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She drew in a deep breath before answering. “Sure. Why not?”
I went around the desk and offered her my hand.
“Now?” she asked.
I nodded. Aly turned her attention to the computer, typed in one last sentence, and hit save. Pulling out the bottom drawer, she removed her purse from the desk. Fitting her hand into mine, I helped her rise.
She tried to pull away once we were both standing, but I held on to her hand. After a moment of confrontation, she relaxed and let herself be led out the door. We walked hand in hand through the lumberyard to the employee parking lot. I didn’t care who saw. I liked Aly, and I knew she liked me. We were two adults just having fun together and it was no one’s business but our own. I had no interest in hiding and didn’t give a damn who knew.
We drew at least a dozen eyes from customers and employees alike. In a town this small, everybody knew I was back from the war, and now they knew that I was dating Aly. I was proud. She was beautiful, smart, and courageous. Why wouldn’t I want to be seen with her? I smiled at Danny as we passed, letting him know the real reason I had been able to sleep last night.
18
ALY
That was the beginning of my relationship with Linc. Over the next few days, we saw more and more of each other. I had been nervous in the beginning, thinking that he had only wanted a roll in the sheets. That turned out to be false. He wanted friendship and romance, and he took me seriously as a partner in crime.
The first time we walked through the lumberyard holding hands, I had tried not to meet the gaze of all the people who were watching. It was a declaration of our fondness for one another. I couldn’t say love because I wasn’t sure I was in love yet. But I cared about him, and he cared about me.
The last thing I wanted was for people to start talking, but if we wanted to take things any further, that was a bridge we would have to cross. Linc did it perfectly, head held high, not caring who saw.
We went to the diner, another place that was full of people who would gossip about us. We sat in a booth and ate burgers and fries, making eyes at each other over our sodas. He reached across the table to take my hand and I let him. It was crazy. Hewas laying it on thick, as if we were two lovestruck teenagers who couldn’t get enough of each other.
I felt the same way, so I enjoyed every bit of affection.
People noticed, and Porter was one of them.
He called me into his office the next day and asked me to sit down. “This is awkward,” he said, rubbing the back of his head.
I sat down, not wanting to guess at the reason I had been summoned.
“It’s about Linc,” Porter said, putting me out of my misery, erasing my concerns about job performance or budgetary cuts.
“What about him?”
“I just want you to be careful,” he said.
“I am.”
“I know he’s Gina’s brother, but he’s still a guy.”
“And all guys are hounds?” I wanted to make sure I was reading him right.
Porter looked away, conflicted. “In some ways, yes.”
I set my jaw. While I appreciated Porter’s concern and thought of him more as a friend than a boss, I felt like this was stepping over a line. He must have read my thoughts because he hurried to cut me off.
“Don’t give me the same argument you gave Gina. We’re only trying to help.”
I inhaled. “I appreciate your help, but I’m an adult. I can handle myself.”
“I know. We just worry.”
“I wonder how many people warned Gina to stay away from you,” I said.
“Okay. Fair enough.” He held his hands up in surrender.
“Have you talked to Linc?” I asked.
