The Long Road Home (16 page)

Logan read the article twice, questions and possibilities swirling in his mind. Hope flared with resounding force, fueling his determination and will. He didn't have to leave the Rangers and take some desk job. No. With time and physically demanding workouts, he could once again step foot on a military base in his uniform and deploy to war with his comrades.

Swiveling on the seat, he looked over at Tyler.

The Marine shot him a knowing grin.

For the first time that day, Logan smiled widely. Nothing could hold him back now. "I can do this."

Chapter 28

Friday night arrived before she knew it. Even with having Monday and Tuesday off, her week flew by. Probably because she couldn't get home soon enough to see Logan. Together they spent evenings talking, teasing, and simply sharing their lives in a slowly moving relationship. She couldn't wipe the constant smile off her face. Even her coworkers commented on her more than usual peppiness and happiness she seemed to carry that week. Not wanting to release details, she simply told them her vacation agreed with her and went about her work. Right then she wanted to keep Logan to herself, even in topics of conversation. Later, much later, if things solidified in a positive way, she'd spill the beans.

Parking her car in the garage, she sat in her seat for a long moment, her mind centering on her boyfriend.

He'd had up and down days, entirely normal for the first week of intensive therapy, in her opinion. His patience fell short as he struggled with tasks that were once easy while building up his strength again. At times, he vented his frustration and pessimism. Both understandable. Luckily, he'd also found positives at Walter Reed like other patients in worse shape, who he wanted to help, and Tyler, the angel on earth who found an article about veteran amputees returning back to their units and deployment.

She grinned as she recalled Logan's exuberance the night before. He had handed her the magazine and waited impatiently for her to read. No sooner had she finished and looked over, than she'd found excitement, enthusiasm, and determination written all over his face. She'd always be thankful to Tyler for his generosity, for essentially giving Logan a chance at his dream once more, the motivation to work hard, and the will to succeed. No doubts existed of his achieving active duty status once more. He'd find a way to pass the physical exams and be in seventh heaven once they declared him fit and able to return to his job.

A true warrior. She'd no more try to lasso him in than she'd jump on a spaceship to the moon. Sure, she'd worry if he returned to the front lines. Just like all families of current soldiers. Yet, the sheer joy on his face the night before told her he'd never be happy sitting at home with a regular job. He lived for the adventure, for ensuring the safety of others. Anything less would be a failure. Understanding this, she clung to every day and enjoyed their time to the fullest. Probably sooner rather than later, he'd be back in the military and deployed for a long, dangerous stint overseas.

Forcing the bittersweet thought from her mind, she focused on the present. No sense getting all melancholy about something that wasn't written in stone and might not happen for years to come. Better to spend her time happily bonding with her college crush and now boyfriend.

Boyfriend. The term still awed her. She'd had few of those over the years and none as outstanding and special as Logan. He sped her heart, made her stomach flip-flop with a cheesy grin, and provided erotic fantasies to dream about. His kisses lit a fire in her belly, which refused to be extinguished, only craved more. She longed to run her hands over his nude body, to find all the hills and valleys, explore until she found every nook, crease, and hot spot. Like a priceless sculpture, she found Logan enthralling and couldn't help but want to touch.

It's only been just over a week that you've been with him
, her prudish conscience reminded her.

Yeah, but I've been waiting for four long years.
Taking credit for past times, she decided getting intimate wasn't rushing. They were just right on pace.

Debate over, she grabbed her purse and headed into the house. Good thing her work handed out free samples of condoms. Something told her she might just need them before much longer.

No sooner had she stepped into the kitchen than Logan pushed through the opposite door. He glanced at her and grinned. "You ready?"

She blinked. Had he been reading her mind? Surely not. "For what?"

"It's Friday night. Date night."

"Oh." She liked the sound of that. "What did you have in mind?"

He latched onto her hand, turned her around, and pulled her back into the garage. "Dinner, of course."

Gwen punched the button to raise the garage door once more. Logan made a beeline for his truck. She followed. "Sounds good."

"Afterward, we can go for a movie. Or to the art museum." He climbed in his vehicle and snapped on the seat belt.

She hopped into the passenger's seat and closed the door.

"I wanted to get tickets to the theatre, but they were sold out. I did snag some for next weekend, though."

"Those aren't cheap."

He shrugged. "Let's hope the production is worth it then." With a lazy grin, he cranked the engine and backed out of the driveway.

His phone rang. Pulling back into the drive, he palmed his phone and answered. "Hello? Hi, Mom."

Gwen stared out her window, trying not to eavesdrop on his conversation.

"Let me ask. Gwen?"

She turned to look at him.

"My parents want to come down for a visit this weekend. Would that be a problem?"

She shook her head. As much as she might want him to herself, she couldn't deny him time with his family. Not when he'd spent so much time away while on duty. "Of course not. They can stay at my house, if they want. I only have the two beds, but I'm sure we'll figure out something."

He relayed the information, chatted for a bit longer, then hung up. Sliding his phone back into the holder on his belt, he met her gaze. "They're just coming up for the day tomorrow but wanted to have lunch with us."

The anticipation carried in his tone. Although she understood they didn't part ways on the best of terms a week ago, he held high hopes for this visit.

"Good. I'd love to meet them."

Tension eased from his face at her words. Gwen smiled, twined her fingers with his, and squeezed. "Families are always welcome."

"I know it's a lot of work cooking. If you'd prefer, I'll take us out to eat instead."

She shook her head, touched at his concern. "Actually, I love to cook. So if you'll step up for KP duty, I'll gladly throw together something decent to eat."

He shot her a generous smile. "Deal."

* * * *

"This is good." Gwen wrapped another long piece of spaghetti around her fork and lifted it to her mouth.

Logan watched, his arousal kicking up immediately as he saw her soft lips part, accept the food, then close down on the fork. Biting back a moan of need, he shifted in his seat, trying to ease the tightness of his jeans. Who knew eating pasta could be so stimulating?

Dragging his attention away from his needy erection, he nodded at Gwen. "I remembered this place from college. Always great food and plenty of it."

"Not to mention affordable to college students." She grinned at him as she lifted the glass of water. "My friends and I ate here quite often because of the student discount."

"Ditto." He wondered why they never ran into one another outside of dance class. Probably because the campus sported several thousand students, sprawled over a hundred acres, and the surrounding area contained numerous restaurants and businesses aimed at taking advantage of a ready source of buyers. "Do you keep up with those friends?"

"A couple of them, yeah. One lives fairly close by. We get together now and again. The other lives across the country, but we email often." She set her drink down. "How about you?"

He shook his head. "Hard to keep up with even family when you're in the military, half a world away." Guess that's something else he'd have time for now, socializing and catching up with people from his past. He repressed a cringe at their reactions to his new disability.

No sense in getting worked up over how others would respond. They will or they won't react harshly, and nothing would change it. Besides, their opinion didn't matter. Not the way Gwen's did.

Unwilling to let the morose topic dampen the evening, he quickly switched subjects. "You haven't spoken much about your work this week."

She chewed, swallowed, then answered. "Not much to say. I do the same tests over and over again." The corners of her mouth curled up. "My job doesn't revolve around a lot of excitement and adventure."

He grinned back at her. "There's something to be said for stability and routine."

"Boredom?"

"Nah. Not unless you're bored already?"

Her eyes glittered. "With my job, eh. With the date? Absolutely not. With you? Never."

Her praise soothed his earlier worries and stroked his ego. "Good to know."

They ate for a couple of minutes in silence. "You mentioned talking to Tyler about becoming a physical therapist."

He stuffed a large bite of pasta in his mouth and chewed. "I did."

"And?"

Grabbing his soda, he took a long drink, washing the food on down. "He told me the ins and outs. Encouraged me to check into a couple of colleges nearby that offer a physical therapy program, see what their requirements entailed."

"Are you going to?" She chased the last bit of her meal around her plate, then glanced up at him again.

"Yeah, I think so. I've got to find another career at some point, and our alma mater does offer the degree. I wouldn't have to worry about credits transferring or such."

"You're going to stay in Bethesda, then?" Hope flashed across her face.

He caught her excitement, and pieces of his life clicked into place. As much as he wanted to appease her, he couldn't lie and end up dashing her expectations down the road. Honesty really was the best policy. "It depends on my therapy and if I can get back into active duty. Even with the prosthesis, if I can pass the physical exam requirements for the Army, I can be reinstated back into my former position." Worry replaced her enthusiasm. Reaching over the table, he offered his hand. Slowly, she settled her smaller one in his. "You know I dream of returning, fulfilling my duties, to prove that a stupid roadside bomb can't slow me down. If there's any way possible, I'll return to duty and probably be shipped overseas."

Gwen nodded. "I know that's what you want above anything else. I'll worry about you, but I support you one hundred percent."

She had no idea how much her words meant to him.

He squeezed her hand lightly. "Thank you." Sucking in a breath, he searched her face and continued. "I don't know how long I'd stay in the military. Never thought I'd do anything other than be a career soldier. Now, I'm not so sure. At some point in my life, I'll retire from the Army and need a job to fall back on. That's where I figure physical therapy will come into play."

"So you'll keep the idea on the back burner until you decide to retire from the service?"

He nodded. "Exactly. There doesn't seem much point in signing up for classes to only attend one semester, then dash off to a war zone for the next few years. It's something I'll probably think about but after this part of my life has ended."

At least she seemed to understand, even if concern cast shadows across her pretty face. The cross all military families must bear.

Which brought another question to mind. "Are you willing to wait for me?"

Her head tilted to the side. "Wait for you?"

"If I go back on active duty and spend a year at a time away from home, will you be here when I return?" He held his breath and waited for her answer.

A slow smile appeared on her face. "Logan. Logan. When I said I wanted to give us a try for the long haul, I meant the
long
haul." She rubbed her thumb over his knuckles. "Don't you see? No matter where you happen to land in your job, I'll still be here, testing those condoms and marking off the days until you return."

He grinned. She promised to stay the course, and nothing could mean more to him right then.

Chapter 29

"Gwen, this is my mother, Tilly. My father, Harold." Logan released them from a hug and turned back to do the introductions.

Stepping forward, Gwen shook both their hands, smiling brightly. "Nice to meet you both." She gestured toward the living room. "Please come in."

They followed her and settled in on the couch as Gwen took the smaller loveseat beside Logan. He intertwined his fingers with hers.

"Logan, you look good." His father noted with a critical eye. "Is this young lady responsible for the grin on your face?"

"Mostly, yeah." Logan glanced down at her before focusing on his parents again.

"Tell them about your therapy." Gwen squeezed his fingers and watched the excitement flare across his face.