Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Good question. Ol’ Longmore at the recruiters’ office was damn convincing. My dad served back in the day, so family history.” Drumming his index finger against the steering wheel, Jude ticked off reasons. “Dad’s parents were poor ranchers. They didn’t have vet school kind of dough. Army got him his education, so I figured on doing the same, save him and my mom some cash.” Jude’s gaze turned far away as if there was more to the story, but before I could prod, he straightened in his seat. “And I was young and naive. Thought I could do some good in the world.”
“Ah.” I made a sympathetic noise. “Me too. Wanted…” I searched for the simplest way to explain my own motivation. Eighteen seemed so very long ago. “More like Colt. Less like Kane. Goals.”
“Not bad goals.” Jude slowed as traffic picked up on the outskirts of Durango. “And then you stayed in, so you must have found something worth staying for.”
“Eh. I like routine.” The joke was easier than the truth, which was that I’d had no plan B for my life. Plan A of serving out my twenty had given me the sort of purpose that was difficult to articulate even before my TBI. Not many would choose the army over family, over settling down, over any number of other professions or ambitions.
“Another vote for change is hard.” Jude understood me better than most. “And routine is good. I picked up some good habits in the military. Not gonna discount that. Heck, my body probably misses PT.”
“Mine too.” Chuckling, I stretched. My muscles were enjoying life as a ranch hand, but I had a ways to go before returning to my former stamina.
Jude gave me a sideways glance that lingered a hair too long. I wasn’t a total stranger to appreciative looks, but I turned my attention to the traffic and scenery out the window nonetheless.
“We’re almost to the dealership.” Jude’s voice came out a bit forced, like he had also noted the awkward moment. “They’ll try and steer me into something shiny and new, but I’d rather have used and dependable. You can help me spot potential lemons.”
“Will do.” Turning my gaze back toward him, I gave a nod, doing my best to convey that everything was back to normal, no tension here.
“And then I’ll take you up on that burger.” Jude shot me a grateful smile that made his eyes light up with twinkling flecks of gold, and I couldn’t help but grin back.
“Great.” I continued smiling as we exited the truck.
As is typical at car dealerships, several younger salespeople were clustered near the big glass doors, jockeying for whose turn it was to greet potential customers. Evidently, a young woman in a smart gray suit and low heels won out as she was the first to step forward, hand already outstretched.
“Hello there. I’m Sarah.” She greeted us each in turn. She looked somewhat like a younger version of Simone, the counselor from the support group, with angular features and long dark hair neatly tucked into a twist held up with a silver clip with a turquoise center. “You car shopping today?”
“Yep.” Jude nodded back toward his truck parked in front of the dealership. “Looking to replace that ol’ guy with something newer, but not brand new.”
“And will this be a joint purchase?” Her smile warmed further as she glanced between us, a knowing glint in her eyes. “I’m happy to let you each test drive.”
Heck. It hadn’t occurred to me at all that we might get read as a couple at the dealership. Plenty of people brought a buddy or family member car shopping, right? No big deal. I jerked my head toward Jude.
“It’s for him.”
“It’s my work truck.” Jude was equally quick with the correction. “I’m a vet over in Disappointment County. I need something that can haul a decent-sized horse trailer, plenty of tie downs in the bed, possibly a storage box, and four-wheel drive.”
“Got it.” Despite a snicker from the clump of other salespeople, Sarah’s smile never dimmed as she pulled out her phone. “I’m checking our inventory now.”
“Hey, Sarah. These boys look like they know their trucks.” A guy with thick, gelled brown hair and a slick smile stepped toward us. “You sure you don’t want me to handle this one?”
“She’s sure.” Jude glared at him until he slunk back to the others.
“Thanks.” Sarah’s tone turned grateful. “Sorry about that. I’m new here. Just finished training a couple of days ago. Hoping for my first sale.”
“We all have to start somewhere.” Jude made easy conversation as Sarah clicked around on her phone. “And darn it. I was intending to only look, but now I kind of want to give you that first sale.”
His voice was more kind than flirtatious, but Sarah blushed briefly anyway.