A Soldier's Valentine. Jenna Mindel
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The Captain’s Homecoming
Retired army captain Zach Zelinsky is determined to put his harrowing past behind him and start a quiet life selling his artwork. But the storefront building he buys comes with a tenant—a too-pretty tea shop owner who doesn’t give him a moment’s rest. Ginger Carleton is rallying the merchants of Maple Springs, Michigan, for a Valentine’s Day window-decorating contest. And she’s on a mission to convince Zach to lose the gruff exterior and open up to her. As February 14 approaches, the wounded warrior may just find that Ginger is offering exactly what he’s been missing: love.
Ginger was too fresh-faced and innocent, Zach thought.
Yet she hadn’t asked about his arm. Or his dream. Did she know?
Ginger sat at the end of the couch and tucked her bare feet under his blankets. “I’m surprised you don’t have a family of your own.”
An interesting way of asking why he wasn’t married. “Never got around to it, I guess.”
“How come?”
He gave her the truth. “I saw too many guys torn up over leaving their wives and kids. Having to shut down to do the job. I didn’t want that. What about you? No boyfriends?”
She looked away. “Ah, no.”
“How come?” He repeated her words.
She shrugged. “They’re a hassle.”
Her fingers brushed his bare skin near the scar and she froze. “When did you get this?”
That raw whisper made him look into her wide brown eyes. “Three years ago.”
She looked horrified. Her hair tickled his shoulder and he inhaled quick and sharp. She smelled nice. Really nice. Like flowers and rain. He caught her wide eyes.
Did she feel it, too, this hum of awareness between them?
JENNA MINDEL lives in northwest Michigan with her husband and their three dogs. A 2006 Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Jenna has answered her heart’s call to write inspirational romances set near the Great Lakes.
A Soldier’s Valentine
Jenna Mindel
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
—Philippians 4:8–9
To those who serve.
Lawrence Fry, SFC, US Army, Retired.
Thank you for your amazing insight into
rank and structure, as well as answering
my many questions about the army.
Hopefully, I got it right.
Harry Boyer of Boyer Glassworks. Thank you
for sharing your knowledge and taking the
time to give a glass demonstration that really
brought this incredible art to life.
Contents
There was nothing quite like a small-town parade welcoming home one of their own from active duty to inspire pride. Ginger Carleton breathed in the cold January air, feeling very proud that Maple Springs had embraced her idea. The short parade had gone off without a hitch, and even the mayor had been pleased.
Getting folks downtown in winter was always a challenge, but then Zach Zelinsky’s return made for the perfect opportunity. One she wasn’t about to let go.
There he was!
Ginger’s heart beat a little faster. Captain Zach was her new landlord, and he walked toward her with purpose. They hadn’t met in person despite the fact that the man had not only bought her building where she lived and operated a small tea shop, but he’d