I shook my head. “Two younger brothers. One’s a seaman on the USSGerald R. Ford, and the other…well,”—I winked playfully—“we don’t like to talk about it.”
She cocked her head to the side and studied me for a moment. “Uh, oh. Did little brother break ranks?”
I laughed and nodded, but before I could respond, a server appeared, bringing water and our orders since we both knew what we wanted.
Once he walked away, I leaned across the table and stage whispered, “Don’t tell anyone. He’s a corporal in the Marines.”
“How devastating,” Annalise deadpanned as she picked up her glass, making me laugh.
I shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. “Could be worse. At least he’s not a flyboy,” I quipped with a shudder.
Annalise suddenly choked on the swallow of water she’d just taken. I swiftly moved to her side of the booth and took her glass away before patting her back as she coughed. “Fucking hell, baby. Are you okay?”
She nodded, but couldn’t speak yet because she was still hacking, although it was subsiding.
“S-Sorry,” she sputtered. “I must”—cough—“have swallowed wrong”—cough, cough.
“Just so long as you’re okay.” I rubbed circles on her back until she breathed normally. When I was about to return to my seat, I decided I liked it better right next to my—yes, she’s mine—girl. I reached across the table and moved my water and silverware over in front of me.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her expression curious.
“Sitting next to you,” I stated.
“Well, I can see that, but why?”
I snickered. “Gorgeous, if you haven’t figured out why, then I’m doing something wrong.”
Annalise’s cheeks bloomed with crimson, but she gave me a pleased smile.
“So tell me about you. How did you get into training service animals?”
“My brother was injured in a combat mission during his last tour of duty. I don’t know the particulars, he won’t tell me. But his PTSD was so bad that my father and I were worried he might…do something dangerous. His psychiatrist urged him to get a PTSD service animal and…well, Charlie saved Andrew’s life. It was like a miracle. I decided I wanted to help others find their miracle too.”
“Wow. That’s quite an inspiring story, gorgeous,” I said, a little in awe of her. I could absolutely understand her draw to this profession. After seeing what Simon was going through, I wanted a miracle for him too. And I could help someone like him by fostering a dog when I had a long enough leave.
“Yeah. Andrew is so much better now, but I know he misses flying in the service of his country.”
“He was a pilot?”
“Yes.” Her eyes lowered for a second, then she looked back up at me through her long dark eyelashes.
“I can imagine. What did he fly?”
She hesitated before answering. “F-15C Eagle.”
My lips turned down into a frown. “But the Navy doesn’t use those birds.”
Annalise cleared her throat, and her face turned red as she shrugged sheepishly. I knew what she was going to say before the words left her mouth. “My brother—and my dad—are both Air Force veterans.”
“Well, shit,” I grunted. If this went where I was sure it was going, meeting the family was gonna be…interesting.
“Does that mean you don’t want to finish our date?” She tried to sound playful, but I could hear the tension in her voice.
I raised my brow. “You really think your brother’s and dad’s decisions—however fucked up—would change the way I feel about you?”
She ducked her head, and I brought her face back up with a finger under her chin. “Complete bullshit, gorgeous. Maybe a flyboy would react that way, but sailors won’t judge you for someone else’s poor choices.” I finished in a magnanimous tone and was gratified when Annalise giggled.
“I’m glad.”