No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

It is way too gorgeous to be stuck inside anyway. Grabbing my gym bag from the trunk, I head inside to store the food and change my clothes before heading down to join them.

“Hey!” I call out when I see Owen fishing near the shoreline. “Catch anything?”

“Not with Duckie splashing around, but it relaxes me,” he says, his eyes widening when he sees me in shorts and a T-shirt. “Whatcha got there?”

“I brought us lunch,” I answer proudly but hold up my hand in warning. “It’s not homemade like you always do, but, in my case, that makes it edible!”

“There’s a log up that way a little bit,” Owen points and I try not to look disappointed that I forgot to bring a blanket. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind heading back and sitting on that porch swing either.”

I look up at him to gauge how obvious it is that I don’t want to eat on a log that is probably sheltering a dozen kinds of crawly things, but when he shrugs his shoulders I finally nod. “Porch swing, please.”

“Lead the way,” he responds, holding his hand out.

I’d like to think of myself as totally professional, but technically, he crossed that line already, so I think nothing of the little extra sway I add to my hips on the way back to his cabin.

“I wanted to let you know I’ve been offered a job out west and I’ll be leaving within the next month. I do want to make sure Duckie and I are in sync before we go.”

We’re nearly to the fenced in backyard when he drops that bombshell on me and I can’t stop the gasp of air leaving my lungs.

“Move? But . . .” I try to keep my voice calm but, my eyes flip from him to Duckie and thankfully he seems open to talking. “I guess I thought you were going to settle here.”

“Let me wash up, I’ll be right back.”

I take the time to refill Duckie’s bowl and set out our meal; I’m completely lost in my own thoughts and startled when he returns.

“Looks good.” Owen’s deep voice comes from directly behind me and I look over my shoulder to see his eyes locked onto my ass.

“No free lunch for you, soldier!” I sass back and his eyes snap up to mine. “I do need help, but I’m not used to asking people for anything, so I went to the best deli in town and even got us cake for dessert.”

“Just to butter me up, huh? Even though help was already offered?” he asks, unaware of how much space he takes up on the swing when he sits next to me.

“Yes,” I answer around a mouthful of pastrami, swiss cheese, and spicy mustard on rye. We sit on the bench quietly staring out at the woods across from us until he finishes his sandwich. “So?”

“Are you going to eat that half?” Owen points to the equally large half that sits in front of me. I nod my permission and he eagerly reaches for it.

A few minutes later, he leans back and sighs, resting his hands on his stomach. “I will do absolutely anything you want after that sandwich.”

Owen sounds so sincere that I can’t help but laugh.

“Since my case is closed, it’s just hard getting updates on the weasel’s status. So, if Keith can help, I would appreciate it. And I can pay, unless he’s outrageously expensive.” I add that last part on when I remember how pricy his suit and shoes looked.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already on it,” Owen tells me. “Keith can be a bit of a dog with a bone.”

Duckie lifts his head, suddenly interested in our conversation.

“Sorry, boy. We’re still training your human,” I say, getting a bark of laughter from Owen. “Come on, I think I saw treats inside somewhere.”

Picking up the wrappers, I dispose of them and get a pig’s ear for Duckie plus forks for us. When I head back outside, Owen is texting away but looks up when I open the container with the oversized piece of cake.

“Holy shit!” He eagerly takes a fork from me and shovels the first bite into his mouth.

“I hope you don’t mind sharing,” I ask shyly, taking a smaller piece while he continues to pack away the cake. I look down to his flat stomach and sigh in frustration. “Can I ask why you’re leaving? I mean, were you offered your dream job?”

“Yes and no,” he says after a moment. “Dream job, as in I’ll be hundreds of miles from any hustle and bustle, with limited people around to deal with. Not that you’re so bad, but . . .”

“Thanks. I think. Are you sure that being isolated is the best thing, I mean, well, don’t you have family or friends around here?”

“Naw, no family left. Just my old team. I think I told you that core group is tight. Duncan, he watches out for all of us, reaches out as soon as we get back stateside to make sure the men and women he served with have everything they need.” Owen covers a burp before finally putting his fork down. “In my case, I have to commit to video chats with my shrink once a week once I get moved. Duckie will keep me from getting lonely, so there’s that and occasionally, I’ll be supervising visitors on the property.”

“So, this mysterious Duncan guy is kind of like the Wizard of Oz?”

That gets another laugh from Owen and this time I can’t help but to reach up to wipe the bit of frosting from the corner of his lips. He catches my hand suddenly and I nearly cry out, until he realizes what I was doing and slips my finger into his mouth.

Then I do moan and lean forward without thinking.

Kissing Owen is everything I imagined.

Owen

One moment Lucy shocks the hell out of me when she snakes a finger out