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  “I’m sure that the only reason Jamie pushes so hard and hounds you is because he truly loves you. Being married to your best friend and soulmate could be a great adventure—and I would think it could be qualified as fun too… don’t you?”

  “Oh look! We are here!”

  Lucy stared hard at Annabelle’s falsely chipper expression. Something was off-key with the woman and she was determined to find out what it was. She never likened herself to the matchmaker type, but the idea of something so constant as Annabelle and Jamie suddenly being over or having problems rattled her.

  Wasn’t there such a thing as true love, soulmates, or destiny anymore? They’d been her ideal when she thought of romantic couples for years—and if they had issues… did that mean it doomed her to be alone forever?

  Lucy stared into the rearview mirror, fixing her hair and lip-gloss for just a moment. Gone were the braces and permed hair, but in its place was still a plain woman that blended into the crowd way too easily.

  Annabelle shined.

  Lucy was just there.

  Chapter Three

  September 2015

  Ghazni, Afghanistan

  Lucy swallowed hard and tried to ignore the fact that the others in the chopper were wearing helmets—and she was not. They considered this a war zone area, even if it looked remotely calm down below. The station had sent her after she’d repeatedly begged for a chance with a real story. They gave her a fluff piece and told her to dig up something that would tug at the heartstrings. She wanted a chance to get a real story and hoped that she’d stumble across something juicy—not ‘fluffy’.

  She never imagined they would send her all the way to Afghanistan… nor the fact that Annabelle declined to go with her. Jamie was stationed out here, according to her, and you would have thought she would have leapt at the opportunity to see the man she loved.

  Looking out the windows of the chopper, it stunned her to see the acrid landscape below and the mesh covers hiding certain parts of the military encampment below. A flurry of dust blew up around them as they landed, shielding some of their view with the thick cloud.

  “They are gonna send us packing as soon as they see the cameras,” her cameraman said loudly, pointing out the window. Sure enough, there were three soldiers headed their way. She saw a tall blond-haired man striding in their direction, followed by two other men. As the cloud of debris parted, she realized that she was staring at Jamie.

  The door to the chopper was suddenly thrown open, and the dust was choking. Holding her breath, Lucy regretted wearing her posh dress suit instantly. She was positive to have sand coating the insides of her heels and the sand was blasting against her exposed legs. She was getting some looks from the soldiers and realized that she was probably showing more skin than anyone else in the area. The women in town dressed modestly, some wearing burqas… and she was wearing a stylish suit that landed just above her kneecap with a fitted pencil skirt.

  “Miss? Lady?” the blond soldier shouted, waving impatiently at her. “Look, no media and interviews. Too much exposure, but you’ve got a couple of volunteers that can talk with you if you need a quick story. I’ve secured a spot that won’t give away our location and you can have five minutes, per Command,” he instructed.

  Lucy let out her breath in a rush of relief. This was playing right into her hands perfectly. She’d get her piece on soldiers here in Afghanistan easier than she thought.

  “Tell the chopper not to leave, we won’t be long,” the soldier barked before walking off towards a building. Lucy immediately waved her team to follow him and tried not to stare at Jamie’s profile as he obediently followed his commanding officer. They headed to the medical facility, ignoring the looks they were receiving.

  “Set up fast and let’s get this done.”

  “Wait, don’t you want to know what I’m here for?” Lucy asked bluntly.

  “Nope, just need to know where you are airing, if it will be online, and where to find it at,” the blond man said bluntly with a genuine smile. He raised a hand up beside his head, swirling his finger in a circle, showing silently to wrap up everything. Were they going to be done before they even started?

  “We need to hurry this up, drive some attention to our boys, and keep them fighting the good fight. Now, if you’ll set that camera up on your shoulder, sir? Time is a-wasting.”

  Lucy flew into action.

  She snapped out orders, immediately set her team into place—not unlike the soldier who’d led them into the medical facility. Clearing her throat, she gave a slight nod. Staring at the blond soldier, she felt her palms sweat as she felt Jamie’s eyes on her.

  Did he recognize her?

  Was he looking for Annabelle?

  Doubt was eating at her. She knew this was her moment to shine for her boss and to get her story. I’m incredible and know my value, Lucy thought silently, trying to calm her nerves.

  “This is Lucy Reyes of Channel 5 News coming to you live from Ghazni, Afghanistan where we have the opportunity to speak with some of our brave servicemen who are risking their lives to protect our freedoms. Gentlemen, can you tell us who you are and a little about yourselves?”

  She couldn’t help the smile that touched her face as she listened to the blond soldier speak. He was obviously working the camera like a natural. A small smile, a direct look, and a strong, clear voice rang out boldly, commanding attention.

  “My name is CPO John Griffin from Afghanistan, and I wanted to share with you how very important your letters are to our troops. Many of our men fight daily for their lives and dream of the little things from home. A photo colored from their child, a lock of hair from their infant, the sound of your woman’s voice so you can sleep peacefully at night.

  These things are infinitely precious and more valuable than all the money in the world. Just knowing we aren’t forgotten, simply having a reminder of what we are fighting for, helps us through it all. So, take the time to write your service men that are gone. Tell them you think of them and how proud you are of them. They will give up their lives for you and would happily do so. It would only take five minutes of your day to let them know it’s appreciated.

  I’d like to give a shout-out to the children of Tyler, Texas for writing to my group—and I’d like to tell my friend, my beautiful Lily, that I think about her all the time.”

  “Gentlemen—do you want to share anything more for the folks at home?” Lucy asked politely in an encouraging voice as she held the microphone out to them as well.

  “I just want to say hello to my friends and family back home—and to tell Annabelle I love her,” Jamie said to the camera, his eyes watching Lucy curiously. The last soldier stepped forward, made a quick statement, and took a step back into line.

  “As you can see, many loved ones wait for our servicemen back home and it’s vital that we keep in touch with them. Take a moment, share a letter, send a package, and keep encouraging them as they draw upon their strength every day to protect our freedoms. You can write your soldier at the address on the screen below or get in touch with your Ombudsmen at your local base. Again, this is Lucy Reyes for Channel 5 News.”

  Letting out her breath, she quickly shook the hands of the surrounding men before getting to Jamie. As she turned to him, she caught her breath. He’d changed so much, seemed so much more manly than ever before.

  Jamie had been cute as a boy, handsome as a teenager, but this man in front of Lucy was devastating. His dark, soulful eyes looked incredibly lonely beyond comprehension. There was a hard edge to the planes of his face and edge of his lips. The smiling youth was gone, and in his place was a man she barely knew. She wanted to see and hear his laugh once again, remembering how it used to fill the classrooms she shared with him.

  “Little Lucy Reyes? How have you been?”

  “Good. How have you been Jameson?”

  “Jamie,” he corrected before looking around. Lucy nearly swooned as his lips turned upwards, revealing a dimple on his cheek
. “Nobody has called me that in years. Aren’t you working with my Annabelle? Is she here too?”

  That smile wasn’t for her.

  The realization was like a sucker punch to the chest that took the air from her lungs. He was looking for Annabelle and she was being overlooked once again. Pushing down the instant wave of disappointment, she realized that she couldn’t break his heart—no matter how much pain it caused her.

  “Annabelle was sick and couldn’t make the trip or she’d have been here,” Lucy said in a falsetto voice, plastering a fake smile across her lips. “You look great. The sun and sand suit you well, Jamie.”

  He laughed easily and looked away as a flush colored his cheeks. Goodness, he was utterly charming. He had a reckless, roguish haircut that defied the strict standards but was easily hidden under a cap. The sides of his head were shaved, and she saw in her mind’s eye that boy with the thick swath of hair was still there in his own way.

  “I can cheerfully say that when I think of sun and sand—I don’t picture Ghazni. I think Hawaii or Guam would be a lot closer to paradise.”

  “You know what I meant,” she stammered nervously.

  “I get it.”

  “Miss, you’ve got to move out. Time’s up,” Chief Petty Officer Griffin said firmly. She remembered his name from the interview. “Post, you and Luka get back to our stations. I’ll be right there once her bird is in the air.”

  “It’s good to see you, Lucy. Tell Annabelle I will write her and try to get home for Christmas this year,” Jamie said politely before waving.

  “Take care Jamie and be safe,” Lucy said as a farewell, watching the man walk away. His gait, the way he looked over his shoulder, and the confident stance simply took her breath away.

  Annabelle was such a lucky woman—and the biggest idiot she’d ever met. If Lucy ever had a shot with a man as incredible and loyal as Jamie was to Annabelle, she’d throw herself at the mysterious man wholly and in the single space of a heartbeat.

  Annabelle had found a diamond among men.

  Lucy was still digging blindly in the mud with a teaspoon.

  Life wasn’t fair sometimes, she thought wistfully with a heavy sigh.

  “Post, you sly dog! Who’s the pretty lady? Where d'you meet her?”

  Luka’s words brought Jamie out of his reverie. Lost in thought, worried that Annabelle was incredibly sick. It would take a plague to keep him from getting the chance to see her and knew she felt the same.

  “What? Lucy? She’s just a girl I grew up with back home,” Jamie replied, shrugging. “She’s pretty, but I’m in a committed relationship.”

  “Well, I’m not!” Luka grinned, “Hook me up with her number or email, buddy. She’s incredible looking. Did you see all that smooth dark brown hair? And those legs? Oh, my gosh! She looks like she could be on the cover of a magazine.”

  “I didn’t think Neanderthal’s could read,” Jamie quipped lightly. Luka immediately elbowed him in the midriff playfully.

  “Seriously—she’s awfully easy on the eyes.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Dude—are you blind?” Luka screeched, holding out his hands in front of him openly. His mouth hung opened and Jamie fought back another retort. Lucy had changed quite a bit from the girl he knew long ago.

  “No, I’ve got an angel waiting for me back home so I’m not looking.”

  “It must be something in the water back home if you are surrounded by incredibly hot women and you aren’t even noticing it. Do all the girls from your hometown look like her?”

  “Who? Annabelle?”

  “Nawww—the lovely Lucy.”

  “Maybe? Sorta?”

  “Geeeezzzz,” Luka groaned, rolling his eyes to the heavens. “You are pathetic, Post. You need to hurry up and marry your girl before your rose-colored glasses fall off your purdy face.”

  December 2015

  “Annabelle, listen honey… I could get a standby flight and be there by Christmas,” Jamie felt himself, like such a wimp, practically begging to come home over the telephone. He wanted to see his fiancée so much and help with the plans for their wedding.

  She’d promised that they would get married in December of the next year. This was something special to them both, and he wanted to give his princess everything her heart desired. It was part of the reason he selected the job posting for Afghanistan—the hazardous duty pay.

  He could have gone anywhere else in the United States but the thought of being able to put down a hefty down payment on a house someday meant that Annabelle wouldn’t have to work and they could start a family.

  “Jamie don’t sound so clingy. You know I love you, but right now isn’t a good time,” Annabelle’s voice was firm in the receiver cradled to Jamie’s ear. He adored her sweet voice, but when she got this tone, he knew the argument was over. She was as stubborn as she was beautiful.

  “What do you have left to plan for our wedding? You know it would be so much easier to elope. We could cancel everything and meet in France. I’d love to marry you in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower,” he mentioned, hoping to sway her to his line of thinking without pressuring her.

  “I can’t believe you wouldn’t want to have our wedding blessed in the church,” she snapped and Jamie flinched. Yep, he’d crossed a line with his girl. He held the phone away from his ear as she started yelling angrily at him.

  Pushy, clingy, manipulative, uncaring were all words she was flinging vehemently and he felt every one of them like a dagger to the heart. She was so lovely on the outside but could become the complete opposite at the drop of a pin.

  “Sweetheart, I didn’t mean to make you mad and my calling card is almost up. You are right and I should listen more. We need to save the money for our wedding and it will be worth the wait,” he breathed, hoping that would calm her down. He hated ending phone calls on a bad note and it ate at his stomach when she got mad enough to hang up on him like last time.

  “Jamie, thank you,” Annabelle mumbled and he let out his breath in relief.

  “I just want what’s best for us.”

  “I do too—don’t you realize that?”

  “I just miss you and hate being apart.”

  “You knew this would happen when you joined the military,” she reminded him coldly. He hated that argument and often wondered how different their lives would have been if he’d have gone to trade school like she had suggested.

  He wanted to be part of something bigger and not just building a career of slinging grease under the hoods of cars for the rest of his life—not that there was anything wrong with being a mechanic. His uncle and grandpa worked on cars their entire lives, but he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in the military.

  “I don’t want to talk about that again, Annabelle—please.”

  “That’s fine. Like you said, your phone card is almost up anyhow.”

  “Annabelle—I love you.”

  “Same here, Jamie.”

  “Can’t you even say it?” he whispered, feeling tears burn at his eyes as he tried to picture her face. He was desperately lonely and felt like he’d left a vital part of himself back home in Norfolk. Talking to his parents didn’t hurt as much as it did when he talked with Annabelle. He was always sure of their love—but with her, he felt like if he did something wrong, she could shut off her emotions like turning off a faucet.

  “Fine. I love you too, Jamie.”

  He let out a deep breath as the line went dead, prompting him to enter another phone card. It tempted him to quickly buy another one and call her again tomorrow. The line behind him kept him from trying again tonight and the thought of having to explain the expense to Annabelle—both were deterrents. He would have to pull himself up by his bootstraps and lick his wounds privately.

  Life isn’t fair, he thought painfully, and returned the receiver to the phone base before getting up from the chair. He walked back to the tent he shared with the other men and hated the fact that he was one of the few soldi
ers not going home this year.

  Everything was changing before his eyes and yet he was stuck here – alone. Even his chief petty officer, who’d always been a constant in his life since he’d come to Afghanistan years ago, wasn’t coming back.

  Griffin had met some woman and got out of the military to go be a part of her life. They’d had a long talk just before John left that made Jamie realize that if he wanted things to change he would have to grab life by the hands—or he would be dubbed ‘ol’ man Post’ just like they teased John, calling him ‘ol’ man Griff’.

  Time would pass and his chance at life would pass him by. His chance at being happy hinged at urging Annabelle to hurry with their plans so they could finally be married. Once it was official, she’d allow him to request a transfer—until then, he was stuck here and saving every dime for their future.

  “Mail call!”

  Jamie lay on his bunk lazily. When John Griffin left the unit and took Radar with him, they selected Parker to get the next bomb-sniffing dog. Jamie liked the guy—he was quiet, steady, and reminded him of John. He would be a good selection to handle the team’s dog.

  Parker was supposed to train in the next few weeks and would be gone for about thirteen weeks to develop a bond with his animal. Post thought about volunteering but he wanted to be available in case he went home to see Annabelle.

  They gave a few guys remaining on base packages and letters. Jamie expected nothing but that flicker of hope always burned within him. Annabelle hated mailing letters and kept suggesting email or phone calls.

  Jamie had immediately bought a new phone and backup charger hopefully to handle the desert heat and sand—only to find out that Annabelle had a flip phone. He’d suggested she get a new one so they could contact each other when he had access to Wi-Fi (which wasn’t often in the remote hills). Instead, it led to him being reprimanded for spending the exorbitant amount of money on the useless phone. He bought calling cards and used a landline instead at Annabelle’s suggestion. The iPhone was practically a brick and only good for photos—as long as you didn’t get caught taking them!