Dating the Soldier

By Kali Hart

Emery

I only attended the Valentine's Day speed dating event to get my matchmaking sister off my back.
As long as I circle one yes, she's promised to stop meddling in my love life for a year.
Only problem is, the place is filled with men who are perfect for anyone else.
Just not me.
Until Caden sits down and asks one question that makes me see him differently than all the others.
Too bad he fakes an emergency to dip out of our date early.
Seriously, I have the worst luck dating!

Caden

I only did the speed dating event to appease my mom.
I never expected to find The One there.
But I did.
Except an emergency calls me away.
When duty calls in the military, I can't ignore it.
If I'm lucky enough to get a second chance with Emery, I'll do everything I can to prove to her that I've earned it.
I know she's my future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Feb 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223472308

Book preview

1

EMERY

You’re hiding in the bathroom again, aren’t you? Alana’s exasperated voice snaps through the phone. In her defense, I am interrupting her first Valentine’s Day as a married woman. She made me swear that I’d only call if it were a true emergency. Tomorrow, she might kill me.

It’s intermission.

You’re supposed to mingle, Emery. Not hide.

I’m still annoyed that she read my welcome letter but since she’s dead set on making a baby tonight, I should just be glad she answered the phone. I chew on my lower lip, trying to remind myself that this is better than another of her blind dates. It’s the only reason I agreed to register for this Valentine’s Day speed dating event in the first place. If I go through with it, Alana’s not allowed to play matchmaker for a whole year.

I’m so tired of disappointing dates.

I needed to pee, I finally say, knowing full well my older sister sees right through my lie.

"I bet you haven’t checked yes on a single speed date, have you?" Alana’s referring to the score card every participant was given when they arrived. After the five-minute quickie date, everyone gets a minute to decide if they’re interested in meeting again. Out of ten speed dates so far, I’ve circled no ten times. "Emery, come on." I can tell, she’s totally losing her patience with me. Not that I can blame her. I’m losing patience with myself too. Maybe I just need another dog. Then Duke could have a girlfriend…

Emery! my sister snaps me back to reality. "Are you even trying?"

There hasn’t been a spark. With anyone. The participants were vetted, and to my relief, none of them have been creepy or anything like that. But they just haven’t been…right. If I have to hear another man talk about his fancy sports car or half a million dollar house, I might gag. I’m not a woman who’s impressed by possessions or money.

You have ten more chances to find one. The annoyance level in Alana’s tone is rising, warning me I better speed this up. I’m not even sure why I called her, except to have an excuse should one of the overly friendly staff come looking for me. They’ve been very attentive to everyone as the advertisement promised, but it’s been downright suffocating.

I could just slip out the back door⁠—

I’ll have a blind date ready for you tomorrow night, she threatens. "And if you don’t circle at least one yes, our deal is off."

That’s not fair— But the call has ended. I don’t dare call back. You better be making me an auntie, I growl into the dead line.

One more hour. Will it kill me? Maybe. Damn that pesky flyer for snagging my attention in the first place. I’ve never attended a speed dating event before. Never even considered it as a possibility. But the advertisement seemed custom made for me. How else did they know I’d be spending this romantic holiday alone on my couch, eating pizza? Well, not alone. Duke wouldn’t have left my side, even if he’s more motivated by the pizza than my overzealous snuggles.

Okay, just one more hour, I say to myself in the mirror, wishing this trick worked for me like it did in movies. It’s not doing much to build my confidence, but at least some of