“Easier said than done,” she muttered. Then she took a deep breath. “How is everyone there? How’s Ember doing? I know Doc wasn’t that thrilled he had to leave her so soon after she got shot.”
“She’s good. The other women basically sat on her to make her behave and follow the doctor’s orders to take it easy.”
Sierra chuckled, and Grover’s muscles slowly relaxed. He didn’t like that she was struggling with getting back to her life, but he wasn’t surprised.
“I looked up her Instagram account. She really did post my picture!” Sierra said, the surprise easy to hear in her tone.
“Yup.”
“It’s pretty amazing that some people actually said they remembered me. The soldiers who’d been stationed at the base, I mean. I wasn’t there that long before I was taken.”
“You’re memorable, Bean.”
“I know you aren’t making fun of my size, are you?” she threatened.
“Me? Would I do that?”
“Well, since you’re a giant, you might.”
He loved this. The teasing. “Fee-fi-fo-fum,” he joked.
She giggled. “But seriously, her gym sounds amazing. I love that she wants to give back to the kids in the area. That’s why I accepted the job in Afghanistan in the first place. Because I wanted to give back to my country.”
An idea formed in Grover’s head. He probably should talk to Ember first, but he was fairly certain she wouldn’t have any issue with what he was about to propose. “You know, Ember could use some help.”
“Help? With what?” Sierra asked.
“The gym. The kids.”
Sierra laughed. “Yeah, right. I’m no Olympian. Not even close.”
“You don’t have to be. The kids aren’t either. She really does need help. Obviously, you don’t have to make a decision right now but…it’s another reason for you to come to Texas.”
“I thought maybe you’d regret inviting me by now.”
Grover didn’t hear any teasing in her voice this time. “No way. If it wouldn’t have made me look like a douchecanoe, I’d have insisted you come to Killeen with us, instead of going back to Colorado.”
“I needed to see my parents.”
“I know.” And he did.
“But I have a feeling two weeks will be more than enough time for me to spend here. If you can do it, I’d love to meet you in New Mexico.”
“Done,” Grover said, his heart lightening.
“But you probably won’t recognize me,” Sierra said with a little laugh. “I think my dad has taken it upon himself to personally see that I gain back all the weight I lost. I swear, there’s more doughnuts and cookies in this house than I’ve ever seen before. And my mom wants to buy me a whole closet full of clothes. But of course, I don’t want to buy anything right now because I’ll grow out of them if I gain the weight my dad has planned for me.”
“I’ll recognize you,” Grover said without a trace of doubt in his tone. “Just be sure to gain weight the right way. Eating fatty foods isn’t the right way, in case you were wondering.”
“I know. I saw a nutritionist after I went to the doctor. She pretty much told me what you did. Eat lots of smaller meals. Lots of protein, not a ton of fatty foods, and carbs are fine.”
“What’d the doc say?”
“All things considered, I’m good. He says that when I gain weight, my period should start again. My blood pressure is a bit low, but he wasn’t surprised. I’m a little anemic, I have asthma now from breathing in all that dirt and dust all the time. I’ve got some funky skin lesions that should clear up with antibiotics, and he recommends that I steer clear of large gatherings until my immune system builds itself back up. But otherwise, I’m fine.”
Grover sighed. He didn’t like most of what she’d said, but wasn’t all that surprised. “That’s good, Bean.”
“Other than your ribs, are you good? What about that cut on your head?” she asked.
“I’m fine. Promise.”
“Did I thank you for coming to find me?” Sierra asked quietly.
“Yes.”
She harrumphed. “I don’t think I did. No one has ever sacrificed so much for me before.”
“I didn’t sacrifice anything,” Grover protested.
“You did,” she insisted. “You could’ve died.”
“But I didn’t. Here’s the thing, Sierra. I like you. A lot. And the last thing I want is you feeling gratitude for me. You needed help, and I was in a position to offer it. That’s done. We’re moving on.”
Grover worried when she didn’t immediately comment, thinking he’d gone too far. That he’d pushed her too hard.
“I like you too,” she told him. “But I can’t just forget what you did. It’s not like you held a door open for me or bought me flowers. You got yourself freaking kidnapped without even knowing if you’d find me. I could’ve been in Iraq, or Iran, or buried ten feet under the desert. You had no way of knowing if I was even alive, and yet you still went and did something unbelievable to try to find me.”
“I knew you were alive,” Grover said. “Don’t ask me how, but I did. It was a feeling deep down inside. Most people would say there’s no way I could know, but I was confident enough in my feelings to do what I did. You and I will always have a special bond, Sierra. One forged in dark nights in that cave, holding hands and talking. I won’t deny that I’d love to see if we could have more…but if friendship is all that grows between us, I’ll take it.”
Once again, Sierra didn’t immediately reply. He was getting used to her way of thinking things over before speaking. He liked it, even as it unnerved him.
“I…I’d like to start with friendship,” she said. “I just feel so off, I can’t imagine even attempting anything more right now.”
“And I wouldn’t ask you to,” Grover reassured her. “You take all the time you need, Bean. I’ll be here for you.”
“I’m not saying never, just…not right this second. Besides, I’m here and you’re there.”
“Yup, but the invitation is open for you to come to Texas, remember? You can work with Ember, live wherever you want, and I still want to take you on that date I promised.”
“Sitting in your barn, right?” she asked with a laugh.
“Yup.”
“Oh, you charmer, you.”
Grover chuckled. “Wait until you see the view. I promise you’ll be impressed.”
“I have no doubt. I do have a question for you.”
“Shoot.”
“This Tex guy…he’s definitely on the up and up?”
“Absolutely. He’s a medically retired Navy SEAL who has helped more people than I can count out of dire situations.”
“And my phone really does have a tracker in it?”
“I’m sure it does, yes. There’s a team of SEALs out in California, friends of his, who kept having issues with their women disappearing. So now he kind of goes overboard with that tracking stuff. I have a feeling his computer screen in his office probably looks like a plane radar. With all sorts of blinking lights indicating where all his people are.” Then Grover thought of something. “Why? Is something wrong? Do you not feel safe?”