Bursting With Love (19 page)

USUALLY WHEN SAVANNAH walked down the street, she had a million things she had to do running through her head. She was always planning or strategizing, thinking several hours, days, or weeks ahead. Tonight, holding Jack’s hand and walking beside him, she could not hold one clear thought in her mind other than how happy she felt. All her life, her brothers had stepped up to the plate for her, and in watching them, she’d learned to stand up for herself. Before meeting Jack, Savannah might have clocked Connor in the jaw when she’d finally been able to separate his lips from hers, but when Jack appeared and she’d seen the anger and jealousy in his eyes and how quickly it turned from venom to worry for Savannah’s safety, she’d turned into a…girl.
A girl!
And it felt damn good to let her guard down and allow someone else to care for her for a little while.

“So, this guy, Connor. Is he someone I have to worry about bothering you in any other ways? Would he ever force himself on you…you know, in worse ways?” Jack’s serious tone had returned.

“No. He’s harmless. He’s a playboy. Women don’t tell him to bug off and I did. He came bearing roses, Jack, and all he did was kiss me. I don’t mean to minimize it, but he wasn’t trying to have his way with me. He wanted to woo me back just long enough to sleep with someone else again.” She watched his eyebrows pull together. “What?”

He looked down at her and dropped her hand, then put his arm around her waist. “I was just thinking about the two of you. It was weird to see someone else kissing you, but it was even weirder to feel jealous. And that jealousy brought me back to the idea of you and him—”

Savannah cringed. “Jack.”

“What? I just can’t picture it. I know you’ve been with other guys, but when I try to put the picture together of you and other men, I can’t hold on to it. I only see you in my arms.” He smiled, and it lit up his entire face. “It’s funny, isn’t it? I can hold on to guilt and anger like a lifeline, but try to grasp an unpleasant thought about you and I haven’t a chance in hell.”

Savannah felt her heart open up a little more. She remembered what he’d said about being in the city, and as they strolled toward the restaurant, she hadn’t felt any tension in his body or seen any in his face.

“Do you feel the eyes of the city on you?” she asked.

He laughed. “No, but I thought I would. I thought a lot of things that apparently were skewed by my guilt.”

She tossed the worry that Aida had sparked earlier in the afternoon to the curb. They stopped at an intersection to wait for the light to change, and Jack pulled her against him. After she’d seen how her dress affected him, she’d decided to amp up the tease and she’d slipped on her four-inch heels, bringing her much closer to his lips, which she loved.

“Everything is better when I’m with you,” he said before kissing her.

The lights from the nearby restaurants glistened in his dark eyes, and as his gaze fell upon hers, she felt warm all over. In all the years she’d lived in Manhattan, never once had the city felt so romantic. The lights, the sounds, the cool air against her warm skin, even the busy streets carried an aura of romance and love. How could she have missed it for so many years? Or was that what love did to a person?

“Savannah? Is that you?”

Savannah spun around at the sound of Aida’s voice. She narrowed her eyes and shot Aida a harsh
I-cannot-believe-you-did-this
glare. “What are you doing here?” She knew exactly what Aida was doing, and as her friend scrutinized Jack from head to toe, lingering a little too long just below the belt, Savannah felt the claws of the green-eyed monster take hold. She narrowed her eyes at her well-meaning friend.

“I was just… out for a walk. You look gorgeous.” She leaned in, kissed Savannah’s cheek, and whispered, “Hot, hot, hot.” Aida ran her hands down the hips of her black jeans. Her breasts pressed against the silky fabric of her low-cut, navy blouse in their usual look-at-me fashion.

Despite the fact that Jack didn’t once lower his eyes past Aida’s, Savannah had the urge to open her arms wide and stand in front of Aida, saying,
Don’t look. Please don’t look.

“Hi, I’m Jack.” Jack held out his hand.

Aida shook his hand. “Aida Strong.” Her crimson lips lifted, and she put an arm around Savannah. “We work together.”

Savannah couldn’t stay upset with her. She knew Aida meant well, and if Aida had come home after one weekend claiming to be in love, Savannah would have probably done the same thing.

“Aida’s also an attorney.” She glared at Aida but topped it off with a smile.

“Hey, let’s grab a drink,” Aida suggested.

Savannah tried to catch her eye, but Aida purposely avoided her gaze, looking at Jack, then at the restaurant, at the ground—anywhere but at Savannah. She watched Jack’s jaw, waiting for it to clench, and again was surprised when he didn’t show one ounce of discomfort. She wondered if seeing Ralph had anything to do with his more relaxed state. She was itching to ask, but first she had to deal with Aida. “Sure,
a
drink sounds good. If Jack doesn’t mind.”

“Of course not. I want to get to know your friends,” Jack said.

“Great. That will give me time to get to know the man who’s got Savannah’s head up in the clouds
,
” Aida said.

Jack raised his eyebrows, and Savannah shook her head and waved it off, as if to say,
That’s just Aida.

They were seated on a patio beside the restaurant. Savannah had been there a number of times before, but she’d never noticed the ivy climbing the iron gate or the yellow lights strung throughout, as if it were Christmas in September. Jack scooted his chair closer to hers so their legs touched, and he placed his arm around her shoulder. Aida sat across from them and folded her hands beneath her chin, watching Jack like a hawk.

“Aida, I assume you want the lowdown on me?” Jack’s voice was dead serious again.

Savannah watched Aida slip seamlessly into interrogation mode. Her slim brows knitted together and she lowered her chin, looking at Jack with a defiant stare. Savannah cringed, though she knew both Aida and Jack could hold their own. She felt strangely like a seventh grader playing,
He said, she said.

“Actually, I just came for the free drinks, but sure, I’ll play along.” Aida winked at Savannah. “What are your intentions toward my friend?”

“Aida,” Savannah snapped.

Jack ran his hand through Savannah’s hair, like he wasn’t about to be drilled and prodded for intimate information. This was the most relaxed she’d ever seen him.

“I hope to make it through dinner and maybe a walk before taking her home and ravishing her for hours.” Jack’s voice was so serious that Savannah did a double take.

Aida cleared her throat, but just like in the courtroom, she didn’t miss a beat. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a bush pilot and a survivalist. I’ve got ten years in the Special Forces, a degree in engineering, and enough money to live comfortably.” Jack nodded, signaling her to fire away with more questions.

You do?

“Family?” Aida asked.

“I’m the eldest of six. Four brothers, one sister. My parents are both alive and well, and I’m in the process of reconciling with them after two years of…”

He drew his eyebrows together, and his jaw jumped in a nervous clench. Savannah hated seeing him put on the spot. She put her hand on his thigh, and when he answered, he looked at Savannah, not Aida.

“Two years of trying to regroup after the death of my wife.”

Savannah couldn’t stop herself from reaching up and touching his cheek. He kissed her palm, then turned his attention back to Aida.

“What else?” he asked.

Aida stole a look at Savannah. Savannah tilted her head and arched a brow, indicating to her to please ease up. True to Aida’s nature, she flashed a smile and dug a little deeper. “Do you live in the city?”

“Bedford Corners and in the Colorado Mountains.”

“The mountains?” Aida asked.

“I have a cabin there.” He squeezed Savannah's shoulder.

“You do?” Savannah asked. “I grew up in Weston, Colorado.”

“I do. When you told me that, I remember thinking we might have been fated to meet,” Jack said, touching her cheek.

Fated to meet. There goes another piece of my heart.

He returned his attention to Aida, and Savannah thought she was witnessing a flash of the confident, efficient, and intense man Jack probably had been in his Special Forces days. That much hadn’t changed, but the guarded man she’d met in the woods seemed very far removed from the open book sitting beside her. She wondered what could have changed so quickly, and as she listened to Aida rattle off more questions and Jack fire back answers, her attorney brain clicked into gear and she realized why he’d spurred this interrogation forward.
The quicker you answer her questions, the quicker we’ll be alone. Aren’t you clever?

“Favorite movie?”

“Aida, really?” Savannah asked.

The waitress brought a bottle of wine, and Jack filled their glasses while he answered. “I haven’t watched a movie in years.” He smiled at Savannah. “But I’m looking forward to doing it again.”

Aida sat back and crossed her arms over her chest.

Jack grinned and lifted his chin. “Did I pass?” he asked.

Aida sighed. “You didn’t crack, that’s for sure. And you look at Savannah like every second you’re looking away is a second too long, so yeah, you’re doing okay.” She picked up her drink and raised her glass. “That was so fun. I never get to interrogate people just for the heck of it. Thanks, Jack. You’re a good sport.”

Jack lifted his glass. “My turn?”

Aida downed her wine and rose to her feet. “I have to get back to my walk. Rain check?”

Savannah stood and hugged Aida. “You’re such a pain,” she whispered.

“I like him.” Aida smiled at Jack. “Nice to meet you, Jack. Have fun ravishing.”

JACK HAD NOTICED the way Savannah’s body had tensed when Aida met them outside the restaurant, and now, as she settled into her seat beside him, the smile returned to her lips and she let out a relieved sigh. He leaned over and kissed her, glad to have her all to himself again.

“She seems nice,” Jack said.

“I love her to death, but she’s a little pushy.” Savannah finished her wine, and the waitress refilled their glasses and took their dinner orders.

“She’s watching out for you. I like knowing that you have friends like that. I hope you didn’t mind that I sort of got things going.”

Savannah shook her head, and as the light caught her eyes, she looked radiant and happy. “How could I mind? I knew you were just hurrying her along.”

He slid his hand beneath her hair and put his cheek beside hers. “I meant what I said about ravishing you,” he whispered.

Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. Jack was beginning to recognize the difference between Savannah’s embarrassed blush and her wanting blush. When she was embarrassed, her eyes narrowed slightly, and when she was turned on, the green in her eyes darkened, she grazed her lower lip with her teeth, and she breathed a little harder. As her teeth slid over her lip, Jack suppressed the urge to run his tongue on the pink trail they left behind.

The waitress brought their meals, but Jack’s mind was no longer on dinner. Savannah’s leg had been pressed against his for the past hour, and he’d done well ignoring the desire that mounted in his body, but he knew there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d be able to put anything solid in his mouth—besides any number of Savannah’s body parts. Savannah never looked down at her plate. Their eyes were locked on each other.

She licked her lower lip, and he could tell she was trying just as hard as he was to act appropriately. He wondered if the other patrons could see their secret intentions, too. He had to get control of his emotions. What kind of man couldn’t make it through a meal with his girlfriend?
Girlfriend
. He felt a smile spread across his cheeks.

“What?” Savannah asked.

“Everything,” was all he could think to say.

Savannah touched his cheek again. Jesus, everything she did turned him on.
Focus, Jack
. He needed a distraction to quell his desires.

“So, that was an interesting way to start our first real date.”

“Connor or Aida?”

“Both.” He took a sip of his wine. “I’m sorry he cheated on you. That must have been very hurtful.”

Savannah lowered her eyes and shrugged. “It’s kind of my fault. I should have stopped seeing him. I don’t know why I didn’t. I didn’t even really enjoy being with him for the last year or so, but...”

“You’re a little competitive. Maybe you thought you could change him, or you wanted to prove you could.” Jack didn’t know where the thought came from. It had been years since he’d assessed other people’s motives. He realized that parts of himself he hadn’t even realized he’d lost were coming back to him. After Linda’s death, he’d blocked out everything but the pain, anger, and guilt. As he relinquished those harsher feelings, it left space for his old self to fill itself in, and he was glad for the reminder. He felt like an old friend had stopped by to say hello, and he hoped that friend would bring more friends and stay longer.
One day I really might be whole again.
His response came naturally, and as he dissected it, he realized that Savannah was competitive, and he might be right on target. But when they were in the mountains, he’d also learned that she was sensitive and very, very feminine, and those traits would have left her hurt no matter what her motivation might have been. And he wanted to steal that hurt away forever.

“Maybe. I honestly don’t know. But after being with you, I don’t think that I’ve ever been in a relationship where I was this happy.”

He turned in his chair so he was facing her. “I feel the same way. I’ve never felt so fulfilled or so alive.”

“And you have a cabin in the mountains?” she asked.

Jack nodded. He’d been dead set on not revealing that fact, but when Aida asked him where he lived and he felt Savannah’s eyes on him, he answered honestly. “I do. I’ll take you there one day.”