Page 14

Joy

I started to turn back,my hand extended when I caught a glimpse of how distraught he was. He thought I was walking away?

“Hi,” I shyly started off, “I’m Joy.” My hand shook slightly as he processed what I’d been up to. “My sisters always say I’m too cheesy.” I shook my head nervously. “I wasn’t walking away. I was just play—“ My words stuttered to a halt when I watched the relief wash over him.

But he didn’t take my hand.

Nope.

For what felt like the longest two seconds ever known to man, we just looked at one another, standing only about a foot away. Then he moved. Faster than The Flash. The sexiest, most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on moved close and wrapped his arms around me. Pulling me in for the best hug. Ever! He held me tightly, almost painfully so, but I held on to him. His spicy, woodsy scent engulfed my lungs, and goodness gracious, I had never breathed in anything better.

I hugged him back, and we stood there for a moment. How long, I wasn’t sure, because all I knew was when he pulled back, I knew no matter how long, it wouldn’t have been enough.

“I’m Lincoln. My friends call me Linc.”

“Linc.” I smiled broadly. “Linc, would you like to go for ice cream?”

“I’d go anywhere with you, my Joy,” his voice rasped. My eyes widened.

His Joy.

He probably didn’t mean it. Not really. Lincoln was being cute and sweet. I shouldn’t take that claim seriously, but damn, it was impossible. Especially when his large hand took mine and our fingers tangled up together. We walked to the old-school ice cream truck after we picked up our trash from dinner.

I kept stealing glances as we waited in line. My hand in his much bigger and warmer one, we were standing close enough our arms kinda brushed against one another.

He was really there.

Lincoln.

My grumpy Navy Seal was just… there. Next to me. Holding my hand!

“Do I have something on my face?” he mumbled, stroking his clean-shaven square chin.

“You follow me on Instagram?” I blurted. His gaze dropped to the ground as his cheeks heated and turned the cutest shade of pink. I’d made the sexy Navy Seal blush! “You’re really here,” I noted with a smile. “I still can’t believe it.” I shook my head, and his serious expression didn’t change.

“Why?” His question almost sounded like a growl, but it didn’t turn me off or scare me. It did the opposite.

“Uh… because I didn’t think you liked me,” I pointed out.

“Babe…” He winced.

“You all but ordered me to stop writing to you,” I reminded him.

“But you kept on writing.”

“So did you,” I reminded him, and his lips twitched before he shrugged. He looked out toward the truck, probably scanning the menu. “Why?” I asked the one question I hadn’t been brave enough to put down on paper.

“What?” The question seemed to take him by surprise as he turned his attention back to me.

“Why did you write?”

“I regretted writing that first letter,” he shared honestly and rubbed the back of his neck before pulling me in to toss his arm over my shoulder, tucking me into his side. “I really am sorry about that.”

“You don’t—”

“But I do… I’ve been in a dark place. You helped me see that.”

“Since your injury?”