Page 71 of The Soldier's Homecoming

Was she being stupid?

Maybe she wasn’t ready for this. But then if she wasn’t now. would she ever be?

“Penny, you okay in there?”

Daniel’s voice sent her heart beating into overdrive again.

“Just a minute,” she called back.

But she needed longer than a minute. And she needed longer than the few days she had left before she had to leave.

It was too much pressure. Too…

“Penny?”

She stood tall, forcing her shoulders back, looking at herself in the mirror.

This was her chance to see if their marriage could be saved.

Perhaps her one chance.

It was now or never. No matter how she was feeling. No matter how nervous she was or how much Daniel’s infidelity still haunted her.

“Penny?”

This time when he called, she opened the door.

Daniel hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until the door opened and Penny emerged. His lungs suddenly felt like they were going to explode.

And he was nervous, too. Damn it, he was nervous like he hadn’t been since he was a kid.

“Penny, I didn’t mean to put pressure on you.”

Her smile showed her nerves. “I’m okay, Daniel. I needed a moment to catch my breath, that’s all.”

Daniel waited for her to move toward him, but when she didn’t he took hesitant, slow steps to her.

She didn’t move. Her arms hung at her sides; her eyes were on his but flickering, like she wasn’t sure where to look or what to do.

“I know I told you earlier, Pen, but you look beautiful.” He said. “Really, you do.”

Her face was shy, cheeks flushed the softest shade of pink.

Daniel closed the space between them and raised a hand to her hair. He caressed a silky lock, all the way down to the small curl at the bottom.

“I’ve missed this.”

Penny looked up, eyes hooded as she peeped from beneath dark lashes.

He shuffled closer, until their upper bodies were touching, so close he could feel the beat of her heart against him.

“The feel of you,” he said, running his fingers through her hair again. “The smell of you.” He dipped his face closer to hers, inhaled the sweet fragrance of her perfume. “The taste of you.”

That time he paused, waited, gave her the chance to pull away.

But she didn’t.

Penny’s face, open and trusting, tilted upward. Her lower lip was trembling. She looked scared.

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