He'd better get used to them.That was his reality.It would forever be his story.Early fucking retirement due to permanent disability.Like a fucking weakling, he was now collecting retirement pay for the rest of his life.Which was why finding a job hadn't been a high priority.There were many guys who would be satisfied with his lot.He'd made it out alive.He didn't have to find work now, if he didn't want to.But yeah, he was considered unable to perform his former duties as Force Recon, which was a highly selective team of special ops guys—the Marine equivalent of a Navy SEAL or Army Special Forces.He'd been so fucking proud to serve his country that way.
And the Purple Heart didn't soften the blow.Not at all.
"Yeah."
"So what now?"
Damn, she was nosy.
"I don't know."
"School?"
"Yeah, I guess.I don't know."Jesus, he didn't want to be answering these questions.And damn, his knee and hip were killing him, but he didn't want to show it.A wave of nausea ran through him from the pain."What do you do for a living?"There.He'd turn the tables on her.
"I'm a social worker."
Oh for God's sake.Well, that figured.Dimples was sweet through and through.So sweet it hurt his teeth."What kind?"
"I work for Family Resources—it's an agency that helps parents find the education, child care or benefits they might need for their children."
Yep.His teeth ached.
"There are a lot of resources for getting wounded vets back into the workplace."
Ugh.He abruptly dropped his pace to let her move ahead.He sure as hell didn't need her problem solving for him.
She slowed also, adjusting her pace to match his."I'm sorry."
It was the first time she'd shown any sensitivity to his responses and the sincerity in her apology chewed him up even more than her prying.
He stopped running altogether, dropping to a walk.Actually a limp, which he seemed unsuccessful in masking at the moment.
She got ahead by a few paces before she realized and also stopped.
"Look, Dimples.I can see you're a very sweet girl, but I don't need your sympathy or for you to problem-solve for me.Got it?"
Her green eyes shone with pity.Her chest rose and fell as her breath slowed from the change in pace."Yeah.I got it."
Something about her simple acceptance turned him on.It was a real submission, not the "yes, sir" kind he elicited from his play partners.It made his imagination run wild, picturing her in all kinds of naked surrender.His palm itched to spank her long and hard just to teach her a lesson about who pitied who.
Yeah, he was a real dick.
Kaitlyn the social worker would be smart to forget she ever met him.
Kaitlyn changed outfits four times.Alexander, her online date, was picking her up at eight and she couldn't quite figure out the right "message" with her clothing.Not too sexy, because she wasn't about to put out on the first date, but not too boring or he wouldn't be interested.Not too fancy, but not too casual.In the end, she opted for a skirt and blouse with flats.She'd save heels for a fancier date.Tonight they were just meeting for a "drink".
A knock sounded at the door and the butterflies in her tummy took flight.She took a deep breath.It was just a date.And it wasn't with the hot Marine next door—the guy who made her knees weak—so what was the big deal?
She opened the door and looked out.
Okaaay.Not as good-looking as his picture, that was for sure.Was it even the same guy as the picture?This guy looked thin-faced and a little greasy.Tall in a gangly kind of way.Well, he was probably a really nice guy.
"Hi.Are you Alexander?"
He stuck out his hand."Yes.Kaitlyn?"
She shook his palm, which was sweaty."Yes."She pushed past him into the hallway, not wanting to invite him into her place."I'm all set."She pulled the door shut behind her and locked it.As they walked past Rob's apartment, she listened for sounds, as she always did.The television blared.The poor guy really needed a job or a hobby.
