Soldier's Choice (2 page)

The weight of his father’s stare crushed him. “Don’t disappoint your mother, boy.”

He might as well have gutted him. Reese knew exactly what that meant. If he didn’t do what he was told, his mother would pay—and pay, and pay again. Eventually the bastard would decide to take some of it out on Georgia, too. He couldn’t let that happen.

And his father damned well knew it.

“All right,” he finally said. “I’ll enlist.”

“Damn right you will.” The look of cruel triumph on the man’s face made him sick. “Tomorrow, you tell that Dawson girl you’re not seeing her again. Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” he ground out.

There was a long pause. “I don’t believe you mean that, boy. So I guess I’ll have to convince you.”

His father started taking off his belt.

Reese took a hasty step back. “I will,” he said. “I mean it.”

“I’m going to make sure you do. Turn around and face the wall.”

“Dad, please,” he whispered. “Don’t.”

But there was no reasoning with Gunny Mathers, no shred of fatherly love he could appeal to. In him there was only bitterness and hatred, an empty void where his heart should’ve been. “What do you think’s going to happen if I have to tell you again?” he said.

Reese closed his eyes. Then he turned around and faced the wall.

Chapter 1

Five years later

Luka stood at the bottom of the stairs, one hand planted on her hip. “Jonah! If you don’t get your ass out of bed, I’m getting the hose.”

Muffled laughter came from the kitchen, where Mark and Gage were already at the table scarfing down breakfast. “Allow me,” Gage shouted. “I owe that asshole. He came stomping in at three in the morning, and I haven’t been back to sleep since.”

“No way,” she called back. “You hose him, he’ll break your teeth. I don’t have time for a trip to the hospital today.” She blew out a breath. “
Jonah!
”

“Coming, goddamn it,” a rough voice finally responding.

“I don’t hear you moving!”

She waited. A moment later, feet stomped across the upstairs floor, and a door slammed.

“Good morning to you, too.” She sighed and headed back to the kitchen, fighting a swell of concern. Jonah had come in late every night this week. Of course, she knew where he’d been—knocking people around for Eddie Verona, Covendale’s only loan shark. Her brothers had tried to keep Jonah’s “second job” a secret from her, but she’d known for years. People talked in a town this small.

She wished he’d just give it up. Her brothers’ business, Dawson Construction, was making plenty to keep up with the mortgage payments on the house they’d bought a few years back, and she wasn’t doing too bad herself at Magic Mags. But every time she mentioned the idea, Jonah glowered her into changing the subject.

“Hey, Luka.” Gage, the youngest brother, gave her his best charming grin as she walked past the table to fix a plate for Jonah.

“No.”

“I didn’t even ask yet.”

“How did I know you were going to ask for something?” She glanced back at him. “What?”

“Can we trade cars tonight?”

“I was right. No.”

“Oh, come on.” He polished off half a piece of toast in two bites, and washed it down with coffee. “I can’t take the Beast out to Greenway. I’ve got a date tonight.”

“What a surprise,” she said. Gage had more dates than a five-year calendar. The other two could’ve had just as many, if they wanted—all of her brothers had green eyes, black hair, tanned builds, and so much bad-boy charm it was practically illegal.

She had the Dawson eyes, but had somehow ended up with reddish-brown hair and skin that wouldn’t tan if she set it on fire. And charming wasn’t even in her vocabulary, much less her personality.

“So, can I?” Gage said.

Luka rolled her eyes and set Jonah’s plate on the table. “No, you can’t,” she said. “I have a date tonight, too.”

“With who?”

“Al.”

“Al Brenner from the bank?”

She shook her head. “Al-cohol. From the bar.”

Gage laughed, and even Mark cracked a smile. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll just ask Jonah.”

“Good luck with that.”

“He’ll say yes. Watch.”

A few seconds later, Jonah plodded into the kitchen, scruffy and half-asleep. He grunted something incoherent and plunked down at the table.

Gage waved a hand in front of his face. “Hey, Jonah. Can we swap cars tonight?”

“Mmph.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Fine. Just shut up, twerp.”

“See? Told you.” Grinning, Gage pushed back from the table. “I’m going to go load up the Beast,” he said. “Eat faster, Jonah. We’re gonna be late.”

“Mmph.”

Luka poured two cups of coffee and set one down next to Jonah. He mumbled something that might’ve been thanks.

“You’re welcome.” Flashing an exasperated smile, she started around the table to grab Gage’s dishes.

Mark held a hand out and stood. “I’ve got it, Lu,” he said. “Drink your coffee.”

“Thanks. You’re awesome.”

“I know.” Mark grinned and started clearing up around Jonah, who was eating with a kind of grim, robotic determination. As Mark headed for the dishwasher, he said, “So, are you and Al hitting the bar alone?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I might stop and grab Sydney, if she’s not holed up with her fiancé somewhere.”

“Tommy Lowell, right?”

Jonah’s head came up sharply at the mention of the name. He lowered it again when he saw Luka watching. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Yeah, him. Apparently, Jonah does not approve.”

“He’s a punk,” Jonah muttered.

“Look who’s talking.” She took a long swallow of coffee and leaned against the counter. “How about you, Mark? Got a hot date tonight?”

“Yup. Me and my spreadsheets.” He slid the last plate in and headed for the sink. “So…I heard Reese Mathers is back in town.”

Luka froze with her mug halfway to her lips. “Guess he is,” she said. “I saw him at the post office Monday.”

And her heart had stopped, her tongue glued itself to the roof of her mouth, and she’d had to run right back out before he saw her. Five years of telling herself she didn’t care, and her body had betrayed her in five seconds flat.

Now Mark and Jonah were both staring at her. “Maybe you should ask him out, instead of Al,” Mark said.

“He just wants to be friends.” God, how could it still hurt to say that?

“Well, what’s wrong with asking him as a friend?”

“Don’t you start, Mr. Date-with-a-spreadsheet. I’m fine going out alone.”

“Luka…”

“I mean it.” She drained the rest of her coffee and shot him a glare. Mark was the listener, the confidant. And he knew exactly how she felt—
used
to feel—about Reese Mathers. When she’d come home that day, she’d screamed at all three of them, accused them of roughing him up to keep him away from her. They’d sworn on their mother’s grave that they hadn’t. And then Mark sat her down, and she poured everything out.

She was starting to regret that. Especially if he was going to be on her case like this.

“I’m over him,” she said. “And I’m late. Your lunches are in the fridge. Goodbye.”

Mark nodded. “All right. Later, Lu.”

She tossed a wave over her shoulder and all but ran out the door. She was a Dawson, and Dawsons didn’t cry.

At least, not when anyone was looking.

* * * *

As usual on Fridays, Sweet Sensations had drawn a crowd. Luka almost changed her mind when she saw how many people were in the bakery, but she’d promised to bring in donuts today and the Stop ‘n Shop only had the crappy boxed kind.

She went in—and froze when she spotted Reese Mathers sitting at a table.

This time, she couldn’t run. He’d already seen her. In fact, he was staring at her with as much surprise as she felt. But he rearranged his expression into something like a smile, then stood and approached her with his hands shoved in his pockets.

Oh, God. He was hot when he left—now he was gorgeous beyond words. He looked carved from stone, not a trace of softness left in him. And those brilliant blue eyes flashed like steel. Just as hard as the rest of him.

She couldn’t say a word.

“Hey, Luka.” His voice had deepened, too. There was a dismissive confidence in it, like he knew exactly what kind of image he projected. The pure sex and power kind. “Nice to see a familiar face.”

Talk, you idiot.
“Hi, Reese.” She only squeaked a little. “When did you get back?”

“Been back for a month.”

“Oh. Well, welcome back.”

“Thanks.”

Great. This couldn’t be any more awkward if she tried. “Um. So what are you doing here? At the bakery, I mean.”

“Drinking coffee.” He flashed a bemused smile. “How about you?”

“Getting donuts. For the girls.”

He glanced around a little. “How many do you have?”

“Huh?” It hit her a few seconds later, and she was actually mad before she remembered he’d been away for five years—and they were just friends. Thinking she’d gone and had kids was a reasonable assumption, she supposed. “The girls at Magic Mags,” she said.

“Oh. You still work there?”

Another flash of anger. This one lasted a little longer, but it was mostly at herself. Yes, she still worked at a stupid beauty salon, but now she did nails
and
hair. So impressive. “Yeah, and I’m late,” she said. “So I’d better get in line.”

His lips twitched down—or did she imagine it? “All right,” he said. “Good to see you, Luka.”

He turned away and started picking things up from the table where he’d been sitting. An empty cup, a napkin, a folded newspaper, a small wax bag. He moved slowly, and his broad shoulders drooped just a little. She thought she heard him sigh.

Damn it.

“Reese?”

It took him a minute to react, but he faced her with eyebrows raised.

“I’m going to The Klinker for a while tonight,” she said. “If you feel like stopping in, I’ll buy you a beer. Maybe we could catch up or something.”

If that was a smile, it was the saddest one she’d ever seen. “Still friends?”

“Still friends.” She managed to sound casual.

“Maybe I will, then.” He tucked the newspaper under an arm—a large, very muscled arm—and nodded. “See you around.”

He headed outside, and Luka made her way to the end of the line, silently berating herself. That was a really stupid idea. She felt bad for snapping at him, but she could have just apologized and moved on with her Reese-free life. Instead, she’d sort of invited him out, and he hadn’t exactly said no.

She couldn’t afford to get her hopes up. If he showed tonight, she’d just have to make uncomfortable small talk and find a way to excuse herself.

It hurt too much to remember when they’d been more than friends—and to wonder why they couldn’t be now.

Chapter 2

It was just before eight when Reese walked into the house. He headed straight for the kitchen and stopped in the doorway, taking in the quiet scene at the breakfast table. Finally, he held up the wax bag and said, “How are my favorite girls this morning? I brought donuts.”

Georgia jumped up from the table and tackle-hugged him. “From Sweet Sensations?” she said. “You’re the best.”

“Boston Crème for you.” He winked and handed her the bag, then went over and kissed the top of his mother’s head. “Morning, Mom. I got you a croissant.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Anna Mathers pointed her fork at the counter. “There’s fresh coffee, if you want some.”

“Sounds great.”

He headed that way and stood staring out the kitchen window for a few minutes, trying to compose himself a little more. After nearly five years in the Marines, he thought he could handle anything. But just the sight of Luka Dawson sent him back to that night, when he’d lost control of everything.

The beautiful green-eyed girl had become a breathtaking, full-fledged woman. Still tough as nails, with a mind of her own and the will to use it.

He wondered if she still painted.

When he’d calmed down, he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. Georgia was happily devouring her donut, alternating bites with sips of milk. At thirteen, she was already blossoming into the woman he’d have to beat boys away from with a stick. Seeing her after five years had actually brought tears to his eyes.

He was damned glad their father wasn’t around anymore to watch her grow. Because if that bastard ever touched her, he’d kill him.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Georgia pushed her chair back and grabbed the book bag at her feet. “I gotta go.”

“Want a ride to school?” Reese said.

“That’s okay. I’m walking with Jeremy.”

“Jeremy who?” he said in a mock growl. “Maybe I should chaperone you two.”

“Reese! Don’t be a jerk.” Laughing, she kissed his cheek, and then Anna’s. “Bye, Mom. Bye, Reese. Leave Jeremy alone, okay?”

“No promises.”

She giggled and bolted for the door.

When he heard the door close, Reese sighed and shook his head. “When did she get so old?” he said.

“Yesterday, I think.” His mother smiled and pushed some eggs around on her plate. “It goes so fast sometimes,” she said. Her gaze grew distant, and she stopped moving.

“Mom?”

She blinked and looked at him quizzically, and he breathed an inward sigh of relief. When he’d come back, Georgia told him that sometimes she just spaced out. It might last for minutes, or hours. He’d seen it once a few days ago, and it scared the hell out of him—mostly because she didn’t realize it was happening.

“What is it?” she said when he didn’t keep going.

He shrugged. “Nothing. I can’t remember what I was going to say.”

“Must’ve been a lie, then.”

“You’re right. I was going to say I’d won the lottery.” He managed a real smile. It was good to hear his mother teasing again. She hadn’t done that since he was in middle school, at least. That was when his father had stopped trying to control himself, and started ruling the house with his fists.

He finished the last of his coffee and stood to clear the table. As he headed for the sink, Anna said, “What are you up to today?”