The Officer's Secret by Giusti Debby

Author:Giusti, Debby [Giusti, Debby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dpgroup.org, Fluffer Nutter
ISBN: 9781459202610
Publisher: Harlequin Sales Corp
Published: 2011-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

NINE

The next day Nate polished the brass insignia on his uniform, shined his shoes until he should see himself in the reflective leather and dressed for both the Sunday church service and the honor ceremony following.

On the way out of his quarters, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror, hoping he looked better than he felt. He’d been up for hours, thinking of everything that had happened with Maggie last night.

She had forced him to look back eight months. Even after all this time, the bottom line remained the same. He had been the one who had made the mistake, and that mistake had cost his brother’s life. As long as he lived, Nate would always carry the heavy weight of responsibility on his own shoulders. He couldn’t talk to his parents and was inclined to keep his distance. Whenever he went home, all he could see was Michael’s face.

Checking that his medals were lined up perfectly on his chest, Nate grabbed his hat and walked across the stairwell to Kelly’s door. He hadn’t expected to have the wind knocked out of him when Maggie opened it, looking beautiful beyond words.

“Let me get my purse.” Nate stepped inside, inhaling the sweet perfume that lingered after she moved down the hallway. The smell of freshly perked coffee mixed with the scent of shampoo and perfumed soap, filling the apartment with an uplifting bit of hope that spring would come despite the overcast February day.

Maggie’s footfalls sounded from the hallway as she returned to join him. Nate readied himself for another jolt of adrenaline when she rounded the corner and stepped close. Her eyes were tired, but her smile lit up the room and warmed him despite the cool temperature outside.

She wore a navy dress with a matching jacket made of a soft, pliable material and had tied a gold paisley scarf around her neck that brought out the highlights in her hair.

He held the door for her and touched her back as he escorted her along the walkway toward his car. The sun tried to peer out from behind the clouds. For the family of the fallen soldier’s sake, Nate hoped the rain would stay at bay so the honor guard ceremony could be performed without a glitch.

Once they were headed for the Main Post Chapel, Maggie turned to him. “You look very dashing in your uniform.”

He hadn’t expected the pinpricks that caused his neck to warm. “The CID routinely wears civilian clothes while covering an investigation. Today everyone wanted to look their best. Besides…” He smiled. “I wanted to keep up with you. Nice dress.”

Her lips turned upward for a moment while her fingers played over the sleeve of her jacket. “When Dani called the other night, sounding so upset, I threw a few things in a suitcase, intending to spend the weekend. I packed this outfit to wear to church. You’ll see me in it tomorrow for my sister’s funeral.”

“You look lovely.”

She glanced down as if gathering her thoughts.

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