Sweetest Goodbye (Navy Book 3)

Chapter 9

It was the end of June and Kate still hadn't heard from Lee. She thought about him every day and missed seeing him at the diner for lunch, and that alone proved how little she had to look forward to in her everyday life. She also remembered the kiss too, and she would remember it at the most inopportune times. She had been called out several times for staring off into space while she replayed the memory. Most of the time it was by Chuck, and he would just chuckle softly and shake his head before burying his nose in another one of his books.

Summer was at its hottest and Lily was planning a pool party luau for her sixteenth birthday. Kate had spent her last few lunch breaks at the ranch listening to all of her plans and they seemed to be a bit over the top in Kate's opinion, but since all she was required to do was listen that was what she did.

Lily had been upset when Kate hadn't been able to help her get ready for the Prom but her reasons had been two fold. The first had been that Tilly was going to the Prom as well and she needed someone to cover for her at the diner, and the other was that she didn't think that Eve would welcome Kate into her house to help her daughter get ready for one the most important nights in the young girl's life.

Lee's friend, Josh, had shown up and poked around asking a few vague questions then disappeared as if he had never been, and she had been unable to tell if he had used the apartment or not. She couldn't help but wonder what had made the two men friends. Lee was serious but there was a gentleness and warmth that radiated from him while Josh was cold and methodical and she never once saw him smile.

The most upsetting thing that had happened was that Tilly had had enough of Irma and had quit which left the diner short-handed. Kate had been run off her feet working doubles and she was glad that her shift was finally finished as she grabbed her stuff and headed out the backdoor. It was already after ten and she had to be back at six the next morning.

As she got into her car her phone buzzed and she looked at it to see a number she didn't recognize, so she answered with an unsure hello.

"You weren't sleeping were you?" Lee's voice asked. His voice sounded rough and tired.

"No, I was just leaving work." She tried to calm her runaway heart and ignore the fact that her hands were shaking.

"I'm at the airport, can you come and get me?" he asked distractedly, almost as if he was having another conversation.

"Yes." Her heart jumped at the fact that he was home.

"Can you bring the truck?"

It was an odd request, but she had driven it a few times and knew she was able to handle it.

"Alright, it'll take a bit longer."

"It's fine. I have to go; I'll see you when you get here," he said before ending the call.

Kate wasted no time in driving home and changing out the vehicles. She couldn't help but wonder why he had been so curt on the phone. Maybe he had brought someone with him, maybe a friend, a girlfriend? He could have one, he had never said he didn't, and she had never asked.

The ride was quiet and she made good time. As she pulled up to the curb she saw Lee sitting on a bench looking at his phone with his legs outstretched and his duffel bag beside him. He was wearing a t-shirt that was a little too tight and some cargo pants. She watched as he approached, noting that he was moving much slower than usual. She thought that he was going to insist on driving but he didn't, he just threw his bag in the back and opened the passenger side door, pausing as he looked at her. He looked exhausted and his lips were drawn thin and clamped tight.

He seemed to be assessing the situation and she watched as he turned his back to her, grabbed the handle above the door, and pulled himself into the truck with his arms and one leg. It didn't take a genius to guess that he had hurt himself.

Kate didn't say anything as she waited for him to settle into his seat, although she did admire the way his arms flexed as they took his weight. Once his door was closed she put the truck into drive, understanding why he had asked her to bring it. If he had tried to get into her car it would have been twice as painful.

"Do you have something to take?" was all she asked as she looked again at his weary face. He had rested his head against the headrest and closed his eyes, but he managed a smile at her question.

"Yes, I'll take it later."

She nodded and drove in silence, sensing that he didn't want to talk.

When they reached her house it was painful to watch him getting out of the truck and she couldn't imagine how he was going to climb all of the steps to his apartment. Her soft heart took over before her head could.

"Why don't you stay in the house this evening?" she suggested before she could stop herself.

His eyebrow rose in an attempt at humor. "Sorry not tonight dear, I have a headache."

Kate smiled softly and shook her head. "Ha-ha, I have a perfectly good guest bedroom and there are no steps to climb."

He nodded as he reached for his bag. "Thanks, I'll take you up on that, the thought of all of those stairs was a bit daunting. Not that I couldn't have climbed them."

He sounded just like Colten. Colten had always insisted that he was fine and could have done the difficult thing even when he couldn't, while giving the impression that he was doing the easy thing because it would please her. She couldn't help the sad smile as she turned her back towards Lee and led the way into the house.

"This could ruin your reputation," Lee said as he followed her into the kitchen, sinking into a chair as soon as he reached it.

Kate gave a humorless laugh. "Wouldn't be the first time," she said it without thinking and immediately wished it back as her wide eyes met his in the heavy silence that followed.

"No, it wouldn't," he said dryly. Kate was even more mortified that he thought she was referring to him and the fact that others thought that he had ruined another woman's reputation.

She cleared her throat, she couldn't let him think that that was what she meant. "I was talking about my reputation; it wouldn't be the first time it was ruined." She turned her back quickly, not willing to see his reaction. Looking in the fridge she started to pull out the makings for omelets.

"Are you hungry? I was going to make me something light to eat before bed." She held up the eggs still not looking at him. When she heard his stomach growl she peeked over the fridge. "I guess that's a yes."

He gave a pained smile. "Sure, I could eat."

Kate noted that he closed his eyes and seemed to drift off right there at the kitchen table while she cooked, but she must have imagined it because as soon as she sat the food down in front of him he opened his eyes, completely alert.

"It's not much but it's hot," she insisted as she sat across from him.

They ate in silence and it only took them a few minutes. When he was done he seemed hesitant to leave as he sat and watched her pick up their empty plates.

"Kate-"

"Tomorrow Lee, go and get some sleep, you look as if you need it." She filled a glass of water and gave it to him, then picked up his duffel bag and led the way through the living room, past the photos of Colten and into the guest bedroom.

"The bathroom is across the hall. I have to be at work at six tomorrow, but I'll lock the door behind me. Stay as long as you need to." She didn't know why but she reached out and squeezed his arm as she went to pass him on her way out of the room.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. "Thank you Kate," he said as he dropped a quick and hard kiss on her lips.

As soon as he released her, Kate stepped away. "You're welcome Lee. I hope you sleep well." She closed the door as she left, leaning against it for a moment while she tried to catch her breath.

Even injured and tired he was still a man, a powerful man.