Fallen Soldier

Chapter six

Vinny POV

"Shit, shit, shit!" I cursed loudly as I stormed away from her building.

Why did I have to go and ruin it when it was all going so well? I knew too much too soon would scare her off, but I had to go and do something stupid like that. I tried not to dwell on the amazing feeling I got when she leaned into my touch like that, accepting it...enjoying it. Maybe all hope wasn't lost, I just had to get her to see that it was okay to be happy with someone else, I'm sure that if Danny was even half decent then he would have wanted her to be happy. I flipped my phone out of my pocket and hit dial on Taylor's number, he picked up on the fourth ring.

"Hey vin"

"Hey man, listen I fucked up a little and I need your help" I sighed wearily, rubbing my hand over my face.

"I'm listening" he replied cautiously.

***

Millie POV

I cradled the bottle of wine nervously in my arms whilst waiting for the door to open.

"Millie! Come in, I'm so glad your here" Sarah cried, giving me a welcoming kiss on the cheek as she ushered me inside.

"Thank you for inviting me, i brought a bottle" I smiled as I held it out to her.

"Oh, thank you that's so kind" she smiled back taking it and leading me through to the kitchen.

I froze in the doorway when I saw the well built frame of man with dark ruffled hair standing with his back to me, chopping up vegetables.

Vinny.

"Millie, you've met Vinny" Sarah said gesturing towards him, he turned around and smiled when he saw me.

I couldn't help but smile back slightly awkwardly, feeling incredibly shy and uncomfortable seeing as the last time he saw me I was running away in floods of tears.

"Hello again" he said, his deep voice warm and inviting.

"Uh, hi" I said quietly, avoiding looking into those big blue eyes.

"I just have to help ben put Danny to bed, I won't be long, please do make yourself at home" she said kindly.

My eyes bugged, they called their child Danny?

"Danny, as in...?" I questioned quietly after she left the room, more to myself than Vinny.

"Mhmm" he murmured quietly.

I turned to see him leaning against the counter, abandoning the half prepared veg as he gazed at me cautiously.

"He would have been touched" I said quietly, a lump forming in my throat.

"He was a good man" he said simply, before turning back to his task.

"Did you know him?" I asked curiously.

"No, but I would have liked to, I've heard a lot about him" he replied without looking at me.

I stood in silence for a few seconds, just listening to the rhythmic sound of the knife chopping, not knowing what to say.

"Need any help?" I asked eventually, deciding it was safer to change the subject all together.

"Sure" he replied easily, sending me a warm smile as he grabbed another knife out of a drawer and handed it to me.

I happily took the knife and went to stand beside him, helping him peel and chop the potatoes in comfortable silence, all the while feeling excruciatingly aware of his warm body next to mine. I was exceedingly grateful that he hadn't brought up the disastrous end to our last encounter. When all the potatoes were prepared he picked up the chopping board and scooped them into a saucepan of water ready to boil, as he did so his hard chest brushed my back sending a shiver right through me. I froze, hoping that he didn't notice my reaction.