A Soldier's Roots

by Tessa Elaine

  My mouth is watering, and I can’t take my eyes off the hint of tan skin that is peeking out. How can one man be so perfect?

  “Sarah, what do we do now?” My eyes snapped up to Wyatt, and he's pulled his cap off and rubbing his shaved head. It's still so strange to see him without hair, but he's still hot as sin.

  “Now, Lexington gives her account of what happened. They are going to ask if you want to press charges.” I’m cut off before I can finish.

  “Damn right she's pressing charges. That little fucker is lucky he's still breathing.”

  He has no idea how true that statement is. If Mr. Chase and I had not arrived when we did, Dean might have killed him. That boy looked like he was ready to commit murder.

  I go and get the Sheriff. Wyatt and I sit while Lex tells them what happened. They ask a few questions but for the most part, just listen.

  Wyatt decides while all this is going on to pry into my personal life.

  “So, princess, who are all the flowers from? It’s not a holiday, and it’s not your birthday.” He gives me that sexy smirk and points at the table full of roses.

  “Stop calling me that and the flowers are none of your business,” I tell him.

  “Come on, don’t be like that. They from your dad?”

  “No, Wyatt, they are not from my dad. They're from my boyfriend.” Why I say that I have no idea. I’m not sure if I’m even going to keep seeing Brad.

  I peek at Wyatt out of the corner of my eye and see his jaw ticks and his lips thin. His neck looks a little red, and his fists are clenched.

  “Boyfriend huh?” I just nod.

  I know he’s not getting mad about me having a boyfriend. He’s probably still mad about what happened to Lex.

  “What’s his name?” he finally asks.

  “Wyatt, this is not the time or the place to be talking about my relationship. Everyone will meet him at the wedding shower.” I wish he would just drop it.

  “So, it's serious enough to bring him to Lucas and Elena's wedding shower?” His voice sounds strained, but I’m afraid to look at him.

  “Yes.” is all I say.

  After the Sheriff is done talking to Lex, they tell Wyatt he can take her home. Lexington is worried about Dean, but the Sheriff tells her they have to book him for assault. Lex is mad and begs Wyatt to do something.

  “Smalls, I will see what I can do.” With that, they both stand to leave.

  I give Lexington a big hug and tell her I will come by to check on her.

  On the way out the door, Wyatt stops and turns to look at me.

  “He’s not good enough for you.” My jaw drops. He wouldn’t know the first thing about what’s good enough for me.

  “You don’t even know him.”

  “No one is good enough for you, Princess.” With that Wyatt turns and walks out of my office. Leaving me standing there gaping after him like a fish out of water.

  “What the heck?” I whisper.

  Chapter 5

  Wyatt

  My blood pressure is through the roof. After leaving Sarah’s office, I took Lexington home. Mama was there when we pulled up. It took everything I had not to go down to the county jail and kill that little son of a bitch. Watching Ma and Lex cry over what had happened was enough to break me.

  I spent the next few hours calming them down and reassuring them that we will press charges. This little shit might get more than some community service and parole. After making dinner for them, I tell Lex to take a few days off school.

  On the way out the door, she stops me.

  “Thank you,” Lex tells me.

  “Why are you thanking me?” I have no idea what she has to thank me for.

  “For always being there for me.” Well, hell.

  “Smalls, I will always be here for you. You know that, right? You never have to thank me for that.” She hugs my waist, and I wrap her in a bear hug.

  “Wyatt?” she whispers.

  “Yeah?”

  “Do me a favor?” She looks up at me.

  “Anything.” I would do anything for my family.

  “Don’t let Dean get in trouble for saving me.” Yeah, I should call and find out what has happened with the kid.

  “I will do everything I can. Now go eat dinner and get some rest,” I tell her.

  I kiss them both goodbye and tell them I will check in on them tomorrow and then head to my rig.

  Driving home I make some calls. One to Lucas, letting him know everything that happened and why I left work early. He’s just as pissed as I am and tells me we can use his lawyer. This guy will help Dean and prosecute the little shit that assaulted my sister to the fullest.

  By the time I get home I’m beat and ready for a shower. Climbing out of my truck I see something out of the corner of my eye come barreling in my direction. Shit, is it bad I forgot about Mutt? I guess it's steak and potatoes again tonight. Spoiled ass dog.

  I let Mutt into the house and head straight for the shower. When I first moved in taking a shower was hard. Having one leg makes things a little difficult. I remodeled the bathroom and made it easier for me. Adding in a seat and handrails, with a detachable shower head. I refuse to let my shitty situation stop me from having some kind of normal life.

  For a while I was a miserable sack of shit, feeling sorry for myself and wallowing in my own self-loathing. Physical therapy took a lot out of me and learning how to walk again on a prosthetic, well let's just say I felt like a failure.

  I pull off my close and then my prosthetic, propping it against the wall. Using the rails and the chair attached to the wall I shower and try to relax. Washing my body, I look down and see the scars running down my left side. Losing my leg wasn't the only injury I sustained on that awful day.

  The shrapnel tore through my left side, from my knee to under my armpit. It’s a mangled mess, raised flesh that looks red and angry still. I can’t even stand to look at it. I had three broken ribs, severe blood loss, and a dislocated shoulder. That’s just a few from a long list of shit that was wrong with me. I was in pretty bad shape when I showed up in Germany.

  The scars where the shrapnel was in my body burn like a ghost that will forever damn me. My mental scars from failing my mission, from failing my friends, will forever be with me. When I returned as a civilian, I kept people at a distance, kept myself separate from everyone. I couldn’t lose anything else, and keeping people away insured that.

  I finish my shower and try to shake off this feeling that is rising in my chest. Putting my prosthetic back on and throwing on a pair of basketball shorts. I feel the fog in my head trying to take me back to the one place I never want to go back to. Needing a distraction, I start dinner for Mutt and me.

  I finish the steak and set his plate and water dish on the floor by the table. For a stray, this dog has better manners than most humans I know. He sits there at the end of the couch waiting for me to take my seat and give him the go ahead. Right before I tell Mutt to dig in, I hear a car pull down my drive.

  No one ever comes out here except Lucas, and he usually calls first. I stand to see who it is and hear their car door shut. When I finally pull the door open, I’m at a loss for words. Why is she here, why would she come out here?

  She takes my breath away as she walks up my steps. Her black heels and tight skirt. She let her long blond hair out of the tight knot on top of her head, and now it’s falling over her shoulders. Framing her face perfectly like the angel she is.

  “What brings you to my neck of the woods?” My voice is rough, and my throat is tight. The effect this woman has on me is crazy.

  She’s twisting her hands in front of her and has yet to look up at me.

  “Sarah, what are you doing here?” She finally looks up, and I see her eyes go wide. They travel from my left arm, down my side, then to my leg. All I have on is a pair of loose basketball shorts.

  I start to shift my weight back and forth, feeling a little uncomfortable. No one has seen this much of me except for
my physical therapist and the doctors. With the weather here in Montana, I can wear jeans all year round.

  She’s taking in the scars and the missing parts of me. I can’t help but feel like less of a man with her perusal. She hasn't said a word, and I can’t help but wonder what she's thinking and what she thinks of me.

  “Sarah?” My voice is hoarse and tight, barely pushing her name past my lips.

  “Um… I stopped by your mom’s to check on Lexington.” Her eyes slowly make their way back up my body. I almost think I see lust in her gaze. “Your mom seemed a little worried…” she trails off.

  “Worried about me?” I ask. She just shakes her head.

  “I’m fine.” I keep it short, trying to get this over with.

  “Wyatt?” she whispers my name, and it almost brings me to my knees.

  I have tried for years to keep my distance from Sarah. I made a mistake and kissed her once, years ago, when she was at her most vulnerable. She was at the lake crying over losing her best friend and Elena’s parents. That same week Lucas took off and left. Sarah felt like she had lost everyone.

  Her dad had called and asked if I had seen her. I went to the one place I knew she would be. I found her sitting at the edge of the dock with her feet in the water and her head in her hands.

  “Princess, what are you doing out here all alone?” I sit down next to Sarah on the dock.

  She doesn’t speak for a long minute, so we just sit in a comfortable silence, staring at the moon dancing across the water.

  “They left.” It’s all she says.

  I put my arm around her and pull her close. I know she's talking about Elena and Lucas. Elena left us all after her parents funeral, without so much as a goodbye. Then Lucas took off. He hasn’t said where he went or when he would be back. But I know he’s hurting.

  “I’m sorry, Princess.” She pulls away just a little and wipes her eyes.

  “Why do you call me that?” I’m taken back by her question, and I start to stumble over my words.

  “Uh… I…” Shit, how do I say this without offending her? “Don’t take this the wrong way.” She turns her head to the side waiting for my answer. “You have the nice family, the nice house, and I have always felt like you should be treated like a princess. Like the man you choose should fight dragons for you, give you a castle, and worship every gorgeous inch of you.”

  Sarah sucks in a breath, surprised by my answer, and so am I. I’m a little embarrassed I let my thoughts spill out of my mouth that I start to turn away. Just so I don’t have to see the rejection on her face. When a soft hand cups my jaw and slowly pulls me back, I’m stunned. Soft, full lips meet mine, and I break.

  I feel like a man starved, only to have my first taste and gorge myself on it.

  I made things worse for Sarah that night after Elena leaving and Lucas taking off. I left her too and didn’t tell her I enlisted, I didn’t even say goodbye. I know I caused a lot of anger and sadness.

  “Wyatt,” I hear her say, and I’m pulled back to the present.

  Shaking off the thought of our first and only kiss, I try to hide the erection growing in my shorts. About the time I try to tell her I’m fine and she can go home, Mutt comes running out the door.

  He starts making circles around Sarah, wagging his tail, and sniffing her all over. That’s when I hear the most beautiful sound and look up to see her smile at me. That laugh with that stunning smile she gives me has me matching it with my own.

  When Sarah smiles she lights up the room.

  “This cute little guy yours?” She asks, bending down to pet Mutt.

  I realize I’m jealous of the dog; Sarah’s hands are all over him. Scratching behind his ears, when he flopped down on his back she rubs his stomach. I wonder if I flopped onto my back if she would rub me?

  With that thought my cock grows in my shorts, there is no way to hide my erection now.

  “Why don’t you come in and I'll put some clothes on.” I think I see a look of disappointment cross her face, but she just nods and starts to walk inside with Mutt hot on her heels. I would follow her like a lost puppy too, dude. I think to myself.

  “I’ll be back in a second, make yourself at home.” I stop at my door and see her looking around my place. I have this weird insecurity fill my head, and I hope she likes my cabin.

  Heading into my room to change and the only thing I can keep thinking is Sarah is here, here in my house, alone with me. Shit. Get yourself under control, Wyatt.

  Chapter 6

  Sarah

  Standing inside of Wyatt's house is a little unnerving. This is the first time I have ever been out here. While I was at his mother and sisters house checking on Lex, I promised I would stop by and check on him too. His mom was worried this assault on Lexington was going to send him over the edge.

  Which is completely understandable.

  Wyatt’s dog jumps around at my feet, and I just stand there stunned and unmoving. He’s in his room putting clothes on, which is a total disappointment. When Wyatt answered the door in only his shorts, I was sure my jaw hit the ground. I had to make sure I wasn’t drooling.

  I hadn’t seen Wyatt without a shirt on since the summer at the lake before he left. And holy mother of Jesus, Wyatt has changed. He is all hard lines and carved muscle. Tattoos cover both arms and run across his chiseled chest. I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering. That’s when I saw it.

  Wyatt’s left side, from his armpit all the way down into his shorts, it was scarred. Raised flesh that looked angry and painful. My eyes followed the scars, and they lead to the only reason Wyatt ever came back to this tiny town. His prosthetic leg. Wyatt’s left leg had to be amputated right below his knee.

  He hides his scars better than anyone I know, never letting on that he’s hurting, or that he needs anyone. If you didn’t know him or know what he has been through, you wouldn’t see that slight limp he walks with. He holds himself together so well only those closest to him would be able to see the struggle in his eyes.

  I finally get the courage up to step further into his house. Walking over to the fireplace mantel there is a row of pictures lined across it. The first one is of Wyatt standing between his mother and sister. It looks like it was taken before he deployed. I run my finger down the row of photos that all seem to be of him and his family.

  I stop at the photo of Wyatt and Lucas as boys standing next to my dad. They are both holding a fish with giant smiles on their faces. There is one of Lucas and Wyatt graduating high school. Then I get to the last one and stop dead in my tracks. Picking it up, I just stand there staring at it.

  I remember this one. As soon as I have that thought, Wyatt is clearing his throat behind me. I jump and spin on my heels, holding the picture to my chest.

  “Sorry,” Wyatt says. He looks at the photo in my hand, and he almost looks a little embarrassed. Instead of talking about it he turns and walks to his kitchen.

  I turn back to the fireplace and put the photo back, but not without taking one last look. The photo was taken our last summer together. I don’t remember who took it, but I remember wishing he would never let me go. We were all at the lake, there was a small fire going. Wyatt was sitting on a log by himself, so I sat down next to him.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” I asked Wyatt, taking the seat next to him.

  The lake is our favorite place to be, it’s where we spend most of our time. The second Lucas said he and Wyatt were going fishing, Elena and I jumped at the chance to go. Lucas was still fishing, but Wyatt was starting a small fire as the sunset.

  “Just making sure you stay warm, Princess.” I feel my face grow hot at the nickname Wyatt gave me years ago.

  I bump his shoulder with mine and smile up at him. It is so easy to get lost in those eyes. Deep brown with flakes of gold. Such depth and understanding, like he sees me for who I am. Not Lucas’s little sister, or Elena’s friend, or the Waynes only daughter. He sees Sarah.

  Our eyes are locked, and neither of us c
an look away. I feel my body being pulled to him with a force I can't explain. All I can think about is what his lips would taste like? How does he kiss? Would it be soft and savoring, or would it be rough and frantic? Before I get to find out the spell is broken.

  “Smile,” I hear Elena say.

  I start to pull away from Wyatt, but before I get the chance, he’s throwing his arm over my shoulder and pulling me closer. I lean my head on his chest and look up at Elena holding her camera. Wishing he would never let me go.

  My thoughts of that day are lost when Wyatt calls from his kitchen.

  “Want something to drink?” I have no idea what I’m doing here. I could have just called to check on him. Looking at that picture, feelings I try so hard to bury start stirring.

  “No, thank you, I really need to get going,” I say, walking back to the front door.

  Wyatt walks out of the kitchen holding a beer between his fingers. He gives me a look I can’t read.

  “Got to get back to that boyfriend?” I look back at Wyatt and see his lips thin in frustration. He looks a little angry, and all I can think about is what he said before he left my office. No one is good enough for you, princess.

  “I’m not doing this with you, Wyatt.” I open the front door but stop before I walk out. Why is everything so complicated with him?

  “What are you really doing here, Sarah?” I feel him stepping up behind me. And just like every other time he is close, my body feels the pull. I want to fall into his arms.

  I take a deep breath, getting myself under control, and turn to face him. I open my mouth to tell him I’m just here because his mother was worried, but his hand comes up. His thumb and his finger gently grip my chin, and he's leaning in close.

  My body starts to tingle, from where his fingers are touching me, and spreading through my body. My heart starts to pound in my ears, and I’m getting dizzy from his smell. Fresh like his soap but with a hint of cedar. I’m drowning in it.