“We’re all sorry,” Consuelo said. “We’ve got two girls, but he was our only boy. Losing him almost kil

led my husband, and me too. But what do you do? You accept it and move on.” She gave him a brave smile. “It’s nice to meet somebody who came back from that awful war in one piece.”

“A lot of good men didn’t.” Jake crumpled the empty soda can and tossed it in the recycle bin. “Thanks for the sandwich. If there’s anything you need while I’m here . . .”

“Thanks. I’ll remember that.” She gave him a smile as he left the kitchen. A good woman. A wise woman. “You accept it and move on.” It sounded so easy, the way she’d said it. But Jake had tried. The horrors that he’d not only witnessed, but had taken part in, were burned into every nerve cell in his body, and were woven into the fabric of his soul. They had become the man he was—the man he would be for the rest of his life.

* * *

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was on the west side of Tucson, a drive that took about an hour. Before their departure, Jake had stood by listening while Kira went over the rules with her students. They’d be set free to explore the two miles of trails and animal exhibits, but they were to practice the buddy system. No going off alone or going off the trails. And they were to check in at least every hour with their cell phones. If she didn’t hear, Kira would call them and, if need be, track them down. By four o’clock, everyone was to be back at the visitor center for refreshments and the ride home.

That was the Kira he remembered, perfectly organized and in charge. Did she ever loosen the tight grip she kept on herself and those around her?

Silly question, Jake thought. He wouldn’t call her a control freak, but Kira was one of the most focused people he’d ever known.

He’d assumed his duties would be limited to driving, but he was wrong. With the kids scattering like sailors on shore leave, he’d been about to find a seat in the shade of the visitor center when Kira gave him his orders.

“Come on, we need to keep an eye on them.”

“I thought you were turning them loose on their own,” he said.

She gave him a rare grin. “That’s what they think, too. But this is one more way to observe them from a distance—who’s getting along, who’s breaking rules, who’s not fitting in. It all goes into their therapy. It’s also a way to make sure they’re safe.”

“Fine. But why do you need me to spy on them? That’s your job. I’m just the chauffeur.”

Her eyes narrowed. “These kids all have problems, and four of them are boys. It never hurts to have a man along in case things get out of hand—bullying, teasing the animals, sneaking a joint in the restroom, you name it. That’s one reason why I like bringing Dusty on these outings. All it takes is a word from him to keep the kids in line.”

Jake hung back, still reluctant to get involved. “Sorry, I don’t have much experience at babysitting. Besides, I don’t know if an ex-jailbird is the best role model for your kids.”

“Forget that. You’re US Army. Just tug up your sleeve and flash that tattoo. They’ll be shaking in their boots. Come on.” She seized his hand to pull him along with her. The contact tingled against his palm, sending a heat flash up his arm. As if she’d felt it, too, she pulled away. “Please,” she said. “I need your help this afternoon.”

Relenting, he moved with her down the path, matching her long, purposeful strides. She was tall, but Jake towered over her by half a head. Now he looked down at her, his gaze tracing her stubborn profile. “Don’t you ever back off, Kira?” he asked her.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I think you do. Don’t you ever stop charging ahead like a one-woman army? Wendy always said you were the most motivated person she knew. But where does it stop?”

The mention of Wendy’s name passed like a brief shadow between them before she spoke. “Everything I’ve done—my degree, my practice—has been due to hard work and discipline. I can’t afford to back off, as you say. I owe myself, and my students, too much for that.”

“Do you?” He studied her upturned face, the fine-drawn features, the thoughtful gray eyes, the ripe, sensual mouth, which seemed to contradict everything else he knew about her. How many times had that mouth been kissed? Jake found himself wondering. Had she ever been in love, or had her all-consuming discipline left no time for such trivial things?

“Do I what?” she asked.

“Do you owe your whole life to your work? What about fun? What about having a family?”

“You’re a fine one to talk.” She looked away, as if wishing she’d bitten back that last remark. “Anyway, I have a family of sorts. I have my grandfather and Paige. . . .” She glanced up at him in sudden alarm. “Oh, but Paige is yours. I mustn’t let myself forget that.”

“I didn’t come to take Paige away from you, Kira. She seems happy where she is. And I’m no fit father for a little girl.”

He sensed her relief. “Dusty told me you met her.”

“She came out to the shed and introduced herself. She was . . . Oh, Lord, she took my breath away.”

“Paige is a joy. I think she got the very best of both you and Wendy.”

“You could say that.” He didn’t want to talk about Wendy, how she’d died or how much he still missed her. Wendy had been his lifeline; and now that she was gone, there was no road back to where they’d been and what they’d had. He was lost, with no hope of ever being found.

Ending the conversation, he opened his copy of the visitor map, which Kira had handed out to each of the students and to him. The twenty-one–acre complex, which integrated cactus gardens, natural desert and animal exhibits, was a maze of trails, paved and unpaved. Their path had taken them past the hummingbird aviary and outdoor pollination garden, a mass of blooming scarlet, pink and gold flowers. So far, they hadn’t seen any of the students.

Tags: Janet Dailey New Americana Romance
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