don’t remember you.”
She laughed. “You probably wouldn’t. I was a kid back then. You were a senior when I was a freshman, and the only girl Hank could ever see was Sadie.” Daisy sighed. “Not that I blame you. Sadie, you’re our Hollywood legend. And Hank, you’re our hometown hero.”
“I’m not a hero,” he muttered, his gaze shifting to the window. An image of Lt. Mike throwing himself onto that grenade flashed through his mind and his hands tightened on the plastic-coated menu. “There are others more deserving of that label.”
“You’re a hero to us,” Daisy said with a nod. “Eagle Rock’s never produced a Navy SEAL.” Her expression turned serious. “Thank you for your service.” She raised the pad and pencil. “Now, what can I get for you two?”
They placed their orders and waited until Daisy walked away.
Sadie’s lips twitched on the corners. “How does it feel to be a celebrity?”
“I’m not. You’re the celebrity.”
“You’re a Navy SEAL. In my book, that trumps Hollywood, any day.”
Her words were meant to cheer him, but Hank couldn’t help the stabbing pain in his chest. If the medical review board decided his injury was sufficient to medically discharge him, he’d be out of the Navy. He’d be just Hank from Montana. “Being a SEAL doesn’t make me special.”
Sadie reached across the table, laying her hand over his. “Who you are makes you special, Hank. You became a SEAL because you already were special—loyal, dedicated and strong. I could see that before I witnessed your graduation from BUD/S training.”
Hank’s gut tightened and he shot a glance across the table, his hand curling around hers. “You came to my graduation?”
She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. “I was working in LA as a waitress. I saved all of my tips so that I could afford to drive down for your graduation.”
His chest filled with a combination of pride and pain. He’d been so happy to make it through the grueling training, and sad no one cared enough to come to his graduation. “Why didn’t you tell me you were there?”
She shrugged. “You were busy celebrating with the men who made it through with you. That’s where you needed to be.”
“I would rather have celebrated with you.” Once again, she’d proven she didn’t want him in her life. “Why did you bother to come, then?”
“I was so proud of you. I couldn’t stay away.”
“How did you know? I thought when you turned down my proposal, you didn’t want anything more to do with me.”
“I turned down your proposal because we were too young. Hell, we were just kids. We still had a world to explore, to make our own way and figure out who we wanted to be.”
“And now?”
Sadie opened her mouth, but didn’t get the chance to respond.
“Here we are. A loaded club sandwich and the house special, chicken salad.” Daisy set the plates in front of them and stood back. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No, thank you.” Sadie said, her gaze dropping away from his.
Hank shook his head, his gaze on the woman sitting across from him as he waited for Daisy to leave so that Sadie could answer his question.
When Daisy tuned away, Hank fixed Sadie with a look. “You were saying?”
Sadie stared down at her salad. “It doesn’t matter. We live different lives. You have your SEAL team. I have my work.
Hank didn’t correct her. In thirty days, when the board had their say, he might not have his SEAL team. He’d have to start over, find out where he fit in the civilian world.
Rather than pressure her for a real response, he lifted his sandwich and asked, “How long do you plan on being in the movie industry?”
“I like what I do, but I’m becoming more selective about the projects I accept.”
“I guess that comes with being one of the most sought-after actresses in the world.” He nodded. “If I haven’t told you before, congratulations on realizing your dreams. I’ve
She laughed. “You probably wouldn’t. I was a kid back then. You were a senior when I was a freshman, and the only girl Hank could ever see was Sadie.” Daisy sighed. “Not that I blame you. Sadie, you’re our Hollywood legend. And Hank, you’re our hometown hero.”
“I’m not a hero,” he muttered, his gaze shifting to the window. An image of Lt. Mike throwing himself onto that grenade flashed through his mind and his hands tightened on the plastic-coated menu. “There are others more deserving of that label.”
“You’re a hero to us,” Daisy said with a nod. “Eagle Rock’s never produced a Navy SEAL.” Her expression turned serious. “Thank you for your service.” She raised the pad and pencil. “Now, what can I get for you two?”
They placed their orders and waited until Daisy walked away.
Sadie’s lips twitched on the corners. “How does it feel to be a celebrity?”
“I’m not. You’re the celebrity.”
“You’re a Navy SEAL. In my book, that trumps Hollywood, any day.”
Her words were meant to cheer him, but Hank couldn’t help the stabbing pain in his chest. If the medical review board decided his injury was sufficient to medically discharge him, he’d be out of the Navy. He’d be just Hank from Montana. “Being a SEAL doesn’t make me special.”
Sadie reached across the table, laying her hand over his. “Who you are makes you special, Hank. You became a SEAL because you already were special—loyal, dedicated and strong. I could see that before I witnessed your graduation from BUD/S training.”
Hank’s gut tightened and he shot a glance across the table, his hand curling around hers. “You came to my graduation?”
She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. “I was working in LA as a waitress. I saved all of my tips so that I could afford to drive down for your graduation.”
His chest filled with a combination of pride and pain. He’d been so happy to make it through the grueling training, and sad no one cared enough to come to his graduation. “Why didn’t you tell me you were there?”
She shrugged. “You were busy celebrating with the men who made it through with you. That’s where you needed to be.”
“I would rather have celebrated with you.” Once again, she’d proven she didn’t want him in her life. “Why did you bother to come, then?”
“I was so proud of you. I couldn’t stay away.”
“How did you know? I thought when you turned down my proposal, you didn’t want anything more to do with me.”
“I turned down your proposal because we were too young. Hell, we were just kids. We still had a world to explore, to make our own way and figure out who we wanted to be.”
“And now?”
Sadie opened her mouth, but didn’t get the chance to respond.
“Here we are. A loaded club sandwich and the house special, chicken salad.” Daisy set the plates in front of them and stood back. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No, thank you.” Sadie said, her gaze dropping away from his.
Hank shook his head, his gaze on the woman sitting across from him as he waited for Daisy to leave so that Sadie could answer his question.
When Daisy tuned away, Hank fixed Sadie with a look. “You were saying?”
Sadie stared down at her salad. “It doesn’t matter. We live different lives. You have your SEAL team. I have my work.
Hank didn’t correct her. In thirty days, when the board had their say, he might not have his SEAL team. He’d have to start over, find out where he fit in the civilian world.
Rather than pressure her for a real response, he lifted his sandwich and asked, “How long do you plan on being in the movie industry?”
“I like what I do, but I’m becoming more selective about the projects I accept.”
“I guess that comes with being one of the most sought-after actresses in the world.” He nodded. “If I haven’t told you before, congratulations on realizing your dreams. I’ve
Similar Books
