Falling for Her Soldier by Ophelia London

guess. Or Indianapolis. She must be close if she plans on being at the WS every day.”
    “How long did you e-mail?” Tess asked.
    “Two months.”
    “Every day?”
    “Not every day. Maybe a dozen messages apiece.” He loaded noodles onto his plate. “Maybe more.”
    “That’s kind of a lot, man,” Jack offered.
    Charlie lowered his chopsticks. “It is?”
    Jack leaned toward Tess. “How many e-mails did I send you before you seduced me on your couch?”
    “Zero,” Tess said, cupping his chin.
    Charlie cringed. “I did not need to know that.”
    “All we’re saying,” Tess added, “is that I don’t remember you having any kind of relationship with a woman for two months. That’s huge.”
    “We didn’t have a relationship,” Charlie said. “And we don’t now. She doesn’t—” He broke off and ran a hand over his head. This was the sticky part. “She doesn’t know I’m the same guy.”
    “Why not?”
    He rubbed the top of his head with a fist. “It’s kind of a funny story.”
    “Funny like I’ll want to puke?” Tess asked.
    “Probably.” Charlie exhaled then sat up straight. “See, apparently I’ve got some kind of reputation around the post. I guess word got out that I’m a player or something.”
    “Which you are,” Tess stated.
    Not what Charlie wanted to hear. “Yeah, well, my buddy told his sister about me. But she didn’t know it was me because everyone on post calls me Hunter.”
    “That’s right.” Jack nodded. “I’ve heard that.” He looked at Tess with a lifted eyebrow. “Big Game Hunter.”
    “You’re seriously disgusting,” she said, glaring at Charlie.
    “When we met today, I was introduced as Hunter.”
    “So she has no idea you’re the same person she e-mailed for two months?”
    “No,” Charlie said, not feeling very proud of his actions. Although if he could go back in time to earlier today, he didn’t know how he would have played it differently. “And I get the impression she kind of hates me.”
    Tess smiled. “Really?”
    “When we were first introduced, we had a…a moment. It was pretty cool.” He paused, remembering how cute she’d looked as she’d cut his hamburger in half. “But the second she found out I’m”—he rolled his eyes—“Hunter, she was completely turned off.”
    “I like her already,” Tess said. “When can we meet?”
    Charlie laughed.
    “I’m serious,” Tess added. “This baby of mine will never have any cousins on our side of the family if you don’t get busy and settle down.”
    “Whoa, whoa.” Charlie held up both hands. “Who said anything about settling down?”
    Tess pounded a fist on the table. “It’s time.” She glanced at Jack. “Right?”
    “Uh, yeah,” Jack said. “Whatever you say.” He looked at Charlie, deadpan. “Get married ASAP, man. You’ll never be happier.” He leaned over to kiss Tess when suddenly he pulled back. “Again?”
    Charlie glanced at Tess, who was holding up her index finger. “Down the hall,” he said, pointing toward the bathroom.
    Tess scraped back her chair and took off at a rapid waddle.
    “That’s what the thought of kissing me does to your sister these days,” Jack said with a smile, pulling Tess’s plate of food over to finish. “It’s like every twenty minutes, man.”
    “That’s normal?”
    “Yep.” Jack leaned back in his chair. “Mac even gave her some women empowerment book about it. They’re always talking about running with the wolves or something, I don’t know. One month and it’s over.”
    Charlie chuckled, feeling another twinge of envy. “Good luck with all that.”
    “So, tell me more about this woman, the e-mailer.” Jack peered over his shoulder toward the bathroom, then back. “She hot?”
    “Incredibly. She’s got red hair. It’s wild, man.”
    “You e-mailed for two months. Is there anything there?”
    Charlie didn’t have to give it more than a moment’s thought. “Yeah,” he admitted. “That’s kind