Letters from Home (Love Beyond Reason #1)(15)

“I can help, too,” Zack offered, desperate to figure out how to get things on track with Lena.

“Wonderful! It’s settled then.” Anabel clapped and reached for them, each hand taking one of their arms. “This is Christmas, a time of peace and family…and love. Tomorrow, after you finish up here, you two should go and do something fun.”

Lena sent her mother a wary look out of the corner of her eye. “Okay…”

This was just what he needed. An order. Soldiers were good at taking orders. She couldn’t say no to Mom.

Anabel had given him the chance he needed.





Chapter Seven


The concert had ended brilliantly. No, that was too cliché. Cat’s performance had struck her with a revitalizing dose of homesickness, which made no sense at all seeing as how she was home. But it was missing so much of life here, her little sister was growing up.

She’d actually cried, and Lena never cried.

Now the weekend was upon them. Another tradition checked off. Another day closer to Christmas. She’d always loved the winter carnival, so it had been easy to agree when he’d suggested it. He’d made it clear this was a date. There was no way in heaven or hell she could pretend he didn’t mean a real one this time. Two people, holding hands, eating cotton candy…riding the Ferris Wheel.

“I’m so embarrassed, though.” Lena pulled her jacket closer to her body as the night air took another dive toward freezing.

“Why?” Zack took her hand and pulled her toward the line for the Ferris Wheel.

“My mother is match-making.” She’d been horrified speechless at the realization. “I feel like I should apologize.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Of course not. You’re the one who kissed me.”

He shrugged. “Not going to apologize for that, either. Besides, you kissed me back.”

He made her heart pound, and her head forget all about the letters. And she wanted to kiss him again, too. Now that she’d had a chance to get used to the idea, she wanted to do a lot more than kiss him. But she’d known him for so long. He was like a brother. A really good-looking, muscly—she shook her head to banish the thought and cleared her throat. Not going to go there.

“I have three years left of my commitment, Zack.” Lena got in line behind another couple then turned to him. “How the heck am I supposed to start a relationship now?”

He lifted a brow. “Are you serious? Isn’t that what you plan on doing with letter guy?”

Heat rose on her cheeks. “Oh, well. That’s different.”

“Why?”

“Because we already have a relationship going.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, we do!”

“No.”

She opened her mouth to answer, but just as quickly, he grabbed her, circled her neck with his arm, and covered her mouth with his hand. She couldn’t help grinning. All the combatives training she’d done over the years weren’t going to help her against Zack, who’d had the same training, was twice her size, and at least eight inches taller.

Instead of fighting, she put an arm around his waist and tucked her hand into his pocket. She really liked the feel of him at her side. He slowly lowered his hand from her mouth, but his arm stayed at her shoulder. She leaned her head against his chest and soaked in the joyful atmosphere as the crowds dwindled and the night grew dark. Yeah, she could get used to this.

“Hey-oh, Zack Benson! Long time, no see.”

Lena straightened as a man approached them. He was on the short side, light-haired, muscular. He pumped Zack’s arm with a warm grin, and glanced to Lena then back to Zack. He wagged his finger. “I knew it. This must be Elena. Just as pretty as you said. No, I take that back. Prettier.” His laughter echoed through the crisp air. “It is good to see you home, Lena. I tell you what, Zachary has waited a long time—”

“Lena,” Zack interrupted. “This is Mark Teller. He’s new in town. We met at an after-hours business gathering.”

She wanted to go back to the ‘has waited a long time’ part, but Zack turned the topic to fishing, and they chatted a few minutes before Mark made his good-bye and left. But he shook her hand and smiled. A smile that said he knew something she didn’t.

Finally, they reached the front of the line and were escorted into the bucket seat swing. Zack tugged on the safety bar and secured it over their laps.

“That man is up to something.”

Zack cleared his throat.

“And so are you,” she continued.

“Some people are just weird—take Mark, for instance.”

“Uh, uh—”

“Oh, look, I can see your house.” Zack tucked her in under his arm and pointed south as they rose in the circle.

Lena rolled her eyes. “Fine.” But the bird’s-eye view of town captured her before she could make a smart remark about how he was evading her question. Lights were strung along the roofs of houses and businesses along Main Street. Wreaths hung from lampposts. “Look at the church all lit up. It looks so pretty.”

“You’ve missed it.” Zack spoke her feelings, and she nodded as emotion swelled within her.

“I didn’t realize. I mean, sure, I knew I missed the States, my family, the American way…my coffee maker.”