The Second Chance Hero (10 page)

“Once I test drove it this afternoon, I was sold. They had everything ready in an hour.”

“Come on.” Jenna was standing there, holding a pizza box. “Let’s go to your place so we can eat and gossip about this man without interruption.”

“Um, ah . . . oh.”

“You talk about me?” He moved closer, but Kim seemed frozen in place, her eyes locked on his. His lips were so close to hers . . . damn, just being close to her could fry his brain cells. “I’m flattered.”

“Only in the most general sense,” she replied.

Owen felt himself smile as the blush grew across Kim’s face and crept down her neck. Knowing he was on her mind made this a damn good day.

And he had no intention of letting it go. Leaning in, he brushed his mouth over her cheek and settled by her ear. “You can talk about me as much as you want. But you can also talk to me. Whenever you want.”

There was a little whoosh of breath and a soft sigh that escaped her lips, just like the one he heard earlier when they shared some laughs over coffee, and if her friend hadn’t been there, Owen would have taken Kim to her cottage and tried to get a few more of those little sighs out of her.

“I have to go.” Kim got out of the car and closed the door. “Uh, good to see you. Again.”

“Yeah. Nice car. Good luck with it.”

“Thank you.”

“Whoa! Nice ride!” Harper walked out front and smiled, but Kim just waved and made her way down the path to the cottage with Jenna, not stopping to talk.

“What was that all about? Or am I not allowed to ask?”

“You can ask, but I probably won’t answer.”

“You are an ass, you know that?” Harper stood next to him, arms folded, pretending to look at the car.

“I do my best,” he replied. After a couple of beats, he glanced over. “Harper, I understand her in ways you can’t possibly know. And for that you should be thankful, but you have to let me handle it my way.”

“You’re not telling me something.”

“You’re right, I’m not.” He wasn’t budging on this.

She hesitated, but then, patting his arm, Harper turned and went toward her house. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Don’t hurt her, Owen. Because then I will have to kill you.”

“Noted.”

***

Kim opened the front door of the cottage and Jenna did a slow spin when she entered the great room. “You don’t pay rent on this?”

“Nope.”

“Whoa. It’s nice.”

“I love it. It’s beautiful. It’s quiet and it’s up to me how much contact I need. If I want to go hang out with them at the house, I can do that. If I want to be by myself, I can do that, too.”

“Are you by yourself a lot?”

Kim thought about it. For a person who grew up with a ton of siblings, family, and friends who were always in her house, she was, and it wasn’t like her. “More than I should be.”

Jenna put the pizza box on the kitchen counter and turned, pressing her back into the granite. “You don’t have to tough this out by yourself. I know you’ve heard this from a lot of people, but it’s true. Especially with me.”

“I know. There were just so many things and Tom was tied in with so many people. I needed to get away from him and the memories.”

“Come here and sit.” Jenna motioned to a barstool at the kitchen island. Swallowing hard, Kim settled in, forcing down the tears. Habit had been keeping her from sharing what was in her heart, but then she thought about how free she felt when she told Harper the truth.

Grabbing for the box of tissues on the counter, Jenna handed them over, more than likely knowing that this wasn’t going to be fun.

“You never had to cut me out. Never. I know you were being brave for all of us. I know you were trying to protect my family, especially my mom.”

Oh, God. What did that mean? “How do you . . .”

“How do I know? I’ve been waiting for months for you to tell me what went on. Now I’m going to tell
you
everything.”

“Jenna . . .”

“No. Just listen. Six months after we lost Tom, I got a message from one of the guys in his unit, Mike Anderson. Nice guy. From Ohio, I think.”

“I know Mike.” He was a nice guy. He was getting married in a few weeks, if she remembered correctly.

“Apparently, he and Tom were close. Went to boot camp together and ended up on the last tour together in Afghanistan. He was with Tom before they loaded him into the helicopter.” Jenna reached over and took a tissue from Kim. “Tom told him Mike had to see me when he got home because that would be the only way I’d find out the truth. That you would try to protect the family.”

There was nothing to say at this point, so Kim’s mission was to avoid eye contact.

“I know there was someone else. He told his friend everything. He wanted you to know,” Jenna’s voice broke, the grief straining her. “He wanted you to know he did love you, and that he was sorry. He knew you were going to find out . . . and . . . and he was so sorry.”

God, how much more was she supposed to process?

“I did find out. Pretty quickly, in fact—maybe an hour after he died? I don’t know. Time is fuzzy.”

“Oh, my God. That soon? What happened? Tell me.”

She launched into the story in a way she never had before. What had happened to his body, the details about his death, had Jenna crying quietly. “That was bad enough. That he held on for so long was unbelievable. He shouldn’t have survived, even for a little while. He was in terrible pain.” Remembering his last minutes were the worst. “He told me he was sorry. At the time I didn’t know why.”

“Oh, God . . .”

“Your mom keeps pressing me about what he said and what he did. If he had last words. I can’t tell her these things, Jen. I can’t. I can’t tell her about the other woman. There’s no way. She lost her son, her baby . . . I can’t tell her anything that will sully his memory.”

“I know. But she’s on to you. And you need to see your parents and your brothers and sisters.” Jenna walked over and gave her a strong hug. One filled with warmth and gratitude. “Thank you for taking care of him and for protecting my mom. You are, without a doubt, the bravest person I know. But it’s time for you to take care of yourself.”

“Brave? Hardly. I don’t know if I’m coming or going. I feel like my whole life has been turned upside down.”

“Trust me. Most people would have unloaded the information and been done with it. Not you. You just bear it for everyone.”

“I’m still scared, though. Of pretty much everything. I get that Tom was sorry, I appreciate what he said, but I’m still hurt, Jenna. He hurt me.”

“And now there’s the new guy. And you’re not sure you’re ready.”

Kim slumped down. “He’s made me think about things I never thought I’d have to face again.”

“He’s gorgeous and he’s into you.”

“He’s nice, too, you know? A really good guy.”

“He looks successful. I’m assuming one of the big fancy Range Rovers I parked my Bug next to was his.”

“He’s very successful.” That was the understatement of the century. The bottom line was Owen had it all going for him, Kim just wasn’t sure she had the nerve. “I need a drink.”

Nervous breakdowns went well with red, so she pulled a pinot noir and two glasses from the wine rack. Never one to mess with wine, she uncorked it and poured in record time.

Taking a well-filled glass, Jenna sipped. “What are you going to do about him?”

“Owen? Probably nothing.”

“Again . . . why?”

Kim took a deep breath and walked around the room, finally settling herself by the front windows. She had a great view of the yard all the way to the deck, and there she could see Harper and Owen playing with Anna and talking. “He could be something, and I just don’t know if I could handle him. He’s different.”

“So are you. You’re not the same woman, but you’ve never been one to dodge risk. Everything you do is about risk,” Jenna said.

“Never with my heart. Tom was safe and look where that got me? Am I really ready for Owen? This is new territory for me.”

“Honey, every time the sun comes up, it’s new territory. You have to decide if you’re going to live or simply exist.”

Kim wondered if she pushed herself hard enough, she could do a marathon or a triathlon. As she hit her stride on the treadmill in the empty gym, she thought about herself running and running, and the thought of doing what she was now doing for three hours on a road, with hills, made Kim wonder if she should just stick with yoga or Zumba or something. Kim was never a hard-core athlete and she never had to watch her weight, but since she’d been home, she’d been eating a lot more and she wasn’t as physically active as she’d always been. Being a nanny kept her very busy, but it wasn’t like being a trauma nurse. So three times a week she brought Anna to see her mommy at work and Kim used the gym. It had been a hopping place in the colder months, but now that the weather was warmer, people were opting to hit the basketball courts or run on the special path the guys had installed around the building.

She had twenty minutes of running to do and then she’d hit some machines. Her music was playing through her earbuds, she was getting a nice sweat going, and then her stomach lurched because in walked the object of every fantasy, Major Kent.

She hadn’t seen him since she’d passed him in the hallway two days ago when she was bringing Anna to Harper. She’d discovered she liked crossing his path. She liked the looks that passed between them, the smiles. Of course Kim had to remind herself that she was pissed off.

But holy crap, he was gorgeous. He wore a gray sleeveless T-shirt and had on a pair of workout shorts with USMC emblazoned on one leg. His biceps bulged and on one arm he had a tattoo—the globe, anchor, and eagle that were the symbols of the corps. Owen wasn’t bulky. His muscles were defined, long and smooth. He looked powerful, dangerous. And Kim’s ovaries jumped up and down, screaming for her to do something. God, she wanted to.

He walked over to the treadmill next to hers, hung his towel over the handhold to the side, and smiled. “Hey.” He smiled. “Come here often?”

She was just about to answer and then stopped. Right. Pissed. Apparently he’d gone on a date. And she was mad and jealous and it didn’t matter that she had no right to be. Turning him down had been a dumb thing to do, but at the time it didn’t seem like it, and now he was right there, being gorgeous and nice and reminding her that she was an idiot.

Trying to be cool and not wanting to break her stride, Kim nodded and kept running. She was getting a little out of breath and wouldn’t have been able to say much even if she wanted to.

He started out at three miles per hour and quickly kicked it up to six, keeping pace and not even holding on to the rails. The thumping of his feet on the belt was hypnotic. But still, Kim noticed she wasn’t keeping up. It annoyed her, and what got her even angrier was when he started talking.

“You like to run?”

She scowled. He was being polite with the small talk. Or it could have been a real question. She didn’t know. Second-guessing herself was becoming tiresome, but it seemed with Owen, that’s all she did.

“I love having a facility right in the building,” he continued. “Convenient.”

Again, all she could do was nod. Kim pushed the button on the treadmill and upped her speed. He wasn’t even straining and she would have said something about him being a show-off, but she couldn’t breathe. She might have actually thought about doing him real harm when he looked over at her display and chuckled. “That’s a nice jog.”

Jog! She was on the verge of cardiac arrest! He was still keeping a steady pace and then he kicked it up a little bit more. Kim didn’t know how much more she could take, but Owen was just breaking a sweat. She, on the other hand, was drenched. Everything was sticking to her, her hair was slipping out of the tie, and heat was pouring off her body. When she got a stitch in her side that almost blinded her with pain, Kim couldn’t take it anymore.

She hit the safety stop and doubled over. Holding her midsection, she was out of breath and miserable. Taking her water and stepping off the treadmill, the first thing Kim wanted to do was get away from that instrument of torture. That part was easy.

But there was no getting away from her burning lungs, and she chastised herself for being so damn competitive. Especially with someone like Owen. The man was a professionally trained warrior; he was in top physical condition.

She was not.

Still bent over, the stitch was subsiding, but her breathing hadn’t steadied yet. And there was a good chance it wasn’t going to when she felt a large, gentle hand between her shoulder blades.

“Come on. Let’s sit you down.” Owen took her towel and her water bottle before guiding her to a bench on the side of the room. “Overdid it a little?”

Kim wheezed and gasped for air, nodding.

“What were you thinking?”

How did she answer that?
I wanted to be a badass and keep up with you
? No. That made her sound childish. Still, it was the truth. “I thought I’d try to keep pace with you.”
Better.
“For fun. I didn’t think.” She sounded like a frog with a hoarse voice, and weird little hiccups of air.
Ribbit.

He held out her water bottle, his smile sweet, his concern genuine. “Take a sip.”

“I’m fine, Owen. Thank you.” It was such a lie. In addition to really taking a stupid risk, simply being around him was muddling her brain.

Because the universe was cruel, he sat next to her on the small bench. His hips settled next to hers, his broad shoulders taking up so much space. She hated it.
She loved it
.

Even with a sheen of sweat glistening on his arms and face, he didn’t look like he’d even exerted himself. He looked . . . hot. And as he inched closer and brought her hand up for another sip of water, Kim breathed in. His scent made her dizzy.

With her eyes closed, she leaned into him and only possibilities filled her mind. His arm looped around her shoulder and she wondered if she was oxygen deprived because rational thought was completely gone. He was so kind to her. Why didn’t she want to see him? Oh right, he went on a date with someone else.

“Look at me, Kim.”

Her eyes opened and his face was close, so close to hers, who could blame her if she moved that final inch and kissed him? His lips looked so soft, his eyes were so blue.

“I’d really love to kiss you.”
Oh, God
. Had she said that out loud?

She felt that low rumble of a chuckle, the one that let her know he was there and close. She could totally get used to him being close. “That’s a nice thought, but let’s first focus on getting you on your feet.”

She took another sip and the fog started to lift.

His hands wrapped around hers and without any effort, pulled her to her feet. She was steady, no wobbling, except in the area of her heart.

“Okay?” he asked. “Feel like you’re going to pass out?”

“No, um, I might die from embarrassment, though.”

Owen’s smile bloomed, revealing the small gap between his two front teeth, making him more handsome, if that was possible. “Why are you embarrassed?”

Kim steadied herself as his hands settled on her shoulders. “I, uh, I wasn’t myself there for a second.”

Those electric eyes locked on hers and Kim honestly felt like she might be going down for the third time. “I shouldn’t have said anything about kissing you. That wasn’t appropriate.”

“No? I kinda like the idea.” The way he was standing, holding her, she wasn’t going anywhere, and for some reason it wasn’t a bad thing. He moved closer, his big body pressing against hers, the smell of sweat and man turning her brain to mush once again.

Kim rolled her eyes and scooted away from him, sipping her water rather than making eye contact or talking to him. Once her breathing started to settle, she figured she could make a graceful exit and go get Anna. Stealing a look, she saw Owen slumped against the wall, tapping one finger against another. He was watching her. His gaze steady, unwavering, and if she had more nerve, she’d jump him. If only.

She heard a phone go off and looked around for hers, but remembered it was in her bag back in Harper’s office. Owen, however, reached into the pocket of his shorts and pulled out his.

“Yeah . . . uh-huh. . . . right. Shit. I can’t believe this is a problem. Why can’t he get what he needs?” The volume of his voice was going up—he was pissed about something. “No. I’ll figure it out. Yeah. Okay.” He ended the call and seemed lost in his own thoughts before he turned his attention back to her. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. You okay?” she asked.

“That didn’t seem okay to you?” he said with a smirk.

“Not exactly. What has you so upset?”

“Angry is the word.”

Uh-oh.

“At me?”

He reached out and squeezed her hand. “No. Not at you. Why would I be angry at you?”

Kim was more than a little relieved to hear that. She’d really made some big mistakes with this guy, and he deserved better. “Can I help?”

His brows pinched together and he turned his body so he was facing her. “You know what? You just might be able to.”

“What, help?”

“Yeah. How much do you know about the VA?” Owen’s eyes were still and serious. This was important to him.

“I know it can be a mixed bag. People can get really tied up in red tape, but the benefits can be lifesaving.” It was the truth. The VA had, in some cases, the best equipment available. The newest technology. But there were so many veterans in need, of all ages, access to services was often difficult.

“I have one of those red tape issues with a new hire. Amputee. He’s having trouble getting therapy.”

“What? That’s bullshit.”

“Bullshit?”

“Totally. Come on,” she said. “I need a phone. I’ll have your guy in therapy tomorrow morning.”

***

Owen had never seen anyone transform the way Kim had. She’d gone from sweet nanny to bureaucratic ball-buster in a matter of minutes. He brought her to an empty office in HR, and introduced her to Helen. Once he got the go-ahead from the employee to speak on his behalf, Kim went to work.

It had taken her two phone calls and fifteen minutes to clear up the problem.

“In the future, remember that guys who’ve just come home, who were involved in any of the recent conflicts, get preference. No waiting. Nothing. They get bumped to the top of every list.”

Helen nodded. “I didn’t know
dis
,” she said in her accented English. She was really a sweet person and was so relieved someone could get the right help. “I’ll call you next time. You can tell me who I have to get angry
wit.
”

Owen folded his arms. “Helen, do you know how to get angry?”

“You stop,” she said, and swatted at Owen’s arm. “Or I’ll practice on you.”

The last thing he needed was his social worker getting all badass on him, so he put up his hands in surrender.

Kim grabbed a piece of paper, scribbled something, and handed it to Helen. “My number. Call me if you need me to get in touch with someone.”

Man, he wished he had permission to use that number. “Thanks, Kim. I appreciate it.”

“My pleasure. Sometimes just getting out of the phone extension loop at the VA is a challenge. Forget talking to someone. But your guy is all set up and he should be feeling better soon.”

If Owen didn’t find Kim appealing before the problem with the VA, he would have after. There was something really special about a woman who would drop everything to help a perfect stranger. But that’s exactly what she did.

“I’d better go get Anna, so I can get her down for her nap.”

“I’ll walk you.” Owen wanted to take advantage of every second he could with her.

“Helen, it was nice meeting you.” Kim shook her hand and Helen smiled sweetly in return.

“It’s lucky you two met. It will be a great help to all our employees who have special circumstances.” Helen retreated to her office and Owen found his hand drifting to the small of Kim’s back as he guided her out of HR. The best part was, she didn’t resist.

Once they were in the hallway, though, he stuffed his hands in his pocket because he wasn’t about to press his luck, but he did want to thank her for helping. The way she worked got him thinking. There was so much they didn’t know about navigating benefits for their returning veterans that he thought they might have to hire someone to do just that. It’s something he’d have to explore with Harper, and soon, because it was too important to let go.

Kim was adjusting the bag on her shoulder when she glanced up quickly and smiled, stopping Owen’s heart right in his chest. Taking in her wide smile and bright eyes, he wanted to do what she’d suggested when they were in the gym and kiss her. He wanted to kiss her till they both couldn’t breathe. God, he had to get a grip.

“Thank you for everything,” he said.

“I’m glad I could help. I couldn’t believe the runaround the poor guy was getting.”

“I know. I think I may have to hire someone to help Helen just with those cases.”

They walked a little longer and he noticed they’d both slowed down, taking their time getting back to Harper’s office.

“You really take care of your people here, don’t you?”

“They’re the most important part of the company. If we don’t have happy employees, no one will be successful. The philosophy’s been working for us so far.”

She smiled. “I’d say so.”

They stopped at Harper’s office door and he peeked inside. Her secretary was on the phone and he could see Harper’s stiletto-clad feet propped on the edge of her desk.

“You didn’t have to walk me back. I knew the way.” She smiled at him again and Owen felt like he was seventeen.

“Yeah, but I’m still finding my way around.”

“How has it been? Getting better?”

“Not bad. I’m settling in, like I told you last week, it’s going to take me a while. But in some ways it’s like I never left.”

“That’s good.” Kim kept her eyes locked on his. “I meant what I said about helping out. Helen can call me . . .”

“I know. I appreciate that.”

“Hey!” Harper walked out to the reception area of her office, and he felt Kim back away from him just a little bit. “I hear you solved the problem. Amazing work.”