Page 16 of Everlasting Love

“Why isn’t he waving at me?” I can hear the disappointment in her voice, and my heart cracks. I never want to disappoint her because I sense she’s already had enough of that in her short life.

“He can’t right now, JJ.”

The most I can do is tip my head slightly and hope she notices because I don’t want her to think I haven’t seen her. I lose sight of them as I move past but for some reason, my steps don’t seem quite so heavy and the uniform isn’t quite as uncomfortable now. I stand taller and finish the march with a sense of pride I hadn’t been feeling until I heard that sweet little voice.

7

VIOLET

Wow.Just wow. Is it hot today, or is that just me?

“Mommy. Can we fowwow Sane? I wanna say hewwo.” She places her tiny hand on my cheek and turns my face toward her, forcing me to tear my eyes away from Shane’s retreating back. All wide shoulders tapering to a narrow waist and tight butt. Long, thick legs taking sure, confident strides. I swallow.

Shane looked fantastic dressed casually in jeans and a button-down shirt at the concert, so fantastic that each morning when he comes to collect Poppy for school, I make myself scarce because I need to keep my distance. So I watch him come and go from my bedroom window. Where I’m safe. And far enough away that I won’taccidentallythrow myself at his feet.

I focus on my daughter. “Uh … I don’t really think we can, JJ.”

“Why not?” Her eyes turn sad and her bottom lip drops.

I tuck her soft hair behind her ear. “Because there are too many people.”

She perks up a little. “But we could twy.”

I don’t want to disappoint her so I nod my head once. We’re close to the end of the parade, it shouldn’t be too hard. “Okay. We’ll try, but I don’t want you to get sad if we can’t find him.”

Her eyes and lips widen as she nods her head quickly. “I pwomise.”

Keeping Jasmine tucked in my arms to make it easier to maneuver through the crowd, I head in the direction the servicemen and women are marching. People are packed tightly together so it’s a challenge and very slow going. By the time we make it to the end of the route, he’ll most likely be gone. Even if we find him, he’ll probably be busy with his friends or doing whatever he normally does after the march, but at least Jas knows I’m trying to follow through for her.

Since leaving Allen, I feel it’s important to keep my promises. She’s had enough disappointment to last her a lifetime. Not that I think she misses Allen all that much because he never really paid attention to her when we were together butIknow and understand what she’s lost. The lack of a father figure in her life will be missing forever. Feeling responsible for her loss, I hold her tighter to me. If I’d chosen a better man … I can’t go there right now so I shake off the thought.

We get to the endpoint of the parade, and hundreds of men and women in their uniforms mill about the area as they connect with their partners and kids.

Now I feel stupid.

Jas and I don’t belong here. We have no relationship with Shane, and I’ve been doing my best to stay away from him. After my initial attraction to him, I felt it was the safest thing to do. I’m not ready to open my heart and life to another man.

Jas bounces in my arms. “Mommy! I see Sane.” She points toward him, and I follow with my eyes. Sure enough, she’s managed to find him among the hordes of people.

I push up onto my toes to get a little more height and wave to try to get his attention since he’s facing us. He looks as though he’s talking to someone, but I can’t see properly over the crowd. I weave my way through the people toward him, hoping Jasmine can say hello before he leaves.

Who am I kidding?

I also want to say hello and appreciate the hotness up close that is Shane in his uniform. I may have sworn off men but I can still appreciate a hot guy when I see one.Well, that’s what I’m telling myself.

Jasmine waves her free arm in the air. “Sane! Sane!” she shouts. It’s so sweet how excited she is to see him. Every morning she waits by the door with Poppy so she can say hello to him and wish him a good day. She even drew him a picture of herself in the garden—her favorite place to be. She was so excited when he agreed to put it on his fridge; I thought she was going to bounce right out of her skin.

His eyes catch on her, and his lips tip up, causing crinkles to form around the corners of his eyes. My heart pounds a heavy rhythm in response, and heat fills my cheeks.Wow!If I thought he was handsome before, he’s just skyrocketed to another level with that smile. I wouldn’t mind being on the receiving end of one of his smiles. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t do it all that often.

We make it to him in a few more steps, and that’s when I see who he’s with. His smile is still in place but mine’s disappeared. “Jasmine.” He looks at me. “Violet.” I don’t think I imagined the deeper rasp of his voice when he said my name, sending tingles through my body.God, Violet. Cut it out.

Jasmine wriggles in my hold, and I have to tighten my grip as she reaches out her arms toward Shane. “Sane!” She opens and closes her hands and pushes her body away from mine toward him. “I sawed you in the pawade.”

He chuckles as he takes a step closer to reach for her, checking with me if it’s okay if he takes her. I release my grip and she climbs across into his arms. I think my ovaries just exploded at the visual of my daughter in the capable hands of Shane Sutton in his uniform.Holy hotness!His attractiveness is flying out of the stratosphere now. “I saw you, too. Thanks for coming out to support us.”

She presses her hands against each of his smooth cheeks. “Mommy aways bwings me.” She says it like she’s been coming to the parade for the past fifteen years, not four. And I’m certain she doesn’t remember the first time I brought her because she was a baby and slept through the entire thing. “Why didn’t you wave to me?” Her little brows furrow, causing a deep divot between them.

He starts to answer but is interrupted by the beautiful woman he’s with. “Shane?”

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