Mainly from all the banging around she’d heard coming from his garage, punctuated by some pretty colorful obscenities. She’d actually admired his creativity even if some of what he’d said was physically impossible.
His pale blue eyes finally turned in her direction. “I don’t regret serving my country, but some days it’s not easy to forget what all that entailed.”
“And today was one of those days.”
His broad shoulders slumped in defeat. “Yeah. I never know what will trigger another flashback. I was at my mom’s house today with the entire family when I snapped. It wasn’t pretty.”
She bet it wasn’t easy for him to talk about what happened, and she felt honored that he trusted her enough to share his pain with her. “I’m sure they understood, especially your brothers. They’re both veterans, after all.”
“Yeah, but still.”
Scooting a little closer, she rested her head against his shoulder. She knew from experience that sometimes words weren’t much comfort, but that simple touch could help ease even the worst emotional pain.
“Does your mom know you’re okay?”
He shrugged. “I texted Jack to let them know I made it home in one piece. I also promised to call her, but I haven’t done that yet. I wanted to make sure I was back in control before I talked to her. I already worried her enough for one day.”
He set his empty dish aside. “Maybe I should do that now.”
“I’ll go, then.”
Mikhail caught her hand with his and tugged her back down beside him. “Stay. Please.”
She settled back down next to him and snuggled in close as he wrapped his arm around her. With his free hand he dug his phone out of his pocket and dialed his mother’s number. To give herself something to do besides listening in on his conversation, Amy picked up her half-melted ice cream and took a bite.
He started talking almost immediately, a sign his mom had been sitting by the phone waiting for his call. “Sorry to take so long to get back to you, Mom. I started working in the yard and lost track of time.”
He went silent for several seconds before speaking again. “Yes, I did eat. The pot roast and vegetables were great as always. I had decided to save the pie for later, but now I probably won’t eat it until tomorrow. Amy came over and forced me to eat a whole bunch of ice cream.”
It felt good to hear him chuckle. “She’s tough, let me tell you. I was scared to tell her that I already had some of your apple pie waiting for me inside. To give her credit, though, she does make a mean banana split.”
He drew a shaky breath. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about earlier. I’m feeling better now.”
Amy didn’t know what was being said on the other end of the conversation, but Mikhail stared down at Amy with an odd expression on his face as he listened to whatever his mother had to say.
“Okay, I’ll tell her, Mom.” He let out a slow breath. “Look, I’d better let you go. I promise I’ll check in with you again tomorrow. Love you.”
After he’d hung up, Mikhail sat in silence for several seconds. She had to ask. “Tell me what?”
“She wanted me to thank you for watching out for her baby boy.”
Amy snickered. “Is that really how she described you?”
Mikhail looked mildly insulted. “What’s wrong with that? I am the youngest even if only by a few months.”
What could she say now? “Sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed. If it helps, my father calls me his baby girl all the time. I’m four years younger than Chad, the brother closest to me in age.”
Her companion’s arm tightened around her shoulders, tugging her in closer to his side, a reminder of how alone they were sitting there on his front porch, both blanketed in deep shadows and safe from prying eyes. “I guess parents sometimes have problems realizing their babies are all grown up.”
The slight huskiness in Mikhail’s voice slid along her skin, causing tingles in places that should remain tingle-free if the two of them were to stay on the right side of that friendship line they’d drawn between them. His big hand moved down her arm and back up, leaving a trail of sparks in its wake.
She told herself—no, she ordered herself—to move away. Hadn’t she given in to enough temptation tonight by dumping double the usual amount of chocolate on her banana split? Evidently not, because she stayed right where she was, waiting to see what happened next as her heart beat to a salsa rhythm in her chest. The best-case scenario would be that Mikhail had enough strength of will for the both of them.
Maybe the man was a mind reader because at that instant his arm disappeared from around her shoulders. Okay, then. Definitely time to go home. She mustered up the energy to stand up. “I’d better let you get back to work.”
He stayed right where he was, but there was a new tension in his body. It was probably her own imagination working overtime, but he reminded her of a predator about to strike. Moving cautiously, she reached down, intending to pick up the empty bowls they’d set aside. But instead, she found her hands captured by Mikhail’s.
“And if I don’t want you to leave? At least not yet.”
