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kept a lid on the thought. She possessed an exquisite body, with generous hips and a lush, curvaceous ass. If anything, he thought she could stand to gain a few pounds. “Well, why don’t we eat first and if you still don’t want your cobbler, we’ll discuss it then.”
    “Fair enough.” She slid the little bowl back into place and glanced around the room. “Thank you, again.”
    “For?” He tore a roll in half and dipped it into the stew. He’d had the cook’s stew a few times and her version added new flavor to the normally bland fare. Charlie cared less about the food than the company.
    “For being interested.”
    The candor in her response shocked him. Stuffing the gravy-soaked roll into his mouth, he bought some time to consider his reply. She couldn’t possibly be thanking him for his sexual interest. She cradled her coffee cup and sipped the black brew without benefit of sugar or cream. She had to be related to a Marine to swallow the sludge without a grimace.
    “Finals week.”
    The non sequitur threw him. He unscrewed the cap on his water bottle. “I’m sorry, what?” He wanted sleep and even if it eluded him, he preferred to not be jittery.
    “You stared at me drinking the coffee like I should hate it, but this is no worse than what I drink during finals week. I double brew—pour one pot of coffee through twice so it’s super strong and could burn through your stomach like battery acid.” She lifted an arm and flexed. “Okay, maybe just super awake. Then I can cram and pass my tests.”
    God, she’s young .
    The thought troubled him. She couldn’t be more than twenty-two, if that. He didn’t recall if he’d read her age in the file he’d received or the orders or she’d mentioned it to him in one of their half-dozen e-mail exchanges. Younger than he by seven or more years, but not even cold reality took away from her appeal. She really was a breath of fresh air in the hot, dusty desert.
    “Well, take it slowly or you won’t be sleeping tonight.” Yeah, that doesn’t sound paternal at all . He tried not to imagine activities they could fill the hours with if she wasn’t sleeping.
    “I’m not going to be sleeping tonight. I have too much cooking to do.” She glanced around him at some new arrivals as if searching. Her gaze dropped to the coffee cup and her expression clouded.
    “I’m sorry you don’t see him when you hear someone come in.” The fist around his heart didn’t relax. He didn’t have to ask. He’d do the same thing if he were somewhere his brothers should have been—had been—and he wouldn’t be seeing them again.
    “Thanks.” She didn’t look up from her food, locked in a struggle with her sadness.
    Not dwelling on why, he reached over and covered her hand with his. “What can I do to help?”
    She didn’t answer immediately, and he worried she wouldn’t. Then she looked up from the table and gripped his hand. “Tell me about being here, the truth of it. What it’s like, what you feel, what you think about…?”
    It wouldn’t be pleasant, but he could do that.
    “Okay, you eat, and I’ll tell you.” Giving her hand a squeeze, he waited for her to pick up her fork. After she took the first mouthful, he exhaled a long breath. “It’s lonely….”

 
     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    Listening to Charlie hurt Jana all the way down to her soul, but in a strange way, it also helped. He told her the days were long and sometimes the nights were worse—the darkness increased the sense of isolation, reminded him about what he missed and it didn’t matter when his deployment ended. Guys went home all kinds of ways, body bags included.
    She expected melancholy, but the plain acceptance in his voice arrested her sadness and gave it a poignant perspective she couldn’t have imagined when she’d boarded the plane the day before. As much as she wanted to keep talking to him, she needed to check the food and get turkeys started. Morning would arrive soon