She pushed the thought away and tried to focus on the here and now.
“You look nice.” She waved at his collar. “Fancy shirt.”
Mark shrugged. “I travel light, especially when I know I won’t be back long. And I wanted to look decent for your opening.”
Back, not home. Didn’t he still consider Heart’s Landing home? If not here, where? His words sank in further. He was leaving again soon. She’d known that from day one. Mark had a month’s leave at most, and he hadn’t said how much of that time he planned to spend in Oregon. But still, hearing him say it thrust her into the past. She’d hated the goodbyes, could still feel the dread.
“You could wear your dress uniform,” she said, scraping the last of the guacamole from the bowl even though her appetite had vanished.
“I will if you’d prefer. But I figured you already had Gabe walking around in his navy whites. Plus Luke and T.J. in their dress uniforms.”
And Mark had always been more comfortable in the background. In high school, he’d been a star on the football team—and an attractive one with his wavy brown hair and rich brown eyes. He’d drawn half the cheerleading squad’s attention. Yet, he’d always hung back.
“Wear whatever you’re comfortable in. I’m just glad you’re here.” She polished off her last chip and pushed the bowl away.
“You were hungry. We could always order another.”
“I can’t eat another bite. But if you want more, go ahead.”
Mark shook his head, his eyes darting to the door and back. She wanted to reassure him that nothing bad was likely to happen in their quiet little town. But she suspected he already knew that.
“How does it feel to be here?” she asked gently. “The transition from Afghanistan to a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere has to be a culture shock.”
“Like I’ve walked into the past,” he said grimly.
“Not much changes here,” she acknowledged. “Mrs. Marlowe is still running the general store. And half of the people in town head over to Tall Pines to drink and dance every night. Not that I go much, but Eloise drags me in every so often. Most people haven’t changed since high school, just aged a bit, gotten married and had babies.”
She was rambling on and on, but she wanted to lighten the mood. If Mark needed to talk, of course she’d listen. He’d been there for her in the early months, first in person and later through the computer screen. But she’d rather close the door to heavy conversation, at least for one night.
Mark smiled. “I think you’ve thrown Heart’s Landing a curveball with your kennel.”
And just like that, the door slammed shut. “Everyone in town...they’ve been very supportive.”
“Your passion for those dogs is contagious. They feel that and want to be a part of what you’re doing.”
Amy cocked her head, studying him. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“That you’re a passionate woman? Yes.”
Amy laughed. That comment was pure Mark. If she hadn’t known him since elementary school, she would have thought he was flirting with her.
“Wow, that came out wrong.” He ran his hands through his short brown hair. The waves all the girls had admired in high school had been lost to a military buzz cut.
“I guess some things don’t change,” she said. “You still have a way with words.”
“Yeah, being here makes me feel like I’m back in high school. Opening my mouth and sticking my foot in.”
“Like when you picked Molly McAdams up for a first date and you promised her father that you wouldn’t do any of the things you wanted to do with her?”
“Her dad came to the door with a shotgun. I was trying to tell him I wouldn’t lay a hand on his daughter. It came out wrong.”
“Molly thought it was hysterical. She told everyone the next day.”
“I remember,” he said. “I learned to keep my mouth shut and avoid girls whose fathers owned guns.”
Amy laughed. “That was everyone in school.”
“I know.”