Her Soldier Protector by Soraya Lane Read Free Book Online

of it, but it was like he chose his words carefully, thought everything through before he said it. Their Caesar salad arrived while they were mid conversation, but there was no way she was going to able to eat even a mouthful of it.
    “Why?”
    “I was just thinking that spending some more time in Australia would do you the world of good.”
    “Meaning that I need to unwind?”
    His eyes were still on the water, looking into the distance. “Meaning that if you want to remember what it’s like to just be a human being in the world, here’s probably the place to do it. The Outback heals the soul, or at least that’s what I’ve always believed.”
    “Is that what the Outback did for you?” she asked, studying his side profile, the angle of his jaw and the fullness of his lips.
    She glanced away when he turned, catching her staring.
    “Yeah, it did,” he said. “The Outback saved me when nothing else could, and every time I go back there it reminds me what life is truly about. I guess it’s my place in the world.”
    Candace didn’t know why, or how, but when she saw the hurt in his gaze, the honesty of what he was saying, tears sprang into her eyes. This man who’d been so kind to her, so polite and respectful, had a power of hurt inside of him, and even glimpsing it made her sad. Whatever he’d been through was more than just losing his parents—he’d seen pain, grief, like she’d probably never know. What he’d experienced as a soldier must have given him memories that he’d never be able to shed.
    “Excuse me, I’m just going to find the ladies’ room,” Candace said, grabbing her purse, before crossing the restaurant.
    A waiter pointed her in the right direction and she disappeared into the first restroom, locking the door behind her. Candace stared at her reflection in the mirror, studying her face, seeing the makeup, the woman she was on stage, and not the girl she felt like inside.
    The past few months, she’d been miserable except for the few times she’d been on stage or in the studio. So unhappy that she’d clung to what felt safe, what she thought was right, but one evening in the company of someone like Logan and she was starting to question everything. Today had been full of adrenaline and anticipation, she’d been excited when she’d said yes to going out with Logan, and now she was starting to spiral down, like a party girl coming off a high.
    Logan was kind and handsome, and in all honesty she was probably drawn to him because he was capable of protecting her. But in less than two days she’d be flying away from Australia and never coming back, which was why she should never have agreed to tonight. Men were supposed to be off her radar, and after everything she’d been through, that’s where she wanted them to stay. So getting her hopes up about an Australian soldier who’d probably never even think about her again, who probably just wanted what every other guy wanted from her, was beyond stupid.
    Candace reapplied her lip gloss and gave herself a long, hard stare in the mirror. The best thing she could do was call it a night, not get involved in any way with Logan. For her sake and for his. She’d been stupid to agree to it in the first place.
    *
    Logan stood when Candace reappeared. He knew he was frowning, but the look on her face wasn’t helping him to stop.
    “You okay?” he asked.
    “I’m fine,” she replied, but he could tell from the smile she fixed that it was a face she’d perfected to hide how she really felt. He’d spent most of his working life studying people and situations, and he doubted he was wrong.
    “Are you ready to head somewhere else for a drink, or...” He paused, watching the way her gaze darted away, the change in her eyes. “You’re ready to go back to your hotel, aren’t you?”
    Candace nodded. “I think maybe we should call it a night.”
    Logan hesitated before reaching for her hand, not sure what he’d done to upset