Jace stood on the beach, a sense of nervous anticipation bubbling within him. Faith had given him the tasks of setting up chairs and arranging pamphlets for the support group event. He performed his orders, but his gaze wandered, searching for Aria among the gathering crowd.
A quarter of an hour before the event was set to start, she was nowhere to be seen. Doubts began to creep into his mind, and he couldn't help but worry that he had pushed too hard, too soon.
The truth was it was going to be hard for him to hold back. Even if she didn't come to this event, he had already determined that he wasn't giving up on her. He would make himself a regular at the coffee shop.
Just as soon as this event was over, he was going to go in and order a cup of the special tea she'd made for him. Then he'd return in the morning to order another before his first day of work. Sandy Perk would be where he'd spend his lunch break. And he'd be sure and stop by after work for a wind-down tea.
His mission was to win her over one cup at a time.
Jace's gaze swept across the beach again. This time, it landed on a familiar face. Michael, his partner from the beach cleanup, stood among the attendees of the support group. Their eyes met, a silent acknowledgement passing between them.
Making his way toward Michael, Jace offered a sympathetic smile. "Hey, man," he said softly, his voice filled with understanding. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Michael returned the smile, though a hint of weariness lingered in his eyes. "Yeah, my mom, she struggled with depression after her deployments. It had a negative impact on my dad, but I didn't realize it impacted me too."
"It's a heavy burden, loving someone who's been through the challenges of service," said Jace. "But being here, supporting each other, is a step toward healing for all of you."
Michael's gaze shifted toward the group, where participants were engaged in heartfelt conversations. "I didn't know something like this existed until I saw it on the community billboard that Aria posted."
Just the mention of her name had Jace's heart skipping a beat.
"I used to feel so alone, like no one understood what it was like growing up in that environment," Michael confessed. "Being here, hearing others' stories, it gives me hope. And it makes me realize that I'm not alone on this journey."
A breeze lifted the tendrils of hair at the back of Jace's nape. The scent of lavender mixed with the salty sand. He knew she was here before he saw her. Then he turned, and all in the world felt right.
Aria strode toward him, a travel mug in each hand. When she reached him, she held out one to him.
"It's a peace offering," she said. "It's the peace tea I made for you the first time you came into my café."
Jace held the mug up to his nose. He inhaled the sweet scent, and it instantly settled any lingering tension in his body. That, and the sight of the woman standing before him.
"I was wrong to push you away the other night," she said.
"You were scared. I understand that."
"Oh? You're understanding enough that you organized a support group in my favorite place, hoping I'd show up?"
"Is that pushy?"
She smiled at him. That smile told him all he needed to know. She was going to try. She was going to give him a chance.
Jace reached out a hand to her. She took it with her free hand. But because he was a little pushy, he gave her a tug. She came to him, her chest coming flush with his. His heartbeat found hers and locked into step with its rhythm.
"I said I'd wait for you," said Jace. "I didn't say I'd be far away while I waited."
"I think I like you right where you are."
Their eyes locked, and in that instant, that magnetic surge of connection passed between them. Jace knew she felt it because he saw the vulnerability and love he felt reflected in Aria's gaze. It was an unspoken promise of support and understanding.
Jace dipped his head to Aria's and stole a kiss. Though stealing was the wrong word as she tilted her head back and offered him her lips. She tasted of honey and vanilla and peace and his. A warm breeze swept across the beach as Jace deepened the kiss.
Time seemed to stand still as they held each other, their embrace filled with a mixture of passion, hope, and the promise of a shared journey ahead. It was a kiss that carried the weight of their pasts, but also the optimism of a future built on trust and love.
As they pulled back, their eyes locked once more, their smiles radiant and their hearts alight with newfound joy. Jace knew that their path might not always be smooth, but he was ready to face the challenges together, supporting each other every step of the way.
And so, with the taste of chamomile tea and the sweetness of their kiss lingering in the air, Aria and Jace turned to take their seats in the support group. The community of new friends and old surrounded them, ready to support them as they embarked on their happily ever after.
Don't miss the next book in the Honor Valley Romances!
When a wounded warrior and a small-town woman agree to a fake relationship, will their pretend love turn into the real thing?
When Alex, a Wounded Warrior trying to get promoted in the workplace meets Sarah, who needs a fake boyfriend for an upcoming family event, they hatch a plan to help each other out. But what starts out as a pretend relationship quickly turns into something more as Sarah and Alex navigate their inner and outer conflicts only to misstep and begin to fall in love.
With a pushy boss and nosy coworkers on Alex's side and an overbearing family intent on getting a ring on Sarah's finger on the other side, these two don't stand a chance. Follow along as Sarah and Alex navigate the ups and downs of their fake relationship before realizing that their feelings for each other are all too real. Will they be able to overcome their fears and find true love, or will their pasts come back to haunt them?
Soldier's Promise is a heartwarming, small-town military romance that explores the power of love, growth, and healing. With the fake dating trope, wounded hero, and the love of family and community, this story will sweep you away and leave you rooting for Sarah and Alex's happily ever after.
