A Summer to Remember Read Free Page B

interest in food lately. Grieving a husband who’d died so young could do that to a woman.
    He thought briefly of Scott Thomas, wishing him peace, respecting his sacrifice. Not every service member saw combat, but everyone who signed up during wartime knew it was a serious possibility, and they were willing to accept that. Elliot had been lucky enough to come home, as tough and determined as when he’d left, thanks to his parents, Emily, and his own hardheadedness.
    He’d lost a lot of people he’d loved, though, and a lot he’d hardly known. He was glad to be out of it, to be home in the United States, but if the Army needed him to go back, he would. Live for something rather than die for nothing , General George S. Patton Jr. had said, a fine sentiment, but Elliot preferred to switch it around: Die for something rather than live for nothing.
    There had always been passions in his life, so he’d never had to settle for nothing. He never would.
    “What kept you in Tallgrass after your husband passed?” He softened the words, the way he would soften any personal question, maybe a little bit more given the subject.
    She pinched off a piece of her hamburger, including a generous hunk of meat, and offered it to Mouse. The dog hesitated, glanced at Elliot, and he nudged her to let her know it was okay. She took it in her mouth, then retreated to the backseat to eat it.
    “There was nothing in Florida to go back to. And Oklahoma has the best people. All my friends are here.” Fia paused long enough to dip a French fry in ketchup, then studied it a moment before adding, “Though all of them are transplants except Bennie and Patricia. They’re all Army wives. Army widows. They’re my family.”
    He understood the value of family, both the one a person was born into and the one they picked for themselves. He stayed in close contact with his parents and Emily; he talked with his nieces and nephew every week; he’d attended the last two family reunions and felt like a better person for it.
    Holding what was left of her burger in one hand, Fia gestured toward Mouse. “Can she have…”
    “Sure. I don’t want her to get used to people food, but right now, I figure she needs all the calories she can get. She’s been hungry too long.”
    Finishing off his own sandwich, Elliot watched her feed Mouse one bite at a time. When she was done, she crumpled the wrapper, then swiped one hand through her hair. It was brown like his, just a few shades darker, and shorter by inches. Even with the dampness in the air, it lay smooth, framing her delicate face and, at first glance, making her look dangerously young. At second glance, though, it was clear she’d passed legal age a few years back. He would guess she was in her mid-twenties, maybe a year older, maybe a year younger.
    At first glance, second, and third, she was beautiful in a fragile, innocent way, though he knew appearances could be deceiving. She might rouse his protective instincts—most women did—but she was physically strong, evidenced by impressive biceps and triceps and long solid muscles in her thighs and calves. Emotionally, she was probably pretty strong, too. Being an Army wife wasn’t for the faint of heart.
    Even though she’d lost her husband, her smile came quick and easy and found its way from her mouth into her dark eyes. It was something to behold, that smile. “I’ve never met a pit bull before. She’s sweet.”
    “The breed’s gotten a bad rap. Worst damage I ever suffered from a dog was from a miniature poodle with pink bows on her ears. I’ve still got the scars on my ankle.” He moved as if to pull up his jeans leg to show her, earning a laugh from her that was so damn appealing, it made him laugh, too.
    Just think, if Mouse hadn’t needed to take a leak, he wouldn’t have been standing in that parking lot in the pouring rain, he wouldn’t have been holding an umbrella for the pup, and he wouldn’t have met Fia.
    Damned if he didn’t