Page 38 of Bursting With Love
Pratt picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “I still can’t believe you’re an engineer.” He pulled his tuque down past his eyebrows. “You’re much cooler than the guys I went to school with.”
“So are you, Pratt. What did you decide to do about your parents?” Jack smiled when Josie appeared by Pratt’s side.
Pratt laced his fingers with hers. “I’m gonna talk to them. Really talk, not fight, and if they don’t like it…” He shrugged. “Well, I guess they’ll need to make a choice. See me and agree to disagree on my career choice or forget they have a son.”
“Pratt,” Josie chided him.
Pratt lifted the right side of his mouth in a smile. “I’m kidding. I won’t let that happen.” He looked at Jack. “She’s a ball breaker.”
“Josie, you keep him in line, you hear?”
“I’ll do my best,” she said. “We’re just hanging out for a while, nothing serious.” She lifted her eyes to Pratt, and Jack could tell there was more to them than a couple of kids hanging out.
“Enjoy the now, Jack,” Pratt said.
“Thanks, Pratt. You too. Josie, watch out for snakes.” As they walked away, Jack caught a glimpse of Savannah hugging Elizabeth, then Aiden and Lou. I need to fix the past to enjoy the now. He looked away, thinking of when he’d first seen Savannah and how he’d assumed she was a spoiled city girl. Boy, was I ever wrong. They headed into the airport terminal, leaving him and Savannah alone under the warm afternoon sun. Her cheeks were flushed as she came to his side.
“You look different than you did when you arrived,” Jack said. “Prettier.”
A flush rose on Savannah’s cheeks. She put her hands in the front pockets of her jeans and looked at the plane. “You know, I thought you were such a selfish ass when you were so hard on Pratt when we first arrived.”
“And now?” He was afraid of what she might say, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The sun glistened, highlighting the blend of yellows and greens in her beautiful eyes. Jack didn’t think he’d ever forget the look in her eyes when her legs were wrapped around his waist in the stream—like she’d been dreaming of him her whole life. And even if she hadn’t, he was going to keep that image in his mind as inspiration to follow through with what he’d promised.
“Now I see Jack Remington, a man, a widower, and a soft-hearted-survivor-man-slash-pilot.” She licked her lower lip. “Who can be a real ass when he gets scared.”
“You had me there for a minute. I thought I’d made out like a bandit. Do you have to be brutally honest?”
“I don’t know how to be anything but,” Savannah said. “I’m afraid Bradens don’t lie very well. My big rancher father drove morals and ethics into our little brains on a daily basis.”
“I’m gonna miss you, Savannah,” he said. He stepped closer to her, breathing in her fresh, feminine scent, knowing it might be the last time he would be able to. His heart ached at the thought, and he swore to himself that he was going to do everything within his power to fix his life so he could be in hers. But Jack worried that a woman like Savannah would have her pick of better men than him.
“This all feels so weird. Two nights ago, I would have sworn we’d be leaving hand in hand today.”
He put his hand on her cheek, and she pressed her face into it. “You took a broken man, and in a few short days, you opened his eyes to what he was missing. You deserve so much more. You deserve a man who is whole.”
Savannah moved away from his hand. “People always think they know what other people deserve, and I’m so sick of it. What does it even mean to say that I deserve someone who’s not broken? Hell, maybe I’m broken. Have you ever thought of that?”
Jack smiled, though he didn’t mean to. He could tell from the way Savannah’s lips pinched tightly shut that she didn’t appreciate it, but she was goddamn beautiful when she was fired up.
“You’re not broken, Savannah. You’re hurt. There’s a big difference. You’re a smart, strong woman with a solid career and probably better things to spend your time on than worrying about my baggage.” He searched her eyes for understanding, but what he saw was anger and hurt. “Savannah—”
“You know what, Jack? Maybe you’re right.” She blinked away the dampness from her eyes and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll miss you, too.” Savannah picked up her bags and walked away.
