The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(170)

Not that he had any plans of marriage. What could he offer a woman now? Waking up nightly because he heard a noise or had a nightmare? He wasn't a child and he couldn't ask anyone to put up with that. Hell, if it wasn't happening to him he wouldn't have put up with it.

A small sound caught his attention and he squatted down holding onto the side of the tub waiting for impact. A second later, he realized it was only Bubbles his mother's Golden Retriever pawing at the front door. Eric rinsed the shampoo out of his hair and turned the water off. He dried and dressed quickly.

“You're a civilian now, Hill,” he said addressing his reflection in the mirror. “This is your life now. Civilian clothes, civilian hours, but the good news is you also get civilian food.”

Steam from his shower followed him out of the bathroom. Bubbles greeted him and together they walked to the front door. He put his hand on the knob, but hesitated a second listening to the world beyond the door.

“I'm starting to think I brought the war home with me, girl,” he said patting Bubbles shaggy head and opening the door.

Chapter 1

Haunted Mind

This time Eric woke to the smell of eggs and bacon. It was a welcome change to the heart pounding explosions he had managed to live with while on his military tour. He could hear his mother puttering around in the kitchen and his father turning the pages of the news paper. He had never changed out of his clothes so after taking a few minutes to mentally prepare for his first official morning out of uniform, Eric headed into the kitchen.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” his mom said turning to smile at him.

“Mornin',” he yawned joining his father at the table.

“I know it's your first day back and all,” his mom said as Gary walked into the kitchen.

His younger brother was a senior in high school planning to enlist after graduation. He studied his brother's carefree morning attitude trying to remember when he himself last walked into a room without checking for unseen threats. Too long was the only answer he could come up with.

“Eric, honey?” his mom said.

She touched his shoulder gently and he startled barely stopping his arm from completely the defending blow.

“Sorry, I think I zoned out,” he muttered.

“As I was saying,” she said nervously, “I know you just got home and all, but our neighbor is a real estate agent and I asked her to take you around and show you some houses today.”

“Are you planning to rent out my room or something?” Eric tried to joke.

“No, we just thought you'd like you're own place and stuff, honey.”

An hour later, Eric had taken another shower and was waiting on the real estate agent. He hadn't planned on moving and was confused by his parents' sudden need to get him out of the house, but it was easier to go than to argue. His mother had sounded so damn cheerful about it.

A red haired woman was cutting from the neighbor's lawn into theirs. Eric titled his head as he watched her walk with long confident strides. Her hips swayed slightly as she walked and he found himself watching intensely.

“She really fills out those jeans,” he thought to himself.

He opened the door before she could ring the bell. Face to face the red head was more attractive than she had been from afar. Her long red curls cascaded over her shoulders and framed her heart shaped faced. She had vivid blue eyes and a friendly smile. His eyes lingered down her body over her pert breast and perfect hips a little longer than they should have. She gave him a knowing smile and he quickly returned his gaze to her face.

“Hi, I'm Celeste,” she grinned and extended her hand.

“Eric,” he said barely remembering not to give his official military introduction.

“It's nice to meet you. You're mom said you were interested in seeing some houses?”

As she spoke, her eyes lingered over his body before returning to his dimpled smile. The gesture wasn't subtle and Eric almost took a step back. Women had checked him over before, but mostly from a distance and never so directly. Something stirred deep within him, but as he had learned to do over the years he pressed it back down into the back of his mind. He didn't have time for such notions.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Eric laughed.

He was thankful that Celeste wasn't as talkative as most civilians seemed to be. Since coming home, he hadn't been able to escape the endless mindless chatter everyone seemed to engage in. The quiet offered a different enemy. If left to his own thoughts for too long, they always returned to the Middle East.

He combated the unwanted thoughts by watching Celeste drive. She was concentrated on the road and the cars around her. Her body moved flawlessly shifting gears, turning the wheels, and tapping the gas and break.

The first two houses they had toured were nice, but too big for Eric's taste. They looked like houses that large families should be buying not single man with no marriage prospects in the near future.

“I think that's enough for today,” Eric said as the car pulled out of the second driveway. “I think I'm ready to go home.”

“Maybe one more?”

“Thank you,” Eric said keeping his voice stoic. “I really appreciate you taking the time to show me houses, but I don't think I'm up for anymore today.”

“Okay,” she nodded, “shall we get lunch then?”