Letters from Home (Entangled Flirts) Read Online Free PDF

things her daughter had accomplished, being the first family member to finish college, go to medical school. Even her younger sister, Catalina, had stars in her eyes when it came to Lena.
    She had the likes of Phillip, and any number of other men, sniffing at her heels.
    “That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” she argued.
    He shook his head. “I don’t know anything. You’ve had people—men—lined up, wanting your attention since forever. It’s damned annoying is what it is.”
    Anger sparked in her eyes. She opened her mouth.
    “Just because you don’t notice it, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening,” he continued. “And I don’t care how capable you are, you better be more than careful. You could meet this guy and he could turn out to be a serial killer.”
    Her mouth snapped shut.
    Great way to encourage her to meet you, dumbass .
    “You think I’m capable?” she questioned him, and looking at her, he noticed she didn’t have the raging fire in her eyes anymore. Now, she just looked hopeful.
    “Of course,” he answered, leaning forward again and gripping her wrist. Her gaze fell to where his hand touched her arm. He ran his thumb over her pulse point, felt it jump just before she pulled back her arm. She would never see him as more than a brother at this rate. It was obvious she’d never thought of him that way. But if he didn’t cross that boundary, he’d for sure never make it to boyfriend or anything else.
    “You’ve always been capable. Oldest girl, bossy as hell, responsible,” he continued with a shrug as he lost the steam of his argument and met her gaze. Eyes, as dark as his were light, that could warm like chocolate or freeze like black ice. More than anything, he wanted to lose himself in those eyes. “A doctor and a soldier—”
    “Well, when you put it that way…” She smiled brightly, almost too brightly, and wiped the table in front of her with a napkin. “I’ll just take this uptight, responsible girl on her way.”
    Crap. He’d offended her. “Lena, wait.” He stood and stopped her again, afraid she would leave annoyed. “I have a meeting this afternoon with a business contact, but we really should hit up Quinn’s tonight. Get a drink. No talk about letters or deployment. It’ll be fun. Like old times.”
    “Are you asking me out on a date?” A hint of exasperation—and was that horror?—in her voice.
    “No.” His reaction was pure panic and self-preservation. “Or yes. Maybe. As friends. I don’t know. Would that be so bad?”
    The idea obviously threw her for a loop. Not a good sign, buddy.
    “A night out sounds great. Just what I need to take my mind off…everything.”
    …
    If Lena had a dime for every time someone called her bossy, she never would have had to join the Army. She could have paid for school in full before ever stepping inside a classroom.
    Ugh. She kicked at the porch swing as she made another pass, pacing back and forth, trying to cool down. Cool seemed unobtainable at the moment. She wasn’t bossy, anyway. Could she help it if people were always asking her to do things, to solve problems? She might meet her letter writer and scare him away with her capableness .
    She frowned and took a seat on the swing. As much as the description pleased her, being capable wasn’t a romantic quality. Zack had certainly never found her more than a friend. But a person could change. She needed to figure out how to attract a man, even if it meant glossing over some of her more assertive qualities.
    “Aren’t you cold?”
    Lena glanced up at the sound of her sister’s voice. “Hi, Maria.” A shiver ran through her. “I guess I am.”
    Standing, she hooked arms with her as they went inside. “Zack wants to do something tonight. You feel like heading out? Maybe get a drink over at Quinn’s?”
    “I thought you’d never ask,” Maria said with a laugh. “Let’s put the call out. Just us kids, away from the house, out on the town.