A Change of Heart (17 page)

Crap
. They already had Friday’s lunch at the truck stop, dinner with her mother and the bowling night planned. At least those dates involved other people. After that she’d tell him they had to stop spending so much time together, and that would be that. Putting an end to whatever this was between them was going to hurt like hell, but it had to be done.

“Hey, Squirrel. You’re looking kind of haggard this morning,” Wesley told her as they met on the stairs.

She nodded. Something in her expression must have tipped him off, because his forehead furrowed, and his gaze sharpened. “I was on my way to the Perfect Diner for breakfast. Come with me. I’ll buy.”

“I already ate. Besides, I can’t take a break. I just got here.”

Wesley ushered her back to the production room. “Noah, do you mind if I take Cory to the diner? We have some catching up to do, and we’re on opposite schedules.”

“Go ahead.” Noah lifted his safety goggles to peer at them. “You can make up the time this afternoon, Cory. I have to leave late anyway. I have a meeting with the finishing crew.”

“Thanks.” Heat filled her cheeks as the rest of the guys raised their heads to watch her leave with Wesley. They walked down the alley toward the sidewalk, and she had to lengthen her stride to keep up. “Are we in a hurry?”

“Huh?” He glanced at her, as if just now realizing she was beside him. “Oh, sorry. Habit, I guess.” He slowed his pace. “I usually eat breakfast alone at the diner before I hit the sack.”

“I heard.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever invited anyone else along.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened. “You don’t hang out with the rest of the crew?” Wesley had always been very social and friendly when they were kids, and thinking he might be isolating himself now disturbed her. “Aren’t you happy here in Perfect?”

His expression closed up and turned inward. He’d probably seen more than his share of horror and had his own personal demons to fight. “For the most part, sure. I’m content.”

“Do you…” She cleared her throat. “Are you seeing a therapist?”

“Naw. Not anymore. I did when I first got back, though, and I still meet with my group. I’m not about to give that up.”

“Did the therapy help?”

“Bad night, Cory?”

“Yeah. I guess you could say that.” After that first nightmare, she’d tossed and turned all night long, and every time she managed to fall asleep, more bad dreams woke her. And they’d all been triggered by the best kiss she’d ever experienced.

They reached the diner, and Wesley opened the door for her. “I always sit at the little table back in the corner. Is that OK with you?”

“Sure, so long as I can sit on the outside.”

“Definitely not a problem.” He shot her a wry look. “I prefer to have my back to the wall anyway.”

“Good morning, you two.” Holding two mugs and a coffeepot, Jenny led them back to the corner table. She set down the mugs and poured their coffee while they took their seats. “It’s nice to see you again, Cory. How’re things going?”

“Fine, thanks.” The diner always smelled so good, and at this hour, the overriding aromas of bacon, sausage and maple syrup filled her senses. Cory took an appreciative sniff. All she’d had for breakfast was toast and coffee.

“Are you sure you don’t want something?” He pulled a laminated breakfast menu from the clip at the back of the stainless steel condiment holder.

She took a menu as well. “I guess I could eat.”

“Good. My treat. You’re still too thin.”

“Morning, Wes.” Jenny’s assistant manager set flatware wrapped in napkins in front of them, her gaze firmly planted on his face. “I see you brought someone with you this morning.” She spared Cory a smile that held the unmistakable hint of something besides curiosity. A pinch of uncertainty? Jenny believed
Wesley had a thing for—she checked the woman’s name tag—Carlie. Maybe Carlie felt something for him in return.

“This is Cory Marcel. Cory, this is Carlie Stewart.”

“Nice to meet you.” Carlie’s assessing stare slid over her. “I see you here with the L&L crew all the time. Do you work there?”

“I do, thanks to Wes. He’s like my big brother.” She smiled. “We grew up together.”

Sure enough, there was no mistaking the flash of relief that crossed Carlie’s face. “Welcome to Perfect. Do you know what you want, or do you two need a few minutes?” She took out a pad and pen from her apron pocket.

“I’ll have number two with the eggs scrambled, whole wheat toast and bacon.” Wesley tucked the menu back in its place behind the ketchup. “Can you ask Bill to toss some onions in with the hash browns?”

“Sure, Wes.” She turned to Cory.

“I’ll have the same, only I want my eggs over easy, and a short stack instead of toast.”

“Got it. I’ll be back in a minute to refill your coffee.” Carlie walked away. Wesley watched her every step, his face filled with unmistakable longing.

“Have you asked her out?”

“What?” His face reddened, and he studied the contents of his coffee mug like he might find the Loch Ness monster in its black depths. “No. What made you say that?”

“Because of the way you two look at each other. There’s all kinds of chemistry going on.” She snorted. “Didn’t you notice how unhappy she was to see me here with you?”

“Was she?” His head snapped up.

She rolled her eyes. “You can’t be that oblivious, Bunny.”

“Sure I can.” His eyes went back to his mug. “So, what has
you looking so rough around the edges this morning, and what’s with all the questions about therapy?”

She studied her own coffee. “I get so tired of all this weight dragging me down all the time. I can’t seem to shake or break it. Know what I mean?”

“I have a pretty fair idea.”

She sighed. “It’s been more than a year since…since it happened, and I still have nightmares. I can’t tolerate being closed in or…
touched
. I’m angry all the time. I…I haven’t dealt well with any of the fallout.” She bit her lip. “Ted suggested I stop waiting for my veteran’s benefits to be restored and get help now, but—”

“Ted suggested?” His focus intensified. “You’re spending a lot of time with him, aren’t you? What’s going on between the two of you?”

She picked at a chipped spot on the red Formica tabletop and shrugged. “I wouldn’t say
a lot
of time. He’s been helping me get acclimated is all. We’re just friends.” She forced herself to meet Wesley’s gaze. “He’s right. I do need to get help, but even if I do decide to do something now, there are no therapists in Perfect, and I don’t have a car.”

“I sleep during the day. You can always take my truck if you want.”

Her eyes widened and a flare of hope ignited. She still hadn’t made up her mind about which direction to turn, but at least she knew she could get somewhere if the need arose. “Really?”

“Sure. No problem.” He glanced toward the assistant manager making her way toward them before turning back to her. “Just let me know what you decide to do and when you need to be somewhere. Is your driver’s license current?”

“Yep. It is.” She grinned. “I made a point of keeping it up to date. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Carlie delivered their food, sending a lingering look Wesley’s way. “Do either of you need anything else right now?”

“Nope. This looks great. Thanks.” Cory’s stomach rumbled, and she unwrapped the flatware.

“More coffee when you get the chance.” Wesley smiled at Carlie. “Don’t hurry, though. I know you’re busy.”

“Got it.” Carlie patted his shoulder and left.

“She likes you. You should ask her out.” His only response was a grunt. He’d changed so much, and Cory’s mind went back to their earlier years—the easy way they’d teased each other, the way he’d always looked out for his younger siblings, including her in that circle. “What do you know about Carlie?”

“Only that she took this job and moved here shortly after a divorce. She has a son.”

“You know your way around kids, that’s for sure.” She took a bite of her pancakes, and their fluffy, buttery sweetness made her stomach rumble again. She swallowed and cut off another bite. “Did you know Kyle asked Brenda out?”

“All right.” Wesley set his fork down, put his elbows on the table and fixed her with a stare. “As long as we’re following this track, let’s talk about Ted.”

She choked on her pancakes and had to cough a few times. “What about him?”

“He’s a great guy. You could do worse.” A single eyebrow rose. “We’ve all seen the way he looks at you, and there’s a lot more than
friendly
going on there.”

Appetite gone.
She stirred the runny yolks of her eggs around her plate while a lump clogged her throat. “I know he’s a great guy. He’s…” She swallowed hard. “He deserves the best, and—”

“And you’re messed up?”

She nodded. Great. Now the tears. She tried to blink them away and failed.

Wesley snatched an extra napkin from the dispenser on their table and thrust it her way. “Give it some time, and give yourself a chance. Somehow I have a feeling Ted’s the kind of guy who’s willing to take things real slow.”

“You don’t understand.” She jerked her hand away.

“Don’t I?” His look drifted across the diner to where Carlie chatted with a couple of old codgers in bib overalls and beat-up John Deere caps.

“OK. Maybe you do, but our situations are entirely different. What if Ted and I date, and it turns into a disaster? I don’t want to hurt him. It would break my heart to hurt him.”

“And what if you give it a shot, and it works out? Are you willing to pass up the chance at something good without a fight?” Both his eyebrows rose this time. “I’ve seen the way you look back at him. I’ve known you for most of your life, and I can tell you feel something for him too. Go for it.”

“Sure. I will if you will.” She nodded toward Carlie and cocked an eyebrow at him.

He grunted and went back to eating his breakfast.

Cory’s heart raced at the thought. Could she do it? Could she date Ted for real, see if he could help her break through the barrier of revulsion and disgust Sergeant Asshole had cast around her? Before all the bad stuff stirred up, Ted’s kiss had curled her toes and melted her bones. Maybe the second time around…or the third…

“I don’t know.” Wesley interrupted her fantasy. “I’m almost forty, set in my ways, and Carlie has a kid. Kids and PTSD don’t exactly mix.”

“Noah has three children and one on the way. I don’t think he’d agree with you.”

“He wasn’t a marine.”

“No, but he was part of a heavy combat unit.” Now that she had a way to get to therapy if she decided not to wait for the army to come through for her, her mind buzzed with possibilities—and Ted was foremost in her thoughts. “You’d be great with her son. I know from firsthand experience.”

“A lot has changed since we were kids.” The corners of his mouth turned down, and he pushed his half-eaten breakfast away.

“I’m sorry, Wes. I didn’t mean to ruin your breakfast. Let’s talk about something else. Don’t let this great food go to waste.” She loaded her fork and took a bite of eggs and bacon, as if doing so could bring them back to safer ground.

“I do love their hash browns.” The tension lines around his mouth eased, and he picked up his fork. “How do you like working at L&L?”

Relieved, she swallowed her mouthful. “I like it a lot. Do you see yourself moving into production eventually? I kind of get the feeling that it’s viewed as a big promotion around L&L.”

“Nope. I’m already a shift supervisor. Plus, after the night crew leaves, I’m in charge of after-hours security. I really like the work I do. Finishing furniture is soothing. I also have my military pension. I’m content.”

“Content sounds pretty darn good.” She finished her breakfast, wondering how she’d handle seeing Ted for the first time since their kiss.

Wesley finished his breakfast and tossed a five-dollar bill on the table for Carlie. “Let’s go.”

She followed him to the front, where he paid the bill. They walked out the front door and headed back to L&L. Her heart thumped away, half trepidation and the other half anticipation at seeing Ted. Could she take a chance and see where things
led with him? They entered through the alley, and there he was. Their eyes met and held, setting off a trip wire inside her.
Ping.
A rush of adrenaline sent her heart and stomach into a frenzied jig.

Ted’s glance swung from her to Wesley—and back to her. He didn’t look happy. “Morning, you two.”

“Good morning,” she stammered. “Wes and I just had breakfast at your aunt’s diner.” Why’d she tell him that? He hadn’t asked, and she didn’t really owe him any explanations. “I gotta get to work.” Fleeing from him once again, she took the stairs two at a time and hightailed it to her office. Oh, yeah. She was great relationship material. Not.