by Ciara Knight
He’d never tried his go-to exercise since his injury. The small amount of physical therapy focused on adaptive equipment in a gym that wasn’t satisfying him. He wanted to be able to beat his face on command. The image of the first time he stood there like a fool when his commanding officer told him to beat his face made him laugh. Who knew he meant push-ups?
A one-armed push-up was possible, but he didn’t want to lose any more muscle tone on his right arm. The prosthetics the VA tried to fit him with weren’t for him. They felt fake, wrong. Of course, they told him some day he’d change his mind, but not today. Today he wanted to figure things out for himself.
He scanned the area and saw some sort of foam blocks he assumed were Ally’s for yoga. He grabbed a few of those and found some duct table in the storage room. Five minutes later he was awkwardly managing some push-ups. Okay, he still had to use adaptive equipment, but it wasn’t some crazy device some genius developed in a lab. It was here and available.
Mia was right, taking charge and figuring things out for himself was empowering. For two hours, he worked out until he was spent. It felt good, right to feel fatigued. For the first time since his injury he felt energized and like himself.
He flipped off the music and heard footsteps overhead so he made his way to the kitchen to find Mia. She looked fresh out of a magazine cover with her perfect hair and smile. How did she wake up looking perfect? “Good morning.”
“Good Morning,” Mia set two mugs on the counter. “Looks like you had a good workout.”
He looked down at his drenched shirt and took a step back, worried he smelled like a locker room. She poured coffee into each mug and slid one to him. “Here you go. Unless you want to make some sort of protein shake or something.”
“Nope, coffee is always a good choice.” He winked. The smell of dark roast made his eyes wide. “Nice pick. I was worried that it was going be flavored or something.”
“It will be in about an hour. Don’t tell Ally, I sneak down here each morning to make a pot of normal coffee and bring a filled thermos to my room. She thinks I gave up coffee.” Mia took a long sip and closed her eyes clearly savoring the rich, eye-opening liquid.
“No cream or sugar in yours?” Chase was impressed.
“Nope, when I was working in a remote place in Alaska a couple of years ago I learned quick to like it with no milk or cream. You?”
“Black was always the safest option where I was stationed.” Chase toasted to her and took another sip. “I’ll hit the shower before I overpower that cinnamon potpourri Ally’s got on the table.”
“You’re fine, just stay on your side of the island,” she teased.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Mia’s eyes shot wide. She glanced between their cups and the pot of coffee. Rex entered the kitchen, and she relaxed. Without a word, she snagged a mug from the cabinet and handed it to Rex. “Here you go. Ally still sleeping?”
“Yep, thought I’d sneak down for a cup.” Rex poured himself some and leaned against the counter.
Chase looked at them both. “Why don’t you tell Ally you don’t like her coffee.”
Rex and Mia both laughed. “You do know Ally, right?”
Chase thought about the time she made them all spinach fifty different ways trying to prove they could like something if they just figured out which way was the best for them. “Ah, you already tried, didn’t you?”
Rex walked over to the pantry and opened the door to a hundred different small packages of flavored coffee. “We are about thirty in right now.”
Chase laughed. “Ah, gotcha.”
Mia downed some of her coffee and then topped it off. “I’m going to go get Frank ready to come downstairs. The kids should be here in a few hours. His spirits were high this morning looking forward to their visit.”
“The kids are returning today?” Chase asked.
Rex nodded. “Turns out my old man was a do-gooder while I was in the pit. He lived on the streets and donated all his time and energy to giving back to the community. He says he finally managed to get clean by concentrating on others and not himself. Anyway, he’s helping plan a Christmas party we’ll be hosting here.”
Chase wanted to say too bad he hadn’t figured that out when Rex was a kid, but decided better of it. Obviously, Rex and his pops had figured things out. Who was he to throw a grenade on that peace treaty. “Alright, I’ll hit the shower. I don’t want to scare kids away with my stench.”
Mia padded up the stairs, with thermos in hand, ahead of him, and he tried to avert his gaze, but she had a perfect figure that drew his attention. When they reached the top, he felt like he’d done another hundred push-ups, and his pulse was pounding in his neck so hard.
They reached their rooms. Mia held up her cup to him. “To figuring things out.”
Something told him there was more behind her words than just the reference to him working out. He wanted to ask her what, but she disappeared into Frank’s room and shut the door.
He hit the shower and straightened his room before finding Frank clinging to Mia trying to make it down the stairs. He rushed to their side to help before he remembered he was limited. He couldn’t carry him down. With a renewed sense of figuring things out he took over Mia’s side. “Switch sides. I’ll help him from this side.”
“’morning Chase. Glad to have you here,” Frank said in a weak voice. In that moment, he saw why Rex let it all go. The apology in his eyes, his frail frame, his dependence on others to care for him.
Mia moved so Chase could slide his arm around Frank. “I’ve gotcha.”
Frank concentrated on one foot at a time, and they took it slow. They reached the bottom step, and Frank looked like he’d collapse from the effort.
“Just a little further. We’re almost there,” Mia coaxed him to the larger, leather chair and settled him by the fireplace. He collapsed, closed his eyes and leaned back. “Thanks kids. Was that politer, Mia?”
“Much better, Frank.” She took an afghan hanging over the back of the couch and placed it over his lap.
As beautiful as Mia looked, she also appeared tired. Like this job was taking a toll on her. He wanted to help. To give her a break.
Frank’s hands shook, and his teeth started to chatter. “You cold?”
“I’ll be fine.” Frank swatted the air. “Don’t fuss over me.”
Mia huffed. “Now, you know better than to play the martyr with me. I’ll get you another blanket and start the fire.”
Chase jumped into action. “I’ll get some more wood and handle the fire.”
Mia headed for the stairs. “Thanks, wood’s outside by the back door.”
He snagged his coat from the hook and headed out the back. The pile was low, and he knew there’d have to be some wood chopping done later if they wanted to keep the fire going. That seemed like an overwhelming task, so he decided to figure that one out later. Right now, he had to get wood inside.
He held out his stump and set a log on it, the elbow provided a sort of hook to keep it up. He stacked three more pieces then took that inside. After two more trips, he’d depleted the pile outside, filled the fireplace, and stacked extra in a bucket to the side.
He assumed the old newspaper on the hearth was for the fire, so he crumpled it up and stuffed it under the wood before lighting. It didn’t take long until the fire was blazing.
Mia walked up behind him. “Good job, soldier.”
For some reason her praise meant more to him than any commanding officer. “Some wise person told me to stop, take a breath, and figure things out.”
Mia squeezed his shoulder, sending a warm zap through his body. It had been a long time since he felt the soft touch of a woman’s hands. That was it. She was beautiful, but she worked for Ally and Rex, and his relationship skills were null and void. His longest relationship ever was five months, and that was because they didn’t live in the same town.
Chase stood and turned straight into Mia’s personal space. His heart s
ped in his chest like he was facing an unknown enemy instead of a pretty girl. His mouth went dry and his words stuck in his throat.
Frank cleared his throat. “You gonna kiss her or what?”
Chapter Eight
Mia greeted the kids at the door. Her heart ached for these children who had so little in this town. How would they turn out? She knew the statistics were not on their side, but Frank was positive they could make a difference with just a little kind heartedness.
The kids raced to Frank’s side. They adored him. Perhaps he was right. They were so starved for affection that they would love anyone who paid attention to them. And Frank, he was redeeming himself for abandoning his son. It was a win-win for all of them.
The kids settled in on the floor, crossed legged and wide eyed.
“Good morning kids,” Frank said.
“Good morning, Mr. Frank.” They all answered in unison.
“Tell us a story.” The smallest of the kids said.
Frank scratched his temple as if to think. “I thought we were going to work on planning the Christmas party.”
“Pleeease!” a little boy at the front with a missing tooth begged.
“Okay, I have one. It’s about a little boy who took on a giant.”
Mia left him to his kids so that she didn’t crowd him and headed upstairs to put fresh linens on his bed. She always freshened up his room when he was downstairs. She stripped the bed and retrieved new sheets form the linen closet. The fresh mountain breeze scent helped make it less stale and clinical in the room. Chase entered and grabbed a corner of the fitted sheet. “Let me help with that.”
“You don’t need to do that, it’s my job,” Mia said, not wanting to trouble him.
Chase tugged the sheet down, but it took him a second to figure out how to tuck it under the mattress tight, but he got there. “You’re doing me a favor. I can’t sit still, it’s not in my DNA. Plus, I’m figuring out how to do things in life. Living in a VA hospital and then in a hotel didn’t really provide the opportunity to learn how to do daily living chores.”
Mia opened the straight sheet and fluffed it in the air until it lay flat on the bed. Chase took his side and worked until he managed to get the military perfect corners before smoothing out any wrinkles.
“You’re going to put me out of a job,” she teased.
“No way, you’re amazing with Frank.”
Mia shrugged. “I try. I wish I could do more for him and his family, but I had to accept that there was no way to stop the inevitable. All I can do is sooth the pain with kindness, respect, and love.”
“It must be exhausting.” Chase said. “Have you ever thought about changing careers, or at least changing to a different type of nursing?”
She couldn’t think that, there wasn’t another choice. She’d made a vow to never let another person die alone like her brother had. “This is my gift, what I have to offer. Sometimes it can be difficult, but not everything in life is easy.”
He rounded the bed and leaned into her, she could smell his fresh bath scent and see his firm muscles up close. She looked up at his smiling face, his gaze entrancing. Her nervousness revved to second grade crush rhythm. She pressed her palms to his chest to keep him from staying so close to her, but instead of pushing away she felt his strength. “Um, what are you doing?”
Chase stepped back and lifted a pillow that he’d retrieved from the bed behind her. “Helping. I had to get the pillow if I’m going to put the case on it. Why, what did you think I was doing?” he asked, his voice deepening into a sensual, teasing tone.
She cleared her throat, remembering what Bri had said to her. “Your moves won’t work on me Chase Roberts. I’ve got your history from your cousin, so save your moves for a girl who’s interested.” Despite her harsh words, her tone was weak, and her voice trembled.
“I wasn’t trying to put the moves on you. I just had to get the pillow. Geesh, where is your mind going?” He held the pillow case in his teeth and poked the end of the pillow into it, released it from his mouth and used both arms to wiggle it down.
“Ahh...riiiight. I totally buy that.” Mia snagged the other pillow and stuffed it inside a case. “Besides, I have no interest in some kind of fling. I appreciate your help, but I’m not going to be the girl that chases you around town.”
He moved in close again, his warm breath on her ear. “First, I never committed to any girl, never gave her false hopes, and was honest I wasn’t going to be remaining in Silver Springs. I didn’t want a relationship…not then.”
She wanted to ask what he meant by that. Did he want to let go of the player he once was? Did it matter?
“Secondly, you’d know if I was putting the moves on you. Trust me, I wouldn’t do that because I know you’re too smart, too beautiful, and too amazing to fall for those old tricks.”
He backed away, and she fought to find air in the room again. A room that spun under her feet. Dang if he didn’t affect her no matter how much she knew it wouldn’t be right to feel anything for him. Not when she was working as a hospice nurse, not when she knew she’d be leaving, and not for a man who had recently suffered a catastrophic injury.
She turned to tell him that she had to get back to Frank and that she would finish the room later, but when she turned he was already at the door. “I’m going to go chop some wood, or at least try to figure out how. And Mia?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t ever put yourself in the same group as my past dates. You’re way too special for that.”
Chapter Nine
That evening he failed miserably at wood chopping, but he went out the next day, and the next, but he still failed. For a week, Chase woke before dawn, worked out, attempted to chop wood, made coffee and waited in the kitchen for Mia. She’d always join him before anyone else woke, and they’d sit and talk about life and dreams, but they always avoided the conversation about what would happen when Frank passed away.
Chase felt guilty that he wanted the man to live for a long time so that he could get to know Mia better. She knew his reputation, and he had some sort of deep need to show her he wasn’t that guy anymore. For some reason, her opinion mattered to him.
“What’s on your agenda today? Are you headed to the grand opening of the Mike Roberts’ Ski Training Camp? I hear all the Roberts are supposed to be there.”
Chase shook his head. “I’d rather not, but I probably should.”
“Why don’t you want to go?” Mia asked.
A dozen different lines entered his head, but he knew none of them would work on her so he opted for the truth. “Everyone is going with their new fiancés, wives, girlfriends. I’ll be the one with the constant questions about my arm and when am I going to settle down. I guess I just don’t really want to deal with that right now.”
Mia washed a dish and set it on a towel, so he dried it and set it in the cabinet. She looked pretty today in the rose-colored top. It was his favorite with her milky white skin tone. “A confirmed bachelor like you. A player in this town with an epic reputation. You’ve got to be used to it.”
He set the towel on the counter and stood by her side, looking down at her sweet face. “I told you, people change. I’m not that guy anymore.”
Mia shied away from him, he still couldn’t figure out if he misread her signals, and she wasn’t interested, or if she feared his reputation. “People don’t just change because they decide to.”
“No, but life can change someone.” He lifted his bad arm and the material laid limp.
Mia nodded. “Yes, I guess it can, but why do you think that you’ve changed?” She took a half a step toward him, he matched her distance.
“Because, when I woke up I realized I was alone. All my buddies had wives or girlfriends to visit them at the hospital. I had no one like that.”
“Alone? You have the entire Roberts clan in this town. Do you know how lucky you are to have a family like that? Certainly, someone went to see you when you were injured. Yo
ur mother, sister, brother, cousins?”
He eyed the spot on the end of his sock that he’d spilt his coffee on earlier when he bumped into the wall at the distraction of her smile. “It’s not the same. That look that you see from a spouse at someone’s bedside, the joy of the kids visiting their father or mother. It’s epic. I watched some of the men return to life from a time of hell with merely a kiss or a hug from their significant other.” He sighed and shook his head. “I’m not explaining myself well.”
Mia moved another half step toward him. “Yes, you are. You saw true love instead of passing flings.”
“Yes.” He took another half step toward her. The distance between them a mere armlength.
“Do you see yourself wanting to stay in Silver Springs, or once you figure out what you want to do you’ll take off?” Mia asked.
“I’m staying. That I know for sure.” He initiated a full step between them. “And you, where will you be when…when this job ends.” He didn’t know how else to say it, not wanting to scare her away. And not wanting to sound selfish and insensitive about Frank’s wellbeing.
She moved in to only a breath from him. “I’d like to stay if I can.”
Chase leaned in, hoping this was their moment. For weeks he’d wanted to kiss her, but never dared to push the issue. “You can. If that’s what you want.”
“Hey where are you two?” Rex’s voice sliced through the house and broke their connection. Mia fled to the other side of the island. He entered and eyed them both. “Did I interrupt something?”
“No, not at all. I was just heading up to check on Frank. I promised him a ride to the kids center today to finalize Christmas party plans. He’s excited about getting out for a while.”
“Oh, right. He told me about that yesterday. Chase, you almost ready to head out, man? I don’t want to be late. I would prefer to stay on the Roberts’ good side, you know? Plus, you have some groveling to do. Word on the street is that you haven’t visited your family since you got back, except one coffee date. Unless you want to end up on the bad side of your family, you best get moving.”