Remember Courage Read online

  “No – I’m letting you know that I will see you tomorrow.”

  “I still won’t give you my number.”

  “You will someday though...” his voice trailed off as she walked out the back door to the café.

  Eva didn’t answer because she knew Dylan was right.

  Later that evening, Eva sat at the same table that the mysterious Dylan had been sitting at earlier in the day, pouring over her books, while the team cleaned up and prepped for closing.

  Their conversation kept replaying in her mind, making her smile more than she had in weeks. She wondered if he acted like that with a lot of girls and sadly realized she didn’t need a flirt in her life distracting her. Their banter back and forth was enough to keep her off-kilter for days. She needed to apply herself for her finals online, knowing that she had several semesters left to get her degree and nothing could interfere with that.

  She had to stay focused.

  Chapter 5

  “Hello, officer…” Eva said lightly as a reminder of their banter from yesterday. She’d tossed and turned several times last night thinking about his smile, changing clothes a few times this morning because she wanted to look her best in case he did make a reappearance.

  “Playing hard to get…” Dylan whispered playfully, winking at her and leaning on the counter, “I love it, but you don’t have to play so very hard, sweet, little Eva.”

  She leaned forward across the counter, crossing her arms on top of the glass display case and almost looked down to check for cleavage spill-over with the blouse she was wearing. She had bought it because of its icy blue shade that made her eyes glow in her face, but never wore it because the buttons didn’t start until it got too low on her torso. She hoped it was covered by the bib of her apron.

  “Who’s playing?” she smiled and saw his wide grin.

  “I think you want to give me your number.”

  “Think again,” she sassed, tugging on a fresh pair of gloves.

  “I could just ask you out.”

  “You could,” she hedged coyly, glancing away from the spark of interest and hope in his eyes.

  “What would you say?”

  “Nope,” Eva chimed easily, with a grin.

  Dylan threw back his head and laughed, making her heart flop over in her chest happily. Gosh, he was beautiful! She was enchanted by that little eyebrow piercing that seemed to quietly state that he could be a really fun and crazy guy. He gave her a lopsided smile and leaned on the glass, his elbows almost touching hers boldly.

  “I think you are saying ‘no’ because you like me coming here to see you.”

  “The shop likes your money.”

  “I think you like me…” he drawled.

  “You can think what you want.”

  “I will.”

  “Good for you.”

  “I’d be good for you too, you know?” Dylan whispered softly; his eyes tender. She noticed that he had the prettiest hazel eyes that reminded her of a wild forest. Shades of green, brown, and even gold kept her mesmerized.

  “Give me your number, please?”

  “No.”

  “Say my name,” he ordered quietly, his voice barely registering as he watched her. There was something so intimate, so personal, to his request. She knew she was being a twerp continuing their banter… but it was also incredibly fun and probably the biggest thrill she’d had all week!

  “Number seven,” she breathed, giving him the table tent and winking at him playfully as she backed away from the counter. Dylan rolled his eyes and handed her his card to pay before taking a seat nearby, knowing that the he would be watching her while he dined.

  Eva had another employee, Madison, walk the food tray out to Dylan and smiled at his deep frown. Apparently he thought she would give him special attention since she’d brought it to him yesterday. Watching, Eva felt her temper flare at the way Dylan suddenly began whispering to her coworker. He slipped her something and the happy expression on Madison’s face as she returned back to the counter was almost her undoing.

  That cad!

  “Did he ask you for your phone number too?” Eva muttered under her breath. She refused to let the ornery man get the better of her – and even if he did, she would never let him know! She went back to frosting the cupcakes for the case, ignoring the cramping in her hand, as she squeezed dollops onto the tiny cakes.

  “No, but the funny thing is that Dylan said you would ask me that very question – and I was to give you this,” Madison said gleefully, handing her a folded-up piece of paper.

  Grimacing, Eva realized that she’d played right into his hands.

  She had no idea what was on the paper but suspected it was his phone number. She was not about to give him the satisfaction of seeing his cocky smile at winning this round either. Holding up the bag full of frosting towards Madison, she smiled ever so sweetly.

  “My hands are full and I’m not at a point where I can stop. Can you do me a favor and put it in the giveaway jar for me?” Eva asked, trying to keep from cackling aloud at her idea. She might look over at his table to see his reaction but she was pretty sure if she did – she’d laugh.

  Resisting the urge, she watched as Madison slipped it into the fishbowl on the counter that was an entry for a free lunch drawn once a month. She heard Dylan’s snicker of delight. Glancing up at his table, Eva met his eyes and smiled in return at him, as he touched his fingers to his eyebrow in a mock salute.

  Fifteen minutes later, Dylan walked by the counter and winked at her boldly. He was wearing a dark polo that looked incredible against his tanned skin, making her toy with the idea of fishing the paper out of the bowl the moment he was outside.

  “See you tomorrow, Eva.”

  “We’ll see,” she quipped, grinning at him.

  “I’ll have to think up something new.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  “Tell me this: you aren’t married, are you?”

  “No.”

  “So, it’s just me personally you’re avoiding then?”

  “I’m at work,” she reminded him, rolling her eyes and nodding her head towards her staff that was standing there watching, giggling at the interaction between them. Eva turned to glare at them, sending them scampering back to what they were doing.

  “And if I find you out-and-about in town – I could get your phone number?”

  “I would think you were a stalker or following me.”

  “Then how am I supposed to ask you out?”

  “You don’t.”

  “Well, I’m going to,” Dylan admitted, his smile dropping. “You and I are going to have dinner sometime soon – a proper date - instead of all this flirting back and forth that we are doing.”

  “I don’t eat dinner.”

  “What?”

  “I’m teasing. Relax. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Eva chuckled softly, smiling at him. “Now, I need to get back to work so I can finish up. I have somewhere to be soon.”

  “Do you need a ride?”

  “If I wouldn’t give you my phone number, do you think I’ll accept a ride from someone who’s a stranger to me anywhere in this town?” she huffed, pausing, and raising a questioning eyebrow at him.

  “Luka,” Dylan said suddenly, smiling brightly. “My full name is Dylan Evan Luka. I’m twenty-eight, ex-military, and currently single… but wanting to fix that when you are ready to go out with me. I love girls with dark hair and a wild side to them, candlelight dinners, and staying up late to watch cartoons on Friday nights.”

  “Okaaaay,” she drawled, warily. Where was he going with this?

  “Okay’ - as in that means you’ll go out with me?”

  “No. I’m wondering where you are going with all that information.”

  “I just wanted to tell you who I was, so we can finally get over that line in the sand that you are tiptoeing around. I’m the man that is going to win you over because I don’t ever quit or give up when I’ve set my heart on something. I’m
also the man that is going to smear that incredible pink lipstick right off of you someday and hear you say my name in a way no one else will ever whisper it,” he said softly, his voice dropping intimately and gaining a husky timbre that made her shiver with delight.

  “I will most definitely see you tomorrow, Eva, and look forward to it.”

  Frozen, her mind unable to function as she processed his words, Eva stared at him as he walked brazenly out the front door. She’d never had anyone pursuing her like this before, nor had she ever had someone so bold. He turned at the last moment, giving her a broad smile, and a little wave before disappearing to head towards his car.

  “Eva, are you okay?” one of the girls asked her a few minutes later.

  “Yes, why?”

  “You finished that cupcake a while ago and there is frosting on your shoe.”

  Glancing down, Eva saw that she had indeed squeezed the large piping bag until it was completely empty. There was one single cupcake on the tray that was frosted and the rest of it was in a smushed pile towards the edge that had spilled over onto the floor.

  “Oh, shoot!” she whispered, throwing the bag away and starting to clean up the mess on her sneakers. Dylan’s words had affected her, there was no denying that, but she was frightened that having someone take up her free time would distract her from her studies. Maybe when the semester was over, she could indulge in an evening out with him – or maybe two – before the next session of classes started.

  Eva dreamt last night that she’d gone out with Dylan and at the end of the date, as he was just about to kiss her, when the alarm went off. She woke up so upset, so much yearning burning in her heart, that it just irritated her to no end.

  She liked the guy and the way they bantered back and forth. The fact that he was devastatingly handsome, and the way he said her name, it just melted her. She had a week left in the semester and needed to remain focused on her exams before allowing herself time to indulge.

  Heading into work, she wasn’t sure she was up for battling wits with him today. The image of his upturned smile, the shape of his lips, and the way he looked at her kept burning in her head. Maybe she should just give him her number so he’d leave her alone to concentrate – she could tell him to give her a week’s space before contacting her, couldn’t she?

  Throwing herself in the baking, she glanced up at the clock on the wall to see that the lunch crowd was starting to trickle in. The counter girls were getting really busy, and Eva was loading trays of goods into the case carefully. Glancing up, she met Dylan’s eyes and his soft smile.

  It was the same smile she’d seen in her dream, making her hands shake nervously. How did someone affect her that much? She’d been on plenty of dates in the past as a kid before really putting her nose to the grindstone. Dating meant relationships and commitment, something she couldn’t give yet – even if she really wanted to.

  “You look lovely today,” Dylan said in greeting. He was with the same officer from the first day she’d met him. The other man was grinning at the obvious flirtation from his coworker. He stepped forward, pushing Dylan back behind him.

  “My apologies. It’s my turn to pay today and we’ll both have the grilled chicken salad sandwiches, two cups of coffee, and one of those cherry turnovers in a box to-go, please.”

  “Of course. There’s only two turnovers left from this morning – would you like both?” Eva asked politely, thinking that she could get rid of the nearly empty tray and put out some iced cookies instead.

  “Sure. My wife will love that. Thank you.”

  “Here’s your number, officer, and we’ll bring it out shortly.”

  “Luka?” the officer said pointedly, indicating that they should move away from the counter, allowing others to order. Eva smiled and looked away from his crestfallen expression. She grabbed one of Paula’s business cards and quickly scribbled her phone number on the back, tucking it in her back pocket.

  Just in case.

  “Dude, you have got to give her some space or she’ll never agree to go out with you,” John admonished gently as they sat down. “I know Lily gets mad if I push her too hard on something – even if we end up compromising later. I hate to make her upset and enjoy her sweet smiles so much more.”

  “I don’t get it,” Dylan said quietly, putting his head down in his hands. “In Kabul, Seattle, Tehran, and Goose Creek – wherever I went, I never had to fight for someone to hang out with. Do you think she knows about this?”

  Dylan knew he was grasping at straws, pointing to his small bracelet. It was the only evidence he ever had that he was diabetic and almost felt like he had to wear one in case he ever passed out again.

  John laid his hand on his arm firmly.

  “Relax.”

  “Here you go boys!” he heard in a singsong voice nearby. Glancing up, he saw that it was one of the other girls that had brought their lunch out to them. He picked up his fork and began to pick at his lunch silently.

  “You okay?”

  “That’s it for that particular question today,” Dylan said as a reminder, not looking up. He hated when people asked him that, and that was never going to change anytime in the future apparently. He knew he was defensive, but he’d been doing so very good keeping things under control.

  Frustrated, he picked up the small cake ball that was given out every time they came in. He’d given his other ones to Perkins and John, trying to remain in good standing medically, but he could just adjust his next insulin shot instead. He wanted something that made him feel normal.

  “Are you sure you should eat that?” John asked, his eyes full of concern, and it hit him like a ton of bricks. Dylan pushed the cake ball back inside of the wrap and stood up, glaring at his friend.

  “You aren’t my CPO anymore – and you’re supposed to be my friend. Friends support each other and if I want to eat a piece of cake - I will. Trust me, I know all too well what can happen to me,” he said angrily and then did the unthinkable.

  He smashed the cake ball within the wax paper.

  The look of utter shock on John’s face made Dylan realize just how petty his actions were and how he’d gone off on a tirade against a person that had done nothing but help him. Embarrassed, he looked away.

  “Finish your lunch,” Dylan said quietly. “I’ll walk back to the station.”

  He shoved on the doorway, heading outside, needing a moment to cool off and regroup. He would apologize in a bit and hoped that John would understand. Putting his hands behind his head, he looked up at the bright blue sky. He let out his breath in defeat, as he heard the jingle of the door to the café opening and closing in the distance.

  “Hey!”

  Unbelievably, he turned to see Eva standing there looking at him curiously.

  “You still can’t – or won’t – say my name, will you?” Dylan barked out in frustration, running his hands through his hair. He felt like a complete fool making a scene back there and knew he owed John an apology.

  “It’s a ‘won’t’ kind of thing,” she shrugged lightly, watching him, “because I wasn’t ready to encourage your attentions when I have finals to study for. I need to focus and you come on a little strong, Dylan.”

  Eva was about twenty feet away from him and took a hesitant step towards him. He could see the concern in her face and wondered if she’d seen his temper tantrum inside. He was really embarrassed by that and it certainly wasn’t one of his finest moments. Dropping his hands to his side, he walked towards her, and stopped.

  “Why did you follow me outside?”

  “I wanted to check on you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I needed to,” she admitted under her breath. Her face was flushed prettily as she suddenly looked shy for a moment. “I think you’re nice and an incredible distraction.”

  “Did John put you up to this?”

  “Look, I can go back inside,” she balked hotly, turning to re-enter the building, “This was a bad idea and I should have
known better.”

  “Wait!”

  Dylan’s heart hammered in his chest. He’d already damaged one thing today, he certainly didn’t want to do it again. He saw that she stood there, watching him warily on the stoop.

  “Look, all I can think about when I go back to work is your smile and how you seem to always have a comeback for me. I like that. No one ever argues with me anymore and I don’t want anyone’s pity.”

  “Pity? For what?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Okay,” she quipped, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly in a silent challenge. Her defenses were up and that shy girl he’d seen a moment ago was hidden behind a wall.

  Dylan realized that Eva was quietly waiting for him to come up with a line or excuse but he didn’t want to hide anymore. If someone was going to judge him like he suspected, he’d rather know up front and deal with the disappointment afterwards.

  “I’m diabetic, and I feel like that since anyone found out they treat me differently - like I’m fragile or will just collapse around them. I’m just me - and I see an incredible woman that I want to get to know better.”

  “Here,” she said quietly, fishing something out of her back pocket and holding it out towards him. It was a card with handwriting on it. Dylan glanced at her in surprise.

  “I grew up in a home as a kid and have utterly nothing or no one. Everyone has a back story or problems to deal with. You can either pick yourself up or wallow in it. Does knowing any of that about me change your mind? Do you feel any differently about wanting to go out with me by knowing that even my own parents didn’t want me?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  “Well that is how I feel about you telling me you’re diabetic. So what? It doesn’t change a thing. Now, take it before I change my mind,” Eva retorted, wagging the card at him. “Give me a few days to finish my finals for the semester and maybe we’ll do something together, okay?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “I think I would too.”