he want her to know? Was there something between him and Daisy?
The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back had happened when he’d brought her for Thanksgiving. It had been too much and she hadn’t been able to just look the other way anymore.
She readjusted and tried to find a comfortable spot. Her body, while being physically tired, didn’t slow down the wheel in her mind about Tuck’s injury.
“Greene! Volleyball. Five min.”
She waved a hand in acknowledgement. Well, I was clean for about fifteen tics. She gave herself another three before pushing up from the bed. She stripped her blouse and headed out in her tank top. She couldn’t be shirtless like the men but she would do what she could to stay cool. Bottle of water in hand, she slipped on her sunglasses and made her way to the edge of their makeshift court.
“Where am I?” she asked.
Side and position realised, she did her best not to think about Tuck. There wasn’t anything she could do from where she was anyway. The feat wasn’t one easily accomplished, but she managed.
* * * *
“Yes, ma’am. I made it back just fine.” Ariel stood at the conveyor system in baggage claim, waiting for luggage, and spoke to her mother.
“That’s wonderful to hear, dear. I do worry so when you are off playing solider.” The comment was flippant.
Ariel tapped her forehead and paced, trying to keep her retort inside. This was why she didn’t spend much time with her family. It always went like this.
Mrs Julianna Greene was stubborn and set in her ways. One of which was her belief that men went to war to fight. Not women. And especially not her daughter. Women were to stay home and raise a family.
She knew this happened even more because she was born into money and didn’t need to do such things. Hell, according to her mother she shouldn’t even be working period, but planning parties and giving orders to the help.
“Now,” her mother said. “When will you be home?”
Ariel could picture her. She would be standing in her room, possibly on the balcony, staring out over her domain and clapping her hands as she envisioned all the people she would control. “I’m not coming home. I have a job to get to.”
“There’s this doctor I want to introduce you to. Now, he’s merely a surgeon, not a specialist. However, he’s mentioned thinking about becoming one in the future. Very easy on the eyes. I’ve shown him your picture and he’s anxious to meet you.”
She needed a drink. A big, stiff one. “Again, although I’m sure you
talking over me was perfectly deliberate, let me reiterate this. I’m not coming home.”
“Don’t you sass me. You’re not gone playing in the sand, you’re home and therefore you will come home.”
I love her. Truly, I do. Right? “I have a job.”
“Why do you have to fight everything, Ariel? Can’t you just once not make things difficult for me? It’s your father’s seventieth birthday three days from now and I expect you home to attend the bash we’re putting on. I know you wouldn’t disappoint him.” The words implied she’d hurt her mother. Shit, shit, shit! She’d totally forgotten that. There was no way she could skip it, not being in the country as she was. Looked like she had to book another flight. Of course there was still time to get a hotel and at least drop in and see Tuck.
“I’ll be there the day before.”
“Can’t you just come today? I have the seamstress on call in case you have nothing to wear but less than twenty-four hours isn’t much time for you to get a proper wardrobe.”
Translation—no matter what she wore, it wouldn’t be good enough for Mrs Julianna Greene.
“My closet is full of clothing.” The light blinked and the warning sounded. Finally.
A heavy sigh. “All outdated fashions.”
“Mother, do not think you can toss me into some fancy clothes and marry me off. The clothing will be fine for Daddy’s party.”
“Were you not listening to me? I want you to meet this doctor. He will be at the party.”
“I’m coming for Daddy’s party. Not for a date.”
The first of the bags began appearing.
“No harm in doing both. You’re not getting any younger, you know. You need to get married and have a child before you’re too old. Now, when you’re here make sure we dispense with talking about you playing in the dirt. He wouldn’t be impressed by that.”
“You mean my being a Marine?”
The sigh said it all. “I expect you to act like a lady who’s had a good upbringing.”
She rolled her eyes and reached for her desert camouflage bag. “So, however I normally act…”
“The opposite. He’s a good man for you and would make a great father. He wants three kids. Two boys and a girl. No pets. He knows you enjoy cooking and that’s something he approves of.”
Of course he does. She prayed for patience. “I have to go, Mother. I will see you in two days.”
She hung up and groaned. That short call had been more exhausting than her past eight weeks. After shouldering her bag, she walked out to a waiting taxi. She had already reported in and had been dropped back to active reserve status.
The taxi dropped her off at a hotel and she tossed her bag onto the bed once in her room. Then she called Slater to find out what had happened and where Tuck was.
Her mood was sombre as she stepped out of the Charleston International Airport and walked to where her rental would be waiting for her. Tuck was comatose and the respirator attached to him made him seem so fragile, she’d spent most of her two days before coming here with him.
After unlocking the door to her Chrysler 300, she put her bag in the trunk then got behind the wheel. She didn’t want to be here. She wanted to be with Tuck.
“Not entirely true, I want to see Daddy.” She pulled away from the lot and began the trek to the house she grew up in. “It’s everyone else I don’t want to deal with.”
She spent her time on the road convincing herself she wouldn’t allow them to draw her into any kind of argument. She would be pleasant. After all, it was only a day and a half. She could handle that.
Outside the gate of her childhood home, she paused before turning up the long paved drive. At the top she saw the large house with the six pillars. Rolling her eyes at the overstated opulence, she took her foot off the brake and began heading up.
She parked in front of the six-car garage and got her bag before striding to the door. It swung open and she smiled affectionately at the man standing there.
“Porter!”
“Ms Greene,” he said with a smile. “Welcome home.”
She hugged the reed-thin man and pressed a kiss to his weathered cheek. “How are you?”
“Fine, thank you.”
Porter was the one person from her childhood she recalled with any fondness. He allowed her to tail him and regaled her with tails of his life in the Marines. She’d joined because of him.
“Where is everyone?”
“Atrium.” He winked. “Shall I alert her to your arrival?”
“No, no.” She held up her hands and waved them vehemently. “Definitely not necessary to do that.”
His nod was one of understanding. “It’s always a blessing to see you.” He walked her to the stairs and parted ways there.
She watched him walk away. A bit older and a bit slower, but she’d bet anything he was just as sharp. Jogging up to the next floor, she went to then pushed open the door of her room and stepped inside. Instantly her eyes hurt—pink and lace. What every good young girl desired. Especially a debutante. Or so she’d been informed by her mother. Eventually she’d learned to tune out the colour and ignore how offensive it was to her.
After debating changing for a while, she finally decided to stay how she was dressed. So much for avoiding confrontation, she told herself with a wry grin.
The atrium hadn’t changed either. It was still a nice place to hang out. She could hear her mother, and took a final fortifying breath and walked towards the voices.
“Daddy,” she said as they came into view.
Her father’s grin made all the crap she knew was coming worth it. “Ariel,” he said rising to his feet. “Porter didn’t tell us you were here.”
“I told him not to bother, I’d be right down.” She hugged him, grateful to see how spry he appeared.
“Obviously,” her mother said. “I see you didn’t change.”
Releasing her father, she faced her mother. As usual, the woman hadn’t a single hair out of place. Her silk outfit, Ariel knew from experience, would have been expensive. She walked over and placed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “Good to see you as well, Mother.”
The shoulder pat and air kiss were decidedly uncomfortable. “I expect you to dress for dinner.”
“I’ve only eaten naked once but he asked me so nicely I couldn’t find it in me to refuse.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “Ariel, please. There is no reason to be crass.”
“Do I need a reason other than it’s fun?” She moved to the ottoman then sat and leant back against the chair behind it. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll make sure to be properly attired for the evening meal.”
“See that you do.”
Ariel didn’t even respond. Her mother loved having the last word and it made things in the house much simpler when she got her way. This woman would have had Hitler running to the Allies asking, begging to surrender if it would just get her off his back.
* * * *
The party was a hit. Trouble was, it lasted all day and by evening, Ariel wasn’t in the best of moods. All this flash and pomposity wasn’t her thing. She would have much rather taken her father to a steakhouse and had a beer with him. As she leaned against the marble balustrade, a shadow fell over her left shoulder.
Wishing it wasn’t some trick played by the wine she’d had, she took a breath and looked. The man standing there was handsome. His three-piece suit had been tailored for him, she knew that from a single glance. There was no way ones off the rack draped that way.
She arched an eyebrow. “Can I help you?” I bet this is what’s-his-name that Mother wants me to mate with.
He held out his hand, assuredness all over his behaviour. “Dr Saunders. Aaron Saunders.”
They shook and she smiled. “Ariel Greene.”
His grin turned smug. “I know. Your mother showed me your picture.”
“Did she now?”
“It didn’t do you justice.”
She retrieved her hand from his a
nd drained the rest of her drink. Already her alarms were screaming to get away from him. “Mother says you’re just a surgeon, not a specialist.”
His expression sobered and he cleared his throat. “I’ll be getting that soon.”
She gave him a smile she’d seen her mother give many times. One that placated but wasn’t at all impressed.
“She told me you would be interested in a date to see how well we get along.”
“And then we can discuss marriage?”
“Yes. I mean I obviously like what I see and I know you do.”
Oh, of all the unmitigated gall… Her fist clenched and she counted back from ten so she didn’t punch him. All she did was smile and give a grunt of sorts.
“She says you love to cook. I think that’s wonderful. I agree with your mother that women should be home, cooking for their children.”
“Is that so? Did my mother tell you she never once cooked for us? Nor did she raise us. The servants and nanny did.” She stepped closer. “I grew up loving beer and steak. Not wine. Although I do drink it occasionally. I also like my hard liquor. I swear like a sailor and I am not the docile type of woman my mother tries to pretend I am. If that’s what you’re after, you should probably talk with her about my other sister. She’s a bit more primitive, like you and my mother.”
He seemed taken aback. Ariel pressed on.
“I’m not a dainty housewife. I’m a Marine. I’m not supposed to tell you that because according to her, it’s not ladylike. Well, I’m not very ladylike. I’m in this dress for my father. That’s it. Not because you were coming and she hoped I’d fall madly in love with you. I’m already in love with someone and he does what my mother considers menial work. Good luck, Doctor. But you’re not getting into this family through me.” She shifted her weight. “If you’ll excuse me, I am going to go pull this underwear out of the crack of my ass.” She smirked. “It’s just so uncomfortable some days.”
Laughing, she walked away and went to her father’s side. He was eating some of his cake but looked up when she approached.
“Time for you to go?”