Homecoming Hero Read Online Free Page B

buzzing around her like bees to a flower. “You promised to sit with us.”
    Hailey looked at Wolf with a question in her eyes.
    â€œGo on. I’ll find you later.”
    She hesitated, looking uneasy at the thought of leaving him behind. “Are you sure?”
    â€œNo worries, Hail. ” He winked at her. “I’ll be right behind you.”
    She sighed. “If you’re sure.”
    â€œPositive.”
    After a final glance over her shoulder, she turnedher full attention on the giggling girls. Three steps and her demeanor changed. She turned into one of them. She laughed and smiled and…was that a skip? Did the woman literally have a skip in her step?
    A surge of unexpected anger had him gasping for a decent gulp of air.
    Did she have any idea what her life would be like once she arrived in the Middle East? Did she not understand the dangers she was about to face, merely because she was an American and a woman?
    She couldn’t possibly be prepared for the culture shock. Most soldiers weren’t, and they had training.
    If nothing else, Wolf had to make her understand what she was getting herself into.
    Not until Hailey disappeared inside a larger crowd did Wolf remember the man standing beside him.
    He turned his head, only to discover that J.T. was watching Hailey, as well. The man’s eyes were filled with an emotion that had nothing to do with friendship.
    Were the two dating?
    Was it any of Wolf’s business?
    Yeah, as a matter of fact, it was.
    He’d promised Clay he’d keep Hailey safe. And safe meant safe. From all threats. That included the kind that came wrapped inside surfer-dude pastors.
    Wolf nearly growled.
    J.T. visibly pulled his gaze away from Hailey and refocused on him again. “So you were a friend of Clay’s.”
    The words were spoken as a statement, an attempt perhaps to open up friendly conversation.
    Wolf wasn’t in the mood. “I was with him when he died.”
    â€œThat’s tough, man.” Understanding flared in J.T.’sgaze and something else, something tragic. “I…” He shook his head. “There aren’t words.”
    Wolf recognized the haunted look in the other man’s eyes. It was the same Molotov cocktail of nasty memories mixed with guilt he’d seen in his own mirror. “No. There aren’t.”
    J.T. rocked back on his heels and then stuffed his hands into his pockets. He blinked once, twice. By the third try his expression cleared and the carefree pastor was back. “Welcome to FCC, soldier.” He slapped Wolf on the back. “Now come with me. You can tell me about yourself while we head inside.”
    Yeah, as if that was going to happen.
    Feeling trapped, he matched J.T. step for step. Something in the pastor’s manner warned Wolf to brace for impact.
    What had started out as a long day was about to get longer.

Chapter Three
    A ll Wolf wanted to do was climb back on his bike and ride. It didn’t matter where. As long as it was anywhere but here. He still had most of his forty-eight hours of leave left. He could go a lot of places in that amount of time, even within the hundred-and-fifty-mile limit they’d given all returning soldiers.
    At least J.T. had quit with the probing questions and Hailey had stopped looking at him with all that distrust in her eyes. Like she feared he was going to bolt at any second.
    Okay, yeah. He wanted to take off. But he’d made a promise to Clay’s sister.
    He wouldn’t break his word.
    Pulling in a tight breath, he settled back against the metal chair Hailey had saved for him. He managed to sit through the Mulligans’ introduction before the fidgeting set in. He contained his twitching to a light drumming of his fingers on his thigh. But as the missionaries continued talking, nothing could stop the hard ball of dread clogging in Wolf’s throat.
    Open mind, Wolf. You promised Hailey an open mind.
    He took