Page 74 of Bursting With Love
“It’ll be a first for me.” He put his hand on her lower back, and as they walked toward the park, Jack thought about how many firsts he’d already experienced with Savannah and about how many more were yet to come.
Chapter Thirty
SAVANNAH SNUGGLED AGAINST Jack’s side. She loved being wrapped in his muscular arms, and as she watched Jack’s sharp edges soften, she felt like the luckiest woman on earth.
“I can’t believe you’ve never done this,” Savannah said.
“There are a lot of things I haven’t done, and I can’t wait to do them with you.” He kissed the top of her head.
The clop-clop of the horses provided a gentle cadence to their ride through the park. The last time she’d ridden in a carriage was with Matt, and they’d spent the whole time talking about kids—and how he never wanted to have any. The carriage ride with Jack was softer, more intimate than it had been before. She felt the gentle sway of the horses’ gait, and if they did nothing else that night, just went home and went to sleep, she’d go to sleep happy and content.
“I emptied Linda’s closet and gave her clothes to her sister, Elise,” Jack said.
His confession came out of left field and his words were tentative, as if he were testing the waters for her reaction.
“Oh, Jack.” She sat up so she could look into his eyes. “You kept them for all this time?”
He nodded. “I rarely went into the bedroom after her accident. It was too difficult to face. But after we came back from the mountains, I realized that I’d been hiding from it all, and I knew it was time.”
“I’m sorry, Jack. I hope I didn’t push you in that direction.” But I’m glad you’re moving forward.
“You have yet to push me to do anything, but being close to you was the catalyst. It was the nudge that I needed. I’d been feeling a little trapped within my own mind, and I didn’t know how to break free. But that all changed when you and I came together. And as hard as it was to do, it was also freeing.”
“That’s good, then, right?”
Jack took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Yes, very good. At some point I would like to show you where I live, but I’m just not there yet.”
“You’re doing so much all at once, Jack. There’s no rush.” You’re the most honest man I know, and I love that.
“Thank you for understanding.”
The carriage slowed as they rounded a turn, and Savannah loved that Jack’s attentive gaze never wavered.
“When I saw Ralph, we talked briefly about you, and he gave me his blessing.” Jack laced his fingers into hers. “I never expected to want to be with another woman, and I certainly never thought about telling Linda’s father and sister about caring for one. I’m glad we’re together, Savannah, and I’m glad they know. I don’t want to hide from anything ever again.”
Savannah held her breath, contemplating telling him about Elizabeth’s confession. He was pouring out his heart to her, and she owed him the same honesty. “Jack, Elizabeth knows Linda’s family.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You knew?”
“You knew?” she asked.
“No, but Ralph told me this morning.”
“Elizabeth told me when we were up there. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I wasn’t sure how, or even if, I should. You seemed so angry.” She touched his chest.
He kissed her forehead. “So you planted that bobcat in the woods and took advantage of me?” he teased.
Just thinking of the bobcat sent thrill bumps up her arms. “That was the plan,” she said.
His eyes darkened, and a serious look moved across his face. “I also called my sister.” He shrugged. “It’s a start.”
“Jack,” she whispered. She could only imagine how difficult this whole process would be for him, and he was trying to take it all on at once. “You’re moving so fast. Doesn’t that worry you at all?”
He nodded. “I moved fast when I cut them off, and I feel like I can’t move fast enough to repair the damage.”
Chapter Thirty-One
JACK FOLLOWED SAVANNAH up the stairs to her apartment, and when they reached the landing on her floor, his chest constricted with the memory of Connor taking her in his arms. He shook his head at how he’d reacted, though he knew that if it were to play out before him again, he would probably react in the same way.
He admired her figure from behind and had to run his hands along her hips as she dug in her purse for the keys. He followed the lines of her body to her shoulders and gathered her hair in one hand, exposing the curve of her neck. He lowered his lips to her skin and wrapped his other arm around her slim waist.
