not only refused to accept the resignation I gave him months ago, he fought to clear my record.” Jared shook his head. “Him and that damn Hart.”
“I thought . . .”
His gaze didn’t quite meet hers. “What?”
Tears burned the back of her eyes. After last night she’d thought a lot of things. Most of all, she’d thought about a forever with Jared. She’d given him everything—her heart . . . her soul. Her love.
But last night when she’d told Jared she’d loved him, he’d never said the words back to her. He’d taken her in his arms, worshipped her with his hands and mouth. And with his every touch and caress, she’d let herself believe he loved her, too. But now, looking into his eyes, she knew it wasn’t true. There was only one love in Jared’s life, and it wasn’t Jenny.
She swallowed hard. “I thought you were done with the military.” It was a pointless question, and they both knew it. Flyboys fly. How could she have forgotten that undeniable truth?
“So did I.” He didn’t say anything for a moment. “When I tendered my resignation, I accepted that my days of flying jets were over. But now . . .” He stopped, and Jenny didn’t need him to say any more.
He had his career back. The life he wanted. A life that couldn’t include her. She didn’t need him to tell her what this call meant for them. She knew.
Flyboys fly.
She left the room before he could see her tears.
Jared watched Jenny go. He started to follow her, then stopped. What could he say to her?
What they’d had last night—he knew that wasn’t enough to build a life on. He tried to shut out the memories of how much pleasure she’d given him. More than he’d ever received. For the first time in his life, he wanted to wake up next to a woman. To have her right beside him all night so he could reach out and touch her anytime he wanted. Just to make sure she was still there. Last night had been about a hell of a lot more than sex.
I love you, Jared.
Once more he heard Jenny’s soft declaration. He knew she believed she was in love with him. Just like he knew she wanted to hear the words from him. Words Jared had never said to anyone. Didn’t believe he ever would . . . could. It was yet another thing that proved he wasn’t the type of man she wanted. She wanted someone who could say, “I love you.” Who could be a part of a family. Part of her family. Someone she could cook waffles for on the weekend—
I made all of your favorites. No one else had ever known what his favorites were.
Someone who would be home every night for dinner, be around for family barbeques, birthdays, Little League games, and ballet lessons.
Someone he was not.
Yesterday at her parents’ party, he’d let himself believe he could be that guy. But in the light of day, he saw how wrong he’d been. He wasn’t Steven. He wasn’t a guy who would stick. Who could fit. Who could give her everything she deserved. One call from his CO had proven that.
Flying was the only thing Jared had ever been good at. The only thing he’d ever wanted. He wished he could believe that this time it would be different with Jenny. But the past had taught him otherwise. Eventually she’d see what everyone else had: he screwed up every relationship he’d ever tried having. Disappointment and regret would cloud her eyes, and seeing that would destroy him like nothing else could.
It was better to leave now before he caused her any more pain.
He grabbed his duffel. He stared at the empty bag and silently cursed. He knew better than to unpack. He knew he never stuck around one place long enough to get settled. But just like everything else with Jenny, he let himself forget what he knew to be true. He let himself believe in the impossible. He shoved his clothes into the bag and headed to the bathroom. In less than ten minutes, he was packed and ready to go.
At Jenny’s door, he paused. Steeling himself, he knocked.
“Come in.”
Her eyes were red and swollen. She looked at his duffel bag, then back to him.
“Just go,” she said, her tears flowing steadily. “I know that’s what you’ve decided.”
At the sight of the pain on her face, the ache in his chest was