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  “He’s adorable, isn’t he? A real charmer,” Leia said, pointing at Tobin, who was yanking at his collar uncomfortably.

  “He seems very nice,” Tabitha hedged, not looking away. “He smiles a lot and I like that.”

  “He’s a total goofball like my husband and looking for someone to dance with.”

  “What?”

  “You know that is why Lily invited you right – ‘cause Tobin didn’t have a partner.”

  “Ohhhh goshhh,” Tabitha groaned, putting her head down in her hands, nearly dislodging the heavy wig from her head. “Tell me you two aren’t setting us up. Please? He’s not expecting to be set up with me, is he? Tell me he knows nothing about this!”

  “No. Of course not. I was just stating a fact. Look, he’s dancing with Ben’s mama right now. I think her name is Abigail or Amelia… or something that starts with the letter A… but it’s awfully sweet of him.”

  Tabitha looked up between her fingers before lowering her hands. Sure enough, Tobin was whirling the older woman around in the grass and grinning broadly before dipping her. It was so sweet and endearing that she felt her heart turn over in her chest. What would it be like to dance with someone so lighthearted and carefree?

  “He could dance with you, you know.”

  “I appreciate the information,” Tabitha said, getting up and walking away to go congratulate the bride before making her departure. She wasn’t ready for a relationship or to fall for a guy. What if he was the wrong guy again? Right now, she just needed a friend or two in her life she could depend on.

  Leia tapped Lily hard on the shoulder. She spun around, and the smile on her face fell as she saw the glare Leia was giving her.

  “Mayday, Commander. The mission is a failure.”

  “You are not funny.”

  “I’m telling you how it is,” Leia shrugged. “I don’t think Tabitha is interested in him. We might have read them wrong.”

  “Did you tell her Tobin wanted to dance?”

  “Yes – and she promptly left me sitting there by myself.”

  “To go dance with him?” Lily asked pointedly.

  “Look at them,” Leia snapped, pointing at the crowd. “I’d say that is definitely not them dancing together – would you?”

  Sure enough, Lily saw that Tobin was standing there talking with Leia’s husband, Hody, while Tabitha was standing in the corner, sipping on a soda can. How was she ever going to get the two of them to meet or talk?

  “Hold Rose for me,” Lily said, handing over her baby girl. “I’ll be right back.” Lily headed towards Tabitha, only to see the woman roll her eyes and start to walk away.

  This was going quite badly.

  “Tabitha! Wait a moment,” she said, only to see the woman move quicker just before John stepped directly in her path, effectively blocking her, unless she decided to walk through the rose bushes and risk getting scratched badly.

  She could kiss her husband for that slick move right there!

  “John, you are the best ever.”

  “I love you, honey.”

  “Tabitha, hear me out for just a second,” Lily began.

  “What do you think of a pen-pal,” John blurted out, interrupting her.

  Lily’s eyebrow arched as she looked at her handsome husband. He normally avoided stuff like this because he always was cautioning her about it backfiring - and now he was the one opening the dialogue for it?

  “What do you mean? You want me to write someone?” Tabitha said warily, looking at Lily. “Is this like the surprise wedding that is actually a ploy to set me up with Tobin?”

  “Did you tell her that?”

  “No,” she gaped, stunned. “Did Leia say that?”

  “You two aren’t as slick as you seem to think you are,” Tabitha winced, “or I am a little more skeptical than I used to be. Regardless, can someone just spit it out and let’s stop all the running around behind my back?”

  “Tobin wants someone to write him. A pen-pal.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s it,” Lily affirmed with a nod.

  Tabitha turned to John and looked at him.

  “Just a pen-pal? Nothing else?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. He asked for us to find someone to write him while he is overseas. He could use a friend, and since you are friends with us, we thought you might be a good fit.”

  “No more pushing me to dance with him?”

  “Not unless you want to.”

  “Just writing letters or emails?”

  “That’s it.”

  “Yeah, I can do that,” Tabitha said in a measured voice, watching the two of them.

  “Great. I can give you his email address when I get home,” John said, cutting off Lily with a smile. She abruptly nodded as she realized that Tabitha was still wary of her and John could see it in her eyes. Tabitha nodded, walking away from them.

  “You knew she was leery of me. I haven’t done anything,” Lily said, looking up at her husband she adored. “I’ve been nothing but polite.”

  “You are pushing her out of her comfort zone, sweetheart. It’s nothing you did wrong, but she has to come to the realization on her own. If she believes we are telling the truth, she’ll be more open to writing Tobin of her own accord rather than doing it because we told her to.”

  “Sexy and smart,” Lily breathed, reaching up to caress his cheek. “How did I get so lucky?”

  “I was just thinking the same thing,” John said, leaning down to kiss her. It was stunning to think that he could make her toes curl after all they’d been through over the last few years. He broke the kiss and whispered against her cheek, “Let’s go home.”

  Lily nodded and then hesitated.

  “We are Tabitha’s ride back to her car.”

  “Let her get a ride with Tobin,” John said, grinning with a glint in his eyes that made her laugh. He clasped her hand and nodded.

  “You’re right, you know… they’ll be perfect together.”

  Tobin stared at the house from behind the steering wheel of the rental car. Tonight’s wedding had been so touching and he was glad for his friend. Watson had fallen for the woman a long time ago, and had kept pretty quiet about it until recently. He couldn’t help but feel jealous as the new couple danced.

  He wanted his own special someone, and had been pressuring Lily to set him up with someone, to the point that John told him to back off. Tobin knew Lily was pregnant again; she’d burst out crying for no reason, making him feel like a heel until she’d told him. She was going to tell John tonight when they got home.

  The lucky man had taken a chance and it had paid off for him… and truthfully… it had paid off for all of the other soldiers but him. It was his turn now. He would need to put himself out there, take a chance, and see what it brought him.

  “Knock, knock!”

  He turned to stare at the woman standing there in an Elsa Disney princess dress for the costumed gathering of friends celebrating. Her white blond braid lay over her shoulder and to his surprise, she reached up and yanked it off, revealing dark brown hair colored with several ruddy streaks of auburn, that she quickly ruffled with her hand.

  “My ride left and I wanted to see if you could give me a lift to Lily’s house? That’s where I parked my car so we didn’t have a bajillion other vehicles everywhere on the street.”

  “Who are you?”

  “Tabitha… think Bewitched, but I’m not,” she said with a smile and shrugged. “I don’t have to wiggle my nose to get what I want, nor anything else. If you can’t give me a ride, it’s okay… just don’t get creepy about it.”

  “No, I imagine you don’t,” he said, feeling a smile spread on his lips at her outlandish behavior. “I’m Brandon Tobin.”

  “Tabitha Mason. Nice to meet you, soldier.”

  “Brandon,” he corrected automatically, doing a double take. He was startled to see her winning smile as she looked at him, taking a seat and putting on her belt.
/>   “I hear you are looking for a pen-pal, Brandon...”

  He stared at the woman before him, a little surprised by her candid mannerisms. She was very relaxed, carefree, and easy going, as she smoothed her hair.

  “Sorry. I know I look like a crazy person right now, but that wig was so hot and itchy I couldn’t wait to take it off.”

  “No, you look fine,” he admitted, smiling at her. He remembered her from the barbeque several weeks back and had caught her watching him once or twice out of the corner of his eye. She didn’t seem very shy, but it might only be that way because she needed a ride.

  “I actually would like someone to write to me when I head back overseas,” he found himself saying and could have kicked himself. This was not going smoothly at all. The car he’d rented, a big Cadillac SUV, gave a big lurch as he went over the curb at the base of the driveway, causing her to laugh.

  She’d rattled him.

  “You got this, soldier?”

  “Yeah, it’s just really a big piece of junk,” he gritted, feeling the other front tire sway on the Cadillac as he went over the curb with the front axles.

  “A big and expensive piece of junk with really bad aim?” Tabitha said, giggling. “Want me to drive this boat? It is a big car and I’m used to driving something a little bigger.”

  “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  “I’ve got a Cummins Diesel truck on a lift kit. I used to drive a Gator on base, and been known to move the ramp to the ship a time or two while on duty. I like big engines and I cannot lie.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yep. Navy brat. Four years in… and a farm girl growing up.”

  “Nice. Yeah, be my guest,” Tobin grinned, putting the car into park and hopping out. She circled the front of the SUV and he did a double take when she put her hand up for a high five as they passed each other in front of the headlights.

  He slapped her hand awkwardly and it felt like he was high-fiving one of the guys on base. A weird, easy, sensation that made him comfortable right away. Tabitha got in, adjusted the mirrors, and put it in gear before smiling at him.

  “What made you get this beast if you don’t like flashy?”

  “It was the only thing left at the airport that wasn’t reserved.”

  “I see.”

  “You see what?”

  “That you might be a little better off with something a little zippier instead of this slow hulk of a car… and that you didn’t make a reservation. That tells me that this was a last-minute event for you.”

  “Maybe,” he admitted, smiling and watching her.

  “Quit staring at me,” she ordered with a little smirk. “I know my hair is standing on end and you are laughing over there. I just want to make it back to my car safely.”

  “So, you hitched a ride with a stranger?”

  “You are no stranger,” she argued, shaking her head. “You are the mysterious Tobin. The soldier that flies in at the drop of a hat and dances with all the married women at weddings.”

  “Married women are safe and not after me.”

  “I see.”

  “You see what?” he asked, intrigued by the conversation with Tabitha. She was bright and witty, even if he hadn’t really said two words to her before tonight. She had striking features that were really pretty on her. Wide eyes that hid nothing and a winning smile.

  “I see that you want someone who doesn’t chase after you… to mysteriously chase after you,” she teased. “Very elusive, Tobin.”

  “It’s Brandon and you make it sound bad.”

  “Nahhh, I understand. People like to meddle because they think they are helping things along. It would be better if they just let things be sometimes, right? Life finds a way on its own.”

  “Sometimes you need help to get things moving,” he countered.

  “And that’s my car,” she said, rolling her eyes and changing the subject. “Are you going to be okay driving this behemoth to your hotel or wherever you are staying?”

  “I’m staying with John and Lily on their couch.”

  “So, I just basically drove you home? Oh, now that’s rich.”

  “And I thank you sincerely for it,” he countered, grinning. “Now, if you could just park my behemoth for me?”

  Tabitha threw back her head and laughed before nodding. She put the large SUV into reverse and quickly maneuvered it into the driveway, effectively blocking in the police car that was sitting there. Putting it into park, she turned off the car and handed him the keys.

  “It was very nice meeting you, Mr. Brandon Tobin.”

  “And you Miss Mason.”

  They hesitated and didn’t move for a moment, his eyes watching her, and it surprised him that he wasn’t ready to leave the vehicle yet. Her cheeks got pink in the dim overhead light.

  “I guess we should go,” she said quietly, smiling.

  “You have an email to compose, don’t you,” he asked, feeling a measure of joy in him that he never expected. Her smiled widened slightly and her eyes sparkled.

  “I guess I do, pen-pal.”

  A week later

  Tabitha stared at her computer screen in surprise as several emails suddenly began to arrive. She’d spent the last few days, sending one or two quick emails to Brandon as the ideas hit her. She shared a recipe, wondering if he liked Mexican food. She’d forwarded an email with several memes and jokes. She binged watched a Sci-Fi show on Netflix and suggested that if he got a chance, he should watch it. It was only little glimpses of her life, things that she had once felt disconnected to when she was at sea, but had never heard back from him… until today.

  Tabitha,

  I’m glad you took a moment to write and forwarded me those emails. I scanned through them and couldn’t help but laugh at a few as I sit here.

  Yes, I love Mexican food and enchiladas are my absolute favorite. Can we grab that next time I am down there, or are you offering to cook? Apparently I will be back in a month for Daisy and Ethan’s wedding. I’m not looking forward to the flight ‘cause it takes so long, but it will be nice to be home for a few days again.

  Brandon

  Scanning through the emails, she saw that he took the time to reply quickly to each one and had forwarded her a few things as well. She was enjoying the communication with him more than she’d ever anticipated.

  He was just so nice!

  Brandon,

  Of course, I wrote… I said I would. I’m not a good cook, so how about we go out for Mexican food? I’d love the company with someone who isn’t afraid of a little jalapeño on their dish. I’m glad you are coming back in for their wedding. I just got the invite in the mail today and trying to figure out who my ‘plus one’ is.

  Have a safe flight.

  Tabitha

  Tabitha,

  You wrote your ‘plus one’ person via email, my friend… and I already RSVP’d for us. It takes a lot of pressure off me when I know I’ll be hanging out with someone I get along with easily.

  Yes, let’s eat lots of Mexican food.

  I’ll pack running shorts so I have an elastic waist to depend on. I plan on gorging myself on empanadas, tortillas, and flan until I puke. Gosh, that sounds so amazing right now instead of chipped beef and boiled broccoli. Ugh.

  Dreaming of peppers,

  Brandon

  Brandon,

  Seriously? We are going to the wedding together? Have I been upgraded from pen-pal to wing-woman? That’s two weddings now - and people are going to talk! That’s a little sad and funny at the same time.

  I’m glad we are friends and there’s no pressure…

  Lime margaritas with salt too.

  Dreaming of queso,

  Tabitha

  Tabitha,

  I’d say you’ve been escalated, not upgraded.

  We can go to the wedding together as a friendly date, if you need to label it. Let’s not push this, overanalyze it, or make it weird. You are nice and make me laugh… plus you don’t drive a pink Beetle
or something fru-fru like that.

  Margaritas are a must… did you really think otherwise?

  Maybe I should rethink us calling it a date.

  Brandon

  Brandon,

  Ok. Not overanalyzing things.

  Not freaking out.

  Not ecstatic about all of this or wondering what to wear.

  I’m guessing you are wearing your dress uniform since it’s in the evening and I’ll wear… gulp… a dress. I might look girly and be out of my comfort zone.

  You are asking a lot outta me, pen-pal!

  I’m glad you agreed to the margaritas. That was going to be a rule-breaker for me and you passed the test. Now, if we could only get you to drive a car larger than a pinto bean. Sigh.

  I guess you can’t be perfect.

  Tabitha

  Tabitha,

  I’ll wear the dress. You can wear the pants.

  It’s okay.

  Brandon

  P.S. I’m kidding. I’ll have my dress uniform and I’m sure you’ll be fine in whatever you choose to wear. I am perfect, you’ll see, if given enough time.

  See you Saturday!

  Chapter 3

  Tabitha finished curling her hair and smiled at her reflection. She’d splurged to get her hair color evened out from all the box dyes she’d bought over the years and took off her chipped nail polish. She didn’t want to be too made up, but wanted to look nice for her unexpected company to Daisy and Ethan’s wedding.

  The two had been engaged for several years and only recently moved up their plans. She wasn’t sure as to why, but Lily said that it had something to do with wanting a baby. The couple was head-over-heels in love with each other, and it was easy to see the few times she’d met them.

  She was supposed to meet Brandon at the church and was glad he wasn’t picking her up at her house. It would feel too much like a date and she didn’t want things to be awkward between them.