was at the Montgomery wedding.
Chapter Five
M anny tried to ignore the sensation of heat on his back. It had nothing to do with the Saturday sun beaming through the window, making the day unusually warm for the season. But everything to do with Celia’s stare boring into him.
Relying heavily on the crutches, he wordlessly maneuvered through Joel and Amber’s dining room. Amber stood but Celia remained seated at the table, attention replastered to the project she’d been doing with Amber when he’d entered with Joel.
He hated any attractive woman having to see him hobble along like a weak man. He cast a glance over his shoulder. Celia dropped her gaze back to the rows of satchels lining the table.
He felt rude not speaking to her so he paused and scrambled for something to say. Surely, Joel and Amber sensed the tension in the air between him and Celia. He had to make an effort. Didn’t want the precedence of cold shoulders to be set since he’d be living here for a while. He was thankful to them for opening their home and refused to bring strife into it.
“Working hard or hardly working?” Manny asked Celia.
When no one else answered him, she looked up. Eyes grew wide a moment before a quirky grin lifted one side of her mouth. “Little of both.”
He wondered if she realized how pretty she looked when she smiled full-on like that. He realized when her gaze found the table again that he was staring. “Cool. Are they for your students?” He eyed the items on the table.
She dropped a tiny bottle of neon-pink nail polish and slid a bright-colored hairbrush into a sack. “No. Amber and I are making toiletry kits for the runaway shelter.”
“Ah.” Manny stood a moment, watching Celia put a travel-size container of aftershave and a comb into a blue, zippered pouch. “Nice.”
“Yep. Nice and done.” Celia pulled strings on the last open satchel and stood. She tucked a bouncy curl behind her ear and looked at Amber. “The shelter owner will be here soon to pick these up. I’ve got to run home and put a load of clothes in the dryer.” She picked up a long-handled suitcase from the chair and slung it over her shoulder, which sagged from the weight of the thing. She met Manny’s gaze for a flash. “Good to see you up and about, Airman Péna.”
Manny nodded and turned to Amber who watched the exchange with guarded interest. Manny hoped he hadn’t made a mistake by agreeing to stay here. Celia reverting to formal use of his name and title seemed a step back. She’d taken to calling him Manny on prior occasions. Last thing he wanted was to strain Amber and Celia’s friendship, or to make Joel and Amber have to be concerned over him and Celia getting along.
Celia slipped around the other side of the table and headed toward the front door.
“Talk to you later, Celia.” Amber pushed the front door closed upon Celia’s exit then approached Manny with a kind smile. “This way.”
Manny followed Amber down the hall. She flicked a switch in a large, spacious bedroom. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, causing red hues in the rich mahogany to gleam.
“Your sleeping quarters are here, Manny. Of course, we can rearrange this room any way you like, but this setup seemed more accessible.” She darted compassionate glances at Manny’s crutches. He realized then that Amber was nervous. Knowing her profound hospitality, she probably worried over his comfort.
“This is great, Amber. When Joel said you guys had an extra room for me, I had no idea he was referring to a fancy suite. I’m beyond thankful to you for this.”
A smile lit Amber’s face. “We know, Manny. And everything will work out.” She exchanged a look with Joel.
Manny got the feeling she meant more than his recovery. Especially when she eyed the huge window, open to the street where Celia could be seen shuffling home with her head down, lost in thought.
Manny turned from the window and nodded to make Amber feel
Chapter Five
M anny tried to ignore the sensation of heat on his back. It had nothing to do with the Saturday sun beaming through the window, making the day unusually warm for the season. But everything to do with Celia’s stare boring into him.
Relying heavily on the crutches, he wordlessly maneuvered through Joel and Amber’s dining room. Amber stood but Celia remained seated at the table, attention replastered to the project she’d been doing with Amber when he’d entered with Joel.
He hated any attractive woman having to see him hobble along like a weak man. He cast a glance over his shoulder. Celia dropped her gaze back to the rows of satchels lining the table.
He felt rude not speaking to her so he paused and scrambled for something to say. Surely, Joel and Amber sensed the tension in the air between him and Celia. He had to make an effort. Didn’t want the precedence of cold shoulders to be set since he’d be living here for a while. He was thankful to them for opening their home and refused to bring strife into it.
“Working hard or hardly working?” Manny asked Celia.
When no one else answered him, she looked up. Eyes grew wide a moment before a quirky grin lifted one side of her mouth. “Little of both.”
He wondered if she realized how pretty she looked when she smiled full-on like that. He realized when her gaze found the table again that he was staring. “Cool. Are they for your students?” He eyed the items on the table.
She dropped a tiny bottle of neon-pink nail polish and slid a bright-colored hairbrush into a sack. “No. Amber and I are making toiletry kits for the runaway shelter.”
“Ah.” Manny stood a moment, watching Celia put a travel-size container of aftershave and a comb into a blue, zippered pouch. “Nice.”
“Yep. Nice and done.” Celia pulled strings on the last open satchel and stood. She tucked a bouncy curl behind her ear and looked at Amber. “The shelter owner will be here soon to pick these up. I’ve got to run home and put a load of clothes in the dryer.” She picked up a long-handled suitcase from the chair and slung it over her shoulder, which sagged from the weight of the thing. She met Manny’s gaze for a flash. “Good to see you up and about, Airman Péna.”
Manny nodded and turned to Amber who watched the exchange with guarded interest. Manny hoped he hadn’t made a mistake by agreeing to stay here. Celia reverting to formal use of his name and title seemed a step back. She’d taken to calling him Manny on prior occasions. Last thing he wanted was to strain Amber and Celia’s friendship, or to make Joel and Amber have to be concerned over him and Celia getting along.
Celia slipped around the other side of the table and headed toward the front door.
“Talk to you later, Celia.” Amber pushed the front door closed upon Celia’s exit then approached Manny with a kind smile. “This way.”
Manny followed Amber down the hall. She flicked a switch in a large, spacious bedroom. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, causing red hues in the rich mahogany to gleam.
“Your sleeping quarters are here, Manny. Of course, we can rearrange this room any way you like, but this setup seemed more accessible.” She darted compassionate glances at Manny’s crutches. He realized then that Amber was nervous. Knowing her profound hospitality, she probably worried over his comfort.
“This is great, Amber. When Joel said you guys had an extra room for me, I had no idea he was referring to a fancy suite. I’m beyond thankful to you for this.”
A smile lit Amber’s face. “We know, Manny. And everything will work out.” She exchanged a look with Joel.
Manny got the feeling she meant more than his recovery. Especially when she eyed the huge window, open to the street where Celia could be seen shuffling home with her head down, lost in thought.
Manny turned from the window and nodded to make Amber feel
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