Speed King (Men of Action 1)

My spine goes straight at the mention of my parents.

“Not going there.”

“Son, Pete’s been sober for over ten years. It’s time to get over the grudge. When will you cut him some slack?” Rich poses the same question he’s been asking for a while.

“There is no grudge. Let that shit go a long time ago.”

“What about your poor mother? She loves you so much. This rift is putting her through hell.” Amanda’s also repeating the same thing she’s said for years.

“There is no rift. It wasn’t a big deal. I’ll invite her to lunch soon.”

The unspoken question hangs in the air, and Major shuffles his feet uncomfortably.

“Go ahead and ask, Amanda.”

“What about Harley?”

“What about her?”

“I’ve almost given up on mending the fences with your parents, but poor Harley? You used to be so close. She’s been waiting to hear from you.”

“She’s busy, didn’t want to bother her.” It’s a sorry-ass excuse. Actually, it’s a bald-faced lie and sounds exactly like it.

“Bother her? You’ve been in town for over six months. She had tears in her eyes the whole ceremony. She has always been incredibly proud of you. Then you ran like a coward!”

I try to beat the guilt clawing at my insides. I knew she was there, felt her before we even entered the floor. It was easy to spot her, sitting with her parents in the section for personnel. She looked incredible in the navy-blue dress. Her silky auburn hair was hanging straight, the usual curls blown out. I fucking loved her curls, but she was gorgeous any way she came.

It had been three years since I’d seen Harley in person. Her grandfather’s funeral. I didn’t know the man well, but the heartbreak in her voice on the phone had me boarding the first flight available. My intentions were to slip away unnoticed, but my three overly interfering friends ended up by my side, claiming their support. I knew it was bullshit. They wanted to meet the woman who had me so far wrapped up that I never showed interest in anyone else.

Major, Ford, Talon, and I met in boot camp and became quick friends. Our goals and drive were identical, knowing we were all on the same path with our military careers. They were the closest things to brothers I would ever have. Hell, our brotherhood was stronger than most sibling relationships I’d witnessed.

Marines, brothers, and now partners. They were family, and outside of Harley, the most important people in my life. Over the years, and many nights, they learned about Harley. She came to know them, too, through stories.

In those early years, they understood my position. She was too young and too much was at stake. But after she went to college, they took a different stance. A standpoint that encouraged me to tell her the truth.

A suggestion I refused to follow through.

The years away, I allowed myself the communication. It was safe, and even with my feelings, I could compartmentalize, making myself think of Harley as a girl.

That weekend home changed everything. I lost the fight and was forced to face the truth. My beautiful, sweet girl was now all woman. Three days was all it took for me to fall even deeper under her spell. I was fucked.

Totally fucked.

And then I made the mistake… breaking every promise I vowed as an eighteen-year-old when I left her to join the Marines. Just one kiss, I told myself. One kiss wouldn’t change anything between us.

The instant my lips touched hers and I finally had her in my arms, I was toppling over the edge of insanity. It took every bit of strength to walk away, claiming it was wrong.

I thought I lost her for good that time. The look of raw devastation on her face is etched in my brain, and I swore if I ever had the chance, it would never be there again. She may have thought I didn’t love her, but she was wrong.

It took a while, but I finally heard from her again.

Please let me know you are safe.

The email came through while I was overseas, and it took days to see it. For the first time in my life, I was at a crossroads about how to react. Ignoring her was not an option, but this was a chance to make a clean break. Then that damn angelic face filled my head. I couldn’t let her worry.

I remembered my end game.

Her… everything I was doing was for her.

So I typed out a generic response and opened myself up again. It wasn’t my choice to be an elusive asshole; it was a necessity. Our position and role in the Marines was active combat. Until we decided to get out, I needed her to live her life free of worry and be happy.

“Amanda, we should mind our own business,” Rich says, bringing me back to the present with all eyes on me.