Anna's Courage (Rose Island Book 1) by Kristin Noel Fischer Page A

out.” Wanting to encourage him, I rested my hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
    Something between us shifted as he covered my hand with his. I sucked in a quick breath when he laced our fingers together and came to his feet. Still holding my hand, he stood just inches away and stared at me with his beautiful, beautiful, beautiful eyes.
    A flutter of anticipation shot through me. I told myself to step back. Don’t let this happen.
    But when he placed his free hand at my waist, I held perfectly still. There was a moment of hesitation. A moment when I could’ve distanced myself, but I didn’t want to. Didn’t want anything more than to feel his lips on mine.
    With a gentle tug, he brought me closer and lowered his mouth to mine. His touch consumed me, and I threaded my arms around him, wanting more. Briefly, I lost myself in the comfort and desire of his kiss.
    And then, warning bells clanged in my head so loud my entire body stiffened. Once again, I pushed him away.
    “Anna,” he said, immediately releasing me.
    “It wasn’t your fault. I can’t . . .” I pressed a hand to my hammering heart and took a deep breath.
    A million different thoughts charged through my mind. “It’s not that I don’t like you or don’t find myself attracted to you, but you’re leaving in a few days.”
    “I’m staying until after Christmas,” he said, as if that made any difference at all.
    I shook my head. “Okay, but you’re a soldier, and I can’t ever be involved with another soldier. I was a military wife for nearly four years. I’ve served my time. I’ve seen the stress my mother has endured with my father, and I don’t want to ever do that again.”
    “I know,” he said, looking away.
    “I shouldn’t have kissed you last New Year’s Eve, and I shouldn’t have kissed you now.”
    “It’s okay.”
    I opened my mouth to speak, but he stopped me. “Anna, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it, okay? I’ll go.”
    He excused himself with a quick nod and strode across the salon. Everything inside me screamed for him to stay. I wanted him to turn around and fill the emptiness that had become my constant companion—not since I’d lost Marcus—but since Nick had taken my hand to jump into the air at the stroke of midnight.
    I knew I could stop him by calling his name. Instead, I remained silent, letting him go.
    And letting a piece of my heart go with him.

Chapter 7
    O n Monday morning, my son went to Houston with Nick, Hailey, and Gabby. Before they left, I gave Travis strict instructions to stay with Nick and to keep away from the snake at Bubba’s pet store.
    All morning, I tried to focus on my work, but my mind continued drifting to Nick. I was like a kid in middle school, obsessed with something that wasn’t good for me.
    “What exactly happened while you were washing Nick’s hair?” Bianca asked as we cleaned our stations between clients.
    She’d asked the question earlier, but I’d avoided it by luring her into a conversation about an old episode of Downton Abbey . This time, I tried distracting her with questions about reordering shampoo.
    She pinned me with her gaze. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I’m not going to let you off so easily.”
    To my relief, the salon door opened, and my oldest sister-in-law, Jillian, entered. Jillian worked as a nurse in elder care. She was a divorcée with two teenage boys, and she had the most beautiful, thick, long honey-brown hair.
    As Jillian followed me back to the sinks to have her hair washed, Bianca trailed behind, excited to relay the news that Travis had gone to Houston with Nick and the girls today.
    “Am I missing something?” Jillian asked, taking a seat. “I have a feeling I should be outraged.”
    Bianca leaned against the counter. “Well, Anna doesn’t know Nick very well, so I’m surprised she let a stranger take her son off the island. Last time I wanted to take Travis to the Rose Museum, she practically