won’t cut it.”
“If she comes around, we share.” Sean held out his fist.
Brody bumped it. They’d never fall out or fight. That pact had been made when they were both pursuing her. Kat was special. They’d tried to get out and date since, but no one felt right. Women their age were either repulsed or turned on by their scars and military service. Most didn’t fully grasp how deep the damage went.
“She won’t come around. When we finished rehab, she still said we were too young. A hot woman like Kat probably has guys hitting on her all the time.” Brody wanted to thank her. If she really had no interest in them, then some sort of closure might help him to let her go.
“If she gets the trip then we can ask how it went. She’ll see we’re not like all the other guys,” Sean said.
“Kat knows that. We talked about her as much as ourselves. Not your normal rehab. Let’s get her a vacation.” Brody filled in her information by heart. Anyone else might think he was a stalker, but he knew he could give up on her if he had to. He’d given up some of the sports he loved, those toughest on his knees. Hell, he’d put to rest some buddies killed in action. His military career was over. Moving on came with life, but he had to be sure about Kat first.
“We’re survivors. War teaches you weird shit. You’re right though. If she spends all her days with guys like us and those who were injured worse, she deserves to be spoilt.” Sean nodded.
She definitely did. Brody and Sean had to be practical about it. They couldn’t afford to send her on a trip this luxurious. Even if they could, she’d feel pressured. The Fantasy Castle meant no strings or guilt. She’d earned this and he believed she’d be chosen. One thing Brody had learned from his tour of duty—hope never died.
* * * *
Kat Calvino had rarely been on an aeroplane. Her life revolved around her work. The odd trip to Vegas for a friend’s wedding or spring break in Florida had been nice back in college, but international travel marked a new experience.
The longest stretch had been over when they’d landed in London. Now she sat in a small private plane that oozed luxury. As the descent began, she gazed out the widow and spotted a huge castle in the middle of lush green lawns.
If this wasn’t a fairytale, she’d sure as hell never get this close to one again. Whoever had nominated her for the prize deserved a big thank you note when she got back. She had to find out who’d entered her for this.
As she exited the plane and slid into the limo, she glanced at the castle in the distance. Her wardrobe wasn’t fancy enough for this! Some minutes later, the limo stopped and someone opened the door. She would’ve rubbed her eyes but didn’t want to smudge her mascara.
It was true! The footman held out his hand and she stepped out. At the front door of a castle, she looked up and shook her head. A week here? It was a dream! The tall stone structure dwarfed her. Looking side to side, she loved the grand turrets on either end. While the exterior appeared simple, the grounds detailed the luxury and excess befitting a castle. Lawns so green they looked painted on rolled along either side of the flat land and as far as she could see. Large old trees dotted the landscape as well. Turning, she glanced back down the brick path the limo had followed. The simple elegance of it all impressed her more than if the road was made of gold.
“Welcome, Ms Calvino. I’m Lady Olive.” A tall slender woman stepped forward. Her hair was pulled up tight and the long skirt suit looked very proper and conservative. The accent was British, but Kat wasn’t entirely sure where they were.
“Thank you.” Kat surveyed a line of maids and footmen. “I feel like I’ve landed in Downton Abbey .”
A tall and expensively dressed man stepped through the front entrance. He took her hand and kissed it. “Not at all. This is a castle, not an abbey. I promise we have all the
“If she comes around, we share.” Sean held out his fist.
Brody bumped it. They’d never fall out or fight. That pact had been made when they were both pursuing her. Kat was special. They’d tried to get out and date since, but no one felt right. Women their age were either repulsed or turned on by their scars and military service. Most didn’t fully grasp how deep the damage went.
“She won’t come around. When we finished rehab, she still said we were too young. A hot woman like Kat probably has guys hitting on her all the time.” Brody wanted to thank her. If she really had no interest in them, then some sort of closure might help him to let her go.
“If she gets the trip then we can ask how it went. She’ll see we’re not like all the other guys,” Sean said.
“Kat knows that. We talked about her as much as ourselves. Not your normal rehab. Let’s get her a vacation.” Brody filled in her information by heart. Anyone else might think he was a stalker, but he knew he could give up on her if he had to. He’d given up some of the sports he loved, those toughest on his knees. Hell, he’d put to rest some buddies killed in action. His military career was over. Moving on came with life, but he had to be sure about Kat first.
“We’re survivors. War teaches you weird shit. You’re right though. If she spends all her days with guys like us and those who were injured worse, she deserves to be spoilt.” Sean nodded.
She definitely did. Brody and Sean had to be practical about it. They couldn’t afford to send her on a trip this luxurious. Even if they could, she’d feel pressured. The Fantasy Castle meant no strings or guilt. She’d earned this and he believed she’d be chosen. One thing Brody had learned from his tour of duty—hope never died.
* * * *
Kat Calvino had rarely been on an aeroplane. Her life revolved around her work. The odd trip to Vegas for a friend’s wedding or spring break in Florida had been nice back in college, but international travel marked a new experience.
The longest stretch had been over when they’d landed in London. Now she sat in a small private plane that oozed luxury. As the descent began, she gazed out the widow and spotted a huge castle in the middle of lush green lawns.
If this wasn’t a fairytale, she’d sure as hell never get this close to one again. Whoever had nominated her for the prize deserved a big thank you note when she got back. She had to find out who’d entered her for this.
As she exited the plane and slid into the limo, she glanced at the castle in the distance. Her wardrobe wasn’t fancy enough for this! Some minutes later, the limo stopped and someone opened the door. She would’ve rubbed her eyes but didn’t want to smudge her mascara.
It was true! The footman held out his hand and she stepped out. At the front door of a castle, she looked up and shook her head. A week here? It was a dream! The tall stone structure dwarfed her. Looking side to side, she loved the grand turrets on either end. While the exterior appeared simple, the grounds detailed the luxury and excess befitting a castle. Lawns so green they looked painted on rolled along either side of the flat land and as far as she could see. Large old trees dotted the landscape as well. Turning, she glanced back down the brick path the limo had followed. The simple elegance of it all impressed her more than if the road was made of gold.
“Welcome, Ms Calvino. I’m Lady Olive.” A tall slender woman stepped forward. Her hair was pulled up tight and the long skirt suit looked very proper and conservative. The accent was British, but Kat wasn’t entirely sure where they were.
“Thank you.” Kat surveyed a line of maids and footmen. “I feel like I’ve landed in Downton Abbey .”
A tall and expensively dressed man stepped through the front entrance. He took her hand and kissed it. “Not at all. This is a castle, not an abbey. I promise we have all the
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