Wyne and Chocolate (Citizen Soldier Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

She loved Gabe’s pancakes; she just didn’t want everyone to see the
two black eyes hidden behind her mirrored sunglasses, courtesy of the dang
airbag.
    After
waiving to Lea’s father smiling at them from behind the counter, they headed
for one of the red vinyl booths with a table covered in a cute red and white
checkered tablecloth.
    “And
stop worrying about your face. This place sits across from the armory, so
believe me, it’s seen more than its fair share of bruised customers over the
years.” Lea grinned, sitting down. “Besides, you just finished your biggest
order to date. You deserve to celebrate with your friend. Breakfast is my
treat.”
    “And
right here.” Gwen Gablonski, Lea’s older sister, and Jill’s other friend,
appeared out of nowhere with a tray of delicious smelling food.
    “How’d
you know?” she asked the stunning blonde who, until recently, had been a super
model traveling around the world. “We didn’t even place an order yet.”
    “Lea
called ahead.”
    A simple
act. One people here did every day. Not Jill. She didn’t have friends. Well,
not before moving to the Poconos. Now she had two. It was strange, but in a
good way.
    “Thanks.”
She smiled at both women, fighting back the sting of tears, doing her best to
hide the unexpected rush of emotions.
    Lea
frowned. “What’s wrong?”
    Something
must’ve shown on her face, despite her mirrored glasses. “Nothing. Sorry. I’m
just not used to…”
    “What? A
friend?” Now Gwen was frowning. “Someone who’s happy for you?”
    “Someone
who has your back?”
    “Yeah.
You could say that.” She held in the snort that threatened.
    More
like she was used to watching her back. Not trusting people. Keeping her
gaze on everyone. Not letting her guard down. Heck, even now she knew there
were two exits, one to the street that she had to zig then zag around two
tables to depart; the other through a door on a south-facing wall in the kitchen,
which lead to an alley out back. There were two customers eating at the
counter, one was left-handed, but must have shoulder trouble because he was
eating haphazardly with his right hand, the other walked with a limp and used a
cane. And the two older ladies drinking tea in the corner booth were stalling,
killing time, but for what, Jill had no idea.
    God, she
was pathetic.
    “Look,
Jill.” The dark-haired sister cocked her head. “I know you’ve had to fend for
yourself most of your life.”
    She
reeled back, mostly due to the heart-rocking in her chest. “How…” could the
woman possibly know that?
    “Your
cousin Nico doesn’t mince words.”
    She blew
out a breath and nodded. “True. He doesn’t. I’m not sure what he said about my
mom, but she never really recovered from losing my dad.” Heat infused her face
faster than the wind blowing flurries around outside as old mortifications
rushed to the surface.
    “He
didn’t say anything about her, but I get that.” A sad smile tugged Lea’s lips
as she glanced at her father.
    “We both
do,” Gwen said, shifting her feet. “Our dad hasn’t been the same since Mom
died.”
    The two
sisters shared a look before their attention returned to her, remnants of a
helpless pain she knew all too well dulling their beautiful blue gazes.
    “I was
talking about your ex-husband,” Lea stated quietly. “I’m sorry you had to deal
with his gambling issues.”
    So was
Nico. In fact, Jill had heard his friend, who happened to be a cop, apparently
had to physically stop her cousin from heading to the city when she’d been forced
to call her uncle for advice.
    “You
know none of it was your fault, right?” The kind brunette reached across the
table to squeeze her hand.
    Uncle Al
and her cousins were the only ones to ever tell her that. She was not used to
having someone non-related in her corner. To have her back, as the sisters had
mentioned.
    The
stinging returned behind her eyelids. Darn it. “It takes two to make a
marriage. Maybe