Always for You:Jack(29)

"I love your hair." He murmured the words right next to her ear. "I've  never actually seen you wear it down. I've lain awake nights imagining  what it would be like to slide my fingers through it as I undid your  braid. I'm guessing it reaches past the middle of your back, and that's  sexy as hell. One of these days, I'd love to find out for myself."

What could she say to that? How could something as simple as the image  of him unbraiding her hair sound as intimate as him unzipping her dress?  When she couldn't come up with any words to show her approval, Caitlyn  did the next best thing. She tilted her head to the right angle to press  a soft kiss on his cheek.

Or at least that was the plan. But at the last second Jack turned so  that his mouth found hers. Maybe because they were on a dance floor and  surrounded by other couples, he kept the kiss almost chaste. Regardless,  the soft play of his lips across hers packed quite a punch as her knees  went all loosey-goosey and her pulse picked up speed.

Whoa, brother, the man should definitely come with a warning label.  Something about not driving or operating machinery or even walking after  kissing him. Luckily, the next song was another slow ballad, giving her  more time to rein in her body's reaction to Jack's embrace. By the time  it wound down and the band announced it was taking a short break, she  was reasonably sure she could make it all the way to the table without  melting into a puddle of lust before they got there.

Jack scooted his chair around to her side of the small, round table so  they were sitting pretty much shoulder to shoulder and thigh to thigh.  "Would you like another drink?"

"Yes, I'd love another Coke."

After catching the waiter's attention, Jack pointed toward their drinks  and then circled his finger in the air to signal another round. "So,  have you always enjoyed dancing?"

Caitlyn nodded. "Yes, although it's been awhile since I've gotten a chance to put my dancing shoes to good use."

She could tell Jack had found something about her response a bit curious  but wasn't sure if he should say anything. "Go ahead and ask, Jack. If  it's something I don't want to talk about, I'll let you know."

As usual, he didn't mince words. "I take it your ex didn't take you dancing."

"No, or at least not often. Josh had two left feet and no sense of  rhythm. He wasn't the kind of guy who liked to be reminded that there  was something he wasn't good at."

Especially if it involved something she was not only good at, but really  enjoyed. But she didn't want thoughts of Josh to take the shine off her  happy mood. "How about you? When was the last time you had a chance to  show off your dazzling dance moves?"                       
       
           



       

They both knew what she really wanted to know. Jack focused his gaze on  the far wall for a second before answering. "You know, I honestly can't  remember. When we were stationed stateside, a bunch of us would hit a  few bars near the base where we'd dance with anyone who was willing.  However, I've spent most of the past few years deployed in one war zone  or another. That didn't leave me much time to work on any kind of a  long-term relationship. Hell, not even a short-term one."

She hated knowing how much of Jack's life had been spent living in  danger. It had to be a relief for Marlene to have at least one of her  sons home and out of uniform. "Is that why you left the army?"

He reached for his beer, which had to be warm and flat by now, and took a  long drink. Clearly she'd brought up a painful subject. She laid her  hand on his arm, and said, "I'm sorry for prying, Jack. You don't have  to talk about it if you don't want to."

"That's okay. I don't mind."

The tight grip he had on that long neck bottle said otherwise as he  slapped the side of his knee. "I left because this leg got screwed up on  my last mission. The VA's docs did a bang-up job screwing it back  together. Most of the time it doesn't bother me all that much, but there  are days … Well, let's just say that it wouldn't be smart to risk landing  wrong again on another night jump."

He laughed a little after that last part, but Caitlyn didn't find it at  all funny. Maybe Jack could make light of what had happened to him, but  what if it had been his neck and not his knee that had been shattered  that night? She'd only known him a short time, but the thought that she  might never have even met him hurt like heck. From that first day when  he'd greeted her with one of his wicked smiles, a part of her that had  been wounded and hurting since the disaster of her marriage had blown up  in her face had started healing.

And then there was Ricky. What would've happened to the teenager if Jack  hadn't been there at the exact moment the boy badly needed someone to  step forward and offer him sanctuary? Especially someone who understood  all too well what he was going through?

There were a whole lot of reasons to be grateful that Jack had survived  the incident, but she hated that he still carried the scars, both inside  and out. He wouldn't appreciate her sympathy, so she turned her focus  in another direction, one that would restore them both to a better mood.  After setting her drink down, she stood up and held out her hand.

"The band is back. Ready for another round?"

The shadows that had darkened Jack's eyes immediately faded as he led  Caitlyn out to the center of the dance floor. Within seconds of the band  playing the opening bars of the next song, all dark thoughts were  firmly banished. The music filled her heart and soothed her soul, and  Caitlyn felt lighter than she had in years.

As they danced, she was pretty sure as he sent her spinning that Jack's  teasing grin was all that kept her feet tethered to the earth. When the  band immediately launched into another slow song, she walked right into  Jack's waiting arms and smiled as he cradled her with such care.

Sighing with pure pleasure, she said, "I suppose it's too much to hope that this song will never end."

Jack's voice was a deep rumble right next to her ear. "Probably, so let's enjoy every moment we can."

Then he tightened his hold on her, his arms cradling rather than  crushing her. If it had been Josh holding her, she would've felt  smothered. In Jack's arms, she only felt cherished.





Chapter 13


The witching hour had come and gone two hours ago. Jack's SUV hadn't  turned back into a pumpkin, but then he wasn't anybody's idea of Prince  Charming, either. This wasn't some fairy tale, but it was the best date  he'd been on in years. Possibly ever.

No, definitely ever, and he hated that it was about to end.

His conscience whispered he should walk Caitlyn to her door, kiss her  goodnight, and thank her for a fun evening. At the same time, another  voice shouted that he should walk her to the door, really kiss her, and  see if he couldn't convince her to invite him in for a whole lot more  fun.

It had been a painfully long time since he'd indulged in that particular  brand of fun. Between deployments, his leg surgery and recovery, and  then the odd jobs he'd been doing for Gabe, his dance card had been  pretty much full. On the other hand, he suspected it had also been a  long time for Caitlyn, maybe even since her marriage had ended and  probably for some time before that. She hadn't said much about her  ex-husband, but he'd definitely left his mark on her. Obviously the man  had hated to dance, so he'd denied his wife that one small pleasure.                       
       
           



       

What other small and petty things had he done to his pretty wife that  had left her so gun-shy when it came to men? If their paths ever  crossed, maybe Jack would demand a few answers and then a reckoning for  hurting her. As he parked the SUV in front of Caitlyn's place, he  wondered how she'd react to the knowledge that Jack would like to go a  few rounds with her ex just on general principles.

Unaware of the dark direction his thoughts had taken, Caitlyn took  Jack's hand as they walked the short distance to her front door. "I've  had a wonderful time tonight. My feet might regret those last few  dances, but I won't. I loved every minute we spent out on the dance  floor."

Jack squeezed her hand. "Believe me, it was my pleasure."

They'd reached the door and the moment where they would soon have to  part ways. That was the last thing he wanted to do, and he wasn't going  to walk away without kissing her good night. He was already holding her  right hand, but now he also claimed her left. Caitlyn didn't hesitate a  second when he tugged her closer. On the contrary, she immediately  released his hands to run hers up his arms to rest on his shoulders. The  maneuver brought their bodies close, but not close enough.