“There wasn’t really time.”
“I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say. “There must be some serious culture shock coming to a small town to meet half-a-dozen siblings you never knew you had.”
“I love it.” Her face flushes with pleasure as she pulls the blanket tighter around her. “The Bracelyns have been so wonderful. I always wanted a big family.”
“Me, too.” I realize as soon as I say it that we’re talking about two different things.
“It’s just you and your sister?” she asks.
“Yes, but I actually meant my own family. Someday, I mean. Obviously, I’m not married or even dating anyone seriously enough to be talking about children. Or dating anyone at all at the moment.” Shut up, shut up, shut up. Every word out of my mouth makes me sound like a bigger loser, but I can’t seem to make my mandible stop moving.
For some reason, Iz seems fascinated by my rambling. “So you want to be married, but you aren’t? How peculiar.”
“Which part is peculiar?”
She shrugs and glances away. “All of it, I suppose. It’s just…different in my culture.”
I get the sense there’s more she wants to say, and I wait a respectful amount of time for her to finish. Instead, she adjusts the blanket around her shoulders. “Tell me more about this plan of yours. The career, the wife, the big family.”
Crap. I’d hoped to change the subject, but I’m the dumbass who brought it up in the first place. “Well, the plan was to do med school on the military’s dime, become an Army doc, do a few tours, and eventually get assigned to the Ranger Regiment.”
“Is that typical for a military physician?”
I hesitate, not wanting to sound boastful. “No. Most Army docs aren’t part of gen pop—er, the general population. In some ways, the Medical Service Corps are almost like a separate entity, but I wanted more of a soldier’s experience. A chance to be on the front lines.”
That’s why I busted ass at the firing range, working to master marksmanship along with tactical medical skills. “Not a lot of Army docs go that route, but it’s what I wanted.”
“Past tense.” She’s quick to pick up on that as she studies my face. “That’s not the plan now?”
“Nah, change of plans.” A lump forms in my throat, but I swallow it back. “I got out at the end of my first tour. I’d planned to re-up, but came back here instead and went into private practice. I’m still in the Reserves. That’s more of a once a month thing, though.”
Izzy’s studying me in earnest now. I wonder if it’s curiosity about the American military system or me. It’s a dick thing to think, but I hope it’s about me.
“So your new plan,” she says at last. “Being a private practice physician. Are you happy with this?”
“I am, actually. Really happy.” That’s not bullshit, either. It’s the truth, even though it wasn’t my original goal. “Civilian life makes it much easier to have a family eventually.”
There I go again, talking like some desperate bachelor eager to drag a bride back to my lair and chain her to the stove. I need to stop talking. “How about you?” I ask.
“What about me?”
“What were your dreams growing up?” I ask. “Career, family, marriage, all that?”
Izzy looks down at her lap. At least it looks like she’s staring at her lap. When she raises her wrist, it’s with an odd little smile. “You’re late,” she says flashing a dainty gold watch. “Doesn’t poker night start at six?”
She’s right, it’s a quarter after. Where did the time go?
Also, I can take a hint. “Probably better get inside before the beer warms up under this heater.” I pick up my six pack and stand, waving her off when she starts to get to her feet. “Don’t get up; you look nice and cozy.”
“I should go inside and make dinner.” She unwraps the blanket and stands anyway, revealing slim gray slacks and a cream-colored sweater that hugs her curves. It’s all I can do not to stare. “Have fun at poker night,” she says.
I drag my gaze back to her face and take a step back so I don’t accidentally pull her into my arms. “Same to you.”
The sound of footsteps on gravel makes us both turn toward the path to the lodge. I’m expecting a Bracelyn brother or maybe Chief Dugan on his way to our game.
But it’s a muscular bald guy I’ve never seen before. His eyes are cold, and