you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Do.”
His blue eyes twinkled and she could feel warmth flooding her cheeks. She looked away.
“Why don’t you tell me about your time in the Army? You never did say much about it the few times you emailed.”
His expression hardened and he went back to fiddling with his paper napkin. “We don’t need to talk about that.”
“I think we do,” Ruby said. “I’m very selective about my team. You know that I am. I need to know about your time overseas so that I can ease my anxiety about the nepotism your mother seems to have imposed on me. Also, if the Immigration people come... I mean...we’re married. We’ve been married for five years and I should know about what happened to you in those years.”
* * *
Ruby had a point, but it didn’t mean that Aran liked it. The military had been so important to him. His father had been in the military too, but he had been a doctor who worked on base and never served time overseas, like Aran had. It was another reason why his parents had split.
His dad had loved the military life and his mother had not. She’d loved Anchorage. She’d loved the hospital that she’d helped build from the ground up and she wouldn’t leave Alaska for anything. Not even for her child.
Aran understood her love for her career now. Especially since he’d been mustered into the Armed Forces and become a military surgeon. He’d loved serving his country. It had been the most important thing to him.
But now it was gone.
He couldn’t serve.
So, no, he really didn’t want to talk about it—but Ruby was right. They could get into a lot of trouble for what they’d done. A marriage of convenience so that Ruby could stay in the country and work...so that his mother wouldn’t lose Ruby’s contribution to what she’d sacrificed everything for. And that was Seward Memorial.
Aran had done it for Ruby, though. He’d agreed to the marriage because of Ruby and her passion for her work.
“I really can’t talk about where I was. It was a war zone. It is still a war zone.”
Ruby nodded, but persisted. “Tell me more about the IED blast?”
Sweat broke across his brow and he took a sip of his iced tea. He tried to stop the thundering in his ears as his pulse quickened. He closed his eyes and tried to drown out the sounds of the blast.
Pain.
Aran woke up lying in sand. He couldn’t move his leg. He cursed and tried to orient himself to his surroundings. The sun was bright against the sand and the air was filled with smoke and gasoline.
Oh, God.
He looked around to try and find members of his unit, but all he could see was the truck on its side, on fire, and bodies scattered around the dunes.
“Yuck!”
Aran’s eyes snapped open and he saw a look of horror on Ruby’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Pass the sugar.”
Aran slid the sugar shaker toward her and Ruby dumped some sugar in her iced tea.
He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You have to ask for sweet tea,” he gently reminded her.
“I know and I always forget. In Canada, iced tea is sweet tea.” Ruby stirred her drink and took a sip. “Better.”
The waiter returned then, with their food, and he was eyeing Ruby with interest and fear. “Is everything okay, miss?”
“Fine,” Aran said. “She just wanted sweet tea. Canadians—what can you do?”
Ruby’s eyes narrowed and Aran tried not to laugh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d really laughed and enjoyed himself. There had never been much time when he was at the front. There had been too many broken soldiers to mend. Wounded civilians too. It had all been just a big mess.
The waiter left.
“I don’t think he’s coming back to this table in a hurry,” Ruby teased as she cracked open a crab leg.
“I agree. We’ve scared him off.”
Ruby nodded.
“Do you know when Immigration will be wanting to interview us?” Aran asked in a hushed tone.
“No. I assume, though, now that you’re back in Alaska and honorably discharged, it will be sooner rather than later.”
Aran nodded. “I’m willing to make this work you know.”
“Our marriage?” she asked.
“Right. So that you can get your citizenship, I mean. I still believe in your work like I did five years ago.”
She blushed again. “Thank you. I appreciate that. It means a lot to me. I have a lot of big plans, and Seward Memorial is the first step in making them a reality. I really do appreciate the favor. The sacrifice you made.”
“Thank you,” he said. “And I really do admire the work you’ve done and the team you’ve set up.”
“You don’t need to patronize me,” she muttered.
“I’m not. It’s true. What you’re doing for people who are out there, away from a hospital... It’s important. You’re out there saving lives.”
She nodded, but didn’t say anything further, and he couldn’t help but wonder what had changed. Had he said something wrong?
Aran thought it best not to press it.
They ate in silence.
When they were finishing up Ruby’s pager went off. She wiped her hands and looked at it, frowning when she saw the message.
“Shoot,” she mumbled.
“What’s wrong?”
“My bear attack patient—he needs surgery. It’s just what I thought. I have to get back to the hospital.” Ruby motioned to the waiter.
“Can I help you, miss?” the waiter asked.
“The bill, please.”
“Separate or...?”
“Together,” Aran said.
The waiter nodded and disappeared.
“Aran, you don’t...”
“I asked you out to dinner. This is my treat.
