Read Online A Soldier’s Family by Cheryl Wyatt - Free Book Online Page B

much over five feet, yet her fireball nature made up for her short stature. That appealed to him. She appealed to him. Those hips especially appealed—what was he doing?
    Manny ripped his gaze back up to her face. Too late. Busted. According to her caustic glare, she’d noticed his gaze had not so mindlessly lingered. It’s not as if he’d been lusting or anything. Just…noticing the curviness.
    Okay, so maybe his eyes should mind their manners better. Especially since she already doubted his faith.
    He struck a military pose, eyes front and centered on her nose, her whole nose and nothing but her nose. He zoomed in farther on a tiny brown spot. Cute freckle. “I’m not trying to butt in, Celia. I’m preparing you for the kind of mood he’s in over it.” He let his body posture relax, his voice even out. “I’m just letting you know he found out and how.”
    She sighed and mumbled silently as though debating what to say next. He studied her freckle.
    Her gaze narrowed. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “Huh?” He pulled his crutches from their holder on the scooter, stood and distributed his weight on his uninjured leg.
    “You’re going like, cross-eyed or something. It’s weirding me out.”
    He blinked and adjusted his gaze. “That Javier heard it from someone other than you hurt him worse than anything.” Javier had shared all that with Manny at the basketball court.
    She swiped fingers down her nose. “Whadda ya mean worse than anything? You act like I do no good for him. You think he’d be better off living at the runaway shelter or what?” She flung her hands up and down in the air, as if directing invisible traffic through her yard. Manny choked back a laugh when she fluttered another hand down her nose. He switched his point of focus to her forehead. She swiped there next. Manny bit his lip.
    Her over-the-top gestures could get comical sometimes.
    Maybe all she needed was someone to hug that meanness right out of her. Manny clenched tight both crutch handles until the urge passed. “No. I didn’t say or mean that. I know you love your son, Cel.”
    Hurt flashed across her features. “Don’t call me that. Not today.” She sat on her steps and scratched her cat absentmindedly behind his ears. He arched into her fingers.
    Manny used his crutches to sit back on the scooter, then set them close and tilted his head. “What’s today?”
    “Today is—would have been—my twentieth wedding anniversary.”
    Wow, did he feel like a total jerk.
    As though suddenly noticing his observation of her affection toward the cat, Celia brushed the lump of purring hair off her lap. Psych landed on his feet and skittered inside the open front door.
    “Let me take you and Javier out.” The urge to hold her seized him again. He couldn’t help that he’d been raised with a family of huggers. He might possibly have the most affectionate family on the face of the earth.
    Her eyebrows slanted downward. “Huh?”
    “Dinner? You know, food?” Manny made motions of bringing his hand to his mouth with an invisible utensil.
    She shrugged. “Can’t. Javier’s working tonight.”
    Manny stood, crutches in tow. Sitting proved painful, even in the cushy seat. “Where’s he work?”
    Celia eyed the scooter then Manny’s leg. “Mexican place on the corner. You need a chair?” She stood.
    He didn’t get the idea she’d invite him into her home with Javier gone, and he didn’t want to put her through the trouble of dragging a chair out. “No, thanks. I’m good. How about we go eat there? You and me. Surprise him.”
    She shook her curly head. “He’ll be embarrassed.”
    “Nah. He might act like it, but it’ll mean a lot to him. C’mon, I’m starving. You can help me shop afterward. Though I know they’re gonna protest, I’d like to help out Joel and Amber with groceries.” He intended to buy some for her, too, then sneak them in her freezer. She’d be less likely to refuse them that way.
    A pondering