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Authors: Teresa Carpenter
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from them. He found the island’s military history as fascinating as its prison history, including its role in the Civil War.
Luckily she found it all interesting and was able to add a few tidbits she’d learned from previous trips to The Rock.
Halfway through the day she got a text from Elle saying she was in town and may be able to be free for dinner. She’d let them know by six. Amanda sent an acknowledgement and saw Michelle also responded.
Amanda hadn’t included dinner in their plans, but she was hoping Xavier would want to continue the day together. She loved the thought of dinner with her best friends, their men and Xavier. She had the feeling he’d get along great with Nate and Max.
The day flew by as they tromped all over the island, hand in hand, exploring the lighthouse and the exercise yard, and then walking back to the ferry past the family housing and the guard tower.
She took joy in seeing him revel in her gift. She took more joy in the closeness that grew even stronger between them. She liked that he reached for her hand as often as she reached for his.
* * *
Breakfast was a faint memory by the time the ferry returned them to Fisherman’s Wharf a little after three. Chilled after the ride on the water, with sore feet and a growling stomach—the sun had not made its forecasted appearance, in fact dark clouds had descended on the city—Amanda wanted out of the elements, to sit down, and food, in that order.
Luckily Fisherman’s Wharf offered plenty of options. She chose a cafe that looked out over the water and offered a lovely fish stew.
Xavier refused to let her pay for breakfast, or even go Dutch. So she told him that lunch was a part of the day out.
“Do not even think of telling me no.” She shook her finger at him when he got that I-am-male-therefore-I-must-pay look on his face. “One thing my grandparents weren’t is stingy. They gave me a good allowance, that I had nowhere to spend, and a healthy college fund that I didn’t have to pay out because my fees were waived at Hunt. I can afford to buy you lunch.”
“I would never be so rude as to question your finances. It is a matter of how I was raised. My mother has standards in these matters that she expects her son to adhere to, and paying for the date is one of her unbreakable rules.”
A perky blond hostess greeted them and saw them to a table for two. She took their drink order and left them with menus.
“The more I hear about your mother, the more I like her. She sounds like a strong woman.”
“She is the heart of our family. My sister and I adore her.”
“And your father?” Coffee was delivered to the table and Amanda thanked the waitress and gratefully wrapped her hands around the mug. She ordered the stew with sourdough bread and Xavier chose crab cakes served over rice with a sherry-cream sauce.
“They were childhood sweethearts.” He answered once they were alone again. “Both are strong on their own, but they are stronger together. Mom says it is because they grew up together. I cannot imagine them apart.”
“That sounds nice. Solid.”
“It was a great childhood,” he agreed. “My father would do anything for my mother. He gave up a prestigious assignment with the Prince when mom had a hysterectomy eight years ago. This delayed his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel a few years. I asked him if he ever regretted his decision, but he said no. She was more important to him than his career.”
“That’s a powerful love.”
“Yes. It could be difficult for a kid when they united against you. It was much easier when we could play one against the other. Unfortunately it did not happen often.”
“Ouch.” She winced for him, though it was clear he loved his family. A total soldier, he rarely gave anything away with his expression, but it was all there in the warmth of his eyes and in the way he spoke of them.
He nodded. And then leaned back to make room for the food. “This smells good.”
“What
Luckily she found it all interesting and was able to add a few tidbits she’d learned from previous trips to The Rock.
Halfway through the day she got a text from Elle saying she was in town and may be able to be free for dinner. She’d let them know by six. Amanda sent an acknowledgement and saw Michelle also responded.
Amanda hadn’t included dinner in their plans, but she was hoping Xavier would want to continue the day together. She loved the thought of dinner with her best friends, their men and Xavier. She had the feeling he’d get along great with Nate and Max.
The day flew by as they tromped all over the island, hand in hand, exploring the lighthouse and the exercise yard, and then walking back to the ferry past the family housing and the guard tower.
She took joy in seeing him revel in her gift. She took more joy in the closeness that grew even stronger between them. She liked that he reached for her hand as often as she reached for his.
* * *
Breakfast was a faint memory by the time the ferry returned them to Fisherman’s Wharf a little after three. Chilled after the ride on the water, with sore feet and a growling stomach—the sun had not made its forecasted appearance, in fact dark clouds had descended on the city—Amanda wanted out of the elements, to sit down, and food, in that order.
Luckily Fisherman’s Wharf offered plenty of options. She chose a cafe that looked out over the water and offered a lovely fish stew.
Xavier refused to let her pay for breakfast, or even go Dutch. So she told him that lunch was a part of the day out.
“Do not even think of telling me no.” She shook her finger at him when he got that I-am-male-therefore-I-must-pay look on his face. “One thing my grandparents weren’t is stingy. They gave me a good allowance, that I had nowhere to spend, and a healthy college fund that I didn’t have to pay out because my fees were waived at Hunt. I can afford to buy you lunch.”
“I would never be so rude as to question your finances. It is a matter of how I was raised. My mother has standards in these matters that she expects her son to adhere to, and paying for the date is one of her unbreakable rules.”
A perky blond hostess greeted them and saw them to a table for two. She took their drink order and left them with menus.
“The more I hear about your mother, the more I like her. She sounds like a strong woman.”
“She is the heart of our family. My sister and I adore her.”
“And your father?” Coffee was delivered to the table and Amanda thanked the waitress and gratefully wrapped her hands around the mug. She ordered the stew with sourdough bread and Xavier chose crab cakes served over rice with a sherry-cream sauce.
“They were childhood sweethearts.” He answered once they were alone again. “Both are strong on their own, but they are stronger together. Mom says it is because they grew up together. I cannot imagine them apart.”
“That sounds nice. Solid.”
“It was a great childhood,” he agreed. “My father would do anything for my mother. He gave up a prestigious assignment with the Prince when mom had a hysterectomy eight years ago. This delayed his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel a few years. I asked him if he ever regretted his decision, but he said no. She was more important to him than his career.”
“That’s a powerful love.”
“Yes. It could be difficult for a kid when they united against you. It was much easier when we could play one against the other. Unfortunately it did not happen often.”
“Ouch.” She winced for him, though it was clear he loved his family. A total soldier, he rarely gave anything away with his expression, but it was all there in the warmth of his eyes and in the way he spoke of them.
He nodded. And then leaned back to make room for the food. “This smells good.”
“What
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