Never Forget: A Novella in the Echo Platoon Series Read Online Free PDF

blanket and pulled it off him. The length of his growing, half-naked body drove home just how big he was getting. It was about time he took on more responsibility.
    “You’re going to love it,” she predicted. “You’ve been asking me for a dog for years. This will be just like having one—and you’ll be paid, too. So up and at ’em. Time to roll,” she added, using one of Ian’s favorite expressions and employing his brook-no-arguments tone of voice.
    She’d been thinking of Ian a lot lately. If not Ian, then Rusty.
    “Fine.” Curtis dragged himself to a sitting position and swung his feet to the floor. “How long do I have to do this?”
    “I don’t know,” she said, relieved that he was finally cooperating. “As long as it lasts, I guess.”
    “All summer?” He plodded into his bathroom while wiping the sleep from his eyes.
    “I don’t know,” she repeated as he shut the door between them.
    What did she hope to get out of the arrangement, besides the peace of mind in knowing Curtis was gainfully occupied while she was at work? A vision of Rusty’s dark eyes, his ruddy lips curving toward a smile caused her pulse to accelerate. Did she want to get to know him better?
    Yes. What would Ian have thought of him?
    She didn’t know. He’d never mentioned Rusty Kuzinsky, probably hadn’t even known him before that fateful day on Gilman’s Ridge. So many men slaughtered in an attempt to save just one.
    Shaking off the memory, she left the room to finish getting ready for her own workday. As she brushed her teeth, she noted the brightness in her eyes’ reflection and the heightened color in her cheeks. Applying a touch of lipstick, she considered the outfit she was wearing with a smile of approval—a white skirt paired with a lettuce-green blouse that brought out the pale-green color of her eyes. She fluffed the waves of her short blond hair as Curtis thundered down the stairs.
    “Grab some breakfast, honey,” she called. “Mr. Kuzinsky said he’ll feed you lunch, but you don’t want to go there hungry.”
    Listening to him pour a bowl of cereal, she went to collect her laptop bag and purse, placing them both by the door and then peering out the window. He wouldn’t make her late for work, would he?
    Just then an older model, rust-colored Camry swung into the parking space in front of her house. Mr. Efficiency rolled up out of it, wearing a pair of triathlon sunglasses, khakis, and a gray T-shirt that highlighted his trim, muscular physique. His dark auburn hair matched the color of his car. He might be retired, but he moved like a young man, striding with purpose toward her door. She swung it open before he could knock.
    “Good morning,” she greeted him. Goodness, was that breathy voice hers?
    He lowered the hand he’d lifted. “Am I late?”
    “Of course not. Are you ever late?”
    His eyes, crinkling at the corners, put a giddy feeling in her stomach. “Not usually,” he admitted.
    “Come on in,” she said.
    He didn’t need to know that she’d cleaned her entire house yesterday in anticipation of his viewing it. Not a speck of dust dulled the shiny surfaces of her living room furniture.
    “Nice space,” he said taking in the open-concept lower level, with a kitchen leading to the stairs and master bedroom.
    “Thanks. A rental, but it’s kept up by the management.” Shutting the door she caught the same scent she’d appreciated on Saturday—lemon and sage.
    “Curtis is just finishing his breakfast.” She nodded toward the breakfast bar where her son looked up from his cereal and stopped chewing.
    Silence ensued as the two males assessed each other.
    Rusty broke the spell. “Hello, Curtis,” he said, crossing toward the breakfast bar and holding out a hand. “Name’s Rusty. I knew your father,” he added.
    Curtis’s eyes widened as they flicked in her direction. Oh, yeah. She’d forgotten to mention that part.
    “You look a lot like him,” Rusty added, releasing the