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Chad reached under the table and took her hand in his. “I can read you, beautiful. And I think you might want a drink to go along with the appetizers.”
Pressing her lips together, she shook her head. “I can’t drink tonight.”
“I’m driving.” He raised his free hand and waved to a waiter. “Have whatever you want.”
Lena listened, her gaze focused on the front door as he ordered enough food for an army and a glass of wine for her. His thumb traced soft circles on the palm of her hand while he spoke. And Hero nudged her with his nose, demanding attention. Sandwiched between Hero and Chad, her nervous energy gradually subsided.
She could do this. Whether she liked the fact that she needed them or not, her team was here. And this was just dinner in a quiet, nearly empty restaurant. She could—­
The front door opened. A tall, slim woman with gray hair that Lena knew had been the same blond as hers once upon a time maneuvered a wheelchair through the door. In the chair sat the tall, proud man whose words still haunted her. His darker coloring presented a sharp contrast to his wife.
“My dad injured his spine during a training accident,” she said softly, knowing the explanation came too late. “It happened when I was twelve.”
Her gaze shifted to the tall, smiling man behind her parents. Her brother wore long pants, but when he moved, she caught a glimpse of his prosthetic.
“And my brother lost his leg in Iraq. IED. His convoy was hit,” she explained quickly as the waiter guided her family to their quiet corner of the Red Dragon.
Chad nodded, his mouth forming a thin line as he pushed back from the table and stood to greet her family.
“And after Joe came home, you went over there to fight,” he said, his voice soft. But there was a hard edge in his tone. “You went knowing your brother had lost his leg.”
“Yes.” She rose to greet the family she hadn’t seen in months. “And I’m the one who fell apart.”
“You’re putting yourself back together too,” he murmured. “Don’t forget that.”
She glanced up at Chad, expecting to find him studying her family. But he wasn’t. Chad was looking at her.
“Remember, Lena,” he said softly. “You set the boundaries and the limits. If this is too much, we’ll take the egg rolls and run.”
Chapter 16
“RUNNING OFF WITH the food?” Her lips offered the faintest hint of a smile. “Not exactly the way to win over my father.”
“I’m not here for your father’s approval. I’m here for you.”
The weight of those words sank in. Chad was surrounded by real-­life heroes—­shit, he was the only man at their table who could walk on his own two feet—­and determined to be hers. He wanted to see Lena through tonight. And he’d do whatever it took to bring her home with the medal she deserved.
Looking around the table, he’d never felt less qualified for the part. He’d never put his life on the line for his country. But he’d stuck by his family. He’d been there for his brothers and sisters. Hell, half the time Katie hadn’t wanted him butting his nose into her business, but that hadn’t stopped him from trying to look out for her.
He’d stand by Lena tonight. He might not be her hero, or even her boyfriend, but their friendship? That was real.
Lena made the introductions, not once touching or hugging her parents or brother. Watching the scene unfold, Chad had a bad feeling charm would not be on his side tonight.
“We’re happy to meet Lena’s new friends.” Lena’s mother, Alice, spoke with a thick Texas accent, a soft smile on her lips as she glanced at her daughter.
“Chad.” Mr. Rodriguez said his name as if it was somehow lacking. “How did you meet Lena?”
Chad smiled, biting back the words, My family stepped in to help your daughter after you gave up on her. Picking a fight before the egg rolls arrived wouldn’t help Lena. She was already a ball of trembling nerves. One glance at her lap and he saw Hero now had his head and one paw resting against her leg.
“I was worried when she moved away from her life in Portland,” Mrs. Rodriguez added.
Maybe they’d tried. But it wasn’t enough. When it came to family, you didn’t give up and you didn’t walk away. Family was the glue that held life together when everything else fell apart, not the ones standing on the sidelines playing the part of spectators.
“Lena moved into the apartment over our barn,” he said. “Once I saw how good she is with a gun, well, I decided I wanted to get to know her better. So I asked her out, and lucky for me, she said yes.”
“You’re dating?” Lena’s mother said, her smile widening.
“I’m a sucker for a beautiful woman,” he said. “And now I see beauty runs in the family.”