Jennifer Faye - Snowbound with the Soldier

She studied the man before her, trying to make sense of things. The dark scruff obscuring his boyish features was a new addition, as was the two-inch scar trailing up the right side of his jaw. His hardened appearance was a visual reminder of the military life he’d chosen over her. Her fingers longed to reach out and trace the uneven skin of his jaw, but instead she gripped the strap of her tote even tighter. A bit older and a little scuffed up, but it was most definitely Jason.

Just pretend he’s a mere acquaintance from years ago, not the man who threw your love back in your face and walked away without any explanation.

“Jason Smith. I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, trying her best to sound casual.

“Actually, I go by Jason Greene these days....”

The fact he now used his mother’s maiden name came as a surprise, but Kara supposed she shouldn’t find it too shocking, knowing the stormy relationship between him and his father. The name change had presumably contributed to her inability to track him down and notify him of his father’s failing health. A question teetered on her tongue, but she clamped her lips shut. Playing catch-up with Jason was akin to striking a match near fireworks. One wrong move and it’d blow up in her face. Best to stick to safe topics.

His gaze implored her for an answer, but to what? She’d lost track of the strained conversation. “What did you say?”

“How are you?”

He wanted to exchange pleasantries as though they’d parted on good terms? She didn’t have time to beat around the bush. She should already be home, getting dinner for her daughter before they went over her homework.

“When you left Pleasant Valley, you swore you’d never return. So what happened? What finally changed your mind?”

His expression hardened. If he’d been expecting a warm welcome, he’d been sadly mistaken.

He shrugged. “Things change.”

Well, most things did, and generally not for the better, but not in Jason’s case. He hadn’t gained so much as a beer gut or a receding hairline. Even the jagged scar on his face added to his sexiness.

Kara’s gaze rose to meet his. At first glance, she thought his intense blue eyes were the same as she remembered, but a closer inspection revealed a hard glint in them. He no longer resembled the warm, lighthearted guy she’d dated for nearly four years. Or had he been that way all along? Had those rose-colored glasses she’d been wearing back then obscured his real character? Had she ever truly known him at all?

Jason hitched his thumbs in his jeans pockets. “I’m sorry about what happened between us. I handled it poorly.”

“You certainly did.”

“If I could explain, I would, but I can’t—”

“Don’t.” She held up a hand, stalling his too little, too late explanation. “Nothing you say will change what happened.”

Her pride refused to let on that his presence affected her, that even after all this time she longed to know what had changed his mind about marrying her. She reconciled herself to the fact that she was better off not knowing—not prying open that door to her past.

Jason shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I guess it was too much to hope that you’d be willing to put the past behind us.”

She lifted her chin, drawing on the strength she’d used to manage this place in the recent absence of her boss, who also happened to be Jason’s father. “I’ve moved on.”

It’d taken time—lots of time—but she’d gotten over him and the way her life had unraveled after he’d dumped her. She refused to let him get under her skin again. Besides, she had enough on her plate already.

After working her way up through the ranks, to now be dismissed from her hard-earned position would be utterly demoralizing. She’d like to think she was needlessly worrying, but the rumors said the new owners wanted their own people running the show—people with more education and experience.

She went to step around Jason, but he snagged hold of her arm. “Wait. I need to apologize.”

Even through her coat she could feel his warmth radiating into her body. She yanked at her arm, to no avail.

“Let go,” she said with a hard edge. He couldn’t just worm his way past her defenses with an empty apology. She refused to let him off the hook that easily. “If you were truly sorry, you’d have said something before now. You wouldn’t have ignored me all these years or returned your father’s letters unopened.”

His hand slipped from her arm. “You know about that?”

She tightened her hold on the strap of the tote bag slung over her shoulder, which held the red scarf she was knitting for Jason’s father for Christmas. “Yes. He told me. After you left, he was never quite the same. Not knowing if you were dead or alive seemed to age him overnight.”

Jason’s body visibly stiffened. “I think you’ve mixed my father up with someone who cares.”

“He’s sick, Jason. Real sick. I’ve done what I can to help him, but he needs you.”

“I don’t want to discuss him.”

She should turn away and walk out the door before the snow grew any deeper, but her feet wouldn’t cooperate. There was one thing she needed to know—one nagging question that demanded an answer.

She licked her dry lips. “If it isn’t because of your father, then why have you suddenly returned home?”

“Do you really care?” His gaze never left hers.

“No. Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Her pulse quickened. Heat scorched her cheeks. Even though it was a lie, she refused to let him think that she cared anything about what he said or did. He was part of her past...nothing more.

“I have to go.” She needed space to make sense of things.

“Kara, I know we can’t go back to the way things used to be, but it doesn’t have to be this awkward. We were friends for years before we dated.”

They had been the best of friends. She’d told him everything about her life, but apparently that openness had been one-sided. She wouldn’t make the mistake of trusting him again.

“Does this plea of friendship mean you’re planning to stay in Pleasant Valley?”

“Yes.”

The blunt response lacked any telling details of what had prompted his unexpected return. Her errant gaze strayed to his bare ring finger. Still single. Still available. Been there, done that. She glanced away.

“Welcome home.” She buttoned her black peacoat. “I really do need to go.”

“Be careful. The snow’s picking up.” His gaze moved to the glass doors. “It looks bad out. You should spend the night at the hotel.”

She shook her head. “The resort’s closed for renovations. You shouldn’t even be here. Who’s been showing you around?”

They weren’t the only ones there late. With the new owner, GSR Inc., arriving on Monday, a number of people were working late even though it was a Friday evening. Everyone had gone above and beyond their duties, hoping to make a good impression on the new owner. Though Jason had been away for years, a number of employees knew him and would have volunteered to give him a last look around the place.

She glanced up at him, waiting for a response. His lips were pursed as though he was about to say something, but had refrained.

“I don’t have all night,” she stated.

“I don’t need an escort.”

Kara squared her shoulders. “Since I’m in charge around here, I’m telling you that either you have an escort or you must leave. Now.”

This close to the new owner’s arrival, she wasn’t taking any chances. The last thing she needed was for anyone to get hurt on her watch.

Jason’s brows arched. “You like being the boss, don’t you?”