Falling Hard (Colorado High Country #3)(4)

He suppressed a smile. “That’s good. When someone lays down his life for his country, people ought to do more for his family than just offer condolences.”

He glanced over at her, found her looking at him.

“Yes—and thanks.”

They made the rest of the short drive without talking, Daniel’s whimpers and the squeak of the wiper blades breaking the silence.

Jesse pulled into her driveway and parked. “You take care of the kids. I’ll get the groceries.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

He climbed out into the wind and made his way to the back of his vehicle, icy flakes biting his cheeks. He retrieved her groceries and started toward the house, only to find her sitting, half in and half out of the vehicle, clinging to the door.

“I’m just … dizzy.”

It was time to get tactical.

Arms full of groceries, he walked over to her. “Do you have your house keys? I’ll carry the groceries in, then come back for you and the kids. You shouldn’t be carrying them if you’re dizzy.”

She fumbled in her pocket, pulled out the keys and handed them to him.

Jesse trudged through the snow to the front door, stomped the snow off his boots, then unlocked the door and stepped inside, flicking a light switch. He carried the groceries to the kitchen, then strode back outside to his vehicle.

She was right where he’d left her.

“Can you make it inside on your own?” He didn’t want to leave such small children alone in his vehicle or the house.

She nodded. “I think so.”

He steadied her while she got to her feet, then watched as she walked inside. When she was safely through the door, he opened the passenger side door to discover that the twins had unbuckled themselves. “Hey, Daniel and Daisy. I’m Jesse. I’m going to carry you inside.”

Jesus, Moretti. That’s the best you can do?

Really, it was.

He reached for them, half expecting them to back away from him in horror. Instead, they came easily into his arms, Daniel with his blanket, Daisy with her thumb in her mouth, their trust strangely touching. He lifted them out of the Jeep, kicked the door shut, and carried them inside to where their mother stood, still in her parka, waiting, her pretty face white as a sheet.

He set the children down at her feet. Daisy toddled off in tiny snow boots, while Daniel leaned against his mother’s leg, blue blanket clutched in a little fist.

“You should sit down and…” His gaze met Ellie’s, and his brain went blank for a moment, his breath catching.

Green.

Her eyes were green.

She shook her head. “I need to put this stuff away and make dinner.”

Trying to act like the earth hadn’t just shifted beneath his feet, Jesse stepped back and looked around him. Her home was warm and cozy, toys scattered across a braided area rug in front of the sofa, wood stacked next to a fireplace with a wood stove insert. On the mantel sat a display case holding a folded American flag—the flag from her husband’s funeral—along with several service medals and …

Adrenaline hit his bloodstream.

A USASOAC patch.

Son of a bitch.

Her husband had been a pilot with the 160th SOAR—the Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

Well, shit.

“I’ll go get the car seats.” He walked back outside, fighting an impulse to run, torn between getting the hell out of here and wanting to do more to help her.

What the hell is wrong with you?

He clamped down on his emotions and retrieved the car seats from his vehicle. Back inside, he found her on her knees, wrestling the kids out of snow boots, mittens, hats, and coats.

He set the car seats down on the polished wood floor. “I’d be happy to look at the car tomorrow when I get off work. I’m good with engines.”

She got unsteadily to her feet. “That’s kind of you, but I’ll just have it towed to the garage.”

He reached into his jeans pocket, pulled out his wallet, and took out a business card. “Here’s my phone number. I’m only a minute away if you need anything.”

She accepted the card, a blond eyebrow arching, a smile tugging at her lips. “Boat repairs? Do you get much business in Scarlet?”

He understood her amusement. Colorado was a landlocked and arid state with few bodies of water big enough to accommodate boating. “I grew up on the Gulf Coast and love the water. I’ve got a speedboat that I take out on the reservoir every summer. I’ll have to take you all out sometime.”

What had he just said?

She smiled. “Thanks again, Jesse.”

He gave her a nod. “You’re welcome, ma’am.”

“I just hope we don’t repay you by getting you sick. Be sure to wash your hands.”

“Don’t worry about me. Like I said, I don’t get sick.”

“These are pediatric germs—kid germs, the worst.”

“Get some rest and feel better soon.” He stepped out into the wind and walked through falling flakes back to the car, grateful for the cold.

Jesus.

Ellie was a SOAR widow.

Now that he thought about it, Jesse was pretty sure he’d known her husband.





Chapter 2





Ellie woke to the sound of Daniel crying and glanced at her clock. It was just before five in the morning—past time for their next dose of acetaminophen. Struggling against dizziness, she got out of bed and pulled on her bathrobe. “I’ll be right there, sweetie. Hang on.”