Wyne and Dine (Citizen Soldier Series Book 1) (4 page)

F
riday evening, Lea
paced in her room, phone to her ear while Brandi tried to talk her out of a
panic attack. Ben was due to arrive any minute to pick her up for their pretend
weekend.

She didn’t want to pretend.

But Ben didn’t do the boyfriend
thing. The confirmed bachelor avoided relationships like men avoided the tampon
aisle at the grocery store. Made a wide birth. The guy was married to the
military. Fine with Lea. She didn’t want a ring. Just some fun. She wanted to
taste the man…all of him. Get him out of her system before she embarked on her
own career. But she wasn’t sure she wanted things to change between them
either. Because no matter how the weekend turned out, they would never be the
same.

“I’m not sure I want to risk his
friendship,” she said for the third time in ten minutes.

“Is his friendship enough for you?”

“No.”
Dammit
. “It’s not.”

“Then you have to risk it, hun,”
Brandi told her in a tone meant to sooth, but Lea was still anxious. “It’s time
to put my stubborn brother to the test.”

“What if he fails?” There, she said
it. She voiced her biggest fear. What if he avoided her after this? She
couldn’t bear it.

“Are you wearing the negligee
Jordan sent?”

The gorgeous silk teddy had arrived
that morning, via express mail from the incorrigible woman. Her gaze shot to
the small suitcase opened on her bed. The sexy, sky blue outfit with black lace
stared up at her. She walked over, unable to resist fingering the silky
material.

“No. But I did pack it.” Lea still
wasn’t sure she could be that daring, no matter how beautiful the negligee made
her feel.

“Good enough,” her friend said.
“Now shut the suitcase and zip it closed before you change your mind.”

She did what she was told,
grumbling the whole time. “You’re so bossy. Just like Ben.”

“Yeah, well, it came from growing
up with those guys. And you love every bit of it.”

“True.” She laughed. “And I love
you, too. Thanks for putting up with me, Brandi. Especially when I’m supposed
to be helping you with your wedding.”

“My wedding plans are going just
fine, thanks to you and Ben. Now, you both deserve some fun, and I want to make
sure you take advantage of all this weekend has to offer. You’ve been waiting
forever for this chance, Lea.”

She still couldn’t believe she was
spending two nights with the sexiest man alive. And with the task of pretending
to be his girlfriend. The opportunity really was a gift.

Lea zipped her suitcase and stood
tall. “I’m ready to see where this leads.”

“Good for you.”

Movement outside the window caught
her eye. She drew closer and watched through an opening in the blue-flowered
curtains as Ben parked his truck in front of her father’s house.

“He’s here,” she said on an indrawn
breath.

Dressed in civilian clothes, he
unfolded from behind the wheel and walked to the sidewalk, gaze a bit uncertain
as he stared at her front door. Goodness, he was mouthwatering. The gorgeous
man filled out his clothes, testing the seams in jeans and the gray,
button-down shirt that showcased powerful arms beneath his rolled-up sleeves.
Her pulse tripped, and for a moment, she forgot to be nervous.

Lea usually saw the man in her
restaurant or on the street outside the armory, and habitually in his ACUs. The
National Guardsman was potent and just a little bit intimidating in his
uniform, but without it? He was more…human. Accessible. He was just as
gorgeous. Just as hot. But now he appeared more approachable. And the way he
hesitated on the sidewalk, muscles rippling in his forearms as he flexed his
fists, caused something inside her to catch. She didn’t often see the vulnerable
side of Sgt. Benjamin Wyne. In fact, Lea didn’t think it existed any more. Not
since he’d come back from basic training.

“Well, then you don’t need to be
talking to me. Grab your stuff and go get him.”

Lea jerked her head at Brandi’s
voice in her ear, having forgotten she was still on the phone.

Chimes from the doorbell echoed
loudly through the older, two-story house. The butterflies swarming in her
stomach increased their frenzy. But it was going to be okay. Ben was anxious,
too. No doubt nervous about jeopardizing their friendship.

He needn’t worry. It was like she’d
told the sullen teen with the fresh crew cut all those years ago when she’d sat
down beside him on the dock at the lake. She’d always be there for him. Always
be his friend.

After promising to fill Brandi in
on Monday, Lea hung up the phone, then grabbed her purse and suitcase and
headed downstairs where she could hear her dad opening the door. Henry ‘Gabe’
Gablonski hated to be treated like a baby, so she’d deliberately waited until
he’d welcomed their guest. The doctor had said a little exercise was good for
him. It was tough at times, but Lea had to force herself to stop playing mother
hen and allow the man to do more. Answering the door fell on her list of
acceptable chores.

Now, she had to accept hers.

The weekend was happening whether
she was ready or not. No sense in delaying the inevitable.

Rushing down the stairs before she
could change her mind, she heard her father talking to her
date
in the
front room.

As usual, Ben’s deep baritone did
funny things to her pulse. Willing herself to remain calm, she stepped onto the
foyer and set her suitcase down. The rush of nerves hiccupping through her
veins was as unavoidable as breathing. With her shoulders back, she headed to
the front room where her dad enjoyed sitting in his recliner watching reruns of
Kojak
and
The Rockford Files
on TV.

The swoosh of her periwinkle
sundress brushing just above her knees proceeded her into the room. Lea had no
idea of the dress code for the weekend, so she went with the suggestions from
Brandi and the bridesmaids to keep things casual chic. Comfortable white lace
flats, minimal make up and jewelry, hair pulled up and secured with a clip at
the top of her head. If she was dressed totally wrong, it was too late to
change now.

“Hi, Ben,” she said, smiling when
the man rose to his feet. A gentleman with great manners. All the Wyne brothers
had them. Judging by the approval in eyes, she had dressed appropriately.

“Hi, Lea. You look nice.”

Her dad sat in his chair, gaze
bouncing between them, big smile on his face.

Ah great, here it comes.

“’Bout time you two got together.”
He pointed a finger at Ben. “I always said you were dating the wrong daughter.”

Her sharp intake of breath echoed
loud enough to rival the car chase on TV. “Dad! I was eleven when he dated
Gwen.”

“I know. He just had to wait for
you to grow up, that’s all.” He chuckled as he jabbed a thumb in her direction.
“There she is, Ben. All grown up.”

More like all red in the face.
God
,
she was so ready for the proverbial floor to swallow her whole. Now. Right
now
would be really good.

“I know.”

Her gaze snapped to the guardsman.
What did that mean? And did he have to look so darn unhappy while saying it?

Deciding to ignore the sourpuss,
she walked to her father, set her hands on her hips and frowned down at him. “I
told you the truth about this weekend. You know it’s just f— ”

“Yeah, yeah. I know what you told
me. You’re there to keep Mrs.
Velcro
off Ben.” He waved a hand at them.
“But mark my words…it’s more than that.” Carefully folding his arms across his
chest, he cocked his head and dared her to argue.

Since the weekend
was
more
than that to her, she had no argument, so she bent to kiss his cheek instead.
“You’re incorrigible. Love you. Call if you need me. Ben will call out the
National Guard.”

“True,” Ben said, genuine smile
finally lighting his face. “Just say the word. I have them on speed dial.”

Her father laughed. “Of that I have
no doubt. You hang onto him, Lea. He’s a good man.”

“Will do,” she said, knowing it was
easier to get out of the house if she played it safe. “I labeled the food in
the freezer and—”

Again her dad waved her off. “I
know. I’m not an invalid. I’ll manage. I’ve been cooking since I was a toddler.
You just go and have a good time.” He grabbed her hand. “You deserve it. You
work too hard. And you shouldn’t even be here. You should be in the Big Apple
talking about historic buildings and such, not waiting on people at the eatery,
or talking about coal on weekends.”

“But I enjoy both. And I’m right
where I want to be.” Mostly. She couldn’t stop her gaze from shooting to Ben.

His green eyes were intent,
studying her, reawakening her pulse that had finally slowed to normal.

“Well, I just feel bad that you’re
saddled with me,” her dad continued, drawing her attention away from her date.

“I’m not saddled. I love you, and
if it makes you feel any better, I sent out a few resumes this week.”

“You did?” Joy beamed from her
father, erasing the sudden haggardness from his face, making her feel less
guilty at the little white lie she’d just told.

The resumes
were
written and
sitting on her hard drive; she just hadn’t hit Send yet. She needed to know her
dad was going to be all right first.

Lea straightened her shoulders and
lifted her chin. “Yes. So, who knows? Maybe I’ll be in the Big Apple this year
after all.”

Before the holidays would be great.
It was so pretty there that time of the year. She still had time. If she sent
them out in the next few weeks, and they went through channels and up against
boards and committees, she might have a job by Christmas.

“I’m so glad, sweetheart. I hate
that I’m holding you back.”

“Nonsense. You know I love it here,
too. And everyone at the restaurant. The regulars and the soldiers from the
armory.” She nodded to Ben whose face wore a neutral expression. “I’d ideally
like to commute.”

On weekends. But, she’d definitely
commute daily if the guardsman asked.

He continued to stare at her,
emotionless.

Her dad patted her hand, regaining
her attention. “Well, as long as you do what’s right for you. I don’t want you
commuting because of me.”

A shaft of guilt pierced her heart.
Her father hadn’t been the original inspiration behind the mention of
commuting. Still, she’d certainly be willing. She bent to look him in the eyes.
“I promise, commuting is what I want.”

The smile returned to soften his
features. “Okay. So, now you need to concentrate on having fun this weekend and
getting to know your future husband better.”

 “Dad!” She straightened up. How
was she going to be able to face Ben now?

“It’s okay. The two of you will
come to terms with it at your own pace,” he insisted, then nodded toward the
door. “But you’d better get going before traffic gets too thick.”

“Yes, sir,” Ben said, already
standing in the doorway, holding her suitcase.

Poor guy. He was more than ready to
get the hell out of Dodge. She didn’t blame him.

And had no idea what to say to him
ten minutes later, in his truck, heading for the colonel’s estate. But she had
to say something. Her father had just pushed her on him in no uncertain terms.

Lea chanced a glance at the silent
man. The strong hands gripping the steering wheel weren’t white-knuckled. That
was good. Her gaze wandered up his muscular arms. An image of those forearms
flexing while they had up-against-the-wall sex flashed through her mind.
Damn
.
She shifted in her seat. Where the heck had that come from? Her
wishful-thinking
well
, that’s where. It was bottomless and full of similar images from years
of crushing on the guy. Besides, her Skype conversation with Brandi and the
girls had planted that baby in her head two days ago.

“You okay?”

She stifled a giggle. “Yeah.” And
if he hadn’t been wearing mirrored aviator sunglasses, looking all stoic and
sexy-as-hell, she would’ve been able to tell if he was, too. But his gorgeous
green eyes were now covered, and their secrets hidden from her view for the
moment. “I’m sorry about my dad back there.”

His firm mouth twitched into a
lop-sided grin. “Don’t be. He just wants you to be happy.”

She sighed, twisting around to face
the front. “I’ll be happy when he’s back at the restaurant, doing what he
loves.”

“What about you?”

She turned to blink at him. “Me?”

“Yeah, did you really send out
resumes?” Something in her gaze must’ve given her away because he shook his
head and smiled. “You didn’t send squat.”

“No,” she admitted. “But I will.”

“Sure.”

His tone was less than believable,
so she punched him, no doubt hurting her hand more than his rock hard bicep.

“I will. You’ll see,” she insisted,
rubbing her fingers. “Once he’s back at the restaurant.”

“Right. Then you’ll need to stick
around to help Ryder, or fill in for Mary or—”

“They’re legitimate reasons,” she
defended, turning back to face the front, folding her arms across her chest.

“More like legitimate excuses.”

“Look, I’m not going to argue with
you about this.”

“Again.”

“Yes, again. I know you’ve been
harping on me for years.”

“Then do something about it, Lea.
Use your degree. You deserve to do what you want. Not what others need. You had
a good job in Philly. It bothers me that you gave it up.”

It did? Why? Was he that
uncomfortable around her?

She cleared her throat. “I know.
And I will.”

“When?”

“I told you. After my dad is back
to work.”

“That could take months.”

She lifted her chin. “So be it.”

“You’re afraid.”