What Matters Most

by Malori, Reana

  Major Evan Knight was a big man, at least six-three with corded muscles in his arms, a devastatingly chiseled face, and a presence that would make any woman swoon. But right now, he was crouched down low on his haunches so he was closer to her child’s level, giving Dusty a chance to look him in the eyes, rather than looking up at him. Dusty scrunched his shoulders up in a way only a nine-year-old boy could manage and responded to the major’s adult statement in a way only a child could. “Dunno. But can’t I just stay here and talk with you? You just got back from fighting bad people, and I think I have to make sure you’re okay. You know, talk with you and make you feel welcome.” The look of angelic innocence almost made Sierra laugh out loud. Oh, he was really hamming it up for the cameras!

  Sierra felt she had to say something at this point, because Dusty seemed bound and determined to get his way. “Major Knight will be here when you finish. You can talk with him all you want once your game is over. Isn’t that right, Major?”

  “Evan.”

  Not sure what he meant, she raised one eyebrow. “Huh?”

  “You don’t have to call me Major Knight. For you guys, I’m just Evan.” He was now standing, one hand on Dusty’s shoulder, as if they had known each other for years. They were so comfortable with each other. How in the world did that happen? Tearing her eyes from Evan’s face, she looked back down at Dusty.

  “Okay, little man,” she told him. “You have to go back to your game. We’ll sit right up front so you can see us. You can catch up with Maj…I mean, Evan later.”

  Sierra could tell Dusty was trying to come up with another argument so he could get out of the game, but he looked at the two of them and after a few seconds seemingly gave up that battle. Dusty turned on his heels and ran back to the dugout, but couldn’t stop glancing over his shoulder to look at Evan, as if making sure he was still standing there.

  When he returned to his teammates, he must have been explaining why he’d left so abruptly. He was pointing toward her and Evan, excitedly waving his hands and hopping up and down. She chuckled under her breath. Dusty was sure to be too distracted by Evan’s presence to pay any attention to the game, but a deal was a deal, and as part of the team, Dusty had to be with his team during the entire game.

  *****

  Evan couldn’t take his gaze off Sierra. When he walked up to the field, it had only taken him a few seconds to find her sitting in the bleachers. The guy sitting next to her had seemed quite cozy, even as Sierra seemed to be blowing him off. He couldn’t help but wonder if they were dating and if so, how he felt about that.

  The letter-writing project Dusty had done for school was supposed to only be a temporary project to give the Marines and soldiers something positive to hold onto while serving in that godforsaken desert. But somewhere along the way, Dusty and Sierra had become so much more than just a series of emails on his computer. Something about the two of them had spoken to the depths of his soul, and he needed to understand why. For so many years, the Marines had been the only life he had known or wanted. Nothing, and no one, had ever interfered with that, and he was pleased with the life he had chosen. During these past six months, getting to know Sierra and Dusty, things had changed. Knowing that he had someone worried about him and who was waiting on the other side for his email or telephone call had started a craving for something more.

  His mother and younger sister loved him, and worried about him, but they were required to do so. Their love for him was different, as was his love for them. His father had passed away ten years ago from an unexpected heart attack, and that event almost crushed his mother and shattered his family.

  To Evan, his dad had been the strongest man he had ever known and his lifelong hero. Even at the ripe old age of twenty-eight, his heart had crumbled to pieces when his mother had called and told him his father was in the hospital and he had to come home. Now here he was ten years later wanting something more for himself. He wanted that special something in his life, like what his parents had for so many years. They had argued, laughed, played, and loved for so many years and it had felt good to grow up in a home surrounded by love. Over the past six months, Sierra and Dusty had given him hope that he could have the same thing.

  When he walked up to the field and saw that other guy sitting next to her, in a spot he felt should be reserved only for him, he had seen red for a minute. Unfair, yes, but he didn’t really give a damn. Sierra had no idea he felt the way he did, and now was not the time to tell her. While standing at the fence, trying to be rational, he saw her craning her neck staring at him as if she recognized him. He had decided to stay away from the bleachers for the moment given his reaction to seeing her. He had never been accused of having a sunny disposition at the best of times, and he could just see himself being an ass for no good reason.

  Then he heard Dusty yelling his name. His little buddy started running towards him as fast as his little legs could carry him. Maybe Sierra hadn’t fully recognized that it was him, but Dusty had.

  “Hey, little buddy. You saw me. Surprise!” Evan’s smile covered his entire face. Man, it felt good to be welcomed home. From the corner of his eye, he saw Sierra get up to leave the bleachers. The guy grabbed her arm to stop her, and Evan almost growled under his breath. Realistically, he had no claim to her, but his brain and his heart had no intention of being realistic or rational at the moment. It was hard paying attention to Dusty while at the same time watching Sierra walk toward them.

  The excitement in Dusty’s voice could not be mistaken. “I sure am! You told us next week. When I saw you, I jumped out of my seat. S’good you’re home. Now we can play baseball--because you promised.” The energy and excitement flowing through Dusty’s little body was almost visible. Small hands moving erratically, his small body kept gravitating closer to Evan until he was flush against his side, as if they were conjoined twins. “We can go out for pizza--I really like pizza. I told all my friends I had a Marine friend and they didn’t believe me. Can I take you to show-and-tell? I bet they’ll believe me then!” His little body was unable to keep still and at some point during the one-sided conversation, one of Dusty’s little arms had found its way around Evan’s neck, as if he would never let go.

  Evan’s tone was patient and measured when he responded to the rapid-fire requests. “Sure, we can do all those things. But, you first you have to check with your mom. She has to be okay with all of that. You still have school and I have work, but maybe if we’re nice to her, she’ll let me take you guys to Six Flags next weekend.” Yeah, he knew it was blackmail. “What do you think?”

  Dusty’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “Oh, yeah! Okay, we should ask her today. Want to come have lunch with me and my team after the game today?”

  At that last question, he noticed Sierra had arrived next to them and was silently observing their conversation. Dusty gave him just the opening he needed, and once he had returned to the dugout, Evan turned his attention toward the woman he had been dreaming about for months. If she knew some of the wicked thoughts he had about her over the past few months, she would probably smack his face and walk away.

  *****

  Sierra turned to look at Evan. “So, you’re here early. You should have told us.”

  “I wanted to surprise you.” He looked away, and she had a quick second to admire his profile before he turned his gaze back to her. “So, are you?”

  “Am I what?” Wait, what were they talking about?

  She noticed his smile had turned sensual, at least to her it did. Then again, seeing him in the flesh was doing crazy things to her libido and everything about Major Knight seemed sexy and a little bit naughty. As she continued to take him in, one side of his mouth quirked up and the dimple in his right cheek winked at her. “Are you surprised to see me?”

  “Oh, yes, very. We were going to plan a huge dinner for you. Dusty wanted to make sure you knew there were people who were happy you made it home.” She was really trying to keep things generic, but with his clos
e proximity and her body doing strange things, she could hear the breathlessness in her voice. “We’re glad you made it back safely. Dusty was a bit worried about you over there.”

  He turned his body to face her as they continued to talk. “Were you worried about me?”

  She felt the air leave her lungs. “Of course I was worried. You’re very important to Dusty.”

  After she made that statement, he stared at her for a few more seconds, not saying anything. Sierra shifted her stance so that she could glance at him and still see the field at the same time. Not sure if he was unhappy with her answer, or if it mattered either way, she chose to say nothing and continued watching the game.

  “So, Dusty invited me to lunch with his team after the game.”

  “Oh, you should definitely come with us. He’s been bragging about you to his friends, and I know they would all love to meet you. From what I hear, some of the parents are interested in meeting you as well.”

  Evan placed his hands in his pockets, which pulled his pants taut, which sent her temperature skyrocketing. It took everything in her to focus on the words coming out of his mouth. “Sure. I’m happy to go, but I was hoping you and Dusty would have dinner with me. I know it’s a week early, but that welcome home dinner would be great. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in a very long time.”

  Sierra knew she was in danger of losing her heart to this man, if it had not already happened. Although their relationship was a bit unconventional, they had built a friendship over these past few months. The details of their lives had been shared in every online conversation. The laughter, worry, and the caring between two people had flowed through each and every email and video chat they had experienced. Seeing him in person had solidified what she had been slowly coming to accept. She wanted Evan Knight in her life. Hell, she needed him. Now, if only he felt the same.

  Chapter Three

  The team lunch after the game had been great, and Dusty was the center of attention as he introduced Evan to all of his friends and their parents. Sierra could see many of the fathers had wanted to talk with Evan about his time overseas, but he seemed to pull back each time the conversation became a little too inquisitive about what he had experienced. Luckily, Dusty’s excitement would save him each time, since he would pull Evan away to the next friend until they had made the rounds.

  After what seemed like a whirlwind tour, Evan was finally able to sit down again at the table with Sierra. “Well, that little guy is like a bundle of energy. I clearly need to bottle that and sell it.”

  Sierra laughed at the description, because that was definitely her son. “Oh, he’s just excited that you’re back in town. He’ll slow down soon enough, and he’ll be down for the count once the adrenaline is gone.” As she sipped her soda, she took a moment to just look at him and appreciate the man sitting in front of her. “Thank you, Evan.”

  “For what?” He lifted one eyebrow in that inquisitive but sexy manner, and Sierra felt the butterflies in her stomach begin dancing a jig.

  “For being a good friend to Dusty. You could have ended the emails at any time or given up on answering a nine-year-old kid’s questions, but you didn’t. You’ve been a good friend to him, and I just wanted to make sure I thanked you for that in person.” Sierra knew her voice reflected her nervousness, but this was important and had to be said. “Every time he saw your face come up on the computer screen for your Skype conversations, it helped to get him through the days and weeks until he heard from you again. That meant so much to him—to both of us.”

  Sierra saw his knuckles clench and the skin turn pale as if he was preparing for something. “Actually, it’s me who should be thanking you. You and Dusty came into my life when I needed it. You’ve both opened my eyes to something I never realized I needed.”

  Her heart pounded so loud, she wondered if Evan could hear the telltale sound. “What exactly is that?” Dare she hope that he felt the same way she did? Just as he was about to speak again, Dusty chose that moment to arrive at the table.

  “Mom, can I have some money for the video games?”

  Giving Evan a look that let him know the conversation wasn’t over, Sierra began to reach inside her purse for the money, but Evan beat her to the punch. She watched as he pulled a five-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it over. Once Dusty accepted the money, he pushed away from the table and ran back to his friends. Sierra tried to pick up the thread of conversation, “So, what exactly did you realize?”

  “Oh, well, maybe that’s a conversation for another day.” Foiled by a nine-year-old. She knew there was more to this conversation, but Evan’s guard was back in place, and it wasn’t the time or place to push the topic, so she decided to try another tactic.

  “Would you like to come for dinner with me and Dusty tomorrow night? Your choice--we can treat you to a nice dinner out or we can make you a home-cooked meal.” Spending more time with Evan was her goal, and if she had to share him with a restaurant full of people again, then she would do so, but she hoped he chose the second option.

  “A home-cooked dinner would be nice, Sierra. It will be good for me to just spend time and hang out with you and Dusty. What time should I arrive?”

  She knew there was more to that statement than what he had actually said, but she would dissect his every word later tonight, when he wasn’t around to read every emotion and thought on her face. One thing she could never be accused of was having a good poker face. If she was feeling something, whether it be excitement, sadness, or desire, it could be read on her face and she didn’t want to play her hand too soon.

  “Okay, how about four o’clock tomorrow? Be prepared to eat a lot, so come over with an empty stomach.”

  “I’ll be there with bells on.”

  *****

  Dinner had been a great experience, and Sierra was pleased that Evan had wanted a home-cooked meal instead of going to a fancy restaurant. Not that she wouldn’t have enjoyed it, but Dusty always had to be on his best behavior when they ate out at restaurants, and with all the pent-up energy and excitement of having Evan with them for dinner, she knew it would be a challenge.

  “Dinner was amazing, Sierra. I haven’t been this full in a very long time.”

  Sierra took a sip of her wine before responding, “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Dusty wanted to make a little bit of everything for you tonight, so you can blame him.” Her insides were getting warm and tingly as they sat within inches of each other on the couch. Being so close to this man was wreaking havoc on her libido. Did he not realize how strongly he affected her?

  Conversation had been fun and light, with Dusty regaling Evan with stories of school and baseball, and the hazards of being nine. Evan told funny stories of his Marine buddies and some of the funny practical jokes the troops had played on him and other officers. Some of the stories were so hilarious Sierra ended up holding her stomach and wiping tears from her eyes. She had never seen her son laugh so much, or simply enjoy himself without holding a bit of himself back, at least not since his grandfather died. Sierra would always be grateful to Evan for what he had done for her son.

  She felt a light touch on her arm, which brought her back to the present. “Hey, don’t worry about Dusty asking if I’m going to be around more. He’s just excited about having his new friend home. I promise not to wear out my welcome.”

  Okay, this would be tricky. While she wanted to blurt out, Come around whenever you want to, she knew that wasn’t possible. She knew a lot about Major Evan Knight, USMC, but she was a single parent with a child and had to be a bit more cautious. Naturally, since the words had never been spoken by either of them, she wondered if Evan felt the same way about her. Did he even want to get to know her better? Or, now that he was home and could live his life the way he wanted, would he eventually disappear from their lives and move on?

  “Evan, you’re our friend. You just got home, and we want you to be comfortable. We’ll do as little or as much as you want.” Realizing how that sounde
d when he lifted one eyebrow and gave her a sexy smile, she quickly amended her statement. “Um, so that you and Dusty can still be friends, but we don’t interfere too much with your life.”

  “Sierra, you and Dusty will never interfere with my life. He’s a great kid and reminds me a lot of myself when I was a child. You’ve raised an amazing young man, and as long as the two of you allow me to be your friend, then I’ll be here.” The look in his eyes was telling her so much more than the words coming out of his mouth. Oh, goodness, she really wanted to kiss him right now. Which meant she needed to get up…right now!

  “More wine?” She winced at the loud volume of her voice, but it did the trick. Evan moved back slightly and lifted his glass of wine to his lips. He took one last gulp of the very expensive wine he had brought with him and handed his empty glass to her.

  “Yes, please.” His finger brushed up against hers and goose bumps rose along her skin at his touch. How was it possible that she reacted to him so strongly? No man had ever made her feel this way before.

  Making her way into the kitchen, she stood at the counter for a few seconds to gather her bearings. Something about that man called to her inner core. Sure, he was drop-dead gorgeous, with his six-foot-three-inch frame, short dark hair, deep blue eyes, and muscles to die for, but it was more than that. Physical attraction was only a small portion of what drew her to him; there was something about the man himself. Her need to explore this pull between the two of them was driving her crazy.

  Sierra couldn’t help but think about one of the Skype calls that occurred right before Evan arrived home. It had been after ten o’clock at night, and Dusty had been asleep for at least two hours when the familiar sound echoed on the computer in the living room. It had been a particularly long day, not because anything bad had happened, but Evan had not been able to contact them for a few weeks and Dusty had become anxious. When the Skype call had come through, Sierra found herself running to the computer so the call was not missed. It had been so good to talk with him. Of course, he asked about Dusty, but the majority of the conversation focused on them, their likes and dislikes, the worries a mother went through and the concerns of a major leading troops.