Matt sent her a text. He didn’t want her going there without him. She could get small bags and he’d get the big stuff the next time he was there.
It’d been almost two weeks since his visit to Raleigh. His platoon was waiting for word on a joint training exercise that kept getting pushed back. It sucked, but at least he had the house project to keep him busy. And he could talk to Abby every day. Though a phone call paled in comparison with feeling the warmth of her body pressed tightly against his.
He’d fallen in love with the most incredible woman. He should be happy, ecstatic. But he was so torn he ached. She wasn’t asking him to quit the team, she wasn’t asking him for anything. But she didn’t have to ask for him to want to give it to her.
The look in her eyes when he’d told her goodbye, so determined not to cry—it ate at him. She put on a brave face, one he imagined she’d perfected over the years, and threw out her standard “I’m fine” every chance she got.
He imagined she’d been a bright girl like Annie. Bright enough to know there were steps that could’ve been taken if that couple had really wanted to adopt her and take her with them to China. They’d said all the right things and left her anyway. He was going to have to make his words mean something. How the hell he would do that, while keeping his promise to someone else, he didn’t know.
His phone buzzed. Already there. The words followed by a smiley face.
“Damn it.”
“Watch your language, Matthew.”
Matt cleared his throat. “Yes, ma’am.” He’d infiltrated some of the most hostile places on earth, but around his mother he was still ten.
The front door opened and closed, and a few seconds later Lizzy walked in. She summed him up in one look. “What’s the matter? Trouble in lady land?”
He sighed, unwrapped another baby-size candy bar, and glanced up at the sound of more women.
“Hey, Matt.”
Great. His sisters-in-law Meg and Sarah walked in. He swore they moved in a pack, always ready to pounce. On him or any other male. No wonder Lizzy had been so happy at all her brothers’ weddings. She was building reinforcements.
Lizzy kissed Mom’s cheek and took a candy bar.
Matt watched her pop it into her mouth. “Why does she get to eat candy bars?”
“Because I’m the favorite. Check the board.”
“Be nice, you two. I’m going to walk a sandwich out to your father’s workshop.”
Lizzy peeled off another wrapper. “What’s the problem? Maybe we can help.”
Matt scrubbed his hands over his face. “She doesn’t listen to anything I say. It’s driving me crazy!”
Sarah looked him over. “Who are we talking about? Abby?”
“Yes,” he said, aware he was sulking.
“What is it, exactly, that she won’t listen to you about?” Lizzy’s tone already said he was in trouble.
“I told her not to go to this shopping place. The stuff is too heavy for her. If she could just wait until I got there, but no, she went and did it on her own. Again. Damn stubborn woman.”
“She’s not one of your soldiers, Mr. Bossy,” said Lizzy.
“I know that. I’m just trying to help her.” He turned to Beth, who’d just joined them. “You’re a doctor. Back me up. She shouldn’t be lifting heavy stuff.”
“You’re right. She shouldn’t overdo it.”
He gave Lizzy a So there look.
“But she has been pregnant four times. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.”
“And I’m sure there are gentlemen there who are willing to help her with big items,” Meg added.
“Right. Dirty old men.”
“Aw, poor baby.” Beth patted his head as she walked by. “It’s hard not to be in charge.”
Lizzy grabbed another candy bar. “And if you think telling a woman not to shop is a good idea, you’ve got a lot to learn about women.”
Matt closed his eyes and shook his head at their digs disguised as advice. “Thanks for the tip. I’ve got stuff to do. Tell Mom thanks for the sandwich.” He stood, grabbing his jacket off the back of the chair.
“Any time, brother.”
—
The door was open, letting in a cool fall breeze, and Matt heard a shout from the front of the house.
“Hey, you in here?”
He set down his hammer and headed toward the sound of Tony’s voice, wiping his face with the rag hanging out his back pocket. “You got a lot of time on your hands. You sure you’re running a business?”
“That’s exactly why I’m running my own business, so I can take off when I need to. Like today. Say hi to your Uncle Matt,” he told the kids—Alex, four, and Louisa, two.